The 1st hole of the Valley Brook Country Club on the Gold Nine provides a strong start | The Elite 18

PETERS TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) – The 1st hole of the Gold Nine at Valley Brook Country Club is a great starting point for any round.

Located just outside of Canonsburg, Valley Brook features 27 holes, but the opening hole on the club’s Gold Nine stands out a little from the rest.

“This hole is really a good start,” said head golf professional Mike Papson.

The 1st hole (par 4) is 350 meters long and has recently been extensively renovated.

“It’s a lot different than it was four years ago,” Papson said. “We started renovating this hole in 2020. The first thing we did was remove a lot of the trees behind the hole and plant the natural fescue area. In 2022, we gave the hole a complete facelift.”

The opening hole requires accuracy off the tee as there is a fairway bunker on the left and a series of pearl necklace bunkers also flank the left side of the fairway.

Papson said while playing alongside KDKA’s Rich Walsh, he prefers to aim for the fairway bunker on the right side and hit a draw back to the middle.

Once you have found the fairway, an approach shot to an elevated green complex awaits you.

Although this approach shot could have been a little longer, Papson felt he should be hesitant about hitting too long over the green, so he played it right on the number, landed his shot on the putting surface and made a nice birdie to start the round.

“One of my favorite things to do is stand on top of the hill early in the morning or late at night and look at that hole. It looks spectacular every day,” Papson said.

Country Club of Valley Brook

Founded: 1966

Public or private: Private

Location: 425 Hidden Valley Road, McMurray, PA 15137

Telephone number: 724-746-9000

Website: www.valleybrookcc.com

Course designer: James G. Harrison and Ferdinand Garbin

Par: 36 (Three nine-hole courses)

Yardages, Course Rating and Slope Rating:

Gold Nine

• Black – 3,284 metres – 37.1/142
• Blue – 3,327 yards – 36.1/140
• White – 3,154 yards – 35.1/138
• Gold – 2,972 yards – 34.6/130
• Red – 2,630 yards – 35.4/131

Red Nine

• Black – 3,471 yards – 37.5/142
• Blue – 3,340 yards – 36.8/140
• White – 3,108 yards – 35.7/138
• Gold – 2,887 yards – 34.7/130
• Red – 2,592 yards – 35.9/131

Blue Nine

• Black – 3,284 metres – 37.5/142
• Blue – 3,354 yards – 36.8/140
• White – 3,174 yards – 35.8/138
• Gold – 2,920 yards – 34.7/130
• Red – 2,597 meters – 36.2/131