1 Par 3: 162m / 159m
From the opening tee you get a spectacular view of the water. The tee shot plays downhill approximately 100 meters to a large green. This dramatic tee shot will have the golfer contemplating what club to hit because of the elevation and prevailing breezes. Miss the green too far left and the ball will sink to the bottom of the dam. Over hit and you’ll be recovering from the bunker.
2 Par 4: 311m / 242m
The elevated tee presents stunning views to the ‘Iron Pot’ at the mouth of the Derwent.
A well placed tee shot to the centre of the fairway is imperative. To the left is heavily wooded scrub and the right is guarded by a row of tees above a drain which runs the length of the fairway. The green has bunkers left and right and out of bounds in Browns River immediately behind it. It looks a simple hole but just a little caution is needed to avoid potential trouble.
3 Par 4: 340m / 335m
A slight dogleg left with a drain under a row of trees on the right. This extends to a heavily wooded slope about 200 meters out. The left hand side has dense shrubs and trees the full length of the hole. Your drive needs to be on the fairway. The second shot should clear the mound that starts around 50 meters from the front of the green. The mounds immediately in front of the green are heavily grassed and will catch shots that are not quite long enough.
4 Par 4: 322m / 315m
Almost a straight hole with just a small dogleg to the right just before the green. Another elevated tee. A large gum protects the right hand side and prevents the long hitters going directly for the green. The left has dense shrubs and trees along the entire length of the fairway. The green has five bunkers for protection and a right to left slope that deserves respect.
5 Par 4: 393m / 342m
With the tee right back in a chute of shrubs and trees and right on the river bank, this long par 4 is rated the second hardest on the course. The tee shot requires a straight drive to the fairway to have any chance of attacking the green with your second. To the right you will be blocked by a large gum and to the left by a dense stand of trees which hide the green. The two tiered green is generous but has a mound covered in thick grass to the right. Downhill putts from the back tier are the stuff of which nightmares are made.
6 Par 5: 488m / 466m
From the elevated tee this fairway forms a gentle arc from right to left and straightens to the green. A wayward tee shot will fall victim to the heavily treed areas both sides of this hole. A fairway bunker about 80 meters out from the green will trap any balls out to the right side approaching the generous green. A bunker protects the left front of the green and the trees on the left overhang the fairway from about 150 meters out.
7 Par 3: 120m / 104
A nice short par three with trouble in front if you are short. To the left there are considerable problems with very deep, almost impenetrable rough. An elevated saucer style green has many subtle angles to catch the unwary putter.
8 Par 3: 207m / 178m
This tee is a favourite area for the many wild birds that inhabit the course. You hit from under some large trees to a fairway lined with more large trees. A good drive will find you close or on the large green. Your putt could be some distance as the green is quite a size.
9 Par 5: 470m / 414m
You walk back towards the teeing ground for the shortest par 5 on our course. The fairway doglegs to the right for the tee shot and finding the fairway does pay dividends. Just over 150 meters from the green a tributary of Browns River winds across the fairway. It then doubles back to be an even greater threat closer to the green. If you go for the green in two you had better be accurate. The clever choice is to lay up before the water and then attack the green. Bunkers each side add to the difficulty but the green is quite large.
10 Par 4: 336m / 307m
Browns River is behind the tee and then winds lazily down the entire right hand side of the fairway. Not a real threat but it is there. A very generous fairway with a wide landing area relieves a little of the pressure. A good drive will avoid the trees down the left hand side and make the approach very easy. Two bunkers on the left and one on the right protect the green.
11 Par 5: 479m / 397m
The tee shot is across Brown River to a generous landing area. The longer hitters can really open up the green for the second shot. Out of bounds on both sides of the fairway so keep it in play. Too far right will see you back on the tee. Some very large trees protect the right hand side and more strategically placed trees on the left also come into play. The green is protected by mounds immediately in front to the left and a bunker to the right.
12 Par 4: 309m / 270m
Tee up beside Browns River yet again as it runs down the entire left hand side of the fairway. Trees and shrubs are on the right. A shot of 160 to 190 meters to the landing area opens up an elevated green. The second shot is across the river to a well protected green. Encircled by bunkers, five of them, the green slopes toward the front so the shot needs to be right. Anything short will invariably run off the front.
13 Par 4: 421m / 364m
The thirteenth is rated as the hardest hole on the course. Tee off beside Browns River again, often hitting into the prevailing sea breeze. The left has a line of grand old trees and the right hand side is covered with deep rough and treacherous lies. Some deep grass tussocks on the right hand side may affect your second shot. If the river isn’t enough there is a lake on your left. The large green is heavily contoured so a good approach is required. Plenty of three putt positions here depending on where the pin is.
14 Par 4: 374m / 293m
This is a pretty straight forward hole starting with your back to the river. Water is close on your left and some wild country is on the right. Trees protect both sides of the rest of the fairway leading to a generous green. The green slopes from back to front and has some very tricky contours to deal with.
15 Par 4: 353m / 322m
A dogleg right requires a well hit tee shot to avoid the trees on both sides. The narrow neck widens out to a good landing area. Left is better than right, where trees can block your second shot. A very long green slopes steeply from back to front. Any shots missing the green will require a very difficult chip shot to recover.
16 Par 3: 153m / 109m
The signature hole for our course. This par 3 has tussocks to catch anything not in the air to an elevated green. A large lone pine to the left seems to have a fatal attraction for golf balls. There is a lateral water hazard before the green and the bunker on the left is very deep. On the right another large bunker helps protect a large green that slopes from back to front. The contours of the green and the size makes for some terrifying putts if you leave your ball in the wrong place.
17 Par 5: 471m / 414m
You stand facing Mt Wellington for the tee shot on this relatively short par 5. Some large trees on the left can be a problem for the wayward tee shot. Too far left on the drive and more trees obscure the green. Trees on both sides of the fairway will keep you honest. The green has two bunkers and some heavily grassed banks around it. From here it is a short walk to the electric inclinator that takes you up to the last hole.
18 Par 3: 127m / 120m
The last tee is elevated and faces the historic Clubhouse, the ‘Red House’. Mt Wellington as the backdrop makes this par 3 a breathtaking sight. Large bunkers right and left guard the generous green. It is split level so be careful where you place your tee shot. The undulations on the green can mean that a careless first putt from above the hole requires a longer shot coming back!
