Here is a look at the golf course as described in the 2008 Ryder Cup journal and the club’s web site. Interestingly the holes all have been named by Valhalla’s founder Dwight Gham (game) and his three sons.
HOLE NAME # YARDAGE PAR COMMENTS
Cut the Corner 1 448 4 Sweeping down wind dog leg left
The Ridge 2 505 4 Fairway 28 yards wide;dogleg left again-creek on the left
Floyd’s Fork 3 206 3 Creek in front and right of green
Short ‘n Sweet 4 375 4 260 yard drive to carry bunker left on dogleg. Creek behind green
Fade Away 5 463 4 Left to right dogleg. greenside bunker right-collection area righ t
The Bear 6 500 4 Dogleg right-2d shot will be 180/200 yard shot
Player’s Pick 7 601 5 Split fairway-left one shorter than the right; but greater risk. Water hazard left of green
Thor’s Hammer 8 180 3 New green complex and tee; green has multiple shelves
The Rise 9 416 4 Severe uphill to tilted green
Turns 10 594 5 Double dogleg; deep bunker greenside left
On the Edge 11 208 3 New green with elevated with false front–3 bunkers
Odin’s Revenge 12 464 4 Dogleg right-180 yard approach to elevated green
The Island 13 352 4 Short par 4-Small green built up with bunkers. .
Two Tears 14 215 3 Longest Par 3 with difficult recovery if tee shot is long
On the Rocks 15 434 4 Creek runs along right side to the green.Multiple hole locations
Down the Stretch 16 511 4 Slight dogleg right. Trees on the left. Elevated green with greenside bunkers
No Mercy 17 477 4 Uphill. Narrow landing area with bunkers left and right
Gahm Over 18 547 5 Cascading water up right side. Horseshoe green that wraps around a deep bunker
Vallhalla’s membership is approximately 350; mostly residents of the Louisville area who also belong to another club. The initiation fee is $55,000 (all equity) and the annual dues payable January 1st are $6,000. It is a golfing only club with a 14,000 square foot clubhouse. Contrast that with Oakland Hills clubhouse that measures 74,000 square feet with a swimming pool, six tennis courts and an outdoor platform tennis facility. Quite a contrast in venues.
Jim Judge
GAM Correspondent
