Thirteenth Beach Golf Links (Beach Course)

The perfect opening hole. The 1st hole of The Beach Course offers the golfer the opportunity to get off to a quick start without being a total walk over. A mid to generous landing area allows golfers the opportunity to hit iron or three wood to get their round started. Played carefully the first hole can be a nice safe par, but hit your drive too far off line and double bogey is not out of the question. The right hand side of the fairway is guarded by three pot bunkers, with rough and sandy wasteland guarding the left hand side. Three bunkers guard the left hand side of this long narrow green, with a secondary cut of fescue grass guarding the right and back of green. TIP: The safest and easiest way to make four on this hole is to place your drive short of the bunkers on the right hand side of fairway, and hit a short iron to the heart of the green. Longer hitters may like to chance their luck at hitting driver at the green leaving either a putt or short chip to the well guarded green. But of course this is easier said than done on the first hole of the day.

A mid to long par 4, its difficulty is affected by the prevailing winds. Framed down the left hand side by a series of houses, a large crop of eight bunkers entice the player to take the short route home. Players are then confronted by a large putting surface that tilts subtly from left to right, but has many varying slopes to catch the player who hasn’t quite gauged the pace of the greens yet. This is the first contact the golfer has with the residential precinct surrounding Thirteenth Beach, and is a fine example of how well houses with strict covenants can blend into the surrounds. TIP: Avoid the bunkers on this hole to perhaps secure that early birdie. This fairway is wider than it seems. There is a small hump that restricts the golfers view of the rest of the fairway. Hit a drive off the left edge of the bunker on the right hand side, then hit your second shot to the fat part of the green. As the green is not deep club so as your ball lands into or just short of the tier that protects the front of the green.

A long par three that generally plays into the breeze. This up turned cashew shaped green has a number of pin positions that make obtaining par extremely difficult. Golfers could quite possibly face the longest putt of their careers at this hole, as many a round can be ruined by the early three or four putt. TIP: If your tee shot can’t hit the green be sure that you miss to the short side, as a chip over the large ridge running down the middle of the green can be near impossible.

A much criticized par five, architect Tony Cashmore designed this hole to fight against the fast rise of titanium drivers and oversized club heads. On some days players will be required to hit just a long iron off the tee to a small throat of fairway that is guarded by a water hazard on the left and cypress trees and a bunker on the right. If conditions allow and players are able, a long iron or a fairway wood can be used from the fairway to reach the green in two. Regulation par can be made by hitting to the right of the fairway traps, then wedging onto the green from about 100 metres. However this hole is greatly effected by the elements and should be played on its merits. TIP: Any drive left of the lone fairway trap will increase the likelihood of an early birdie. If laying up, the clubbing of the third shot is critical, with bunkers guarding the green short and right and a mixture of fescues and swales guarding the back of the green. Although not visible from the fairway there is a large saddle that covers two thirds of green, golf balls falling into this area will often feed off the green and into the fringe. The mini version of St Andrews valley of sin located at the front of the green should also be avoided.

The beginning of the stretch of holes that Thirteenth Beach has become most famous for. Standing on the tee most players are overawed by the sight of this Par 4. The 3 sets of tees for this hole are located next to the old irrigation pump from when Thirteenth Beach was an asparagus farm. The site of the irrigation now lays dormant and cuts diagonally across the length of the hole. Four huge fairway bunkers have been cut into the side of the hill. Masterfully constructed by shaper Barry Hudson these bunkers stand up and rare at the golfer as they look across the first fairway on the drive to the clubhouse. Perhaps the biggest challenge of these bunkers is not their difficulty but gauging how far they are off the tee. Without the help of a course guide the hole appears a lot longer than it actually plays. Given the right conditions the green is reachable from all three tees. But it does require the golfer to carry their drive in excess of 250metres over a water hazard and bunkers, another example of Cashmore incorporating risk and reward into his players rounds. TIP: Whilst the temptation to impress playing partners or chase that elusive two may be realistic, many a round has been ruined as players miscue or hit flippy hooks into the water. The safest and most effective way to play this hole is to hit a three wood or long iron from the tee leaving about 100 metres to the hole. This allows the golfer to attack the flag stick and hopefully make a birdie on this tiered green.

