Challenge: The best 18 holes around

Following is a list of 18 of the toughest holes to play in the area, as compiled by the Lodi High School golf team:

Hole 6
Dry Creek Ranch Golf Course
Par 4, 442 yards

You tee off over a lake and have to get over a giant hump on your first shot in order to see the green. You then have to hit down to land on a very small green, which is surrounded by out of bounds behind the hole, dead right and left and two bunkers in front.

Hole 15
Dry Creek Ranch Golf course
Par 4, 467 yards

A river canal runs down left side of hole and it’s dog-leg left. You have to hit straight into trees and even after a perfect drive you still have nearly 200 yards to reach a small green with a giant trap on the right side and water on the left.

Hole 18
Dry Creek Ranch Golf Course
Par 4, 437 yards

Trees line the right and left side. You have to hit a perfect drive over two giant oak trees that overhang 20 yards on the green. If you come up short you land in a river and if you hit it long you land in the parking lot. You need a nearly perfect drive and second shot.

Hole 16
Swenson Original
Par 4, 343 yards

It requires perfect tee shot to be successful — finding a tiny opening to hit through an Oak forest. You have to hit the ball high and far enough to get past the last tree. A great hole for learning patience.

Hole 3
Swenson Original
Par 4, 453 yards

An oak tree protects middle and left side of fairway 90 yards out. The green is small and crowned and the hole slopes on the left side while a cart path is on the left.

Hole 16
Micke Grove
Par 3, 223 yards

The hole slopes in a bowl and has a big trap in front an on the left. It’s a challenging par 3 that is usually into the wind.

Hole 5
Micke Grove Golf Links
Par 5, 500 yards, extreme long

A lake lines the left side of the tree while the right side is out of bounds. The first shot has to carry 240 yards, usually into the wind.

Hole 4
Lockeford Springs Golf Course
Par 4, 470 yards

Water on the left and out of bounds on right side, the hole is bordered by grape vines and a pond on the left side. You have to go down the middle and the green is really hilly with big bumps in the middle. The left side is protected by a bunker.

Hole 14
Lockeford Springs
Par 4, 437 yards

The hole has a long dogleg on the right and is into the wind usually. Trees on the left and a hump and trees on the right and a very small green make this a demanding hole.

Hole 18
La Contenta Golf Course
Par 4, 460 yards

The left side is out of bounds and dog-legged. The right side has a canal in front of the green and a creek lines the backside of the hole.

Hole 11
Manteca Municipal Golf Course
Par 4, 431 yards

Extremely narrow and long, trees line the right side and a fence lines the left side. Also a very small green.

Hole 3
Manteca Municipal Golf Course
Par 4, 442 yards

Always into wind, trees line the right and left sides and a lake is behind the hole. Hit a long iron or five wood into green.

Hole 2
Van Buskirk
Par 5, 545 yards

You need a good tee shot over the water and a second shot to the left of the lake. You have to hit it just right or you’ll land in the water.

Hole 10
Van Buskirk
Par 4, 460 yards

Trees line the right and left sides and the fairway is crowned. The ball tends to bounce and a dime green makes it almost impossible to hit consistently.

Hole 17
Van Buskirk
Par 3, 211 yards

Surrounded by brush and water and a trap on the right it requires the perfect shot to land on the green.

Hole 2
The Reserve at Spanos Park
Par 5, 554 yards

The left side is protected by bunkers and the right side is out of bounds for the first 250 yards. The left side then becomes a lake and you have to hit two perfect shots to hit the green, which is bordered by the lake.

Hole 17
The Reserve at Spanos Park
Par 4 467

The toughest hole of course. The whole right side is water from tee to right side of the green which is also on water. The fairway is lined with traps on the left side and the right side is sloped.

Hole 18
The Reserve at Spanos Park
Par 4 399

Three bunkers on left side and a lake on the right side require a perfect tee shot. The green is half out on the lake and the hole is normally into the wind.

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