Concord Golf Club

Short par 4-the longer hitters can take the fairway bunker out of play and maybe even drive the green. Most golfers should choose a club that doesn’t reach the bunker or play down the right side trying to avoid it. The green slopes from front to back with the edges rejecting the ball. A pitch shot will tend to bounce forward before checking. Quite often the best strategy is to land your approach 2m-3m short of the pin.

The correct strategy with your tee shot is to aim centre or left of centre, with the longer hitters not requiring a driver. There are no greenside bunkers, so that provides an opportunity to run the ball onto the putting surface should that shot be required. A tricky green to pitch to, so there is a premium on an accurate shot into the green. Your default is to come in from the right side of the pin. Try not to miss le

The longer hitters can take on the creek to a wide area beyond. Most players must keep the ball left using the contours to hold the fairway. Deep greenside bunkers right must be avoided. If you miss the green, the left side is more user friendly.

High shots into the green will enable some players to be aggressive and fly straight at the flag. Those playing a lower ball flight can run the ball onto the green off the left hand bank or clear the front bunker with a straight shot.

The smart play on this hole is to keep your tee shot left giving you a short iron into a green that is perched up running off in all directions. Absolute precision is required with your second shot- as rule aim slightly to the right of the pin and don’t be long. Avoid trying to drive the green or taking this short hole for granted.

A long par 3 that provides an opportunity to run the ball on for those playing fairway woods and hybrids. Avoid the bunkers right. However, over the bunkers on the right provides plenty of room and presents an uphill shot giving you the best opportunity to hold this tricky green. Short of the green also gives a relatively easy chip up the green.

The long hitters can take on the fairway bunker leaving a short iron into an extremely difficult green to hit in regulation. The shorter hitters need to play very straight or favour right of centre avoiding the fairway bunker on the left. The upside-down saucer green (reminiscent of Pinehurst) has no greenside bunkers but is protected by a creek that meanders along the right and wraps around the green complex. If you are not confident with your approach, leave it short of the green or left of the putting surface..

No fairway bunkers on this reachable par 5 that has a very shapely green complex with a creek protecting the front and left side. Off the tee, right side of the fairway for the longer hitters will see the ball camber back to the centre. Those laying up must get as far down as possible as there is a premium on hitting the correct level on the putting surface to avoid your ball being repelled off the green and possibly into the creek. If you go for the green in two shots your best miss is right of centre as anything left of centre unless long enough will run into the hazard.

Large fairway bunkers left must be avoided with the longer hitters being able to take them on as this will give you the best angle into the green. Shorter hitters can play left and short or play to the right side leaving an approach over the greenside bunkers. The second shot plays uphill often into the prevailing breeze. For those that can’t clear the deep bunkers protecting the front of the green left side is your best option.

For most golfers a fairway wood or driver aimed towards the fairway bunkers will see it camber to the right leaving a good angle into the putting surface. The longer hitters can cut the corner but beware missing right is very penal (there is plenty of fairway to the left of the trees on the corner of the dogleg). Keep the ball left of a right pin as missing right means its difficult to hold the green and leaves a challenging recovery. Through the green leaves a relatively simple uphill approach.

Reachable Par 5-No fairway bunkers allows you to open your shoulders. For those golfers planning on laying up, play down the right hand side to give you the best chance of staying on the green particularly with a front pin placement. The green complex slopes front to back and is also protected by a creek that is closest back right. Plenty of room to go at the green with a straight shot.

A long par 4 off the back tee with a fairway bunker guarding the left side of the fairway that will make it very difficult to advance the ball to the putting surface. The green complex is the largest on the course measuring 745 m2- sloping back to front. Two deep greenside bunkers guard the entrance to the green however there is an opportunity to play between them if required. If club selection is an issue short is better than long.

Short driveable par 4 -rated index no. 18. This hole provides an opportunity for a long drive to reach the putting surface, that’s where the fun begins. Large fairway bunkers right encourage players to stay left and are not as penal as most. A large horse shoe shape green wraps around a small deep bunker that it is best to avoid. You must be on the correct side of the green to have any chance with the putter. Positioning off the tee is key to being able to play to the correct side of the green.

The shortest par 3 protected by deep bunkers left and right. A wide shallow green requires precise distance control particularly to a front right pin. A very shapely green requires you to be on the same side as the flag to avoid 3 putts. Long is ok, with no bunkers protecting the rear of the green.

A long par 5 with a generous fairway, hitting into the right side provides less danger and better options with the 2nd shot. This hole provides a strategic challenge with the opportunity to lay up short and play a longer approach or take on the fairway bunkers and create the opportunity to attack the flag. When the pin is cut left your lay-up must be up the right side to have any chance of holding the green. Only the long hitters will make it home in 2 shots.

This is the toughest par 3 on the course so select your club and strategy carefully. It is all about where to leave the ball should you not get the ideal shot away. Missing the bunkers right provides the simplest up and down for a par while short is fine should it be a front pin. There is no trouble in over-shooting a back pin however ‘Seve’ like touch is required whether you putt or chip back to the hole as a treacherous slope awaits those that are too heavy handed.

Rated number 1 on the index the challenges are many. First select a club that avoids the cavernous fairway bunker (approx. 210m off the tee) the long hitters can carry these. A lay-up will be the only option should you find this first bunker. Once you have navigated the first fairway bunker it is all uphill to large green guarded by a deep bunker short left and green side right. A false front will repel those shots that are half a club short. Missing the green high side left provides a relatively easy putt or chip back onto the green.

Plenty of room to the left side of the deep fairway bunkers. If you get in the first set of bunkers that may well remove a par 4 from your card. Long hitters have many options with the driver, but ideally carry the right side (shorter set) of fairway bunkers and avoid the bunker on the left of the fairway further up. The green slopes from right to left and rewards the lower ball flight coming in from the right side. High ball hitters can carry the deep front left bunker and attack the flag.