Course Tour
First Hole 449 Yards Par 4
A very demanding opening hole. A drive across the public footpath falls onto a fairway which slopes to the right, punishing a slice. Keep the ball down the left from the tee - but beware the bunker to catch the hooked or pulled shot.
Second Hole 459 Yards Par 4
The drive is through a narrow gap in the trees and the player who can hit a controlled fade is at an advantage here. The fairway is one of the few that allow a clear view of the hole for the second shot. The green is two-tiered and needs to be read carefully.
Third Hole 382 Yards Par 4
A dog-leg right, guarded by trees on both sides, which requires the golfer to hit a long, accurate drive uphill to provide an opening to the green. Beware the bunkers guarding the left and front of the green.
Fourth Hole 150 Yards Par 3
The first of the short holes is a real test of accuracy. Three impressive bunkers guard the front of the green. Two further bunkers guard the back. Downhill putts can be particularly testing.
Fifth Hole 391 Yards Par 4
An excellent hole, with plenty of variety and worthy of stroke index two. Problems are caused on both sides of the fairway by bunkers and trees. Heather and gorse await the pushed or sliced second shot and there is a strategically placed bunker guarding the green.
Sixth Hole 335 Yards Par 4
This hole looks deceptively easy. The drive is into the prevailing wind and there are two fairway bunkers to avoid. The elevated green demands an accurate short or middle iron.
Seventh Hole 320 Yards Par 4
This is the hole everyone aims to par. A well struck drive leaves a target green which invites a birdie by the single figure golfer. Hit your second offline, though, and you will be struggling to make four. The long hitter needs to avoid the copse short of the green on the right.
Eighth Hole 162 Yards Par 3
Bunkers in the front, bunkers on the right and bunkers on the left. The golfer who misses the green from the tee is likely to be reaching for a sand wedge for the second shot.
Ninth Hole 476 Yards Par 5
The time has come to open the shoulders and give the driver the opportunity to prove its worth. A wide fairway without too many hazards sets up the golfer for a long second shot and a pitch over the bunker onto the green set in front of the Clubhouse. Watch out for the clump of gorse short of the green on the right.
Tenth Hole 431 Yards Par 4
The second nine starts with a really first class hole. Nothing but a good, accurate drive , which should be across the road, will provide the opportunity of going for the green with the second shot. The slightly elevated green can make for problems in judging distance.
Eleventh Hole 384 Yards Par 4
The visitor may find this shallow dog-leg right a difficult hole to visualise as the green is unseen from the tee. Two bunkers on the left of the fairway await the long hitter. The distance of the second shot, aimed slightly left of the pin, needs to be judged carefully.
Twelfth Hole 444 Yards Par 5
Not a par 5 by distance but the sharp dog-leg right, which often cannot be reached with the drive, imposes a level of difficulty which justifies the extra shot. The elevated green is the highest point of the course and commands wonderful views.
Thirteenth Hole 215 Yards Par 3
The Club Professional regards this hole as a test of nerves. Only a first class shot will reach the green and no other will do. Severe danger lurks on the right. The approach to the green provides an excellent view of the Clubhouse in the distance.
Fourteenth Hole 433 Yards Par 4
This is the Club's signature hole - there cannot be many holes as picturesque as this. The drive is from a high tee down to the fairway some considerable distance below. The second shot, played from a downhill lie, is to an elevated green, guarded in the front by three unforgiving bunkers.
Fifteenth Hole 143 Yards Par 3
The bottom of the flag is not visible from the tee and this makes for difficulty in club selection. An accurate shot is required to gain par - one to the right of the green will be heavily punished.
Sixteenth Hole 296 Yards Par 4
This hole is a typical Colt double-tiered green which presents problems peculiar to itself. The problems, however, start on the tee as OOB on the right has an intimidating effect and the sloping fairway gathers the ball into a shallow fairway bunker and a coppice on the left.
Seventeenth Hole 365 Yards Par 4
This is another hole played from a high tee to a valley below. As at the fourteenth, the green is a high one, guarded by a deep bunker waiting to embrace all but the most accurate shot. The members regard this green as the trickiest on the course and only the shortest of putts are conceded.
Eighteenth Hole 392 Yards Par 4
A majestic finish to the course, this hole offers everything. Accuracy of drive is vital as the fairway slides towards the seventeenth valley. Usually a long second shot is required to a well guarded but generous green. The player who finishes with a par can forget all that went before. But before making for the Clubhouse savour the views of the Surrey North Downs and of Kent and East Sussex.
|
