Lawrence resident Eric Vernberg tees off at Alvamar Golf Course, 1809 Crossgate.

Some of the best views on golf courses are from the trees, where poison ivy lurks, squirrels scurry and somehow the ball that habitual cheaters find always happens to be theirs.

So if you don’t like this list of the best No. 1, No. 2, etc. through 18 golf holes in Lawrence, choosing from among the four 18-hole courses, maybe you just haven’t seen as much of the courses as I have playing military golf — “Left, right, left, right, left …” — sometimes going where few men and women have gone.

The distances listed are from the tees second from the back and, of course, vary based on location of the tees and pins.

1. Lawrence Country Club, par 4, 336 yards: The first time Bill Self played this hole with Gary Woodland, the touring pro belted his drive from the tips onto the green and buried a 15-foot eagle putt. Self’s teams have staged some mighty memorable comebacks, most notably the last game against Missouri in Allen Fieldhouse, but there would be no overcoming Woodland’s start.

When the sun’s just right, even the antsy experience serenity looking up at this green.

Also, there is a bathroom between the first green and second tee box, which is accessible to players coming off the 14th green as well. This is important because some men have a tendency to mistake golf courses for public bathrooms. Come on guys, leave the fertilizing and watering to the groundskeepers. Remember, trees are people too.

2. Alvamar public, par 5, 505 yards: A drive to the top of the hill, right half of the fairway, leaves the proud golfer looking down at a green in the distance. Even so-so ball strikers can feel special with a solid shot from here because the ball keeps going and going and going. If you’re into posing on the golf course, this isn’t a bad place to strike one and hold it extra long, followed by a strut.

3. Lawrence Country Club, par 5, 500 yards: Bombers can reach in two shots. Hacks can find trouble on every shot. A good drive from an average golfer leaves an iron shot to lay up in front of a pond that at the right time of day paints beautiful pictures with reflections of the trees. The fairway narrows as it approaches the pond. Overhanging branches can come into play, at least from what I’ve heard they can. Miss the green long and before you know it, you’re out of bounds, or so I’m told.

4. Alvamar private, par 4, 349 yards: The second half of the hole heads straight up hill to a treacherous green that has some wickedly slick putts on it. The house behind the green’s a beauty with so many windows and a castle-like feel to it.

5. Alvamar public, par 4, 381 yards: Something about the opening between the two sand bunkers in front of the green makes this a cool approach shot.

6. Lawrence Country Club, par 4, 353 yards: Whatever you do, while standing over your second shot don’t think, “Don’t hit this into the pond.” The brain does not process the negative. All it hears is, “Hit this into the pond.” So, I’m telling you, don’t think, “Don’t hit this into the pond,” especially if you’re my opponent.

See what I did there?

7. Eagle Bend, par 4, 430 yards: The target narrows as the green approaches. Miss right, you’re in the woods. Ditto for long. Fairway bunkers, prairie grass, this hole has it all. In contention for toughest par in Lawrence.

8. Alvamar private, par 3, 153 yards: Elevated tee box, valley, elevated green. So many interesting putts await. Let me stop you right now. I know what you’re thinking. If I hadn’t birdied this hole Friday it would not have been included and No. 8 at Eagle Bend would have beaten it out. All I can say to that is you’re entitled to your opinion.

9. Lawrence Country Club, par 4, 307 yards: Three bunkers in the middle of the fairway come into play for short, medium and longer hitters. They divide the upper fairway, which is more rewarding and riskier than the lower, wider fairway, which more often brings into play the bunker in front of the green.

10. Lawrence Country Club, par 4, 414 yards: Bunker to the left, another to the right, tall grass on the right behind the green, this long second shot is challenging, but the wind often is at your back, the sun shines warm upon your face and the par opportunity rises to meet you.

11. Alvamar private, par 3, 167 yards: Hitting down from the elevated tee box, it looks so benign, but it’s fraught with danger. Trees to the left and in back, back yards to the right. More birds than birdies.

12. Eagle Bend, par 5, 510 yards: The water on the left creeps into play more than the eye suggests, which makes this gem not only beautiful, but strategic.

13. Alvamar public, par 4, 430 yards: Look beyond the green of this long par four and you could fool yourself into thinking you’re in Ireland, minus the clouds.

14. Lawrence Country Club, par 4, 364 yards: The apartment-complex swimming pool behind the tee box doesn’t seem as populated these days. Anyway, it’s very reachable in two, provided your drive doesn’t clip that massive tree on the left. Unless a strong north wind is in your face, use one less club than you think you need or your ball will roll off the back, which isn’t a problem as long as you have Phil Mickelson’s array of flop shots. And in case you’re wondering, you don’t.

15. Alvamar private, par 3, 150 yards: Trees on the left shouldn’t come into play as often as they do, but the pond in front of the green stresses out the average golfer and tension is no prescription for avoiding trees on the left.

16. Alvamar private, par 4, 301 yards: What a beauty. Everything feeds left so the play is to exaggerate going right without hitting it into the trees. So many second shots roll left and end up in the pond guarding the green. Ophidiophobics beware. Snakes have been known to hang out by the pond that recently was beautified with limestone borders replacing railroad ties.

17. Eagle Bend, par 3, 147 yards: Tee box, valley, elevated green. The bank in front of the green has been spruced up with landscaping, one of the many nifty touches in recent years that have improved the Eagle Bend experience. A birdie here can lift the spirits no matter what happened the previous 16 holes, and a birdie is in play for all level of golfers.

18. Eagle Bend, par 4, 410 yards: Fairway, valley, elevated green. Tough hole. Beautiful hole. Great finishing challenge in a town with no clunkers.