Course Guides

spacecoyote

I had the idea that we could potentially have a sticky thread on here where people could write a brief course guide for their home course.

Whenever I play away days, opens, or society outings, I always thought it might be nice to have something quick that you could read through, or print out to have a check on. I know that people have done similar before, within different threads, without there being a specific thread.

Could also be beneficial to people to actually think about their home course and will be surprising how much detail you actually have on your place.

Not posting my course in this post. Will post a separate secondary post, just with the course guide included.

spacecoyote

Castlewarden Golf Club

Par/Length from Card/Slope/Course Rating:
Blue - 72/6,696 yards/129/72.9
White - 72/6,473 yards/125/71.9
Yellow - 72/6,177 yards/120/70.5
Red - 74/5,720 yards/132/73.9
Flag markings: White flag - Front, Yellow flag - Middle, Red Flag - Back

Facilities: When in the car park, there is a walled garden on the left side for chipping and putting. There is a driving range on the right side of the car park. €2 will get you about 15 balls for a warm-up. There is also a small putting green close to the first tee box and a practice bunker is under construction at the time of this post.

Hole Guide:

1st Hole:
Par 5 that doglegs right. There is out of bounds up the right side of the fairway the full length of this hole and off the tee, if you are too tight up the right, you can be blocked out from going with too much club with your second. Safe drive is up the left of centre of the fairway, but even if you pull your tee shot left, you can usually find a decent line back in play and down the fairway to get in range for your third. The green is quite long, could easily allow 1.5-2clubs difference from front to back. 2 greenside bunkers at the front of the green. The green itself, on the front flows towards the front right. there is an upper tier at the back of the green and it slopes fairly quickly to the back once you crest the hill. If there is a Red flag, you can actually have an easier chip from off the back than a putt from the middle of the green, so if its red, don't be short.

2nd Hole:
Mid range Par 3, and a tricky little hole despite the high index, early in your round. Greenside bunkers front left & right. There is a false front short of the green which can hold up any balls that are just short of the green and stop a fall runnign up on to the front. The green generally slopes from front to back and can be quite quick if you have a downhill putt so try stay under the hole. There is a hollow towards the back left of the green too which feeds in pretty quickly too

3rd Hole:
The index 1, long par 4, with OB up the right off the tee. The prevailing wind does tend to help though. There used to be a large feature tree in the middle of the fairway which was a killer, but I do miss it. It was taken out on advice from the Pros during the Pro-Ams as it could punish a good drive. There is water short of the green on both sides of the fairway. On the right its a little further from the green, but on the left it runs up close to the front of the green. Greenside bunker on the right is again at play here and narrows in the approach to the green. front half of the green slopes quickly towards the front left portion. the back is slightly flatter, but again, best to try remain under the hole if at all possible

4th Hole:
Short dogleg par 4. A long iron/hybrid can be the most sensible approach. Hit straight at the bunker visible from the tee, or just right of it, will leave an approach of around 120 yards. Its about 210 yards to the bunker. There are a number of undulations in this part of the fairway, so you could end up with the ball above/below your feet even when you find the fairway. If you pull your tee-shot left and its in the dense set of trees off the fairway, safe option is to hit a provisional as balls have been known to stay hung-up in those trees and never to re-appear. Bigger hitter can be pretty agressive with cutting the corner. You will have to take on trees, and then the water to reach the fairway, but if your successful you'll leave a flick with a wedge. There are 2 greenside bunkers on the left side and water the whole way up the right and around the back of the green. The green at the front breaks hard towards the water on the right so beware taking on a tucked pin on the front right as you could end up back down the hill and wet

5th Hole:
This is a par 4 that can play long or short depending on the success of your drive. The fairway feeds around to the left slightly. An ideal drive likely takes a line at the silver trees in the distance on the right and draws in. If you're a long enough hitter you can catch the downslope on the fairway and leave a short one in. Green is a tricky 2 tiered one with bunkers left and right. It feeds very quickly from the front towards the end of the front tier and the middle of the green. Go one club extra if you see a Red flag


6th Hole:
Longish par 4 down the hill from a slightly elevated tee box. Ideally probably suits a fade off the tee started down the leftside of the fairway. This has a long green again, so club up for the back of the green. Greenside bunkers on both sides of the green

7th Hole:
Back up the hill you just played down on the 6th. Drive can feel a bit narrow as the tee box is surrounded by trees on both sides. There is OB on the left side, but plenty of trees to hopefully hold up a pulled drive. Approach can look pretty straight forward as there are no bunkers or water protecting the green. But one piece of critical advice, make sure you are under the hole on this one. Its whats classed as a "natural" green, and there are undulations and humps & bumps everywhere on this one. unless your pace is perfect, a putt or chip from above the hole could easily end up running down to the front of the green, or even off the front.

