Sandhurst Club (North Course)

Play away please! The opening hole plays a left-handed dogleg. Gentle downwind but strong into a midsummer northerly. The key aim is to negotiate the right greenside bunker.

After a generous opening, it's down to business with a strongish par four which will play with a cross wind most of the time. Bunkering on the bold line is a feature of this hole and a medium to long iron will be required to find the putting surface surrounded by complexes of humps, hollows and two bunkers on the right hand side.

The first of the quartet of the sort hole, the 'Wall' owes its name to the stone wall that protects the green. It will also be the first time for golfers to experience the grandeur of Sandhurst's Red Gums which form the backdrop. The 3rd may well become the subject of many a how I hit the wall golfing tale.

A long straight par 5, the 4th turns back to the south with ever-present OOB fence to account for balls struck left. Better to go right and take on the group of bunkers which link the fourth with the 5th hole. In a northerly this hole may allow longer hitters a chance to make it home in two shots. Bunkers front and left guard a double-tiered green.

The 5th commences a trio of solid par 4s each with their own character. The wind will again influence strategy from the tee as a straight shot here is important to avoid bunkers left and right. The green is angled oblique to line of play providing several options of approach to fade the ball in or to play over the bunker.

An Easterly wind is rare in Melbourne so the 6th will more often play to its full measure. Throw in a prevailing cross wind and accuracy is the requirement if it is to be achieved in regulation. Bunkers guard the left side of the fairway and the approach to approach to the split level green suggest a degree of respect.

Middle or right hand side is the aim for the medium length par 4 7th hole. Bunkers guard most of the left side from the tee to green so the smart play is to approach the angled green from the right hand side. Dont go too far right on approach however as a watercourse tightens play towards the next tee.

As the name implies the 8th is long from the back tee with the added muscles of three greenside bunkers and a deception bunker short of the green. The front pin position is tight but the rear of the green is broad and generous at neatly thirty metres wide. Therein lies the tip be long to be conservative there is added advantage of rear mounding to gather the ball.

The names says it all! The burn which protects the 9th green will tantalise the longer hitters who dare to flirt with danger. This green can only be reached by two very strong blows and may not be worth the risk. Firstly though our heroes must negotiate the beckoning fairway bunkers and lake which follow the fairway to the burn. The safe option is down the longer right side.

The start of the back nine requires a tee shot aimed at one of the many ancient River Red Gums which signify the Sandhurst development. There are two options from the tee; to play conservatively to the right hand side of the fairway thereby requiring a longer approach to the green, or to take the heroic line over the left side fairway bunker to provide the reward of a shorter iron to the green.

The par 5 11th hole offers the opportunity of good scoring for those who subscribe to the risk and reward theory. The fairway is generous from the tee which, with a prevailing sou-wester, will give players the chance of driving long over a diagonal fairway ridge to attack the green in two shots. Approach shots which drift off line will be caught amongst the five bunkers which lead to the green.

The 12th traverses a series of ridges or "hurdles" on its way to an elevated green. Off the tee shave the right hand fairway bunker. The reward for achieving this preferred position is that the green is angled to accept a medium iron. Into the wind however, it is a line only the brave would attempt.

The lucky 13th is the shortest hole on the course and is offset by two, large ancient Gums. The tee shot must negotiate a copse of two bunkers which guard the left side of the raised green. Mounds and hollows at the right and rear suggest careful club selection aimed to the tight heart of the green.

The short par 4 14th represents an opportunity to "have a go!" but like many short hole there are a few traps and deceptive angles which will need to be overcome to better par.

The par 3 15th plays across the restored hollow of a former gravel extraction area. To carry this should not be an insurmountable task but as we all know, water can be a strange and powerful lure for golf balls. The elevated double tiered green with bunkering on the right side suggests a left to right shape tee shot.

The 16th is an enjoyable short to medium length par 4 which aims west towards a large remnant Elm tree. A well placed drive somewhere near the Elm tree on the left side will set up the direct approach to the kidney shaped green which has a ridge across the centre to make putting from and to either side a challenge.

The par five 17th requires an accurate tee shot between two large Red Gums to setup a long approach or lay up into the double green. Even better if the fairway bunkers are carried and the alignment to the green is improved. The out of bounds fence threatens the left side. The 17th has been configured for a "do or die" situation.

The final hole of The Sandhurst Club's North Course is a deceptive medium length par 4 with options from the tee to "bite off as much as you can chew", meaning if the water and fairway bunkers are attacked and carried, the reward will be a straighter approach to the green. As the name suggests however, woe betide those who err left where a watery grave waits.