PLAYROUND COURSE GUIDE

How to Play Seven Lakes Golf Club

Course strategy, tee-specific yardages and a hole-by-hole game plan for Seven Lakes Golf Club in West End, NC.

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Seven Lakes Golf Club golf course

Seven Lakes Golf Club

West End, NC
Black Tees tees · 6,856 yards
COURSE OVERVIEW

About Seven Lakes Golf Club

Designed in 1976 by Peter Tufts III, godson of Donald Ross, Seven Lakes Golf Club is an 18-hole public facility located in West End, North Carolina, near Pinehurst. Set amidst the Sandhills landscape, the course features plush Bermuda grass fairways framed by mature longleaf pine trees and smooth bentgrass greens. The layout is defined by rolling hills, multi-club elevation changes, strategically placed water hazards across seven lakes, and compact green complexes with pronounced back-to-front slopes. A unique feature of the routing is its continuous 18-hole loop, which does not return to the clubhouse until the final green.

COURSE STRATEGY

How to play Seven Lakes Golf Club

Off the tee

Fairways are reasonably generous and carved through longleaf pines, but tee shots require thoughtful positioning to handle fairway contours, doglegs, and hazards. Players must manage fairway run-outs that terminate at water hazards or bunkers on several par 4s and par 5s.

Elevation & terrain

Rolling Sandhills topography creates constant elevation changes throughout the round, featuring dramatic downhill drops on par 3s and steep uphill rises on par 4s and 5s. Players must frequently adjust club selection by 1 to 2 clubs to account for blind landing areas and elevated greens.

Approach play

Approach shots demand precise distance control into compact bentgrass greens that often require forced carries over front bunkers, false fronts, or water features. Sloping putting surfaces reward approach shots that stay below the cup.

Around the greens

Green complexes feature strong Donald Ross influences with severe back-to-front slopes, false fronts, distinct tiers, and repelling side edges. Leaving the ball above the hole often leads to delicate downhill putts or chip shots off tight turf surrounding the greens.

Best way to play it

Focus on driving to strategic landing zones short of fairway hazards, add extra club when playing to elevated greens, and consistently leave approaches below the pin to avoid fast downhill putts.

Key takeaways

  • Designed in 1976 by Peter Tufts III with clear Donald Ross influences across its green complexes.
  • Features bentgrass greens and Bermuda fairways bordered by longleaf pine forests and natural Sandhills terrain.
  • Continuous 18-hole routing loops through the landscape and returns to the clubhouse only at the 18th hole.
  • Rolling terrain and elevation changes require adjustments on downhill par 3s and steep uphill approaches.
  • Compact greens with strong back-to-front slopes require playing below the hole to maintain control.
YOUR GAME PLAN

Hole-by-hole game plan

Hole
Par
Yards
HCP
Strategy
1
5
520
15
Drive the ball onto the elevated fairway, execute a blind downhill layup toward the green, and keep the approach clear of the bunker short and left.
Your 240 yd driver · ~280 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
2
4
387
3
Select extra club on the approach to manage the steep hill, and ensure the shot lands below the pin to avoid fast downhill putts.
Your 240 yd driver · ~147 yards remaining by raw distance.
3
4
424
7
Target the left side of the fairway off the tee or lay back to retain a clean angle into the green clear of right-side trees.
Your 240 yd driver · ~184 yards remaining by raw distance.
4
4
374
17
Find the fairway off the tee to establish a clean look over the water hazard, utilizing the back-to-front green slope on the approach.
Your 240 yd driver · ~134 yards remaining by raw distance.
5
3
184
1
Club up to carry the false front and central ridge, ensuring the ball lands on the correct tier to prevent long downhill putts.
6
4
390
9
Lay up short of the fairway run-out off the tee, setting up a short iron approach into the compact, repelling green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~150 yards remaining by raw distance.
7
3
199
13
Reduce club selection for the downhill elevation change and aim for the center of the green to avoid repelling side slopes.
8
5
583
5
Shape a tee shot left-to-right along the bend, lay up short of the water hazard, and play the approach shot below the hole.
Your 240 yd driver · ~343 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
9
4
417
11
Favor the right side of the fairway off the tee for a helpful bounce to center, then club up slightly into the elevated green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~177 yards remaining by raw distance.
10
3
146
12
Adjust for the downhill drop off the tee and target the middle of the green to let slopes direct the ball toward the pin.
11
5
531
18
Play conservative shots to handle the uphill rise, laying up to comfortable wedge distance and keeping the approach below the cup.
Your 240 yd driver · ~291 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
12
4
409
2
Hit a left-to-right ball off the tee to match the fairway turn, setting up a mid-to-short iron into the compact putting surface.
Your 240 yd driver · ~169 yards remaining by raw distance.
13
4
379
6
Lay up short of the fairway hazard off the tee, then aim toward the wider back portion of the green on the approach shot.
Your 240 yd driver · ~139 yards remaining by raw distance.
14
4
355
14
Aim for the left-center section of the fairway off the tee to keep well away from the right-side water hazard.
Your 240 yd driver · ~115 yards remaining by raw distance.
15
5
531
16
Position layups comfortably short of the crossing water hazard to leave an unobstructed third shot into the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~291 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
16
3
188
8
Add a few yards for the uphill incline off the tee and focus on hitting the center of the small target green.
17
4
402
10
Driver or fairway wood can be selected freely into the wide fairway, followed by an extra club to clear the elevated green front.
Your 240 yd driver · ~162 yards remaining by raw distance.
18
4
437
4
Drive into the fairway, take extra club on the approach shot to clear the fronting bunkers, and land below the cup.
Your 240 yd driver · ~197 yards remaining by raw distance.

Course information and strategy are provided for planning purposes. Yardages, course setup, hazards and playing conditions can change. Always confirm current course information before your round.