Hole Description

Three good strikes are needed to reach this green in regulation. Avoiding the only fairway bunkers on the course is your primary focus from the tee. Once on the fairway, a fairway wood or long iron will carry the ditch, leaving a short shot to one of the flattest greens on the course however in summer anything long will run on.

It’s all about the tee shot! A slight draw, aimed down the left side of the fairway, will counteract the fairway camber and leave a long iron or fairway wood to a well guarded green. Members will often use the bank to the left and rear of the green to take the green-side bunkers and sloped front portion of green out of play. A small but flat putting surface awaits on the top of the two tiers.

A chance to get one back on the course! A well struck drive could easily find the putting surface leaving two putts for birdie. A safe tee shot over the ditch however still leaves a short pitch to a green that slopes towards you.

Climb the steps to check the group ahead are out of range and then a good tee shot is placed to the left of the downhill fairway. This would leave a mid-iron approach to a green that slopes away from you. Downhill, it’s wise to take at least one less club than you think. An uphill putt from the back of the green will always be easier than one half the length downhill.

A straight tee shot is required, ideally to the right of the fairway. This will leave you a mid to long iron approach over the pond to a small contoured green.  All putts gather back towards the water.

The first of three par 3’s. Make sure you take enough club to carry as anything short and right will finish in the dip leaving a chip to a green that slopes away from you. As with the 5th, an uphill putt from the back of the green will always be easier than one half the length from the front.

The correct shape of tee shot is vital to maximize your distance off the tee but this is a par 5 that requires strategy rather than brute force. A well shaped, right to left, tee shot should run down the hill leaving you with a decision to either take on the pair of trees that sit aside the fairway or lay up short. Whatever you decide, your approach to the green should be aimed right of the pin.

Members will tell you this hole is a lot easier than it might first appear. The fairway is almost at right angles to the men’s tees allowing over 100 yards of landing area to aim at. The more you aim at the green the greater the carry you require. Decide how your swing feels and aim slightly left of where you think. The ladies tee is on the other side of the valley but irrespective, all shots kick right both off the tee and on approach to the green that slopes gently towards you but long is out of bounds.

Before teeing off, you can always call ahead to the kitchen (07340-293940) to order a take-away sandwich which they can have ready for you once you’ve finished the hole.

Whether you are playing from the front tees at 110 yards or the back tees at 187 yards, a well struck tee shot is required to hold a green that measures only 15 yards from front to back. The bank to the rear of the green can sometimes rescue the over hit shot, therefore, it’s better to be slightly long rather than face a chip to an elevated green if you happen to fall short.

The majority of our members would list this hole as their favourite on the course. It is however a tricky test on your first attempt. From the tee take aim at the marker post using a club that will carry at least 180 yards (a little less from the front tee). Once you are on the fairway, a well struck mid to short iron shot must be aimed right of the flag to a green where subtle slopes make putting tricky.  The ladies tee is up the hill but the line is still right to allow for the natural slope.

A short par 5 for the men or par 4 for the ladies that demands accuracy. Ideally the drive should be aimed at the lone pines in the middle of the fairway using the fairway camber to gain maximum distance. A drive of 250 yards for the men will leave an approach of around 220 yards but take one more club than the yardage suggests to reach a green which slopes towards you.

The tee shot here can make or break your round. Dependent on the tees you are playing from, a straight drive between 200 and 260 yards is required to ensure a view of the green.   The approach is uphill, so take one more club. Try to stay right of the flag to ensure you are left with a friendly uphill putt.

A well struck drive will leave a mid to short iron approach but be mindful of the fairway camber by aiming slightly further right from the tee than you would think. The prevailing wind means your approach will play long with wind usually into your face and from the left.

There is plenty of space to aim at off the tee but a right to left shaped drive will considerably shorten the hole. A well struck second should leave a simple pitch to the green. Beware of the cavernous pot bunker that sits in wait front right of the green. This is an up-turned saucer of a green which requires the players full attention.

The last of our par 3’s, but much like the previous two, a well struck shot is required to hold a green that slopes away from you. Take enough club to carry the bunkers front right and you will be rewarded with an uphill putt. There are fantastic views from the tee that sits on the top of the Greensand Ridge but this means it is always windy. It is usually down wind but always downhill so judge the yardage, wind direction and THEN take one less club!!

A tough tee shot that requires accuracy rather than distance as there’s more space on the left than you can see. So aim left of centre with a club you are confident will travel 180-plus yards. If that’s all gone to plan, you will be rewarded with a short iron approach ensuring you take enough club to carry the two green-side bunkers.

This is an excellent finishing hole but you need to hit the fairway from the tee if you want to finish with a par or better. Especially in summer, you should beware of the Out of Bounds to the rear and right of the green when selecting you approach shot so a conservative approach may be wise if you’re on for a good score. Approach shots landing on the front-left of the green will feed toward the middle of the putting surface, leaving easy putts to complete your round.

All that awaits is a nice drink & something to eat in the Clubhouse as you entertain your playing partners with hopefully tales of joy recounting your round.