Inside the course: Annandale Golf Club

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The PGA TOUR has been teeing it up at Annandale Golf Club for 15 years.

Oct. 30, 2009

The PGA TOUR will play the Viking Classic in Madison, Miss., at Annandale Golf Club. Learn more about this course:

Fast facts

Original architect	Jack Nicklaus (1980)
Course remodel	Jack Nicklaus (2006)
Course superintendent	Al Osteen
Number of PGA TOUR events as host venue	16 (including 2009)
Course ranking	Ranked 45 (out of 54) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2008
Par value	72
Yardage history	7,157 yards (1994-1999)
	7,199 (2000-present)
Grass	Bermudagrass (tees, fairways); Champion bermudagrass (greens); Kentucky bluegrass (rough)
Tournament Stimpmeter	11.5 ft
Sand bunkers	69
Water hazards	8
Course tour	Click here

Course record

Player
Keith Clearwater

Year
1996

Round
2nd

Finish
T21

Holes-in-one

There have been 10 aces recorded at the Viking Classic.

Player	Hole	Year
Hal Sutton	2	1996
Keith Clearwater	2	1996
Chip Sullivan	15	1997
Katsumasa Miyamoto	15	1999
Bob Friend	12	1999
Per-Ulrik Johansson	15	2002
Greg Kraft	12	2006
Boo Weekley	12	2007
Dicky Pride	2	2008
James Driscoll	2	2008

2008 Rankings

Most Difficult Hole

	The par-4 14th Even though it's long and straight, this par 4 usually plays as the most difficult hole on the course. It's out-of-bounds left, and a creek runs behind and to the right of the green. In 2000, No. 14 accounted for 90 bogeys, 13 double bogeys and 1 triple bogey. 2008: 0 eagles, 45 birdies, 282 pars, 101 bogeys, 10 double bogeys, 3 others
Easiest hole
	The par-5 fifth Consistently the easiest hole on the course, this short, downhill par 5 yielded 17 eagles last year. A good drive leaves a middle- to long-iron second shot over water to a small green. 2008: 17 eagles, 205 birdies, 200 pars, 19 bogeys, 0 double bogeys, 0 others

Annandale GC			2008 rankings		Last 15 years
Hole	Par	Yards	Avg. Score	Rank	Avg. Score	Rank
1	4	385	3.88	14	3.872	14
2	3	213	3.132	2	3.160	2
3	4	406	3.909	12	3.924	11
4	4	465	4.039	4	4.069	3
5	5	522	4.501	18	4.488	18
6	4	424	3.914	11	3.962	8
7	5	556	4.776	16	4.708	16
8	3	209	3.032	5	3.058	5
9	4	450	4.079	3	4.058	4
10	4	407	3.937	9	3.900	13
11	5	579	4.973	8	4.854	15
12	3	171	3.027	6	3.040	6
13	4	414	3.932	10	3.951	9
14	4	473	4.193	1	4.196	1
15	3	176	2.837	15	2.927	10
16	4	408	3.891	13	3.912	12
17	4	409	3.993	7	4.031	7
18	5	532	4.692	17	4.667	17

Course origins

The signature holes at Annandale Golf Course are Nos. 8 and 17. The par-3, No. 8 is the toughest and largest putting surface on the course. Slightly downhill with water behind the green, this is the second of two long par threes on the front nine. Annandale members would identify the par-4, No. 17 as their "signature hole." For those who want to gamble with the tee shot, a long iron or fairway wood can be landed onto the island fairway to the right that is protected by water and rough. The island sets up a much easier second shot if properly placed. The optional fairway to the left is guarded by an out-of-bounds area to the left-side and a water hazard to the right. The small and slender 17th green fields shots from many angles.
-- Source: Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

Tournament course history

Course	Location	Years
Hattiesburg CC	Hattiesburg, Miss.	1968-1993
Annandale GC	Madison, Miss.	1994-present

This week's Kodak Challenge hole

HOLE: The par-5, 532-yard 18th at Annandale Golf Club
LAST YEAR: The 18th played to a stroke average of 4.692, with players recording 3 eagles, 184 birdies, 209 pars, 37 bogeys and 7 double bogeys.
DESCRIPTION: Water comes into play on every shot at this hole, but don't expect PGA TOUR players to be shy here -- especially if they need an eagle or birdie. The green is big enough to hold a 3-wood or long-iron second shot. It's a great hole for pros to finish on. (Click here for Annandale tour)