8th Hole:
Par 5, dogleg right. Depending on the tee box, it can be a long way up off the tee, as the Blue tee box adds about 40-50 yards to the hole. Tee shot is up the hill. Ideally just aim straight at the bunker up at the top of the hill. A miss just off the left is generally safer than just off the right. However, a wild miss up the right could ultimately leave you with a shortend hole if you get lucky and avoid the trees. The hole plays downwill after your drive, with OB down the left side which tightens in the closer you get to the hole. Greenside bunkers left and right can make the approach tricky. Putts on this green generally tend to run a bit straighter than you think they will, except in the back left portion which has a hump in the green that can lead to some big swinging putts.

9th Hole:
Dogleg left par 4 to round out the front 9. Members call the tee box the runway, as its a long straight hike back to the blue box. Bigger hitters should take on the corner as it'll leave a short appraoch and a straight hit can run out of fairway. The trees which could gobble up a ball on 4 come in to play up the left side here for someone too aggressive with their line off the tee. Greenside bunkers front left & right. There is a hollow in the middle of the green with putts running quickly towards the back of the green once your clear the dip.

10th Hole:
A nice feature hole on the course, a driveable par 4. A lot of the time, taking on the drive can actually be the sensible approach, as even a lay off is not that easy. The hole measures maybe 250-260 yards from the back sticks, but to reach the green, you probably need to carry the ball 230-240 yards. Its a shorter hit from the whites/yellows, but still needs a good drive. Tall trees on both sides of the fairway. There is a stream off the left of the fairway which isn't easily visible off the tee box and it runs down and across the front of the green and around it to the right. If taking on the drive, a sensible approach can be to take on a line at the greenside bunker up the left, and hope for a little fade. Its a slightly shorter carry along that line. There is large tier running down the right side of the green which can leave a tricky chip or putt down if you hit it up the right.

You probably could play the hole hitting 2 9 irons, but where is the fun in that!

11th Hole:
A relatively straight forward par 4. Sensible line is to aim at the fairway bunker up the center left and will likely leav a short to mid iron in. Greenside bunkers cover the left and right. Tricky pin position can be back left where there is a small tier over the back of the bunker

12th Hole:
Another par 4 straight back down the fairway fron the 11th. Fairway feeds in around to the left slightly, favoring a draw. Pulled or pushed drives could find fairway bunkers in around the typical landing zones for average hitters. Green is a long one with a small front tier. If there is a yellow flag, it usually plays a bit longer than you would expect, as generally the groundskeepers will place yellow towards the back of centre. The green is much wider at the back than the front, and a putt from the front can be a tricky one to just, so mind you clubbing

13th Hole:
Shortest of the 3 par 3s on the course, and a nice little hole which has wrecked a few scorecards despite being index 18. Hit is across water, but there is plenty of space short of the green once you make the carry. A pull up the left has a lot more water to carry. Another green where the best bet is to be under the hole, downhill putts can be very quick and break hard and the green generally flows from back to front

14th Hole:
Start of a run of 3 testing par 4s. Relatively open off the tee, with some dense trees that will need you to take your medicine if you hit your tee shot right. Green is uphill with bunkers left and right. There is a back tier with a steep slow up to it, so hit plenty of club if there is a red pin.

15th Hole:
Runs parallel to the 6th hole and is quite a similar hole. There is an electricity pylon off the left side of the fairway. If you hit it, its a free re-load off the tee. Similar to the 6th this suits a fade up the left side of the fairway. But a big pull can work out OK and leave a line in from close to the 14th tee box. if you're goiong to miss right, try to be way right, as if you are close to the trees you likely won't be able to get there in 2. A wide, relatively flat green so shouldn't leave anything too scary to putt, other than leaving a long putt as its another large putting surface.