Another Par five to attract criticism and praise from golfers around the world. A true three shot hole, players hit from the tee towards a large swampy marshland that is an extension of Murtnaghurt lagoon. The hazard encroaches onto the fairway at approximately 225 leaving the golfer only a small bottle neck that is approximately 20 metres to land drives longer than this distance. It is a rare par five that dictates the way players must play the hole. Only on the strongest of tailwind days can this hole be reached in two strokes, this is what has been criticised by golfers. Golf technology is stretching golf courses to their absolute limit. Modern courses are stretching over 6500 metres and beyond. By creating the true three shot hole Cashmore has tried to restrict the effects of technology, effectively taking the driver out of play. After a successful lay up players can then advance the ball into the fairway, and finally shoot blind to a green protected by dunes reminiscent of those seen in Irish golf pictorals. TIP: From the tee select a club that can hit 190 to 210 metres. This will leave you well placed behind the swampy marshland. Calculate the distance to the final fairway bunker and aim to land just short of it. This will leave a wedge oro a short iron into the green. Be sure to leave your third shot beneath the hole leaving an up hill putt to one of the many hole locations on this green.

Working your way back up the nearby sand dune to this enclosed tee, the golfer faces one of the most stunning views of the golf course. Looking back across the recently completed sixth hole, the sparkling waters of Murtnaghurt Lagoon and onto the clubhouse it could be quite easy to become transfixed in the surrounding scenery. But the seventh hole requires much greater respect. This magnificently shaped green represents all the wonderful aspects of Links golf. To the left of the hole a small dune sits with two bunkers. On the right hand side of the dune a large grassed area feeds all balls striking its vicinity onto the green. At the front of the green a large tightly cut apron allows the golfer to bounce their ball onto the firm putting surface. The right hand side of the green is protected by many bunkers, including a large deep bunker that protects the back of the green from any shots the slightest bit overclubbed. The first truly great par three on the course. TIP: If the pin is in the middle or to the right hand side of the green, aim at the green side traps to the left and work the ball back to the centre of the green. The natural lie of the land will bounce the ball towards the pin. If the pin is in the left bowl, good luck!

Similar to the seventh hole the view from the tiger tees here is mind blowing. This hole has changed quite considerably since the course first opened in December 2001. From the two sets of tees the golfer is faced with a large landing area that bottles into a small neck of fairway protected by bunkers. In typical Cashmore style the landing area is quite large for the not so experienced player and gets narrower the further the ball gets advanced down the fairway. A small bunker on the left hand side of the fairway, and two fairway bunkers on the right hand side create this bottle neck type effect. The only bunkerless green on the golf course awaits as players are forced to shoot blindly into this bowl shaped green. It is hard to get it close to the pin on this green as judging the distance can be near impossible. The green is fairly flat with only hole locations at the back of the green causing any real dilemmas. TIP: Play down the right hand side of this fairway from the tee, aiming directly at fairway traps. This will leave the shortest route to the green. The second shot can be played in a number of ways. Because the green sits in a bowl those players just wanting to find the surface can hit the ball in from the right or left and let it feed off the slopes. To get the ball close to the flag, aim directly at the entrance to the green.

A strong finish to a tough opening stretch. Whilst good scores can definitely be posted on the front nine, no hole should be taken for granted. The 9th hole posts a much more difficult challenge. From the tee the fairway doglegs dramatically to the right hand side. A large sandy wasteland begins at about 100metres off the tee and stretches the length of the drive. Another risk reward hole that allows players to bite off as much as they can chew. The stony wasteland is unpleasant to play from and should be avoided at all costs. After finding the fairway, the player is confronted with arguably the most difficult approach shot on the golf course. Down wind and down hill to a very narrow green.

Strong Par that plays back into the prevailing southerly. The further you drive the ball the more narrow the fairway becomes. The fairway allows the player to hit it left or right off the tee, but the closer you are to the right rough, the further you have to the hole. A long narrow green makes long iron approaches extremely difficult, and a set of three bunkers guard for those shots leaking slightly right. TIP: Drive it down the left hand side trying to keep it as close as possible to the bunkers, this will leave the shortest approach shot to the hole. A ball left below the hole gives the best chance for that elusive birdie.

