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First
hole - 305 yards - Par 4
We commence our round with an extremely good opening hole,
along a pleasantly wide fairway. It is the type ideally
suited for a first hole and a crowd of players can get away
fairly rapidly. The best way to play this hole is to have
a good long drive and pitch over the bunkers surrounding
the green, which slopes towards us.
Second
hole - 356 yards - Par 4
It
is best at this hole to have as long a drive as possible
and thus enable the second shot to be played on to the green
through the bottleneck between the boundary on the left
and the large tree on the right. The green is very slightly
to the left-hand corner of the fairway and has bunkers on
both sides. It will be found that a drive and a five or
six iron shot will make the green.
Third
hole - 575 yards - Par 5
Played
downhill and the longest hole on the course, only on very
rare occasions can the green be made in two shots. Hedges
and a ditch await a slice, and rough and trouble for a hooked
drive. A large bunker short of the green calls for a carefully
played second, and the average player is well advised to
play a 3 wood, keeping to the left, then a No.7 to a green
sloping from right to left.
Fourth
hole - 380 yards - Par 4
The
fourth is one of the hardest par fours on the course and
the entire length is uphill. From a good accurate drive
an accurate No.3 iron is needed to a well-bunkered green
with two levels. It is well to remember that when the pin
is on the back plateau a spoon (3 wood) is required for
the second shot.
Fifth
hole - 513 yards - Par 5
Here
we have the fall of the ground in our favour, and the tiger
can chance a cut across the dogleg. The longer the drive
the better the chance of getting home in two to a green
that is well guarded by trees and bunkers. Altogether a
very good hole.
Sixth
hole - 197 yards - Par 3
A
three iron shot for the par shooter, and I advise even the
scratch player to play to the right of the flag as a ball
hit on the short side will most certainly break left into
traps, whereas a shot - even a strong one on the right -
will kick off the sloping bank on to the green.
Seventh
hole - 444 yards - Par 4
A
well-placed drive is needed at this hole. It is played into
the prevailing wind and has an uphill second shot. A long
hitter may - after a perfect drive between the hedge on
the left and tree on the right - make the green, if he has
an accurate long second shot. But there is a lot of trouble
waiting for wayward shots.
Eighth
hole - 180 yards - Par 3
This
is not our best short hole and the green is mostly blind.
The drive is played from a low tee and the flag and bank
at the back of the green are the only things visible. It
is played into the prevailing wind with any club from a
No.5 to a wood, and it is much better to be short of the
flag for the putt on the sloping green.
Ninth
hole - 480 yards - Par 5
This
is an extremely good downhill hole and one of my favourites,
but every shot has to be played. The tiger, after a good
drive, can take his life into his hands to clear the cross-bunkers
flanked by a ditch and bushes. A really good second shot
over the three bunkers guarding the green can get home.
The handicap player is strongly advised to play short with
an iron for his second and take a No.7 for his third.
Tenth
hole - 359 yards - Par 4
Possibly
not the hardest par 4, but one of the most difficult, it
is uphill all the way with the prevailing wind against.
A well-placed drive is required for the low handicap man,
leaving a good No.3 or 4 iron to a closely guarded green.
The stroke receiver will win this hole nine times out of
ten playing for a five. A good drive, spoon to the front
edge, and then hope for good chip and putt.
Eleventh
hole - 470 yards - Par 4
The
longest par 4 on the course, but the tiger with two good
shots will get home. Keeping slightly left to the centre
of the fairway with the drive will help to get on the green,
which tends to fall from right to left. After a good drive
the average player will do well to play short and left with
the second shot, leaving a No.6 or 7 iron to the green.
Twelfth
hole - 161 yards - Par 3
From
average tees a No.6 or No.4 iron for the short player into
the wind, the prevailing wind usually blows off the left
hand. The back tee makes this a very good hole but a No.4
iron needs to be hit 'just so'. This is my favourite par
3 from the back tee.
Thirteenth
hole - 333 yards - Par 4
A
well-placed drive here is very important to give a chance
of a birdie. The best policy is to be short of the flag
with the second (No.7 iron) shot, leaving an uphill putt
on a very tricky sloping green.
Fourteenth
hole - 133 yards - Par 3
As
with the twelfth hole it is necessary to be on the green
to do any good. The green is raised and well guarded. Even
a straight shot which is too strong is penalised. A really
good stopping shot is required played with a No.7 iron.
Fifteenth
hole - 501 yards - Par 5
This is a good hole and can be an easy five, but woe betide
anyone taking liberties! Place the drive and second shot
over the bunkers to the left centre of the fairway, thus
leaving a nice easy No.8 iron to the green, which is in
a slight hollow. The third shot should be placed a shade
to the left on the green, as the sloping bank throws the
ball towards the flag on the right.
Sixteenth
hole - 364 yards - Par 4
More
trouble can be had on this hole than any other considering
its length. Drive to the right-hand side as the ground falls
to the left and 'out of bounds'. Again keep slightly right
for the second No.5 iron shot as the ground breaks to the
left on approaching the green. Be happy with a par any time!
Seventeenth
hole - 362 yards - Par 4
This
is a blind tee shot to a fairway well bunkered and flanked
by the boundary on the left. Drive slightly right of the
guide stick and so avoid running into the bunker in dry
weather. The second shot should be a No.6 iron to the green,
again keeping slightly right as the approaching ground falls
from right to left.
Eighteenth
hole - 319 yards - Par 4
This
makes a very good finishing hole. A well-placed drive opens
up the dog-legged second shot with a No.7 or 8 to a raised
plateau green, and this shot must be accurate.'
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