Most 9-hole golf courses are known as “learning” or “tuning up” venues.

Not so at the Norway Country Club.

It’s a challenge, from beginning to end.

Don’t get me wrong, you can score well on this course if you can hit the ball straight. But not everyone can . . . just ask my playing partners.

This course has a nice mix of unique Par 3s (especially No. 6) and an unusually long Par 5 on No. 7 (for a male player, you’d have to hit a 300-yard drive plus a 250-yard approach shot to reach the green…only Tiger Woods can do that consistently).

Here are some tips on three holes that stood out to me:

No. 1: It is picturesque, especially from the men’s tees. If you are walking, make sure to take a couple of seconds to catch your breath after climbing the steep hill to get to the tee box. Your tee shot is about putting it in the right position, and hitting it to the right and letting it trickle to the left is the smart play. The green is fast and you don’t want to go over on your second shot. Once on the green, you can go after the hole, as scooting past it won’t get you in trouble.

No. 6: Don’t let the water get in your head. If you fear going after the green on this Par 3, make sure to aim right, just in case. It is better to be in front of this green, as you will chip uphill. Putting is a bit more difficult on this green, as it slopes from right to left. If you are an average player, a 6- or 7-iron is perfect and should keep you out of trouble.

No. 7: Your instinct will tell you to bomb away, but you can get in trouble on the left (trees and out of bounds) and right (ditch and trees), so hitting a controlled club like a 3-wood and settling for less distance may be smart. Upon reaching the fairway, you probably could hit your 3-wood again and get it within 125-150 yards. The approach shot is tough, as bunkers are on the left and right of the green. Make sure not to go long, as it will find the brush behind the green. Again, putting will not be an obstacle, as it is a fair green and a two-putt is more than enough.