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Hole 1

Hole Name Alpha

From The Tee A straightforward opening par 3, or so it seems. Par is made more difficult by out of bounds to the left and a large overhanging tree to the right. Beware a left-side pin placement.

From The Fairway

On The Green

Hole 2

Hole Name Vista

From The Tee This hole is undergoing extensive modification. Currently a slight dog-leg left with out of bounds uncomfortably close, the tendency is to bail out to the right – but this will make your uphill approach more difficult.

From The Fairway

On The Green

Hole 3

Hole Name The Drop

From The Tee Magnificent views of Mt Te Aroha greet the golfer setting off in search of their drive.

From The Fairway In summer the drive may end up close to the green, as the fairway drops significantly down to the Piako River.

On The Green The green is a fooler, with the break towards the river, despite what your eyes tell you.

Hole 4

Hole Name Piako

From The Tee A demanding par 3. The tee shot should be played to the right of the pin, with the inevitable member’s bounce bringing the ball back left.

From The Fairway Too far left, though, takes the ball down into a gully and a hazard. A front pin placement can prove very difficult.

On The Green

Hole 5

Hole Name Bankside

From The Tee Consistently the easiest hole on the course, this short par 4 still demands an accurate uphill tee shot to avoid tree trouble left and right.

From The Fairway There follows a short second to a green on which some difficult pin placements can be found. Think birdie on the tee.

On The Green

Hole 6

Hole Name Gums

From The Tee The easiest hole is followed by the hardest. This long par 4 plays into the prevailing wind, down a narrow corridor of trees and past the infamous ‘gO-Bbler’ that will snare the hooked drive.

From The Fairway

On The Green The green is elevated and severely sloped. Par is an excellent score.

Hole 7

Hole Name Dogleg

From The Tee A picturesque par 5, the seventh follows a gully off to the right. Avoid the hazard area to the left with your second, and a similar area to the right with your third, and birdie is a distinct possibility. The scratch golfer is always content with nine strokes for the sixth and seventh holes combined.

From The Fairway

On The Green

Hole 8

Hole Name The Pitch

From The Tee A short but tricky par 3. The green cannot be seen from the tee. At all costs avoid the lake in front of the tee and the tree area to the right, from where your ball will roll into an unplayable spot.

From The Fairway

On The Green A short but tricky par 3. The green cannot be seen from the tee. At all costs avoid the lake in front of the tee and the tree area to the right, from where your ball will roll into an unplayable spot.

Hole 9

Hole Name Pines

From The Tee

From The Fairway A long par 4, again into the prevailing wind, the ninth is made more difficult as the fairway is hidden from the tee. Otherwise the hole is relatively straightforward. Be careful of a front pin position.

On The Green

Hole 10

Hole Name Long John

From The Tee

From The Fairway This par 5 provides a generous fairway but is harsh with any shot struck off-line.

On The Green The third must be hit into an elevated green. Again, a front pin position makes the hole more difficult.

Hole 11

Hole Name Totaras

From The Tee

From The Fairway The hazard to the left of the fairway is the major feature of this otherwise innocuous par 4. It can be driven in summer by long hitters. A definite birdie opportunity.

On The Green

Hole 12

Hole Name Ringer

From The Tee A beautiful and challenging par 3, this hole plays every centimetre of its length as carry. Two cavernous front bunkers await the tentative shot. Many players lay up short of the bunkers rather than risk a sandy grave for their ball – and their round.

From The Fairway

On The Green

Hole 13

Hole Name Entrance

From The Tee A second consecutive par 3, this hole is undergoing adjustment as the subdivision building begins next door. It is a straightforward hole, with the major challenge avoiding the bunkers to the right.

From The Fairway

On The Green

Hole 14

Hole Name Hedgerow

From The Tee The most deceptive hole on the course without question, this short par 4 invites birdies but gives out bogeys.

From The Fairway Out of bounds to the right is less worrying than the hazard to the left, as the fairway slopes to the left.

On The Green Tall trees leave a narrow approach to the green, which is the most testing on the course, sloping severely from right to left. Some pin positions are almost impossible! Despite being less than 300m, par is a good score.

Hole 15

Hole Name Lakeside

From The Tee The second tricky hole in a row, this short par 4 also has a hazard left and out of bounds right, but they are more in play on this hole

From The Fairway

On The Green A conservative drive will set up a short second to a green that is difficult to hold. The hazard awaits any shot hit left or long.

Hole 16

Hole Name Chasm

From The Tee Often considered the course’s signature hole, the challenge on this par 3 is to carry the lake, bend it round or over the trees and place the ball on a severely sloping green where three putts is a common occurrence. Apart from that, the hole is easy.

From The Fairway

On The Green Often considered the course’s signature hole, the challenge on this par 3 is to carry the lake, bend it round or over the trees and place the ball on a severely sloping green where three putts is a common occurrence. Apart from that, the hole is easy.

Hole 17

Hole Name The Gap

From The Tee

From The Fairway A straight and short par 4 with a fairway sloping right to left. A well-struck drive will leave a flip to the green.

On The Green Keep your approach short of the pin: the back half of the green, in particular, is very steep and people have been known to putt right off the green.

Hole 18

Hole Name Home

From The Tee A generous closing par 5. As long as the drive is kept away from the ‘gO-Bbler’ on the left, the long hitter can reach this hole comfortably in two. A series of small bunkers will catch the imperfect approach.

From The Fairway

On The Green