Hole 1
At 433 yds off the white tee this is the 2nd longest hole on the course. A straight drive is essential as anything straying left brings the pond into play. Your approach shot is into a smallish green that is protected front left and right by 2 bunkers, and anything long will leave a chip up the bank protecting the rear of the green. A difficult starting hole!
Hole 2
The 1st par 3 on the course. The pond in front of the tee shouldn’t come into play but is always in the back of the minds of the high handicapper. The large tree sitting short of the green can come into play on any shot not hit high enough. The green is quite long and relatively narrow and slopes back to front, and the green is protected left and right by bunkers. A good chance for par or better.
Hole 3
Arguably the most difficult hole on the front 9. A long drive up the left side of the fairway is required if the green is to be reached in regulation, with the green guarded front right by a large oak tree that makes it difficult to get over and stay on the green. Also there is a pond to the left that is always a risk for any approach shot. A 5 is a good score for the average golfer.
Hole 4
A straight forward hole that gives the opportunity to get your card going. The centre bunker short of the green should only come into play for the longest hitters, or any miss hit approach shot. The bank at the back of the green can help stop any over hit shot and can feed the ball back to the putting surface. The green is protected left and right by bunkers. A good opportunity for par or better.
Hole 5
A driveable green for those who want to take it on. For those more cautious, your drive should be towards the left hand side as the fairway runs left to right and your ball will feed down towards the trees separating the 4th and 5th fairways. The green is protected at the front by 2 bunkers and anything long will be difficult to play (if found) from the rough at the back. The green provides the most protection with a slope front to back and left to right. You do well to only 2 putt this green!
Hole 6
A short par 3, but a beauty of a hole. The green is protected front right by a pond that will play on the mind of mid to high handicappers and those who hit a fade or draw. There is a bunker to the left, so hitting the green is vital. The green slopes left to right, so again you do well to only 2 putt. Take a par and move on!
Hole 7
You need a straight tee shot that doesn’t slice as the canal is to the right. If you avoid the out of bounds, you are probably faced with a blind shot in, and any ball that pitches short on the down slope runs the risk of a nasty kick that can run the ball through the green to dense rough at the rear or a bunker protecting the left hand side of green. A tricky green with many borrows.
Hole 8
A short par 4, from an elevated tee to a green well protected by bunkers left and right. Anything missing the fairway runs the risk of your approach shot being blocked by the mature clusters of trees lining the fairway. A good drive will leave you with a short pitch in. The green has some interesting borrows, but you should expect to par this hole.
Hole 9
A straight tee shot is essential – left or right of the fairway and there is little hope hitting the green in 2. The bank in front will stop any short shot, and you must avoid the deep bunker to the left. In summer it is best to land short and run up – otherwise you will find yourself on the bank behind the green. Check the pin position on the 9th as you walk from the tee on the 8th.