Hole 1: Paxton
White tee: 298 yards
Yellow tee: 289 yards
Red tee: 269 yards
A gentle start, not to be underestimated. Long hitters can try to drive the green but invariably this is a rash decision, especially as the first hole of the day. Heather, trees and bushes encroach on all sides. The percentage play is to determine the pin position and play a positional club from the tee. If the pin is tucked right, favour the left half of the fairway, without concern for distance. If middle or center, favour the right to give a clear shot at the pin.
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Hole 2: Wellington
White tee: 340 yards
Yellow tee: 325 yards
Red tee: 290 yards
As with the first, a certain level of restraint can be employed from the tee, favouring a club that places you down the left side but short of the fairway bunker. Longer hitters can hit past this, leaving a short pitch in, but a ditch runs menacingly down the right side and will catch anything leaking right. Try to leave your approach shot short and left of the pin for the easiest putt on a green that slopes back to front.
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Hole 3: Trackside
White tee: 429 yards
Yellow tee: 423 yards
Red tee: 412 yards
A classic example of a tough par 4 that does not need bunkers. The ideal tee shot is down the left half of the fairway, leaving an angle of approach into the right-to-left slope of the green and not away from it. Longer hitters can go for a long drive, but a tad right and they are blocked out. Keep it snug to the left and shorter hitters should play conservatively, hoping for a good pitch and putt for your par.
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Hole 4: Birch Ridge
White tee: 366 yards
Yellow tee: 356 yards
Red tee: 312 yards
This hole rarely rewards a push for length from the tee, tapering to heather, bushes and trees. Better to take a club from the tee that places you in the left half of the fairway, away from the fairway bunker. This can leave a blind second shot, but trust your yardage and favour the left side of the green, as the lie of the land will sweep the ball round to the right. As with the first three holes, the 4th requires a patient game plan, to ease yourself into the round without undue spillage.
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Hole 5: Garnetts’ Gem
White tee: 148 yards
Yellow tee: 138 yards
Red tee: 124 yards
A great par 3 that you just cannot miss left. Make note of the pin position, as this can make a couple of clubs difference from front to back. When the pin is middle or front, favour a club that gets you up. When the pin is at the back, exercise restraint and play short of the pin into the fat part of the green to leave an uphill putt that you can be bold with. The wind direction can be devilish to work out when standing on the tee, so work out the wind direction when walking up the 4th fairway.
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Hole 6: Ravenswood
White tee: 365 yards
Yellow tee: 357 yards
Red tee: 325 yards
The fairway slopes sharply right to left and can lead any tee shot slightly left of centre to be blocked out from overhanging trees or worse, in the fairway bunker. Faders can really enjoy this tee shot, but drawers and longer hitters must strive for position. The green slopes left to right and ideally suits a faded approach landing into the slope. Be precise with the yardage, as this is a long green and a lack lustre approach can leave a challenging 2 putt for par.
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Hole 7: Armstrong
White tee: 408 yards
Yellow tee: 400 yards
Red tee: 337 yards
Like so many of the early holes, the tee shot and approach are more condusive to a faded ball. Anything vearing left can quickly run into trouble or get blocked out. The approach shot is uphill and nearly always plays longer than the yardage, so ignore the sucker pin positions (back right and front left) and aim your approach for the centre of the green.
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Hole 8: Lake View
White tee: 421 yards
Yellow tee: 410 yards
Red tee: 385 yards
A blind drive ideally played down the left half of the fairway with fade. Drawers of the ball should set up well left on the tee and skirt down the right side. A good drive opens up the green for a testing second that again suits a fade off the left half of the green.
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Hole 9: Freddie’s Grave
White tee: 145 yards
Yellow tee: 138 yards
Red tee: 131 yards
A great par 3. Pay close attention to the pin position. Anything middle or left and you should favour the right side. With a pin tucked right, a gentle fade into the middle of the green is a good option. Avoid the bunkers and resist pins tucked away. Middle of the green is always a good place to be. When the green keeper is in a grumpy mood, you will find the pin tucked in a space no more than 15 feet wide between 2 bunkers.
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