Test Valley GC

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.

More changes have been made here recently, with our fairway bunkers being reduced to two but made significantly harder but 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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

Back to the clubhouse, quick drink or snack at half way & ready to smash the back 9. Fairway bunkers left and right, the tee shot needs to be placed perfectly. Longer hitters can carry the right bunker but be careful as there is a pond if you miss too far right. The small green is protected by two bunkers, the left bunker can be seen from the walk up to the green. A back pin position is protected by the right bunker, again club selection is key. Players looking to run a ball in can play towards the heart of the green entrance, the ball tends to bounce slightly right towards the middle of the green.

Only one greenside bunker the 11th should play pretty simple, right? Often playing longer than its yardage, the fairway swoops slightly right towards the 12th tee. Large trees & plenty of bushes right and left the tee shot is very tight. Aiming towards the left side of the hole with a slight fade would be the preferred ball flight. Our only greenside bunker will catch any ball missing right of the green. During the summer, any ball that comes in low and fast will often end up running through the green into the thick semi rough. Be careful not to hit one too long into the trees and shrubbery only yards from the back edge of the green.

Our stroke index 1, over 500 yards long off the white and yellow tee boxes. With OOB all the way down the left side, this is not the place to miss it. A very tricky tee shot for longer hitters as the fairway slopes slightly from left to right towards a lone tree, meaning a tight tee shot to the left side will keep you on the fairway. Shorter hitters have a little bit more room to play with. Any approach shots leaked slightly right will tend to collect in a deep greenside pot bunker, always one to avoid!

Our third par 3, sandwiched between two long par 5's. Little in terms of visible trouble, however a right miss can result in finding some very long rough during the summer or a pot bunker at the front right of the green. Miss left and you may just get a favourable bounce onto the green from the mound running around the left side of the green.

The last par 5 at Test Valley. Over 600 yards from the Championship tee box, this alone makes the hole look a lot tighter. Past the dip, the fairway slopes right to left, keeping the ball to the right of the fairway gives a flatter lie for your second or third shots. Two large bunkers either side of the green provides a defence to a fairly flat green.

Our signature hole, you'll see the 15th green and pond as you drive into the club. A very deep fairway bunker stops some from taking a short cut down the right side, anything that flies directly over the bunker will tend to roll down towards the water. There's a few ways to play this hole, longer hitters can go for the green in two or you can lay up to the fairway either side of the pond & play a short pitch onto the green. Ensure you give yourself enough club as the ball WILL roll back into the water!

Our longest par 3, with two tricky bunkers to avoid. A low shot needs to be perfectly threaded just right of the bunker short of the green & just left of the greenside bunker defending the right side of the green. Anything that carries the first bunker will be fine, just catch this bunker & its an awkward 30-40 yard bunker shot, technique will need to be perfect to get this bunker shot right!

A very very tricky tee shot for some, choose your club wisely. If you can reach the two fairway bunkers, say goodbye to your par. Tee shots collect down towards two deep pot bunkers on the right side of the fairway. The only way out of these is with plenty of loft. There's plenty of room right for the shorter hitters, just be careful not to pop your second shot in the trap. Longer hitters can favour the left side as you have a little bit more room than it looks from the tee. For your approach, any shot missed right will most likely end up in one of the three greenside bunkers protecting the right of the green.

The final hole, the clubhouse is in view, you can smell the lovely food, you can taste your post round drinks! The two fairway bunkers down the left side of the fairway aren't as evil as the two on the 17th. Thread your tee shot between these and the copse of trees on the right hand side and the ball will roll more than you think. Approach shots tend to roll towards the back left of the green, the usual club championship pin position. I've seen many 3 putts in front of the clubhouse!