PITTSBORO — Don’t miss it as you whizz by, nestled along the outskirts of Pittsboro on U.S. 136 heading to Lizton, Pittsboro Golf Club sets just off the road with a full length driving range, putting green, and a perfect place to learn, rehab, or hone aspects of your game.

PGC is a short, nine hole course that plays about 3,111 yards from the back tees. They also have shorter white and red tees. The course is set up links style, meaning that greens and tees segue into one another, creating a back and forth travel across the course.

What makes Pittsboro great is the variety it appeals to. The course staff is as friendly as can be, and the course is used to beginner play, making it not that intimidating if you’re a novice. The holes are generally pretty flat, and after the water hazards on holes one and two, you won’t find another aqua calamity until the ninth hole.

The range offers a place to practice, and you don’t necessarily need to be straight all the time to score the ball well. Though there are out of bounds pitfalls on several of the holes, particularly if you enjoy hitting the ball left (which most beginners do not), the course plays short and to the right, there are clear shots to your green from adjacent fairways.

This doesn’t mean PGC is a track only for beginners, however. The greens are tiny, and the tee shots from holes 1 through 3 can be tricky. You almost have to be straight on hole three with trees lining both sides of the fairway and actually, hitting the ball long and straight can force uncomfortable approach shots on both one and two. Additionally, all across the course, the greens are significantly smaller than you typically see, making it a fantastic place to work on your short irons, if you’re a good player.

Often, the most befelling shots in golf are the ones that come inside 100 yards where you have to be pinpoint. This course helps you address that issue.

All in all, this is a great place to take the wife and children who are either learning or are going out for a family event. It’s a great place to learn, and a great place to enjoy the game without coming away with negative feelings about the sport or your game in general. Or if you’re frustrated and need help with those wedges inside 100, of course.

Signature hole: #7

The par three seventh hole is the hardest par three in Hendricks County. I am not kidding. Try and play it. It’s a vexing stretch of land that plays about 200 from the back tees up to around 150 from the reds, depending on placement. At face value, it doesn’t look intimidating. Open land to the left and right of the hole mean no trouble for mis-hitting it. You can’t be long though. Maybe 10 to 20 yards off the back of the green is the out of bounds line. The hole itself is devilish around the green, which has a wicked left to right slope that sees almost a five-foot drop from one end of the green to the other. There is extremely little green to work with if you miss the ball left. If the pin is on the high left side, as it often is, being even a foot long will send it shooting down the slope into the rough.

For beginning or novice players, take something you’re comfortable hitting straight. You’re better off missing right than left. There are no hazards to the front of the green or any trouble, so if you miss short it will trickle up closer to the hole. There is a hill you should want to make sure you get over about halfway to the green so even if you’re short, you’ll get extra roll. After that, if off the green, chip with something you can get in the air that will land soft. There is no margin for error. Missing right, if you’re going to miss, will give you a much easier shot at making par.

Experienced players will want to play the ball left to right. Play one club lower than your distance normally would play. The greens are fast and there’s no room to be long. If you miss the green, having a flop shot in the bag is going to help.

When I figure out the exact key to consistently getting a 3 on this hole, I’ll let you know, but having that shot in the bag has worked for me immensely. Depending on where the pin is placed, you’ll face either a steep uphill putt or a sharp downhill. If you think it isn’t a tough hole, you haven’t played it.