James Veal - PGA Qualified Professional
Pro Tips for Freshwater Bay Course
Hole 1: Aim towards to base of the hill left of the green, take enough club to carry the bunker short of the green, missing the green left will leave an easier chip than right, the green is one of the flattest on the course.
Hole 2: The usual right to left wind keeps the ball from going too far down the hill, the ideal line off the tee is left half of the fairway, the second shot needs to be aimed towards the left half of the green, remember to allow for the “ball below your feet” stance, take enough club to clear the plateau short of the green, usually one more club than it looks.
Hole 3. The slope sends the ball right to left, even if you pitch on the green, the sand bunker visible from the tee is well short of the green making the hole seem shorter than its yardage, make sure you take enough club as a chip shot from the back of the green is easier than one from short of the green. The green slopes severely from front to back and slightly right to left.
Hole 4. Should play one of the easiest holes on the front 9, a straight drive leaves a simple shot up the hill to the green, the front third of the green slopes towards the front, so try to get the approach far enough up the green to avoid this, the bank at the back of the green will help stop an over aggressive approach.
Hole 5: Tough par 3, A well guarded hole with three sand bunkers, tee the ball towards the left tee marker and aim slightly left of the right bunker, the easiest chip is played from short of the green, try to avoid missing the green to the left as the ground falls away left leaving a very difficult shot. The green has three tiers and slopes from back the front.
Hole 6. The tee shot needs to be aimed towards the right half of the fairway, the grass bunkers on the left are well positioned to catch anything less than your best drive, the approach shot is played with the ball above your feet so grip down the shaft and aim at the right hand sand bunker to allow for this, the green is very narrow only a good shot will find it, the slope on the green is back to front.
Hole 7: Big hitters can aim right of the right hand hump, making the second shot easier from both a flat lie and also being able to see the pin, a tee shot towards the right hump will leave a long blind second shot, there is a grass bunker well positioned short of the green which needs to be considered when selecting the club for the second shot, a large green which feeds shots in from the right hand side.
Hole 8. A par 5 off the white tees and a par 4 from the yellows, two fairway grass bunkers reduce the width of the fairway and must be avoided if you are going to hit the green in regulation, the rough to the right of the fairway is long so aim straight from the tee, the second shot is to a banked green that slopes from right to left, guarded by large grass bunkers.
Hole 9. Aim towards the flat old green left of the fairway bunker, a straight drive will leave the best shot into the green, the further right you go off the tee, the harder the second shot becomes, especially with a short right flag position, aim for the left half of the green as the bank will feed the ball into the center of the green.
Hole 10. Another well positioned sand bunker reduces the fairway width, having teed the ball on the right half of the tee, aim for the right half of the fairway if you can't clear the bunker, the straighter the drive the easier the approach shot, there is a small ridge that runs across the fairway short of the green, this can catch out longer hitters, as it can leave you with an awkward stance.
Hole 11: Aim your tee shot into the right side of the fairway, the marker post at the top of the hill is 200 yards from the green, if you are unable to hit the green in two, think about leaving a nice third shot from the center of the fairway to give you the best chance to score well, deep sand bunkers left will punish any short short and left of the green.
Hole 12: Longer hitters can carry the nostril bunkers 200 yards from the tee, there is room right of the bunkers if you are unsure, the second shot needs to be aimed left of the fairway grass bunkers, but anything too far left may catch the ridge leaving an awkward approach, care needs to be taken with the approach shot as there is a downslope in front of the green which will kick the ball to the back of the green, a large sloping green that will punish a wayward approach leaving a very difficult putt.
Hole 13: A short par 4 that needs thought, look to see where the flag is positioned before hitting, try to aim for the opposite side of the fairway, this will make the approach much easier, take care to check the path for walkers etc. as you will be crossing the path, the green slopes from front to back with a large sand bunker waiting for a short right shot.
Hole 14: Our signature hole, the wind plays a huge part of the club selection, avoid letting the ball drift right of the right ridge, as this increases the difficulty of the chip, the rough at the base of the slope in front of the green will not allow a ball to run onto the green so the tee shot must allow for this, the green is a saddle shape making any long putt very hard to judge.
Hole 15: Very demanding tee shot, only your Sunday best will find the green, ideally a high shot is required to hold the green, there is only 5 yards of landing area on the green, anything landing on the downslope will kick the ball through the green leaving a tough chip, there are two sand bunkers ready for a short slightly wayward shot, the right half of the green is the target, as anything left will require the short game of Phil Mickelson to get your par.
Hole 16: Possibly the most severe tee shot, the out of bounds will claim any shot slightly right of center, position rather than power is needed, the apex of the green keeper shed provides the perfect line off the tee, if the flag is on the top of the green, left, then keep the ball on the slope, if the flag is at the bottom, right, then the ideal line is from the flat part of the fairway. This is a great green with a huge slope running left to right.
Hole 17: Accuracy needed here, always take an extra club because its uphill, the line is right half of the green, there is a bank on the right that feeds the ball towards the green, the green slope runs back to front, with a large dip at the back of the green.
Hole 18: Great finishing hole, a good drive down the left center of the fairway will leave a shot over the pitt, if you are unsure of clearing the pitt with your second, lay up on the right half of the fairway, this eliminates the cut of rough at the base of the mound which stops the ball rolling onto the green, pay attention to the flag position as there is a ridge that runs across the green.
I hope you find these tips handy, enjoy your round
James Veal
Club Professional
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