Otago Golf Club

A par five and an excellent opening hole, which requires a tee shot centre-right of fairway. The left is heavily guarded by trees and a substantial drop-off. The second level of the fairway can be reached by the better strikers. The green is reachable but avoid trees on the left. A water hazard protects the right side thirty metres from the green.

An uphill par four, which requires a well-positioned tee shot landing on the right side of the fairway. Both sides are guarded by trees and from 150 metres off the tee the fairway slopes markedly from right to left. The approach shot is to an elevated green guarded by a grass bunker short left and a steep drop on the left side and through the green. Players have the option of running the ball in from the right hand side. In windy conditions club selection can vary considerably on this hole. The green is fast and in many cases players often struggle to realise that they are in fact above the hole

A short par four and decision time for the better strikers. The green can be driven but beware of out of bounds down the entire left side and at the back of the green, trees and uncontrolled rough ten metres from the fairway on the left and a large number of trees on the right. Bunkers guard the fairway short left and surround the green. Those who play safe are left with a short pitch to the green, which has several double movements, and requires good judgement of pace.

A par four, which like the adjacent 5th hole, is influenced by the wind. The tee shot can be positioned centre or right for safety although most pin positions are best approached from the left side of the fairway, which is protected by a water hazard running almost the length of the hole. An accurate approach is required to negotiate the tight right to left sloping entrance to the green. The large green is well guarded by bunkers.

The drive should be directed down the right side of the fairway, which slopes toward the water hazard encountered on the previous hole. There is a premium on accuracy for both the tee and approach shots as the right hand side has uncontrolled rough running its entire length fifteen metres from the fairway edge.

The 6th hole is No 1-stroke index, uphill par four, dog-leg left 200 metres from the tee. Trees left and right and fairway bunkers are very much in play. The second shot requires accurate club selection onto a two-level green, as a deep greenside bunker protects the front of the green. Left will kick down the hill and right is heavily bunkered. The green is treacherous and demands respect, as putting and chipping from above the hole is challenging.

The first of the par 3 holes on the Course. A mid to long iron will probably be necessary to hit the green from the blue tee, which plays with an awkward right to left angle. From the white and yellow tees the hole is more benign but there is reward for being up to the hole from all tees. The green slopes away severely at the front and is bunkered on both sides. Failure to take enough club is a common problem on this hole, which in windy conditions plays longer than the distance on the scorecard.

A short par four, reachable for the top player but with little margin for error. Well-positioned trees and an awkwardly sloping terrain call for a well executed approach shot. Bunkers front right and left and a steep drop on the right hand side and the back of the green make it one of the most important approach shots on the Course.

A blind tee-shot open to the elements to a very undulating fairway. Knowledge of the flag position is important for positioning the ball from the tee. The approach shot will be a mid-short iron to a green that slopes away from the player and is bunkered on both sides. This is one of the most interesting greens on the course and requires careful study of slope and pace.

The drive is over a steep hill favouring the left side as the fairway slopes gently from left to right. A difficult hole for the club player from the championship tee, as they must carry the ball in excess of 200 metres to clear the hill. From the top of the hill a long-medium iron is needed into a narrow green. The green angles diagonally left to right across the line of the approach. Steep banks make chipping difficult from both sides so feed the ball in short left and allow for the natural run on to the green

Signature hole. In 1935, Gene Sarazen was found wanting after he managed to put three balls out of bounds before playing a more conservative long iron onto the fairway. Arnold Palmer played this hole in direct contrast in 1966, driving his ball 370 metres to the heart of the green and from a tee at least 50 metres behind that used by Sarazen. He proceeded to two putt for a birdie. Out of bounds and a creek guard the entire left side of the fairway and bush and trees the right side. In calm conditions a medium-short iron will find the green, with out of bounds to the left and bunkers guarding the green. The green has a difference of 3 clubs from front to rear, dependent on conditions.

An attractive par 3 with a call once again for accuracy. A medium iron will be required. Two large pines protect the right side short of the green preventing excessive right to left movement and there is also a large bunker on the right side of the green. The left side is definitely a danger although a bunker will save you from the major trouble being a stand of trees and a steep bank, which slopes to out of bounds. The green is long and narrow

A par 5, with 3 levels, one of the most attractive holes on the Course. The number 1 stroke index for Ladies. A well-struck drive can roll down the steep slope to the second level offering a chance of reaching the green in two. Otherwise, the top of the hill offers the best position. Care is required with the second shot as out of bounds controls the left side and trees protect the wayward shot to the right. The sloping green is very fast.

A sharp dogleg and sloping fairway and an elevated green. Trees and a water hazard plus a large area of uncontrolled rough heavily protect the corner of the dogleg. The approach shot with a long iron from a sloping fairway also has to deal with the water hazard on the right and out of bounds on the left. The green is built on a slight elevation and protected by bunkers on both sides and front with a steep bank to the right.

This hole requires a long iron to carry the full 186 metres over a gully at the front and then drops away to an area of trees and rough and invariably a bad lie. Bunkers protect the front of the green (20 metres short) and both sides of the green. The right side is tree lined but less of a problem. The green is fast with two levels and offers an array of very interesting pin positions

The first of two short par 4?s, and for the lower handicappers the 16th hole is an excellent driving hole reachable from the tee. Trees and a lateral hazard protect the left and the green drops sharply on both sides. There are bunkers on both sides of the front of the green.

A newly constructed green has added further challenges to this dog-leg par 4, played from elevated tees. Trees and a lateral hazard guard the entire left side and fairway bunkers protect the right side. The fairway slopes slightly to the left so line of play is very important.

Commemorating a battle fought in the Boer War in 1900, this par 4 requires a long drive favouring left of centre. A fairway bunker on the right will not hinder many. The most important factor is to allow a good angle to the flagstick. Anything short will run back to the front surround. Bunkers protect front left and right.This is a difficult finishing hole and one that plays a lot longer than its recorded length.