A tricky hole to start with. Not an overly long Par 4 but deep bunkers left and right guard the driving area. The drive needs to be on the left side of the fairway to have a good approach to the green, but long hitters beware, anything more than a gentle draw will find the water left. Anything in the right half of the fairway gives a tough shot in. A large bunker guards the right hand side of the green. Best bet, aim for the middle of the green, take a 4 and go to the next.
Hole 2 is a fairly straight forward hole, the best play is to lay up short of the bunker which will leave a shot of around 100m to the green. There is plenty of room left of the bunker but anything on the left half of the fairway past the bunker will leave a tricky shot over the greenside bunker to a narrow green. The green slopes back to front, anything past the flag will leave a speedy downhill putt.
Hole 3 is a good long par 4. Bunkers guard both sides of the fairway so you need to hit it straight. The fairway is divided by a stretch of rough starting around 130m from the green, so you need to lay up short of that to get a good lie for your approach shot. A medium sized, raised green with a large hollow in the front left and steep drop-offs on the sides and back awaits. Par is a good score on this one.
Hole 4 is a nice little par 3 that normally plays into the wind. Club selection is vital on this hole, anything short will nearly always find one of the front bunkers. Anything left or long will more often than not end up in bogey.
Hole 5 is the first Par 5 of the round and can often play downwind. This is great course design from Graham Marsh, from the tee it is very intimidating as all you can see are bunkers, but once on the hole you realise it is nowhere near as bad as first thought. There is a generous landing area for your tee shot but beware the trio of bunkers on the right. A good drive could leave you within reach of the green but the second shot must be accurate. The narrow raised green is difficult to find with two deep bunkers on either side.
Hole 6 is a fun short par 4. There is a great chance of birdie on this one. A long iron or rescue off the tee short of the fairway trap will leave a short shot in, while longer hitters will be able to get on or very close to the green. Two bunkers guard the green but they are not too deep and allow for a good chance to get up and down. A large two tiered green with some subtle breaks can lead to an easy 3 putt if you’re not careful.
Hole 7 is a great par 5 which, for the brave hearted, can be reached in two. The drive needs to be straight to avoid the cross bunkers. The second shot can be laid up short of the bunker 80m from the green or a good smack can get there but beware the water and rock wall on the left. One of the lowest greens on the course so any shot missing the green to the right or behind, is usually an easy up and down.
Another nice piece of design work. Depending on the wind, Hole 8 can play anywhere from a 7 iron to a 3 wood. From the tee the bunkers on the right hand side look like they are greenside but are actually 20 meters short of the green. The tee shot needs to start at the trap with a little draw to find the green, anything short left will either find the bunker or the water. Best to hit one extra club on this hole.
A strong hole to finish the front nine, Hole 9 has water left and bunkers right that guard the fairway. A wide, narrow green makes it difficult to get close. Front bunker guards the green, don’t go for the flag if it is behind the bunker, play to the side and take par. Note – the Driving Range, marked by white poles just beyond the trees along the right hand side of the fairway is Out of Bounds.
A tricky hole to start with. Not an overly long Par 4 but deep bunkers left and right guard the driving area. The drive needs to be on the left side of the fairway to have a good approach to the green, but long hitters beware, anything more than a gentle draw will find the water left. Anything in the right half of the fairway gives a tough shot in. A large bunker guards the right hand side of the green. Best bet, aim for the middle of the green, take a 4 and go to the next.
Hole 2 is a fairly straight forward hole, the best play is to lay up short of the bunker which will leave a shot of around 100m to the green. There is plenty of room left of the bunker but anything on the left half of the fairway past the bunker will leave a tricky shot over the greenside bunker to a narrow green. The green slopes back to front, anything past the flag will leave a speedy downhill putt.
Hole 3 is a good long par 4. Bunkers guard both sides of the fairway so you need to hit it straight. The fairway is divided by a stretch of rough starting around 130m from the green, so you need to lay up short of that to get a good lie for your approach shot. A medium sized, raised green with a large hollow in the front left and steep drop-offs on the sides and back awaits. Par is a good score on this one.
Hole 4 is a nice little par 3 that normally plays into the wind. Club selection is vital on this hole, anything short will nearly always find one of the front bunkers. Anything left or long will more often than not end up in bogey.
Hole 5 is the first Par 5 of the round and can often play downwind. This is great course design from Graham Marsh, from the tee it is very intimidating as all you can see are bunkers, but once on the hole you realise it is nowhere near as bad as first thought. There is a generous landing area for your tee shot but beware the trio of bunkers on the right. A good drive could leave you within reach of the green but the second shot must be accurate. The narrow raised green is difficult to find with two deep bunkers on either side.
Hole 6 is a fun short par 4. There is a great chance of birdie on this one. A long iron or rescue off the tee short of the fairway trap will leave a short shot in, while longer hitters will be able to get on or very close to the green. Two bunkers guard the green but they are not too deep and allow for a good chance to get up and down. A large two tiered green with some subtle breaks can lead to an easy 3 putt if you’re not careful.
Hole 7 is a great par 5 which, for the brave hearted, can be reached in two. The drive needs to be straight to avoid the cross bunkers. The second shot can be laid up short of the bunker 80m from the green or a good smack can get there but beware the water and rock wall on the left. One of the lowest greens on the course so any shot missing the green to the right or behind, is usually an easy up and down.
Another nice piece of design work. Depending on the wind, Hole 8 can play anywhere from a 7 iron to a 3 wood. From the tee the bunkers on the right hand side look like they are greenside but are actually 20 meters short of the green. The tee shot needs to start at the trap with a little draw to find the green, anything short left will either find the bunker or the water. Best to hit one extra club on this hole.
A strong hole to finish the front nine, Hole 9 has water left and bunkers right that guard the fairway. A wide, narrow green makes it difficult to get close. Front bunker guards the green, don’t go for the flag if it is behind the bunker, play to the side and take par. Note – the Driving Range, marked by white poles just beyond the trees along the right hand side of the fairway is Out of Bounds.