16th Hole:
A long testing par 4 as its generally into the prevailing wind. Will regularly be a 3 shotter for most members. OB is up the right side, but you can get away with finding a ball on occasion. Ideal tee shot would be to take on the fairway bunker with a slight fade. There is about 160-170 yards left if you can get up as far as the bunker. Green is very long with bunkering left & right, and OB if you are too long. A red pin likely needs at least one extra club, if not 1.5.

17th Hole:
Last of the par 3s, and mirrors the 2nd hole in layout. OB for anything way right. Another false front at the front of the green and bunkers left and right. This green tends to break hard from everywhere. Its safest to try stay under the hole. Members would say, if you have a breaking putt...whatever you think the break should be, add another 6 inches to it on this one. Putts can be very quick from the back

18th Hole:
Last hole and a dogleg right to finish and head back to the clubhouse. If you want to get there in 2, you need to be a long hitter and keep tight enough to the OB up the right. Perfect line for most is straight at the bunker up the left side of the fairway. This will leave probably 240-250 yards in. If you are not up far enough, taking on the green is not an option as tall trees come in at the right corner of the dogleg, but you can get there with 2 irons easily enough. Tall trees and OB run the full length of the right side of this hole, but once you've cleared the corner everything is in front of you. Greenside bunkers left and right again. If you're long and into the flowers at the back there is a free drop out. Its quick enough from the front to the back, but with sensible golf a decent chance for a finishing birdie.

redzerdrog

Are we meant to guess the course? :-)

spacecoyote

redzerdrog wrote: »

Are we meant to guess the course? :-)

Wrote it on the computer, and it let me put in a post header. Just noticed it doesn't show up on the mobile view

Added the course name to the post there now

Pretty spot on for castlewarden, for 5th I always find you don't want to be between tiers, the slope seems to defy gravity with balls constantly sticking on it. Best miss on 7 is short left around the path, always find it gives you best chance to chip close

blue note

Can I suggest an index in the first post after we have a few in here?

I'll add one for Tramore and Corballis if I get time.

blue note

Tramore Old Course

1. Par 4 dogleg left. Try to hit to the right side of the fairway. It will result in the smallest chance of being blocked out for your second by the trees on the left of the fairway.
2. Par 5 dogleg right. This is reachable in two. But you’ll need to hit a big drive around the corner. If you tend to slice the ball, you’re bringing the trees (and a potential lost ball) into play. If you’ve done it right you’ll probably still have a wood to the green. I’d advise against being long with your second as you have a run off to OOB behind the green. I’d also advise against being short as there’s a stream running from left to right across the green. Whereas, if you hit something about 175m from the tee you have a straightforward tee shot. Hit something about 160m next for your second – around the corner, keeping left on the fairway is better. You’ll leave yourself a wedge / 9i to a large green. Most hit driver from the tee. I obviously think they’re foolish.
3. Par 3. It’s uphill, take an extra club.
4. Par 4, turns to the right. You’re hitting onto a plateau from the tee. You want to hit something that goes about 200m. Too much club and you could run out into trees. The club lost something like 350 trees in a storm a few years back and you’ll see here very clearly. You used to be blocked out by the trees if you were too far left, but now you’ll be fine. You’ll just have a longer approach if you’re left from the tee.
5. Par 4, short. Aim for the fairway bunker from the tee. A lot will carry over it, you’d be unlucky to be accurate enough to end up in it. Green will be to your right, short iron or a wedge in.
6. Par 3. Bunkers on the right. The hole plays it’s yardage, so if you’re confident in your distances and the flag is over them you can go for it. There’s lots of room over the green, so no point in being short.
7. Par 4. Downwind, dogleg right, so plays shorter than it’s yardage. There’s no need to go over the bunkers on the right. The best line is just left of them.
8. Par 4. Long and straight into the wind. Hit something you can control, you don’t want to see your drive going too far offline. You’ll probably have a tough second in.
9. Par 5. Dogleg left, longest on the course, but doesn’t play it. It’s very makeable in 2. Plays downwind, take the driver from the tee. If you’re in range have a pop. Be wary of going over the back of the green, it’s a very tricky chip back.
10. Par 3. Long hole most days. I’d aim for the front right of the green. Short isn’t a bad place to be. Bunkers left aren’t nice. Being over the back can be heaps of trouble.
11. Par 4. Best line is just right of the fairway bunker. Take an extra club to the green as it’s uphill.
12. Par 4. There’s a stream running across the fairway. You need to carry about 180m I think to clear it. Try to keep left from the tee as it’s a much easier approach to the green.
13. Par 4. By far the trickiest hole on the course. A stream cuts across the fairway from left to right. Try to stay as far left as possible from the tee, as the further right you go the sooner you’ll meet the stream. Another stream crosses it at right angles to run in front of the green. So for your approach try not to leak at all to the right as you can end up in it. Also, try to avoid that huge bunker to the back left of the green. If you end up in it you’ll be splashing out towards the stream and the green runs towards it. It’s a super hole!
14. Par 4, index 1. It plays the hardest on the course, but it’s a typical long par 4 into the wind. Aim for the bunkers from the tee. Aim for the green with your second. It’s a tough par, but should be an easy bogey.
15. Par 3. Shortest on the course, green protected by big bunkers. It’s a nice hole. An easy par, but also easy to not par!
16. Par 5. Dogleg right. Usually a 3 shot par 5, but take the driver and aim for the last fairway bunker. You might find the green reachable in 2. It’s a tough second though over water, with not much green to work with and a bunker over the back of the green. But most days it’s a three shot par 5.
17. Par 4. Green to your left after your tee shot. Right side of the fairway preferable. Make sure to take enough club to get over the bunker in front of the green.
18. Par 5. I think this is a great finishing hole. Wind is with you / coming from left to right from the tee with OOB right and trees left. If you get your drive right, it’s the easiest par 5 to make in two. But I’d say that tee sees the most lost balls on the course. If I have a good score, there’s not a chance I’m taking driver. 5 iron takes danger out of play. Another 5 iron up the fairways leaves a wedge to the green.


