Araluen Country Club

The first hole is a par 5, gently uphill to a large green protected by three bunkers. The ideal tee shot is up the right side of the fairway to open up the green for a strong second shot. A wayward shot to the left will encounter problems with trees and shrubs.

A short downhill par 4, dog-legging to the right around a yawning fairway bunker. Two bunkers protecting the green allow for tight pin positions which can only be accessed by accurate pitch shots to a green which slopes gently downwards to the rear.

A strong uphill par 4, dog-legging to the right. The tee shot is guarded only by trees, while the approach shot to an elevated green must negotiate a cavernous bunker on the right side and another bunker at the left.

A downhill par 3 to a wide green sloping gently to the rear and protected by two bunkers in the front and one behind. Do not overclub here, because there is dense bushland at the back of the green which could be costly for the unwary.

A straightaway par 4, gently uphill with a series of fairway contours. An accurate drive up the left side, flirting with a deep fairway bunker will open up a well protected and subtly contoured green, for the approach. There are bunkers on both sides of the green and shrubbery behind it.

This is a strong par 4. The tee shot, along level ground should ideally be played right of centre. A drive over a large fairway bunker on the right side of the fairway will provide the best line for a downhill approach to a green which is angled around a bunker at front left.

A longer par 3, downhill to an angled green bisected by a narrow ridge running across it. The views beyond the green are enchanting, but concentration must be maintained to avoid the three bunkers guarding the green and the steep back slopes behind.

The longest hole on the course. The drive is uphill with large fairway bunkers left and right on a right hand dogleg. Few players will reach the green in two when the sea breeze is blowing. When the easterly is blowing a blind shot played with draw will best find a green which is guarded in the front by a swale on the left side.

The final hole of the outward nine is a real showpiece. The hole is straightaway downhill and a solid drive will find low handicappers faced with a mid iron across a lake guarding the right side of the green. A long drive will find a steep down slope which will gain sufficient extra length that the player is faced with a short pitch to the green. However, if such a drive misses the fairway to the left it may find an impenetrable marshy hazard.

The tenth hole is a drive and pitch par 4. The drive is uphill with the hole dog-legging to the left around two imposing fairway bunkers. The ideal drive is down the right hand side to avoid the bunkers and open up the dogleg. The subtly contoured green is protected by two bunkers.

The eleventh runs to the north along the west side of a ridge which offers magnificent views towards the coast. A good drive will afford the player the option of laying up to the right of a crescent of three bunkers down the left side, or of fading a strong second shot onto a green angled from the left to right along the side of the ridge.

The green of this 173 metre par 3 hole lies sandwiched between two large bunkers in front and one behind. The back bunker provides an enhanced perception of distance, which is vital for the player, because immediately behind the green is a valley with a backdrop of hills in the distance.

The thirteenth hole is a long uphill par 4. The fairway slopes down to the left. It is necessary to drive right of centre alongside a fairway bunker to provide a view of and a good line to a green angled from right to left, protected by a deep front bunker on the left side.

A drive bunker on the inside of a left hand dogleg will ensure that a good tee shot is needed to reach the start of a down slope to the green of this mid length par 4. The second shot must be accurately placed between two greenfront bunkers. The green is not deep and care must be taken not to go through the green and down the steep backslope.

The only hole without any bunkers. The strategy is provided by strategic visual mounding. A tee shot to the left of the fairway will find the green obscured by a greenfront mound, whilst a drive to the higher right hand side will provide a full view of the green. Correct club selection is very important here.

A spectacular one shotter from tees high above the green. The back tee is thirty metres higher than the putting green, which lies behind a series of ponds, with a large irrigation lake below to the left. Club selection is difficult as the height provides greater influence by the wind. The green is generous and is bisected by a gentle central ridge from back to front.

A beautiful par 5 which runs up a valley with the fairway sloping down to a stream meandering down the right side. For the strong player, a well hit tee shot will allow the decision whether to layup short of the creek which crosses in front of the green, or to go for the green with the second shot. The green is ringed by a series of pot bunkers at the rear and playing out of these towards the creek is fraught with peril.

The finishing hole continues the gentle ascent up the valley. The creek meanders along the left side of the hole, past a grove of poplar trees and crosses the fairway just past the left hand dogleg. A firm tee shot to the right side will give an enhanced view of a green lying to the left of a walled pond with bunkers behind at the left side. Do not push or slice your approach shot!