Wairakei International Golf Course

The first and shortest of Wairakei's par 5's. A straight forwarded hole provided you avoid the 11 bunkers scattered up the fairway and around the green. Use the course guide to lay up short of the fairway bunkers close to the green or carry them if you dare. A two-tiered green places importance of distance control for your approach shot.

The first of Wairakei's 4 very special par 3's. An intimidating tee shot from the blue tee of some 215m across a gully to a large moderately bunkered green. Check the flag location from the front tees, as the length of the green is deceiving. In all cases avoid the deep greenside bunker to the left.

a. A par 5 which gets more demanding the closer you get to the green. A tee shot down the right hand side will generally kick back into the fairway. b. The second shot requires good placement to enable as easy shot as possible to the green. There is more room down the left side, take advantage of it to avoid the deep gully on the right. Ensure you are short or wide of the single bunker in the middle of the fairway. c. The first truly demanding approach shot. Both distance and direction are important. The green is protected by a gully on the right and large bunker to the left. The two-tier green makes for a difficult two putt if on the wrong level.

a. A short par 4 that requires two well played shots. The tee is demanding, avoiding the large pine tree to the left is crucial. Driver is not always the club of choice as the two fairway bunkers to the right are reachable, either lay up short or shape the ball right to left. b. A difficult green to hit sitting diagonally to the fairway set in front of a spectacular old oak. Don't get carried away with the scenery a shot which is not accurate with both distance and direction will leave a different chip up to a flat green.

A demanding par 3 from all tees choice of club is crucial to this very shallow green. If in doubt with club selection, take an extra one. Check wind direction by looking at the tree tops and flag as the tee can be deceptively calm. The problems don't stop there, the green slopes from back to front making a long two putt tricky.

a. Yes the hole is as impressive as the view from the tee. The tee shot needs to be well struck with length more important than direction on this reasonably wide fairway. b. Your course guide and pin placement sheet will be of assistance to this elevated green. You will be well advised to avoid the deep bunker cut into the front of the green. The green itself is generous in size and flat, the hard part is getting there.

a. A good tee shot sets up this hole well. A drive close to the right hand side of the first fairway bunker is ideal. Shape the tee shot left to right if you wish, avoid going left at all costs. b. Providing you've found the fairway your left with a straight forward shot to a large flat green. A hole most players feel they can get a shot back on, don't get lazy as the 2 bunkers will catch anything a little short.

a. Arguably one of the most demanding holes on the course. Finding the fairway is essential for a good score on this hole. You can bite off as much as you dare down the right hand side although the risk does not always match the reward, any shot from the upper area of fairway leaves a short iron to the green. b, c & d. A second shot across water often makes for some interesting swings. The back portion of the green is a good target. A forward pin placement requires an accurate shot to avoid the water and two bunkers set into the side of the green. Regardless of your result, enjoy the scenery.

a. A long par 4 well protected down the right with 6 fairway bunkers. A well struck tee shot shaped right to left down the fairway leaves you in good position for your second. b. Usually a longer iron is required for your second to another large green sloping slightly from back left to front right. Again two large greenside bunkers protect the green left and right with not a lot of room between them in front.

The green is set into the side of a hill, getting wider further up the green. The hole generally plays longer than it looks as anything short will feed into one of three deep bunkers guarding the front of the green.

a. The hole is broken into 2 segments by a small creek running across the fairway short of the green. A shot played to the same side of the fairway as the pin is on often leaves an easier second shot. b. A demanding shot is asked of the player here. The green is kidney shaped and very narrow in the middle. Distance control is essential with a deep bunker short and gully back of the green. Not a long shot but the more height the better.

a. The second of 2 short par 4's in succession. Again requiring an accurate second shot. Not a lot to be gained with the tee shot, so long as it is not in the pond to the right of one of the 4 fairway traps you are in good position. b. Like the 11th green distance control is essential 2 bunkers cut into the hill protect the elevated green. Although the green is flat it is shallow and split into 2 sections left and right by a slope you should try to avoid.

a. The 13th plays as one of the longest par 4's on the course. The fairway is generously wide however a tee shot down the right side provides the only direct line to the green. b. A difficult approach shot, the green is protected by a large pine tree short and left often requiring a shot to be played with right to left shape. The green is long and thin rolling off on both sides to deep greenside bunkers. Use the pin placement system to determine how far up the green the hole is. A truly challenging hole.

a. The tee shot played down a narrow chute needs to be long and straight. Beware of the fairway bunkers left and right. b. The second shot again needs to be well struck, the decision to play left or right of the big pine should be determined by the hole location, so check your guide. c. You will have done well to be playing your 3rd from good position on the fairway but the challenge isn't over yet. The elevated split level kidney shaped green provides many problems to overcome. The left side of the green provides a larger landing area but you must be on the same level as the hole. Par on the hole is a good score in anyone's book.

A dramatically different hole from all 3 tee locations and the last of the testing par 3's. Like most of the holes at Wairakei club selection is important, the green is large but the penalty for coming up short is heavy. The deepest part of the green is the middle and generally a good place to aim regardless of the pin position.

a. A straight forward hole although you cannot see the landing area for your tee shot, a shot down the right hand side will generally feed back onto the fairway, however a shot pulled left leaves you struggling to find the green for 2. b. Again a large green which slopes a little right to left. The green is a lot larger than it apprears from ground level. Beware of the sucker pin back left.

a. One of the most demanding tee shots from the blue tees, requiring a long well positioned ball. The tee shot is blind generally the right side of the fairway is preferred as it opens up the green. b. A shallow wide green can have several different pin positions. Anything left of the centre needs good distance control and the ball to stop quickly once on the green. A bail out option to the right side of the green is available however make sure the range finder on the putter is working if choosing this option.

a. The final hole again has a well protected fairway with 3 bunkers waiting to catch a wayward drive. The length of the tee shot will determine the strategy for the rest of the hole. b. An attempt at the green can be make from a well struck drive however if you choose this option a large bunker stretches from the right side of the green out onto the right edge of the fairway so beware. A lay up over the second series of fairway bunkers leaves a short approach to the green. c. The forward half of the green slopes gradually down to the front edge while the back position is generally flat. Another large green so choose your final club wisely.