The first hole at Cedarwood Country Club provides a gentle start to the round. The fairway rises gently to a crest and then slopes back down toward the green. A fairway bunker on the right will catch wayward tee shots and a thick stand yellow pines on the left can be penal as well. The work begins once you get on the green, which is gently undulating, and depending on the hole location, can be quite challenging.
 

The second looks roomy but trouble is all around this hole. Fairway bunkers on the left and right edges of the fairway will catch tee shots not struck well or too far off line. The fairway drops dramatically from the tee to the landing area and the approach to the green is slightly downhill. A gaping bunker on the right front will catch misfired approach shots and is a tough up-and-down. The green slopes from back to front and putts above the hole can get away quickly.
 

A par-three over water will get the attention of players of every caliber and the third is no different. The hole requires a tee shot that is all carry over the pond that fronts the green. But beware: Take too much club and a bunker awaits on the back right of the green. Even shots that don’t find the bunker are problematic because the green runs away from back to front toward the pond. Par is always a good score here.

 

This par-five hole doglegs sharply to the right and a set of three bunkers – a large one and two smaller ones – guard the dogleg should you attempt to reduce the distance by cutting the corner. Clear those bunkers and you will be rewarded with a clear shot to the green. Take the more traditional route and you have two cross-bunkers to deal with – one on each side of the fairway – about 30 yards short of the green. The green itself is one of the most undulating on the course and the back right hole location is difficult indeed.
 

While this short par-four looks benign, appearances can deceive. A small bunker in the middle of the fairway must be dealt with off the tee and you must choose the right club for your first shot. Stray too far to the right and another bunker awaits about 40 yards from the green, which is one of the most difficult shots in golf. Once at the green, the work begins. With plenty of movement in all directions, putting can be just as much of a challenge as the tee shot.
 

The most challenging hole on the front nine starts with a semi-blind tee shot down the slope with water lurking at the bottom of the hill and to the right of the fairway. Once in the fairway, the second shot is all carry over the water. But you must be careful not to take too much club and find yourself behind the green for your chip or pitch to this undulating green.
 

The generous fairway at the seventh takes the pressure off the tee shot but it’s your second shot where the work begins. The green is guarded by a bunker on the front right and the putting surface is severely sloped. Beyond the green lies a deep swale and your chip shot back to the green runs quickly from the back of the green to the front. If you can stay below the hole without the bunker catching your shot, you’ve done well.
 

The second par-five on the front nine might seem short in yardage but it’s big in challenges. The tee shot must avoid a bunker on the right and the trees on the left that surround a creek bed. From there, the fairway slopes dramatically uphill, guarded by a cross bunker on the left about 30 yards from the green. The green itself features a deep bunker on the front right and the putting surface is the most undulating on the course, which makes it difficult to get the ball close to the hole with your approach.
 

The longest par-three on the course starts with a testing tee shot to a large green with some demanding hole locations. Bunkers guard the front left and the right of the green. Because of the undulations on the green, getting the ball close to the hole from anywhere – from the tee or chipping – requires a good shot. Two putts from anywhere on the green is a good effort. Par is certainly a good score here.