The Narrows Course

The first is a challenging warm up hole guarded by a bunker on the right and banks to the left and rear of the green. Accuracy and club selection is all important. Any miss left, long or right can leave a difficult up and down.

A good tee shot will put you in the widest part of the fairway. Long hitters will be able to go for it in two but as the fairway narrows the closer you get to the green, a lay-up shot may be the safest option. There is one bunker guarding the left of the green, two bunkers on the right and trees behind, so don't be long.

There is a lateral water hazard and out of bounds on the right and trees on the left of the fairway. Aim left to try and avoid the steep slope on right. A well placed tee shot to the top of the hill will leave a straight forward approach to the green which is guarded by a bunker on the left and a bank and trees at the rear.

This long par 5 requires an accurate drive to the narrowest part of the fairway which is flanked by trees on either side. A tee shot long and too far left leaves a difficult second shot. It best to be well short of the large tree on the left, where a long iron or fairway wood will set up a straight forward approach to a green protected by a bunker at the front right, a steep bank and garden to the right and a bank and out of bounds over the green.

This hole should not to be taken lightly. The fairway slopes away from the centre left towards the Waikato River and out of bounds. Aim to place your tee shot to the centre right of fairway for a medium to short iron to the green. A hazard and trees encroach into the fairway on the left which narrows your approach to the green that has out of bounds close to the left and behind the green, a small bunker at the front left and a steep rising bank on the right.

The main consideration here is accuracy and club selection. This green is longer than it is wide, has a narrow opening and is guarded by bunkers on both sides and at the rear. Missing the green too wide on either side will leave a difficult up and down over the bunkers.

Aim your the tee shot to land slightly to the centre or right centre of the fairway to provide the best approach shot in to this green which is set into the hillside. Club selection for the second shot is important as you want to be sure to carry bank at the front of the green to set up a birdie opportunity or two putt par.

This fairway appears tight but widens out closer to the green. A shot for position is a good option. Anything long and right can catch the slope over the brow of the hill and run in the trees on the right. The second shot is to an elevated green guarded in the front by a rising bank, a bunker on the right and a large tree and bunker on the left. Don't be fooled by the bank at the rear of the green, balls landing on it, generally stay there and do not funnel back to the green.

This hole faces directly toward the Club House and turns to the left about 220 meters from the Blue tee. Large trees guard against cutting the corner. Don't be too long or too far right, aim to place your tee shot past the dog leg, to open up a mid iron second shot to a green that slopes toward you and is protected by bunkers on both sides.

Although relatively long, this hole, from the tee, appears unassuming. Don't be fooled, or take this hole lightly. Anything too far off line to the left can catch the bank and trees, or to far to the right will leave a tricky blind second shot back to the green. Once on the green, the slope from back to front presents its own challenges for putting. The wind can also be a factor, because the tee is sheltered by trees, it's difficult to judge wind conditions around the green.

A genuine three shot par 5 for most golfers with out of bounds all down the right. Your tee shot is played to the widest fairway on the course and should be aimed at the centre of the fairway or slightly left of centre. A well placed second shot to the left side of the fairway, down the tree line will give you the best approach angle to the green. Don't be too close to the right side of the fairway with your second as your approach will be blocked by the large tree. There are two bunkers on the left of the green and one in the front right. Don't miss the green to the right as the steep bank will have your ball heading out of bounds.

Aim your tee shot to favour the right side of the fairway to give the best lie for your second shot to this open green. Anything left will catch the slope and run off the fairway in to tree trouble leaving a difficult second shot. A good option with your approach is to aim at the right side of the green, land short and let the ball run onto a green. Any approach shot toward the left side of the green can catch the slope and run off.

With a dog leg to the right, position, rather than length is the best option as there is out of bounds and a creek running along the entire left hand side of this hole. A long iron or fairway wood aimed along the tree line will leave medium to short iron second to another unprotected Green. The wind can also be a factor on this hole as it can be a lot stronger near the green than it appears when your standing in the fairway to play your second shot.

This is a relatively straight forward par 5 and a definite birdie or eagle opportunity for long hitters. Aim your tee shot toward the large gum trees on the right hand side of the fairway. A good tee shot with a slight draw will have you in the middle of the fairway, with a decision to either take on the lake in front of the green or lay-up. There is a small bunker in the front left of the green which only leaves a narrow opening for those who want to try and run their ball on to the green. If you choose to lay-up, favour the left side of the fairway. This will take most of the lake out of play for your approach shot to the green.

A long straight par 4 protected by trees, a creek and out of bounds all down the right hand side and trees down the left. Aim for the centre of the fairway where a good tee shot will leave a long to medium iron in for the long hitters. Otherwise play your second to land in the dip before the green where a good chip and one putt will have you walking off with Par. The green is slightly raised and well protected by a lateral water hazard on the right, a bunker and a large tree on the left. A bogie is a good score on this hole.

A short par 4 where again, position is more important than length. There is out of bounds all down the right and trees down the left so it's better to aim for the centre of the fairway with a long iron, rescue wood or fairway wood. Club selection is most important for the second shot uphill to a green protected by out of bounds and bunkers on the right and a small bunker at the front left. Be sure to choose a club to get you up on the green. Anything short will catch the bank in front of the green leaving a tricky third shot to get up and down.

Don't be fooled by this short par 4 which narrows considerably close to the green. The right edge of the fairway slopes towards the out of bounds running along this side of the hole. The left side of the fairway runs along the edge of a steep bank that drops down towards the second tee. Any shot landing left of this bank leaves a blind second to the green. The entrance to the green is narrow with a small bunker on the left and a fairway that slopes towards the deep bunker on the right. The safe option is to aim for the plateau, leaving a short iron second to the green. Over confidence here has ruined many good score cards.

Our signature hole from the tee looks across a small basin directly towards to Club House and the large raised green. The green, which is narrow in the front and wider at the back, is well guarded by out of bounds on the right, bunkers and slopes on either side. Depending on wind conditions and direction, club selection can range anywhere from a sand iron through to a mid to long iron. There is added pressure to hit a good shot here because the large viewing window in the Club House and sprig bar below, provide a great outlook for those who have finished their round to watch you play the last hole.