Gainsborough Greens Golf Club

A reasonably friendly opening hole with an emphasis of accuracy and not distance. The longer hitters may be able to take the fairway bunkers out of play, but be warned, and errant shot will put you OOB on the left or in rough/ hazard on the right. The green is well bunkered so a solid shot to the middle of the green should get the game off to a solid start

Hopefully you are all relaxed after a good start as the tee shot on the 2nd hole is probably the most demanding on the course. Trees on the left, water in front and right; even a long straight shot will catch a deep fairway bunker. Depending on your driving length you can take on the water (with a fade to keep it from the bunker) or play left of the water. With more trees left and water right, your next shot will require accuracy to the green or laying up for a pitch and putt par.

A well bunkered hole puts the premium on accuracy.

The longest hole on the course and finally a little pressure is taken off the tee shot with a generously sized fairway.

A relatively short dogleg left hole. Although the fairway boasts a reasonable landing area, be careful as an errant shot left or right could result in an unplayable lie or water hazard. There is a little more room on the left side of the fairway than it appears. A good drive should leave you with a short iron/pitch into the hole. Definite birdie chance.

One of the longer Par 4's on the course, doglegging from left to right. A strong tee shot preferably with a fade is required to comfortably reach the green.

A very reachable Par 5 but still with its elements of danger. With water up the entire left side of the hole and two fairway bunkers right, a straight tee shot is a must to reach the generous green.

Being the longest Par 3 on the course it will require a long iron or rescue to give a birdie putt. With bunkers left, right and long it is better to be conservative off the tee leaving yourself a chip up to the pin if you don't make the green. Trying to force your tee shot may be dire if you over slice it into the trees on the right.

Another long straight hole. A lone fairway bunker left is reachable with a good tee shot so the ideal shot is to shape your tee shot from left to right away from the bunker. Once again be careful not to over do the fade as it might bring the hazard and trees into play on the right. With bunkers right and behind the green, a similar shaped second shot is ideal. Take particular notice of the colour of the flag as it is quite a deep green so club selection is important.

A lovely yet sneaky hole. Emphasis is on placement from the tee. A drawing long iron or rescue will place you in the widest part of the fairway and leaving a pitch to the hole. Your pitch shot however may appear more complicated when you see water infront of the green and bunkers surrounding it's remainder. Don't be suckered into attacking a front pin as a slight mis-hit or over spinning sand-wedge will find a watery grave.

This hole presents two options- the tempting heroic shot or the safe two-shotter. To have a chance of an eagle putt your tee shot will have to fade around the tree and carry the bunker short of the green- around 240 meters. The more conservative play is to hit a mid to long iron down the left side of the fairway then putt for your birdie.

A short Par 5 where the tee shot holds the key.? The longer hitters, if selecting a driver, must hit a hook off the tee to find the fairway. This will make the green easily reachable in two shots.? The smarter play though is to hit a fairway wood from the tee to avoid driving through the fairway or reaching the water.

Another dogleg to the left. A little of the corner can be taken on unless the wind is blowing into your face. The green is well protected by bunkers; if the pin is cut hard to the left be extra cautious not to be too aggressive as a shot to the middle of the green will still give you a good roll at a birdie.

This newly designed Ross Watson hole is a short but yet deceiving Par 4. The wind's direction dictates how much, if any, of the right hand bunker you can take on from the tee. But beware of the heavily bunkered left side of the fairway. Even though its a short hole, finding the green doesn't mean a par is assumed, as the green has many tiers and undulations.

A lovely new Ross Watson designed hole. A deceptively long green surrounded by bunkers makes some pin placements very daunting to attack. This multi-tiered green also means the job is only half done after finding the surface. A par is very satisfying.

A medium length Par 4 although the wind will certainly add to the difficulty. Your length off the tee will decide how much of the corner you can cut off, but if you take too much a watery grave is assured. Depending on the pin placement club selection can be crucial with the hazard reaching the very front of the green and continuing around the right side of the green; there also looms a bunker at the rear to catch the longer shot. To the left of the green there is a very generous bail-out area which is nice as all other shots missing the green will be in some form of a hazard.

A great Par 3 that is not only well bunkered but has a watery grave for the wider shots. With its medium length, the wind will dictate any extra challenge. It is safe to be short but any shot that is short and right will catch the water. Green high right left or long will find sand.

An awesome grand finale hole. The number of sad stories and ruined scorecards I've heard because of the 18th are too numerous to count. The tee shot is a little demanding with water left and trees right. The green is reachable in two shots with a good drive played to the left side of the fairway. If you don't have the length to reach perhaps a driver is not necessary as a lay-up shot short of the water is inevitable. Now the fun begins... to go for it or not to go for it?? And... with what club?? A good drive should leave a long or mid iron to the green. It's a very long green and reasonably wide but from the fairway you can clearly see that short is not an option, so "club-up". If you are laying up be sure to err right as a pulled or hooked shot will keep on bouncing towards the very water you're supposed to be laying up from. If the pin is at the front half of the green and you are past the pin, be prepared for a knee-knocker as this is green has the biggest slope on the course. Birdie or even eagle is very attainable but just be sure you attempt shots you are capable and confident of playing or you will be signing for a snowman or even more