One of the best Par 5’s in the country. A well played hole will deliver a birdie, a poorly played hole could deliver a 10. The property’s perimeter fencing which is out of bounds guards the left hand side, and a set of two fairway bunkers and tea tree guard the right. One of the tightest fairways on the golf course, not only do players have to thread their drive through a series of hazards they must combat the left to right southerly that sweeps this hole. A drive down the middle presents the golfer with an opportunity to hit the green in two, but a poor shot will find trouble with sand and tea tree guarding the green. An undulating green makes putting difficult, but a well struck putt will get its rewards. TIP: Find the fairway at all costs, even if this means hitting three wood or a long iron from the tee. Unless your one of the longer hitters, lay up on your third. There is a small pot bunker in the middle of the fairway, either just short or long of the bunker will give a flat third shot into the green. Locate where the pin is on this hole as depth perception can be quite difficult.

Regarded by many as one of the most aesthetically pleasing holes in the country. This natural Par 3 looks and feels like it was on the property just waiting for the grass to be mown and golfers to play it. Like the eleventh, good shots are rewarded with birdie opportunities, but a Par 3 is a fine accomplishment on this hole. Many hole locations determine how the hole should be played, asking the golfer to hit a variety of shots to different portions of this large green. TIP: Take half a club more than what you think is needed and aim for the centre of the green using the back dune as protection. Don’t be short as an up & down is quite difficult.

Another piece of architectural artistry. A short walk from the 12th green through a set of dunes, players are greeted with a narrow elevated tee box through a narrow shoot. A nest of bunkers guard the right hand side of the fairway beginning at 220m and continuing to the green. Sandy wasteland, tussocks and tea tree guard the left hand side. The green is a small three tiered green, that slopes from left to right, with all balls missing the green coming to rest in fescue beside the green. TIP: Position is everything. Iron or three wood off the tee hit close up to the right hand bunkers. This will leave the best angle to this green. Distance control is everything. Play the ball to the left and let it feed back toward the hole.

A strong Par 5, playing along one of the residential precincts. This fairway is wider than it seems, with a lot of room and the best line of play down the left hand side. A set of cross bunkers about 100metres from the hole are in place to capture those trying to lay up, with the deep bunkers guarding the left side of the green. TIP: Hit it down the left side off the tee, don’t even flirt with the fairway bunkers on the hill as they shouldn’t be in play. For the longer hitters shoot at the green and avoid the bunkers on the left, for those laying up, aim to leave yourself about 120m. This green is also quite long, so ensure enough club is taken for the approach shot.

The start of a strong quartet of holes. The fifteen requires players to hit a long iron or three wood to the end of the fairway, approximately 230m off the tee. A mid to short iron is required. The southerly breeze plays great effect on this hole, with most second shots worked in from the left side, bunkers guard the right side of the green. TIP: Play down the left of the fairway to give the best angle and shortest route into this green. It is better to overclub on this hole as the green is quite long. Avoid the bunkers on the right hand side.

The signature hole of Thirteenth Beach: Perched on top of a sand dune this postage stamped size green has ruined many a round as it is surrounded by pot bunkers with severe run offs to tangled fesue grass. Anywhere from a four iron to sand wedge can be used on this hole depending on the wind. TIP: Land it on the green. Take enough club and leave the ball below the hole. Balls missing the green can result in any amount of strokes.

Strong modern Par 4. Hole doglegs to the right with players required to hit a long iron into one of the largest greens on the course. Fairway bunkers guard the left and right hand side of the hole, as well as a rocky wasteland to the right. The green is split into four quadrants guarded by a large swale running both vertically and horizontally. A very good test of a players shot - making skills. TIP: Hug the right hand side of the fairway staying close to the fairway traps. This leaves the best angle and the shortest distance to the hole. If the pin is in the front portion of the green the back tier can be used as a backstop.

Aim your drive at the apex of the Clubhouse, which is visible in the foreground. You will then be faced with a tricky second shot into a well tiered green, which is well set in the shape of a "bowl". A par on this will be a very good finish.