Wednesday, July 1, 2009

1st hole, par 3 (161M)


The right side of the green is guarded by a sand bunker. Tall trees along both sides of the fair way suggest using a high trajectory with a 4 or 5 iron depending on placement of the blue tee-markers.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

2nd hole, par 5 (464M)


There are no ob markers on either side of the wide second fairway; but the left side should be avoided because of the tall trees on the hill. A 3-wood is needed for the second shot to reach the blue 135M marker. From there it is an easy mid-iron shot to the green. A sand bunker guards the right side of the large green. 2-putt for your first par!

Friday, June 26, 2009

3rd hole, par 4 (348M)


After playing the 2nd hole turn right and walk across the 11th fairway, down to the river where the 3rd tee box is hidden. ob markers are located along the right hand side and severe rough with red markers at 150M. A 200M+ drive off the tee, with a high trajectory will clear the two large depressions in the middle and to the right of the fairway. (Wouldn't it be more interesting to fill these two depressions with sand?!)

There is a slight dogleg to the right. The pressure is on you to place your tee shot on the leftside. Then a mid iron can easily reach the green in 2. It is guarded by a sand trap on the left side and black berry bush on the right! Two-putt for another par!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

4th hole, par 5 (518M)


This is our longest hole which has a stroke index of 2. A large tall tree at 260M guards the middle of the fairway which has a slight left dogleg. Keep your tee shot in the centre or just slightly to the right. A high second shot with your fairway woods should put you into striking distance of the green. A large sand trap guards the right side. 4-ON and two putt for a bogie is an excellent score for this hole!

Monday, June 22, 2009

5th hole, par 4 (343M)


The very slight slope of the tee box may result in an unintentional draw shot for your drive! Watch out for the Waikato river on your left and tall pine trees all along the right ridge. A fade will be kicked back by the hill onto the fairway. Beginners love this hole because their slice will suddenly disappear! Longer hitters need to watch out for the ditch marked by red markers at 230M on the left.The club gets its name from this hole which has a very Narrow fairway

Saturday, June 20, 2009

6th hole, par 3 (142M)


Depending on placement of the blue tee markers, an easy swing with a 6 iron works best for this hole. The green is well guarded by sand bunkers on three sides.

P.S.
The red plums and Feijoes on the left are delicious!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

7th hole, par 4 (336M)


There is a slight left dogleg on this hole. Keep your tee shot to the right but clear of that big pine tree at 170M. Second shot using a very high trajectory of a mid iron should give a soft landing with minimum roll on the elevated green. One putt for a birdie!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

8th hole, par 4 (307M)


This hole looks identical to the previous hole. The fairway is slightly tighter. The elevated 8th green looks almost identical to the previous green. If your tee shot is longer than 210M the dip on the fairway opposite the 9th tee box will add 20M to your drive! Chip on with a lob wedge and go for another birdie!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

9th hole, par 4 (363M)


There is a severe left dog leg on this long par-4 hole. Keep your tee shot away from the left side. For your second shot you may need a 3 iron to put the ball ON. A long, shallow trench in the middle of the fairway will guide any low rolling ball onto the large green! It is well guarded by huge sand traps on three sides.Longer balls will overshoot the green and hit passing cars!

Friday, June 12, 2009

10th hole, par 3 (195M)


In the beginning I used my driver for this long par-3 hole! Now my 3 wood hits exactly the correct distance. ob markers and the Waikato River are along the right side. The left side is guarded by many tall Pine trees and a huge bunker. Preferred side is to shoot to the right where a slightly off target ball will be kicked left onto the green by the small hill on the right.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

11th Hole, par 5 (451M)


The left dog leg means that you need to hit a draw shot off the tee for this hole. The ob line and the Waikato River is along the right side. That large tree near the green is very well placed. If you are too close to it a lob wedge may give you the height over the tree; but you lack the distance to reach the green. If your second shot ends up on the right hand side of the fairway it is almost impossible to attack the green from there. To save par you need to be able to hit a slice off your 8 iron, to get ON in 3. Keep to the left for an easier chip and run shot to the green.

Monday, June 8, 2009

12th hole, par 4 (377M)


There are no ob markers on either side of the 12th fairway. It is actually possible to hit the green in 2. Your tee shot has a good chance of hitting the wide and straight fairway. Then your 3 wood must make up for any short fall in your drive. Keep clear of the right hand side to stay out of trouble.That tall tree on the right is at 190M. There are no bunkers guarding the 12th green. So, let it rip!

Saturday, June 6, 2009

13th hole, par 4 (428M)


The13th fairway has a dogleg to the right. Here is a special hole for beginners who slice their tee shots! For a change, ob markers are along the left side! The green is not protected by bunkers. This is your last chance to score a par here because you won't see any more easy holes after this one.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

14th hole, par 5, (439M)


This long par-5 hole has an elevated tee and a dog leg to the left. Hit a draw shot with your driver and you will gain at least 20M! Long hitters may possibly hit the green in two. The only water hazard on this course guards the approach to the 14th green.

P.S.
A long scoop is available to fish out any errant balls and please leave some water crest for me. They are great for boil-up and hangi...

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

15th hole, par 4, (389M)


If you slice here you are in big trouble. Look at those tall trees on your right. That is the ob line! You will definitely need a 3-wood here to be ON in 2. This hole has a stroke index of 1. Forget about getting a par here. 3-ON and 2 putt for a bogie is an excellent score for this hole.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

16th hole, par 4, (294M)


Tiger Woods can probably hit one ON. The rest of us mere motals will probably need two or more strokes to get the ball on the 16th green. ob markers are along the right side of the fairway. The elevated green is well protected by sand traps on both sides. It is a good strategy to overshoot this green and then chip ON, close to the pin, followed by one-putt for par.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

17th hole, par 4, (258M)


This is our shortest par 4 hole. Many single handicappers can hit one-ON here and then one-putt for an eagle 2. Go for it! However, a slice off the tee means ob to the right. A hook shot means that you will be shooting blind from the 2nd tee box below the level of the green. A more conservative strategy is to use a 3-iron to put the tee shot into the middle of the fairway, chip ON and 2 putt for an easy par.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

18th hole, par 3, (114M)


The last hole looks deceptively easy. The large and long elevated green appears to be nearer than 114M. If you finish late in the afternoon you will have the sun in your eyes and will not be able to see where your ball goes! Searching for a lost ball in that pile of autumn leaves on the right is a no no. Even if you are lucky enough to find it; no use, it is ob. The key is to hit the ball high with little roll. I use an 8 iron with an easy swing for this hole, aiming to get a high trajectory with lots of back spin. Then two putts for an easy par.