Manly Golf Club

Probably the friendliest of par 4's at Manly Golf Club to open your account and settle any nerves. A solid drive from this elevated first tee to the centre or right hand side of the fairway, short of the fairway bunker is your best option, leaving a short iron or pitching wedge to a large double-green, shared with the 17th hole.

A long par 5 where a lay-up drive or long iron from the tee is the smart play to be just short of the water hazard that crosses the fairway. Left of center is the line to avoid fairway bunkers on the right side. Your second shot is then a long iron or fairway wood down the middle, but try to avoid Peter Thomson's signature 'pot bunker' that is strategically placed in the middle of the fairway just short of the green. Your approach shot to this 'table top' green should be left and under the hole as anywhere long will find trouble.

This signature par 5 is played as a '3 shot' hole demanding strategic play as it's the first of 3 double water carry holes. Your tee shot is a lay-up down the left centre of the fairway to avoid the fairway bunkers and the first water hazard Your second shot is a mid-iron to the right side of the fairway leaving you with the best angle in to this small tricky green.

The first of four par 3's that features an elevated undulating green. Going long or short left is to be avoided as the green is heavily bunkered front and back. Regardless of pin placement, the smart play is to the front centre of the green.

A difficult par 4 where the best play is a well-placed drive, short of the fairway bunkers. Being left of centre with your tee-shot provides the ideal approach to this fairly shallow green. Your second shot requires a precise long iron, hybrid or fairway wood keeping in mind bunkers guard the front of the green and Manly Lagoon is immediately through the green.

One of the more challenging tee-shots in a left to right breeze. Finding the trees on the right is easy enough and not a good result left of centre is your best line. Your second shot is a mid to long iron, or fairway wood. Avoid being overly long or left where there's more water- your best option is short of the green, running on.

The second of the par 3's is relatively short but it's unique feature of having ?no bunkers? combined with a tricky green makes this one of the toughest holes on the course. Any shot that misses the green on either side will challenge even the best short game players.

From this picturesque tee-box, the ideal drive is left of centre avoiding the long water hazard running parallel to the fairway on the right, and the fairway bunkers located in the centre. The golden rule with your approach shot is to ensure you take enough club to carry the water hazard as this green slopes from back to front and any shot short will finish in the water.

A short but challenging par 4 where 'risk and reward' weighs into your 'best-play' strategy. With trouble on either side of the fairway, a long iron or fairway wood 'lay-up' down the middle, is the smartest play, leaving you a short iron or pitching wedge to an elevated green. A cluster of bunkers protect the right hand front edge providing some 'food for thought' for long-hitters who think they might reach this off the tea.

A relatively short 'left to right' uphill dogleg par 4 where a good straight drive is well rewarded. Centre/left is the ideal line as two large fairway bunkers on the right are best avoided. For your approach shot, going long to the middle is the smart play with safety provided by the 'backboard' created by the high ground surrounding the green.

This challenging hole is the longest par 3 at Manly. Club choice is the key here as bunkers guard this large green and being long or left off the tee makes it tough to score. A 'middle of the green' tee-shot is the best play, giving yourself two putts to get the right result here.

A very picturesque hole that offers an inviting drive. Depending on pin placement, a long drive down the middle or just left of centre is ideal. Your second shot is uphill, over the creek to an elevated but shallow green. A gaping bunker protects the front right hand side of the green so depending on the pin location, this left side of the green is the percentage play.

This signature driving hole from the most elevated point of the golf course, offers risk and reward. For this longer hitters, the option is there to carry the fairway bunkers but the smart play is just right of centre and short of these bunkers. This challenging green is hard to hold in two-bunker protected in front and elevated. Accuracy with your second shot is highly rewarded. This green is quite a small target with pronounced undulations running away from the middle making it one of Manly's toughest greens to manage well.

The par 4 14th invites a drive into open space, tempting the long hitter to flirt with the waterway that dissects the fairway. Finishing just shy of this is your best option and leaves you a mid to long iron approach shot as your second. The green is well protected by a front edge bunker and being on the long side with your second is the smartest play.

The 15th is a short par 3 but requires pin point accuracy. The green here is protected by deep bunkers, left and right front edge and with the water hazard immediately behind it's all about getting the yardage right.

A par 4 dogleg that plays 'left to right' that requires a strategically well placed and weighted drive, left of centre. Shaping the ball 'left to right' from the tee will be rewarded but being too long and straight will be penalized by the water-hazard that is lcoated through the fairway. A well positioned drive will leave a short to mid iron into a tight and narrow green that is heavily protected by bunkers on the right edge.

A 'gun-barrel' straight par 5 that calls for two good straight woods to leave you with a short mid iron approach as your 3rd. Your tee-shot is over the dam long and strong with a 'right of centre' line is your best option. If you manage to avoid the fairway bunkering with your first two, your third shot is to a large and bunker protected double green.

A great finishing hole brings you back to the clubhouse. Accuracy with your drive or long iron is the key here. The smart play is straight and short of the right hand fairway bunker. Your second shot is a short iron or pitching wedge to this elevated and sloping green. With bunker protection on either side and to the front, the safe play is to the back half of the green.