There’s nothing quite like playing a breathtaking mountain course like Dormie Network’s Ballyhack in Roanoke, Virginia. You may notice your excitement is matched with a touch of nerves that surge with the altitude. Elevation changes add a unique layer of strategy and challenge to your golf game.

As the Head Golf Professional at Ballyhack, Matt Bevan understands how elevation affects a shot. Ballyhack is a Lester George designed masterpiece tucked into the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, providing stunning vistas. But this playground for fun and competition is met with a challenge strong enough to bring even an experienced golfer to their knees! In large part, the elevation changes with a premium on accuracy into the greens both from side-to-side and front-to-back are where the real challenge lies.

Check out these helpful tips from Matt so you can conquer those slopes and leave your flat-course woes behind.

Master the Slope

Even a slight incline or decline can add or subtract yards, drastically affecting club selection. Ensure you are using a rangefinder with a slope setting and that it is turned on (if you often play tournament golf, just be sure to toggle it off once you leave the grounds to comply with USGA rules of local events).

Trust the Local Caddies

Consider a local caddie for their invaluable experience and guidance. A slope may not seem impactful, but a caddie can provide insight into the severity of a slope—helping you make the right play. Ballyhack works with CaddieNow to provide comprehensive caddie management that blends hospitality with top-notch caddie training, technology, and club protection. Caddie Blaine Hancock, uses CaddieNow to snag stunning loops at Ballyhack and help players of all skill levels have an exceptional experience on course.

“Being a caddie is somewhat similar to my career as a teacher and coach in that I’m constantly trying to help those around me achieve the best possible outcome.”
- Blaine

Golfer puts with the help of a caddie at Ballyhack.

Club Selection is Key

There can be anywhere up to 20 yards of difference, either positive or negative, that influences the choice of club selection. Typically, most people have a roughly 10-yard separation between clubs, so dialing in with the right club using slope will be imperative.

Wind Whisperer

Windy days are common at higher elevations, and a windy day is most days at Ballyhack. Before you make your shot, pay attention to the telltale signs of the flags blowing in the wind. Sometimes when you are in a low-lying area, it may not be easy to feel the wind but be sure that it’s up there and will impact the club selection and ideal shot shape.

Playing the Hills

Think of the slope as adding or subtracting loft to your club. When hitting uphill from an up-slope, add more club so the loft sets you up perpendicular to the slope. When hitting downhill from a downhill lie, subtract club. The technique here is converse.