The Bluffs Vermillion, South Dakota
The Bluffs is a par-72 public course in Vermillion, South Dakota, playing 5,526 yards from the White tees with a rating of 71.2 and slope of 121.
Course Overview
| Type | Public |
| Holes / Par | 18 holes, par 72 (4 par 3s, 10 par 4s, 4 par 5s) |
| Length | 5,526 yards |
| Rating / Slope | 71.2 / 121 |
| Tee Options | 6 |
| Location | Vermillion, South Dakota, USA |
| Coordinates | 42.7738, -96.9002 |
Tee Options & Ratings
| Tee | Yards | Par | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 5,526 | 72 | 71.2 | 121 |
| Blue | 5,526 | 72 | 70 | 120 |
| Gold | 5,526 | 72 | 72.5 | 128 |
| Red | 4,627 | 72 | 66.5 | 109 |
| White | 5,526 | 72 | 71.2 | 121 |
| Red | 4,627 | 72 | 66.5 | 109 |
Scorecard
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White 71.2/121 | 339 | 417 | 326 | 310 | 132 | 465 | 320 | 160 | 289 | 2758 | 301 | 314 | 145 | 336 | 296 | 470 | 304 | 163 | 439 | 2768 | 5526 |
| Blue 70/120 | 339 | 417 | 326 | 310 | 132 | 465 | 320 | 160 | 289 | 2758 | 301 | 314 | 145 | 336 | 296 | 470 | 304 | 163 | 439 | 2768 | 5526 |
| Gold 72.5/128 | 339 | 417 | 326 | 310 | 132 | 465 | 320 | 160 | 289 | 2758 | 301 | 314 | 145 | 336 | 296 | 470 | 304 | 163 | 439 | 2768 | 5526 |
| Red 66.5/109 | 276 | 364 | 256 | 300 | 90 | 379 | 286 | 98 | 253 | 2302 | 250 | 278 | 114 | 292 | 233 | 405 | 253 | 135 | 365 | 2325 | 4627 |
| White 71.2/121 | 339 | 417 | 326 | 310 | 132 | 465 | 320 | 160 | 289 | 2758 | 301 | 314 | 145 | 336 | 296 | 470 | 304 | 163 | 439 | 2768 | 5526 |
| Red 66.5/109 | 276 | 364 | 256 | 300 | 90 | 379 | 286 | 98 | 253 | 2302 | 250 | 278 | 114 | 292 | 233 | 405 | 253 | 135 | 365 | 2325 | 4627 |
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
| Hdcp | 14 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 15 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 5 |
Which Tees Should You Play?
Multiply your handicap index by 28 and add it to par. If the result exceeds the total yardage divided by 100, move up one tee.
Handicap 0-10: White (5,526 yards, 71.2/121)
The back tees offer the full test. Attack the 4 par 5s for birdie opportunities and respect the #1 handicap hole 13 (par 4, 336 yards). Use the shot dispersion model to find optimal targets on every approach.
Handicap 10-20: White (5,526 yards, 71.2/121)
This tee gives you a realistic chance to reach greens in regulation without brutal carries. Course management is key. Identify trouble spots and plan your misses to the safe side. Use the strokes gained data to find where you're leaving shots on the table.
Handicap 20+: Red (4,627 yards, 66.5/109)
From here the course becomes about accuracy, not power. The short par 3 on hole 5 (90 yards) is a genuine birdie chance. Focus on finding fairways and keeping the ball in play.
Hole-by-Hole Highlights
Number 1 handicap hole. At 336 yards it requires two solid shots to find the green.
The easiest hole on the course and a genuine scoring opportunity. Play smart and take your par or better.
The longest hole on the course at 470 yards. Reachable in two for scratch golfers but a true three-shot hole for most. The smart play is two accurate shots to within wedge range.
The shortest par 3 at 132 yards. A wedge or short iron for most players. A birdie opportunity if you find the green.
The #2 handicap hole. A 310-yard par 4 that rewards accuracy off the tee.
Nearby Courses
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the slope and rating of The Bluffs?
The Bluffs has a course rating of 71.2 and slope of 121 from the back tees. From the Red tees, the rating is 66.5 with a slope of 109.
How long is The Bluffs?
From the back tees, The Bluffs plays 5,526 yards. The course is par 72 with 18 holes (4 par 3s, 10 par 4s, 4 par 5s).
What is the hardest hole at The Bluffs?
The number 1 handicap hole is hole 13, a 336-yard par 4 from the back tees.
What tees should I play at The Bluffs?
For handicaps 0-10, play the White tees (5,526 yards). Handicaps 20+ should consider the Red tees (4,627 yards).
Is The Bluffs public or private?
The Bluffs is a public golf course in Vermillion, South Dakota. Tee times are available to the public.
What courses are near The Bluffs?
Nearby courses include The Pointe Golf & Event Center, The Pointe, Highland Oaks Golf Course (Ponca), Akron Golf Course.
Is there a yardage book for The Bluffs?
Yes. Yards Golf Book offers a personalized digital yardage book for The Bluffs with hole-by-hole maps, shot dispersion analysis, strokes gained heatmaps, and club recommendations tailored to your handicap and distances. You can view it online or download a printable PDF.
Does The Bluffs have strokes gained data?
Yes. Yards Golf Book runs a 1,000-shot Monte Carlo simulation on every hole, factoring in your handicap, club distances, shot shape, and the actual hazard layout. The model recommends the best club and target for each shot.
Get strategy updates for The Bluffs
We'll send you course-specific strategy tips and let you know when new features are available.
Help Improve The Bluffs
Yards Golf Book starts with open-source mapping data from OpenStreetMap, then our community refines each course to production quality.
The Bluffs is live. But it can always be better. Refine fairway edges, add missing bunkers, trace tree lines, and fix anything that looks off.
Map or improve a course and it's yours forever. Free. Plus, each new course mapped earns 30 days of full site access. Map 5 courses and get a full year.
Most courses are partially mapped already. Completing one takes 5-30 minutes depending on available open-source data.
Improve This Course's Mapping