Hole Descriptions - Holes 13-18

Hole 13 - Offas Way
535 Yards, Par 5, SI 12

The 13th presents the good golfer with an opportunity, but you do need to be LONG off the tee to take advantage of this par 5. Beware the OB on the right - it goes nearly all the way down the hole for some 400 yards, but don't get protective as this will put you in the deepest of difficulties behind the trees if you go left.

Most club players, having found the fairway, would take a mid iron to lay up over the fairway bunker that acts as a magnet to so many shots. This bunker is short of the ditch that goes diagonally left to right across the hole approximately 80 yards short of the green, anything hit with a slice is in danger of ending up wet.

The way the green is aligned makes it important to be on the left side of the fairway especially if the hole is cut on the right of the green. But beware of the bunker and slopes that come into play if you push your shot.

The green tilts from right to left and has heavy bunkering on the right. The safe side is on the left - but as this green is narrow this is not much of an option.

Hole 14 - Sandyback
291 Yards, Par 4, SI 16

This short par 4 is a favourite of mine. I remember playing this hole with a well known member who made the best quadruple bogey 8 I ever saw on a golf course. He lashed his first ball out of bounds, reloaded and lashed the second ball into the same field, the same fate awaited his third ball.

His fourth ball s-c-re-a-m-e-d into the middle of the green and he made the putt. (He made a 68 net 72 by the way!)

So, keep it in play (a long iron or 3 wood may be all you need) and on the left of the fairway if you can. Remember that the OB is even closer now than it has been all the way down the hole and you are left with no more than a very short iron to a heavily bunkered green.

The green is slick at the front and the easiest pin position is at the back.

Hole 15 - The Ditch
462 Yards, Par 4, SI 2

Now you have negotiated the short par 4, look at this. SI 2 this hole can destroy your score.

Stand on the tee and the drive is very narrow with serious trees on the right and trees along the tee on the left. A good drive aimed at the left of the big dipper in the Manor, is the line, but a drive too far and too straight and you are in trouble in the trees facing you on the dog leg. If you can hit a slice round the corner all well and good, but the wind generally blows that way and so you can end up in the trees on the right. This makes par virtually impossible.

Where your drive has finished now asks you whether you will hit your second over the ditch or lay up. If you try to hit your second over the ditch and slice it, don't be surprised if your shot appears to go with the ditch and again end up wet. Lay up and you can be hitting a 7 iron or as little as a wedge into the narrow approach of the green but make sure you avoid the bunkers at the front right and left of the green. The green slopes from back to front and right to left and is very quick in some places - so take care.

Hole 16 - Bassetts End
364 Yards, Par 4, SI 10

Hit a good drive and the 16th is a little flick into the green with an 8 iron.

However, off the tee, look at the pond on your left - at the end of that ditch again! It's only 60 yards away from the tee but it has some large trees around it. For a slicer, it can be a big obstacle, but avoiding the trees round the pond may only mean you may push your ball into the trees on the right!

At about 200 yds from the tee is a bunker on the right of the fairway. It's only small but it is very well positioned so do try to avoid it. In doing so, it is possible to hang on to your drive and then the trees on the left come into play!

The green is hidden behind a long bunker around the front left defying you to hit the green with your second. The elevation on the left of the green and the slopes towards the right front make certain that pace is often important when putting on this green.

Hole 17 - The Paddock
278 Yards, Par 4, SI 14

The 17th is another short par 4. If you take this hole anything less than seriously, you might as well take your card and throw it in the bin.

The hole is just 278 yds and the drive is fraught with difficulty through a narrow tree lined approach with a deep depression opposite the corner of the OB which is on the right side of the fairway. As the 11th green is on the left, always shout if you hit your drive left!

If you are on the fairway, the shot to the green is no more than a little wedge to a narrow green approached between bunkers. If you're not on the fairway you can face any sort of shot you can imagine from long bunker, to a sideways or blind shot, out of brambles, off paths or out of deep woods.....need anything more be said?

This hole can be a real killer........

Hole 18 - Clubhouse Turn
395 Yards, Par 4, SI 6

...and now to the final climactic hole. With a long cool drink beckoning a long drive is absolutely vital on this left hand dog leg. You will need to hit a straight drive at least 220 yds. in order to be able to see the green.

To be able to see the green you will also need to be on the right hand side of the fairway off the tee which of course brings into play the bunker on the corner of the dog leg. If you're short you will be faced by a long shot over trees or if you are left no shot at all or one that leaves you facing an impossible shot. If you are not in A1 position, take your lumps and play out to the fairway - but make sure you KNOW where to come out to.

The green is well guarded with a cross bunker 30 yards short of the green and bunkers right and left.

This green has many undulations and needs care when reading your putts.