Tramore Newtown 9

Tramore built the Newtown 9 about 15 years ago along with upgrading the existing 18 holes. In my opinion, they did a great job. I find them similar in quality to the old course. Unfortunately the members whinged until they changed from a 27 hole course to an 18 hole and a 9 hole. The result of this is that far more attention gets devoted to the old course and the Newtown 9 suffers in terms of conditioning. That said, it’s still a really good 9.

1. Short par 4 . This is an unusual hole. It’s a short par 4, about 300m. And it’s like you’re hitting down a corridor with trees on the fairway on either side of you. There’s basically no rough. I’d hit something that goes about 150m from the tee as you really can’t afford to go offline at all. There’s a bit more room around the green, so if you miss you’ll still have a good chance of an up and down.
2. Par 4. It’s uphill and into the wind so can play quite long. Dogleg right, so your tee shot ideally would just cut the corner. The bunker to the left of the green is tough, so make sure to have enough club to clear it or hit right of it!
3. Par 4. Downhill all the way to a green in front of a lake. The wind is generally left to right, so the fairway bunker on the left of the fairway is generally a good target. Obviously, you can’t go long on this hole! So try to land the ball at the front of the green.
4. Par 3. A long hole, particularly since it will often be into the wind. I think about 180m from the whites. The green is guarded by a lake. If the flag is back left don’t get suckered into going for it. Short or long and you’re wet! Wherever the flag is aim for the front right of the green. If you go too long you’re into a nasty bunker with the lake to catch your ball if you fly out of it. You can be short of this green to the right and have a straightforward up and down for par.
5. Par 5. Wind will be right to left, so if you play with a slice this hole is perfect for you! Green is makeable in 2. There are bunkers up there, but if you’re in range have a pop at it.
6. Par 3. Plays downwind and is downhill, so don’t overclub. 4 bunkers protect the green. Do you need me to advise you to try not to go left, right, short or long? It’s a big green and not too tough a hole.
7. Par 4. Uphill into the wind. Can play quite long, so take plenty of club. There’s actually a gap between the bunker front right of the green and the green, so don’t be afraid to go over it if that’s your line.
8. Par 5. Relatively short, very makeable in 2 with a good tee shot. The green is well guarded with bunkers to the back, left and front. There’s some room after the one to the front of the green though, so I think it’s worth having a pop if you have the distance. You have to avoid going right on the hole though as there’s a stream running along the hole.
9. Par 3. I think it’s my favourite of the 27. There’s a stream running along the front of the green moving away from you from left to right. So if the flag is front left, pin high and to the right could be wet. And since the green is angled away from you, if the flag is back right and your distance is spot on but you’re left, you could be into a bunker. Distance wise it’s about 160m, downhill and it’s a very hard hole to judge the wind on. If you can play a little fade, it’s the perfect shape for this hole.