THE COURSE
The course, although not a classic links, is laid out in the character of a links course, with many fairway bunkers as well as greenside pot bunkers. There are 9 holes with 18 yellow (Club) and Blue (Senior/Ladies) tees.
The greens were planted with Cynodon grass and the fairways are a combination of Kikuyu and Cynodon. A feature of the course is the many bunkers that protect the fairways and greens so ferociously. There are 50 bunkers in total and are all strategically-placed.
Hole-by-hole
Holes 1 & 10
Starting of your round with a great birdie opportunity on a short Par 5 where the wind is generally assisting. It requires an accurate tee-shot to clear the 3 left fairway bunkers which should leave you with less than 200m to try and reach the green in two. A pull or fade off the tee will more than likely result in a lay-up so accuracy off the tee is crucial. For the shorter hitters, another 3 fairway bunkers further down the right will come in to play so steer left. The green is large enough to leave some room for error and protected by a deep bunker to the front and one to the left. It is better to take an extra club on the approach and rather be long and right than in any of those bunkers.
Holes 2 & 11
With the wind now in your face you would need to hit a piercing tee shot into the centre of the fairway. Left and right of the fairway would leave you with questionable lies and going for the green would be near impossible. From a severely sloping fairway you would require a mid-long range iron shot to a difficult green protected by two greenside bunkers and a Palm Tree in the middle of the fairway. Short and right is the best place to miss as it would leave you with a clear line into the green. Don't be too disappointed with a bogey on this hole.
Hole 3 & 12
The first of two great Par 3's on this course. From the front tees it usually plays between 140m and 155m but don't be fooled, the wind will play a factor in your club choice. Too far right and too far left will mean that you are Out Of Bounds. There is enough green to play with and a bail out area to left and right, but the two bunkers should best be avoided if you have missed the green and trying to make par.
Holes 4 & 13
A great hole and true test for all golfers.A worthy Stroke 1. From the Yellow Tees the hole plays considerably longer, and an accurate drive is required to clear the pond and reach the fairway. Left of the fairway is protected by two bunkers and further left is Out of Bounds. Be aware of the Palm Tree on the left that has caught many a golf ball over the years. If your tee shot steers right, you will most likely end up in the workshop area which is also Out Of Bounds. From the fairway, and depending on the wind, you will have a mid to long-range iron to a large green protected by bunkers to the front and left. A par on this hole should be celebrated.
Holes 5 & 14
A beautiful Par 3 with two stunning palm trees to the back of the green as well as a view over the St Helena Bay Harbour from the back tee. The wind should generally help a bit on this hole but hitting the green requires a solid tee-shot. From the front tees a mid-range iron should be enough to clear the front bunker and find the middle of the green but from the back yellow tee you would need to hit a very good long iron or rescue club. Left of the green you would need to navigate two difficult bunkers so right should be the better side to miss it on. You should however stay left of the cart path as anything to the right will mean trouble.
Holes 6 & 15
The second Par 5 and again the wind should assist from the back. Longer than the first Par 5 and will require a long tee shot and a well struck long iron or 3 wood to reach the green in two. Stay clear of the fairway bunkers staring you in the face from the tee box as this will inevitably make the hole even longer. For the shorter hitters, Driver, 7 Iron, 7 Iron is the route to go. The sloping green is protected by the "Captains Bunker" to the right which will leave you with a charity fine to pay should you stray into it. Left of the Green is G.U.R and the drop zone will leave you with an easy pitch. Birdie is on the cards but don't be too dissapointed with a par or even a bogey.
Holes 7 & 16
A beautiful short Par 4 with stunning views of Shelley Point Estate with the ocean in the background. Don't grab the driver too quickly as there are bunkers and rough that pose a difficult approach should you find yourself in trouble. The smart choice is to take a 5/6 iron off the tee which will leave you with a wedge into the green. Don't go too long on your approach as you might not find your ball in the thick bush at the back.
Holes 8 & 17
Often this hole plays into the south-easterly wind making the tee-shot tricky, if your tee shot ends up in Golden Mile Road you are Out Of Bounds and if you stray too far left you will be lucky to find your ball in play. The wind also adds around 40m-50m of distance from tee to green when it’s really blowing. A decent tee-shot should leave you with a mid-range iron (depending on wind) for your approach. The large green is protected by a deep bunker to the left and a run-off area to the right, however, too far right will leave you in some treacherous rough.
Holes 9 & 18
Still playing into the wind on most occasions you have some options off the Tee for the final hole. The longer hitters might be brave enough to take the tiger-line left of the palm tree which leaves a short chip onto the green if you fail to reach the short grass. There are bare patches of sandy lies and two bunkers, so this option is high risk and high reward. The left and right side of the fairway is Out Of Bounds if you drift too far. The smarter option is to aim for the middle of the fairway with a 3-wood or long iron which will leave you with a mid-short-range iron for your approach. The green size is generous and protected by a bunker on the front left so rather club up. A great finishing hole in front of the stunning clubhouse.
The Score Card
HOLE | PAR | YELLOW | STROKE INDEX | BLUE | STROKE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 | 411m | 7 | 379m | 7 |
2 | 4 | 325m | 3 | 308m
| 3
|
3 | 3 | 139m | 17 | 131m
| 17 |
4
| 4 | 353m | 1
| 324m
| 1
|
5 | 3 | 189m | 11 | 141m | 11 |
6 | 5 | 465m | 13 | 419m | 13 |
7 | 4 | 262m | 15 | 236m | 15 |
8 | 4 | 314m | 9 | 275m | 9 |
9 | 4 | 340m | 5 | 320m | 5 |
HOLE | PAR | YELLOW | STROKE INDEX | BLUE | STROKE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 5 | 388m | 14 | 372m | 14 |
11 | 4 | 316m | 6 | 301m
| 6 |
12 | 3 | 167m | 12 | 137m
| 12 |
13 | 4 | 353m | 2 | 281m
| 2 |
14 | 3 | 151m | 16 | 133m | 16 |
15 | 5 | 492m | 10 | 442m | 10 |
16 | 4 | 246m | 18 | 232m | 18 |
17 | 4 | 354m | 4 | 287m | 4 |
18 | 4 | 330m | 8 | 287m | 8 |