Mount Gambier Golf Club

Hole 1 is a demanding par four opening hole. Index one on the card and with Out of Bounds down the left you need a good one off the tee to set yourself up for the second shot. A relatively flat two tier green this hole plays long and tough especially when the wind is blowing from anywhere except the East.

Hole 2 requires an accurate tee shot down the left side of the Fairway, however tight left off the tee means the trees will block your shot at the green. Around the green it's pretty straightforward but it is a tough up and down if you catch the rough left side of the green. With a good tee shot this Index 15 hole should see par, or even better a birdie, on the card.

Hole 3 is a slight dogleg left Par 4 with a challenging two tier green. There is plenty of room to drive although long hitters will need to be left side to avoid running out of fairway. The second shot needs to be good for distance to ensure you are on the tier where the pin is located. Accomplish the above and the Index 9 hole won't seem that hard, other than this your short game will need to be sharp.

Another slight dogleg hole but this time to the Left. A slight draw is what's required off the tee although don't overcook it as the left trees is a definite dropped shot. The green slopes from back to front and shouldn't present too many problems. Avoid missing the green long or right as it will be a tough up and down. Index 14.

Terrific short hole, a somewhat blind tee shot where you are best going with a fairway wood or long iron. Right side of the fairway just short of the bunker, leaves a short iron approach to a long and narrow well bunkered green. A miss to the right shouldn't present problems. If your game is on, this Index 10 hole shouldn't present to many challenges.

The first of the par threes. This hole just looks great off the tee. The green is beautifully bunkered and together with the wind, which you will often not be able to feel off the tee, makes this hole play to its Index rating of 8. Assess the flag and trees to see what the windsare doing.

Much tougher hole than the Index of 13 would suggest. Hitting the fairway with your Drive should be straight forward although the longer hitter needs to keep up the right. A 3 or 4 iron second shot needs to be accurately directed up the high right side of the fairway as the slope will bring it back down to the middle leaving you a short iron to the green. Don't worry about where the pin is - middle of the green with your approach is all you need on this beautiful smallish green.

Index 12 and Mount Gambier's signature hole. The view from this highly elevated tee is spectacular. The hole can play very differently from the lower front tee to the higher backs especially if the winds whipping up from the South. If the wind is blowing try knocking it down to keep the effects to a minimum. Avoid the bunkers as they will test your sand skills. The best bet is to let your partners go first and go to school on their club selection from the tee!.

Rounding the front nine the Index 11 Ninth is a challenging dogleg left. Be careful on the tee as the tee block shapes up directly towards the pines on the right and catches most new players. Its tough from the back tees but thankfully most of the time you will find the tees up the front. The approach is up the hill to one of the fastest greens on the course. Par here is good - real good, with putting the premium. Avoid going beyond pin High if possible.

The toughest of the par threes. Like the Ninth it's rare to see the tees at the back. Nevertheless it requires strong long iron play and if you hit the green you can be proud, and who knows you may even sneak a bird. Miss it anywhere except just long though and par on this Index 5 hole will seem unlikely if your short game is struggling.

You may wonder where the hole goes from the tee. Simply lay up short of the bunkers or take them on, before firing into the beautiful green setting with your second or third shot. The hole being Index 17 plays straight down the hill to the green located at one of the lowest parts of the course. There is plenty of room left of the bunkers off the tee and the second shot can easily be played from most parts of the fairway. The green has a fair slope from back to front so if the pins at the back make sure you got enough club for your third. Take in the beautiful setting down at the green as this should soothe any frustrations you're having with your game.

Take it up the left side on this Index 4 hole. The blind tee shot doesn't reveal just how much the ball will feed to the right if you get it over the crest. This green presents the toughest assignment of any at Mt Gambier with the bunkers here presenting some real challenges. Holding the magnificent couch fairway from the tee will make for a far simpler second shot, which played onto the green will leave you wondering what the fuss was all about.

A truly magnificent driving hole. The Index rating of 2 may mislead when standing on the elevated tee. Perched high it just beckons for a booming drive. The real work begins with the approach shot to the significantly elevated green. The green is large and has a severe swail creating two tiers. Miss anywhere except short of the green and you will need plenty of imagination and touch to get the ball in the hole.

From the tee the fairway rises and seems fairly straight forward, but beware anything on the right half of the fairway will fall away to the Pines. If you have managed to keep it on the short stuff a short to mid iron second shot to the best green design on the course will see your chance of par increase. Keep out of the sand and take due care with putting. Index 7

Very gettable par 5 as the Index 15 suggests. Another beautifully elevated tee shot with Out Of Bounds down the left requiring good concentration levels. For the long hitters you can go for the green in two with a strong long iron. No real dramas on approach to the green for those who lay up although the greenside bunker is a tough up and down and the rough in and around the green can present some horror lies. Good chance to get one back on this hole.

The final par three on the card. The Index 6 gives the low markers a chance to capatilise on a good tee shot. The green has a few slight undulations but it's the bunkers which will test those who find the sand. Avoid missing the green long as it will take special touch to get the ball near the pin. Again, as with all our Par 3's the wind is the most relevant factor and 16 is no different with its predominately strong right to left wind suggesting you challenge the right hand bunkers to get close.

Off the back tee this hole is as tough as it gets. The bunker left off the tee is definitely in play when the tees are up and can be fairly penal. The index rating of 3 is justified as the hole doglegs right and is uphill all the way to the large green. With the green having a substantial slope from back to front you will want to try and leave the ball under the hole. Happily take par on this hole any day.

The final hole is a sharp dogleg right. Due to the elevated tee this hole is drivable for the long hitter. The standard way to go is a fairway wood or long iron to leave a short approach shot. The back half of the green is significantly higher than the front due to a huge tier in the middle of the green. If the pin's at the back don't leave your pitch short as down at the bottom tier you will surely be looking at the dreaded three putt to finish. Index 18.