Hole 1
389yds Par 4 - Stroke Index 6 A tough hole to open your round with. Any 4 is a good 4. To attack the green with your second shot, you need to drive it straight and long. OB and a huge bunker on the right must be avoided, if you are in the bunker, the green is out of reach! To the left, you have trees and Tinker's Bush. Miss all that and you may find the flat fairway bunker. Two more fairway bunkers 40yds out and greenside bunkers left and right protect the putting surface. Be happy with 5, ecstatic with 4. DUNCAN |
Hole 4
390yds Par 4 - Stroke Index 4 The fourth has become steadily tougher over the years, normally played into a head wind. You must avoid the wicked bunkers, on the left of the fairway, about 170 and 140yds from the green. Anything less than two good straight shots will leave a tricky pitch to a two-tier green, guarded by deep bunkers at the front, a steep slope, and trees to the rear of the putting surface. WILLY |
Hole 6
374yds Par 4 - Stroke Index 8 Don't drive left from the tee, as a line of trees will probably result in a lost ball or at best, a chip back onto the fairway. Keeping the ball straight or to the right should allow a mid/ short iron to the green, although big hitters could go out of bounds or reach a fairway bunker. Two bunkers lie to the right of the green, there is also one to the left and one 40 yards in front. The gap to the green is also quite narrow as there are hedges either side of the front bunker, making this hole a worthy stroke index 8. LARRY |
Hole 7
156yds Par 3 - Stroke Index 18 The worst hole on the course! This remodelled hole has so many undulations on the green, it is nicknamed "The Poppadum". Even if you hit the large green with your tee shot, there is no guarantee of an easy two putt? You may even have to use a wedge on the putting surface depending on the flag location, and where your ball has come rest. Flag placements are limited to the shallow gully at the front, or the narrow plateau at the rear. There is no place for a true middle pin position. Which means 70-80% of the green is wasted, in mine and surely many other members opinions! The hole should be bulldozed flat and started again? The old par 3, 7th was a wonderful hole! Pity it had to be ruined? EDDY |
Hole 9
370yds Par 4 - Stroke Index 10 A cantankerous little number responsible for decimating many a front 9 scorecard. Hit your tee shot left & its a case of get the picnic tables out & wait for the bears to arrive !! The tiger line will reward you with a pitching wedge to the green & possible birdie chance. Going for safety down the right is a good option, but be careful not to over cook it & block yourself out from the well established tree line winding down to the front of the green. Caution over hit your second shot from here & your down the ravine of no return. The pressure builds when putting in front spectators jostling for a view from King Edward Rd STEVE A |
Hole 10
362yds Par 4 - Stroke Index 5 A difficult diagonal drive across the ravine, to a sloping fairway. Your shot needs to be long and accurate to set you up for the approach to a green, which is protected by three bunkers. A short drive left, will leave you amongst the undergrowth, or too far away with an awkward uphill lie. Long and wayward, will leave you in the trees left, and a deep bunker to the right. This hole can wreck your good work on the front nine, or set you up with confidence for the back nine. STEVE T |
Hole 11
189yds Par 3 - Stroke Index 11 A deceptive hole, which plays a lot longer than it looks. You will need to strike the ball straight and true, depending on the strength and direction of the wind, correct club choice will be essential if you are to hit the green? Four bunkers protect the front of the putting surface, to catch you out if you are short or offline. If you're lucky enough, find the gap over the short cross bunker? You will be faced with an easy chip or pitch onto the green. Trouble lies in wait all around this hole, if you stray long, left or right. The toughest of all the short holes. Par is a good score, played with determination and a birdie is achievable? RUSTY |
Hole 14
404yds Par 4 - Stroke Index 1 Guarded on the right by trees, so do NOT slice your first shot. The big hitters will reach the top of the dog leg with their drive, otherwise a drive and a wedge should get you to the gap! A smooth 7 iron or thinned 8 iron will get you to the green, which is protected with two bunkers. Two putts and walk off with a well earned 5. DAVID R |
Hole 15
368yds Par 4 -Stroke Index 13 A difficult par 4 normally into the prevailing wind over a deep gully to a green well protected by bunkers. Most players would drive the ball over the left side of the gully where it is shortest and then an easy 8 iron to the well contoured green. This is not the way to play it however. Better to play a full driver say 180 yards to the bottom of the gully, top a rescue club to just make it to the top of the hill, shank a 5 iron down the fairway, hit a 7 iron to the edge of the green and then sink a 30ft putt for a 5 net 4 and 2 points. Of course, if you do not have a shot the first method may be best. DAVID B |
Hole 16
360yds Par 4 - Stroke Index 7 An innocuous looking hole (there have been 2 holes in one off the white tees on this par 4!). Danger lurks to wreck your card, if you're not careful. A slight dog-leg right to left. The smart play is to aim between the two bunkers left and one right. If your bunkered - hitting the green is tough? This one of the nicest and most tranquil parts of the course. Hit an approach right and it's in the trees, left and you'll find the cricket field (OB), long is Eric the Chippy's garden. A good hole, but have your cautious thinking cap on? Be very happy with a 4. DUNCAN |
Hole 18
376yds Par 4 - Stroke Index15 If you have survived the devilishly underestimated 17th with your card intact, you can be forgiven for preparing your acceptance speech. The 18th is an uncomplicated design of disappointingly mundane proportions, which does not test those of you aspiring for a par to conclude a good day at the office. However, danger does lurk to the right as Oscar Bravo awaits those of us with a heavy slice. Hit long and straight from the tee (local knowledge - this hole is often used for the longest drive in competitions). If you must go left, landing on the 1st fairway is not the end of the world! A large green with some sneaky undulations lies in wait. The backdrop of the resplendent clubhouse and adorning spectators sipping on their Pims, lies in wait . Three cheers & thanks for the round. STEVE A |