Woodlands Golf Club

A testing dog leg to start the round. When playing this hole down breeze take an iron or 3-wood to leave a mid to short iron into a receptive green. Bigger hitters can take on the trees, or shape a right to left shot around the corner to create a genuine birdie opportunity.

A good drive left of centre to avoid the fairway bunkering and out of bounds fence along the right hand side will give longer hitters an opportunity to go for the green in two. A player of average length can play an iron or 3-wood for the second shot to leave a short iron into a small narrow green.

Players of average length need to avoid a cluster of fairway bunkers on the right to leave a short iron to a small and well-bunkered green. Longer hitters can take on the corner to leave a short pitch and another birdie opportunity. Any shots that run through this green can leave a very difficult chip to a back to front sloping green.

Position from the tee is paramount to allow any chance of attacking this narrow green. The green is easily reachable, but any shots left or right of pin high leaves a near impossible up and down. Ideal position from the tee is short right to leave a short pitch into a green protected by steep banking on either side.

The 5th hole is the first of the four par threes. A medium length hole at 166 metres, the green is set amid a desert of sand. From the tee it is a daunting tee shot and the club to use varies from a 2-iron into a strong northerly to a 6-iron on a calm day.

A well placed tee shot is just the beginning of successfully negotiating this strategically designed par 5. The left to right sloping fairway requires a drive down the left side to avoid running down toward the waiting bushland. The second shot can be placed down the left side to avoid the hummocks and thick rough, or longer hitters can attempt to carry the trouble and leave a short pitch into a left to right sloping green. Better to miss this green on the right to avoid difficult green side bunkering on the left.

A par on this hole is a good result with most long hitters using a long iron for accuracy followed by an 8 or 9 iron to a very small green. Beware the green as it slopes away to the right quite severely.

The 8th hole is a tough, long par 3 where par is always a good score. It is heavily trapped on both sides and requires a long iron to hit the green. If you do miss the green then it is better to do so short where a deft chip should secure your par.

A slightly dog legged par 4 generally played into a northerly headwind. The tee shot must be down the left hand side to open the green for anything from a fairway wood to medium length iron. The large bunkers 20 metres short of the green catch anything short, and anything right of the green runs away leaving a difficult up and down. Par is a good result here.

This tough par 4 presents a challenging start to the back nine. A good straight drive can reach the top of the crest some 200 metres away. The approach must be accurate as there is thick woodland on both sides of the fairway, and heavy bunkering protecting this small green which slopes away from left to right. Cross bunkers 40 metres in front of this green catch anything short. The stretch of holes through the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th at Woodlands presents an excellent test of golf.

The shortest of all par 3's at Woodlands. This small green is bordered on three sides by large bunkers and thick wiry rough at the back. A good opportunity to catch your breath after the previous stretch of demanding holes.

A shortish par 4 of classic design, which rewards an accurate tee shot. The narrow fairway slopes away on the right hand side catching any loose drives so anything down the left of centre is premium here. Anything too long and left can be caught by the fairway bunkering, so a 3 wood from the tee is a sensible option depending on the wind. The narrow green is well protected by deep bunkers either side, and a steep slope behind catches anything through the green.

The 13th is a short par 4 where the best option is to play safe with a long iron or 3 wood. The large fairway bunker on the left is not the place to be and anything laid up only requires a 9-iron or wedge to hit the green.

A straight tee shot is needed down a very narrow fairway, bordered on either side by heavy scrub and trees. The approach must then thread its way past extensive and deep bunkering on either side of the entrance to a green considered generous in size by Woodlands' standards.

A monster from the back tees, a par is a great result even from the members tees on a par 5 fraught with danger from tee to green. A fearsome set of cross bunkers stretch across the fairway some 80 metres from the green, after negotiating these an elevated green protected by a deep greenside bunker on the left and steep slope on the right and behind awaits.

A difficult par 4 generally played into a prevailing wind. The ideal position for the tee shot is right of centre to create a better angle for approaching this green protected by a cluster of bunkers along the left hand side.

A receptive green but well protected on the right and in the front by a set of deep bunkers. Anything left finds a steep slope that runs into a deep gully or thick rough beyond this. Players who fail to find this green from the tee can struggle to make par.

A realistic birdie opportunity to close out the round. A good drive can clear the crest of the hill and run down the slope, beware of the out of bounds fence along the right hand side. Cross bunkers 100 metres from the green can be carried by longer hitters, otherwise leave yourself a short iron to a receptive green protected by relatively shallow bunkers on the left side.