Cranbourne Golf Club

A gentle par 5 opening hole that requires a tee shot left of centre. A shot lost to the right will finish in the trees, leaving a blocked 2nd shot to a green that runs slightly across you. A fairway wood or long iron 2nd shot to the left half of the green is the safest line avoiding the solitary bunker guarding the right hand side. A longish green, which slopes slightly from the back to the front.

This par 4 plays longer than it appears due to the prevailing wind generally being into your face for the entire hole. Placement is important on both the tee shot and the 2nd shot. Stay left of centre off the tee, as a shot lost to the right will find tree trouble and deep rough. The left half of the fairway opens up this long green, which drops severely off at the rear. The bunker short and left of the green does not come into play unless you pull your second shot left attempting to lay up. The right hand green side bunkers will catch any shots pushed slightly to the right. The green slopes from the back to the front, and to the left. A par is a great score on this hole.

Not a particularly long par 3 but one that will test your courage. Bunkers guard this oblong shaped green both front and left. The lake in front of the tee catches poor shots only. The front right bunker runs the full length of the green, and provides an ominous hazard when the pin is cut on the right half of the green. It is a far safer prospect to over club on this hole, as most of the trouble is short of the green. Avoid the bunker cut back left, as stopping the ball on the green out of this bunker is extremely difficult. The green is fairly flat with a slight slope left to right.

Dont let the lack of length on this hole fool you, as many a good round unravells on short holes, and this hole is no exception. The hazards are obvious from the tee. Tee shots drifting right will find a series of fairway bunkers and those pulled left end up in the trees, with a near impossible 2nd shot to a tough green. A well-struck fairway wood, or long iron, will set you up for a short iron approach to the small, well guarded green. The green itself slopes heavily from the back to the front. Second shots left short will find bunkers to the right, and a deep grassy swale to the left. Play for the middle of the green here to guarantee yourself a safe par.

A par 5 that gently bends to the left, and provides a wide target from the tee. Stay left of centre from the tee, avoiding the fairway trap on the right. This will leave a straightforward 2nd shot, which requires accuracy to avoid fairway bunkers that align the fairway on both the left and right. The 3rd shot will require a shortish iron to a green that widens to the rear. There is a small swale through the middle of the green. To avoid the green side bunkers both left and right, play long on your approach shot.

One of the best par 4's on the course. A hole that requires length and accuracy. Hug the left hand side of the fairway from the tee to avoid the copse of trees on the right. A longish second shot wil be required, avoiding the lone bunker on the right hand side of the green. The green is large, and slopes slightly away back left. An extremely difficult hole when the pin is cut behind the bunker. The green appears flat but undulates, and can be very tricky if faced with a long putt. A par on this hole is always satisfying, even for the more accomplished player.

A lovely short par 4. Trouble is down the left off the tee, so play for the right half of the fairway. This leaves you with a short to mid iron approach shot to a well bunkered green. Errant second shots will definitely find sand. A longish, narrow green that slopes from back to front. Be aggressive with your approach, as a good second shot will be rewarded on this hole.

One of the prettiest, and toughest short holes on the course. A tee shot across water that requires pinpoint accuracy. The green is surrounded by deep bunkers, with the only safe miss being front left. The back of the green slopes away severely, and if the pin is cut at the rear of the green, a long tee shot guarantees a bogey result. The green slopes away on both sides, so it only takes a slightly misdirected tee shot to find sand. Club selection is imperative here, as any shots missing the putting surface face very tough up and downs. The hole is even tougher when you consider that the prevailing winds usually come from the right.

A good par 4 to finish the front 9. Usually played into a head wind, the hole is relatively straight, and requires a tee shot aimed left of centre. Big trees guard both the left and right sides of the fairway, so an accurate tee shot will leave you with a second shot to a large, elevated green. Normally played with a mid / long iron, your second shot needs to avoid green side bunkers both left and right. The green slopes slightly from back to front. Attack the pin on this hole as birdie putts here are very makeable.

