Pro's Tip
The first has undergone a few changes recently with the large trees taken away at the back of the driving range & is possibly due to have more changes soon. A dogleg left, the perfect drive will be just past the corner with around 150 yards to go. Longer hitters can cut the corner with a less risk than previous years, leaving a small pitch into the very small green. Have a look at the pin placement before playing your second shot. A miss right of the green will result in a tough chip with the green running away from you. A miss left will mean that you are playing a shot from below the level of the green, always tricky to judge the weight.
Pro's Tip
More changes have been made here recently, with our fairway bunkers being reduced to two, but made significantly harder though easier to see from the tee. The tee shot should be played to the left side of the hole to avoid being blocked out by the trees on the right or in the new deeper fairway bunkers. A miss left of the green is a big no go. With a new and improved deeper bunker & trees left of that, scoring is going to be hard. The ideal play for most golfers would be a low running shot into the heart of the green, leaving you with a putt towards any pin position. Careful as the top tier does run away to the back of the green once the ball reaches the top, very tricky to judge the speed!
Pro's Tip
The first Par 5 on the course & the first opportunity for the longer hitters to open their shoulders. A big drive can give you the chance of reaching in two. The first two fairway bunkers are tricky & for anyone not aiming to carry them, playing a precise shot between them or playing short would still leave a chance of making a green in regulation. There’s a deep pot bunker right of the green if you’re aiming to fly one into a back right pin position, be careful!
Pro's Tip
Our second Par 5, uphill and sometimes into wind. There is little trouble from the tee, unless you have a big right miss in the locker, with OOB right, miss there & your ball is on its way to London Waterloo via the 8:56 from Micheldever. Another small, firm green to play into, miss short & there is another one of our new, deep greenside bunkers. Previously if you went long of the 4th green, you’d have 3 small bunkers to contend with. Now a tightly cut run off area, extremely treacherous in the summer when the greens are quick! Slightly thin chip & you’ll be back in the bunker at the front of the green!
Pro's Tip
Our shortest Par 3 on the course with another new & improved bunker. The bunker has now moved further round to the front of the green, catching any balls that pitch too short and left. If you want to play a lower running shot in, aim for the mound on the right of the green, the ball will bounce down to the middle of the green perfectly. Often a very firm green that runs away slightly to the back left, make sure that if you’re aiming to pitch the ball on the green, it’s struck properly & spinning!
Pro's Tip
More new & improved bunkers! This time really affecting the tee shot, previously fairly simple with little danger, the fairway bunkers now run across the fairway. Longer hitters may be able to carry these providing the tee shot isn’t into wind. Another two tiered green, be careful with club selection. Much like the 2nd green, the top tier runs away to the back of the green when the ball reaches the top, leaving a tricky putt back towards the downslope!
Pro's Tip
Only 281 yards from the yellow tees, the shortest Par 4 on the course is full of danger. Bunkers across the fairway roughly 130 yards from the green, two pot bunkers on the left of the fairway & then two tricky greenside bunkers. There are 3 options from the tee, lay up short of the cross bunkers (careful as a firm bounce may leave your ball in the first fairway bunker), play to carry the two cross bunkers & leave yourself a small pitch in (careful as the fairway slopes left towards the two pot bunkers on the left of the fairway, or go for the green if you’re long enough. The 7th green is very treacherous with a huge slope from right to left, aim to be below the hole to leave yourself an uphill putt. If you’re coming across the slope, it’s often best to give yourself a little extra room for the break, so many putts miss low on this green.
Pro's Tip
Another risk or reward hole for the longer hitters. Dogleg left, the safe play would be to the corner of the hole & having around 100 yards left to the green. If you’re feeling a little lucky, cut the corner towards the big oak by the entrance road, distance control is ideal with the thin stretch of fairway, slightly long and you’ll be in the thick rough. Longer hitters can go for the green, around a 260 yard carry over a small pond. Pick your line carefully!
Pro's Tip
Our second Par 3, four bunkers surrounding the green & trees on both sides. Be careful with a slight pull, it is OOB left. Club selection can be very tricky on this hole, playing deceptively longer with a slight incline. The wind is often hidden from the tee with the protection from the large trees, the flag also doesn’t show the gusts too often. Take note of the wind direction and speed whilst playing the 8th hole to give you a hint.