The second hole at Avery Ranch Golf Course presents a reasonably easy chance to ring up a par if you know how to correctly navigate to the green. In my 30+ rounds at Avery Ranch to date, I’ve only birdied two holes, the par 3 6th, and this second hole in my last outing. Thus this hole holds a special place in my heart!

The hole is basically straight ahead with the green slightly dogleg left at the end as can been seen in the google earth image. The prevailing south winds, combined with the circled copse of trees on the left make this hole favorable to a fade off the

tee. It’s very easy to be blocked from direct access to the green if you pull or draw a shot around that copse. The fairway bunker right is seldom in play except through an errant shot.

Houses line the right side beyond the cart path but there is enough room between their OB fences and the path that all but the most vicious slice will end up in wispy grass with an opportunity to punch the ball back into play. Left of the some

what narrow fairway is “native pasture” which consists of clumpy grass, prickly pear cactus and lots of rocks. I’ve usually not had trouble finding the ball, but there’s a chance to need to declare an unplayable lie over there.

From the blues a 240 yard drive puts you adjacent to the circled co

pse of trees leaving a 130 yard shot to the middle of the green. From the whites, a 200 yard drive also leaves a 130 yard shot to middle of green.

The green complex slopes gently back to front with no surprises. The safe miss is front left but if you miss middle left the tree adjacent to the green comes into play. I’ve seen plenty of players snag a beach spot in the right side bunker. The last time I checked it contained the dense sand common to Avery ranch. After complaints from members about the sand quality, Avery Ranch owners are undertaking an effort to replace the sand and some holes now have softer, fluffier sand. As I’m commenting on holes I’ll describe the hole’s sand condition with the knowledge I currently have.

When I tackle this hole with low stress Scoring Method in mind, it is short enough that an easy swinging 7-iron tee shot followed by an 8-iron leaves an ideal three-quarter GW 75 yards to the middle of the green. A very stress free way to get to an easy bogey.