An pretty, undulating par 5 that opens the back 9 with a definite birdie opportunity. Avoid the fairway bunkers on the right side of the fairway and reaching the green with your second is a possibility. If laying up with your second shot, play for the left side of the fairway to avoid the sandy wasteland short right of the green. A tee shot hit too far left will be confronted with a stand of large pines blocking the green. Green side bunkers left and right guard a green with a variety of undulations. Putting on this green can be very tricky when the pin is cut at the back of the green.

A beautiful short hole played from an elevated tee. The ideal tee shot here is down the left half of the fairway avoiding the row of large blue gums that block the green from the right side of the fairway. A mid / short iron second shot, played to an elevated green, with deep greenside bunkers front right and back left. The green slopes slightly from back to front, so the back bunker should be avoided at all costs, as it is difficult to the hold the green from this trap. The front right hand bunker catches anything short, and it is a very difficult up and down from here if the pin is cut in the front half of the green.

One of the toughest par 3s around to be found anywhere - long, uphill, and well guarded by bunkers. A long iron or fairway wood is required from the tee here for all but the longest of players. You have 2 options - lay up short or go for it. Any shot off centre from the tee will find a trap. The green is elevated, fairly flat and provides a big target. Par on this hole is a good score, with birdies rarely seen.

The longest hole on the course fraught with danger on both sides of the fairway. A drive dead centre of the fairway will give the longer hitters a chance to reach the green. Anything pulled slightly left from the tee will find large pines blocking their second shots, and the right hand side of the fairway is protected by trees along its entire length. Stay on the fairway here and a safe par is a certainty. The green is protected by bunkers left and right, and falls severely away at the back. Miss the green long on this hole and a bogey is guaranteed. Easily the best par 5 on the golf course.

Another sensational par 3, regarded as the signature hole on the course, providing a great challenge for every golfer. A tee shot over a fairway of bracken will find a green surrounded by bunkers. The front is guarded by a cavernous pot, which runs the width of the green. Bunkers left and right demand an accurate tee shot. The green slopes gently from back to front, so be bold here as there are no rewards for any shot left short. A hole that excites every time it is played, irrespective of the result.

A super short hole that demands precise decision making. Long hitters can take on the green from the tee, but it must be a gun barrel straight shot to reach the green. The conservative play is a fairway wood / long iron to avoid the bunkers both left and right, followed by a lofted short iron to the heart of the green. Don't be shy with your second shot as a valley will catch any timid approaches, and it gives the impression that the green is actually closer than it is. Avoid the left hand green side bunker as it is quite deep, and makes getting up and down near impossible if the pin is cut on the left hand side. This hole should be a simple finish to a great round but don't let its simple appearance lull you into a false sense of security. Stay alert here or you will rue the consequences for a lapse in concentration.

A great little par 4. A tee shot that requires accuracy and courage. Aim over the right hand fairway bunker, and let rip. Well hit tee shots taking this line will leave a short second shot to a well bunkered, narrow green, that slopes from back to front. Shorter hitters should aim to the left of the right fairway bunker, and will then need to navigate their second shot between the bunkers that protect the approach to the green. The fairway doglegs slightly right, and slopes down from the peak of the fairway ridge. This is a great hole as there is no bail out area, so go for the heart of the green. A brave shot will open the door for birdie.

A blind tee shot over a ridge to a fairway that gently slopes down to a well bunkered green. Left of centre off the tee is the preferred line here, as anything right will find large trees blocking their path to the green. The green is slightly raised, and any second shot hit long makes par quite difficult. Be wary of attacking the pin unless it is cut in the centre of the green as wayward second shots left or right will cause some grief. One of the best holes on the course as it looks a lot easier than it plays, and brings many a good round undone. A definite sleeper in terms of difficulty.

The longest par 4 on the course, that doglegs to the right, and is rated as the toughest hole at Cranbourne. The tee shot MUST be kept left of centre to ensure a clear second shot. Push the ball to the right off the tee here, and a par becomes unlikely unless you can get up and down from a long way short of the green. Even after a good drive, you will be left with a long iron / fairway wood, that is usually into a head wind, and must be threaded between large bunkers short of the green on both sides of the fairway. The green is long, with a ridge through its centre. Any shot hit left will feed off the left edge, and anything too long will leave you to negotiate hills and humps to get up and down.