Piece
Tour Winner
7. Similar to 3 and 1 this, with a couple of laterals at 100 and 350 yards thrown in to test! Another good par 4 this one, making you really think about club selection. I opted for a long iron to carry the hill part and leave a decent shot in. Pushed it a bit left into the rough (which actually was a good thing as it stopped the ball from rolling too far and being shut-out by a big, bad tree). Elevated green this one, thus difficult to know how wide, long, etc. Two bunkers directly in front, knowingly placed there to get all the action. Good 9i saw the heart of the green reached (I haven't really mentioned the greens yet - they were med-to-slow (were awaiting a cut?), but were consistent across all 18. No great undulations in them, apart from the 13th...). Bosh, the putt goes in for a tidy 3.
8. Short par 4, but you can't overpower it. Fairway slopes left to right, meaning a well placed tee-shot to the left has to be in order. Too far right, and you'll definitely be in the trees right as the fairway is so hard. You can't really go long as there's a bunker left and a pond right - there is a direct channel to the green if you really want to risk it, but that's a BIG risk. Two 9i irons and three putt later - a 5.
9. This par 4 runs parallel in the opposite direction to the 1st, taking you back to the clubhouse. Relatively straight forward hole as there's no significant trouble - long iron or wood off the tee and a simple short iron to a flatish green (too far right and I think you're in the lake). 3w, pw and two putts for 4.
Reached the turn in +3.
Summary of the first nine holes - simple looking holes, not long, but certainly requires thought on club selection of the tee. Greens were massive, not very bumpy, running slow to medium. Pleasantly surprised.
10. Another blind tee shot! Where does this hole go? Oh, dogleg right? Where do I aim? You tee off in front the car-park and clubhouse and aim a longish iron at the big tree in the distance and hope for the best.... Once over the hill, the hole moves sharpishly right to a nice looking, long green. A big lake left of the fairway catches any long drives pulled left! Pw to 10ft, leaves a sharp downhill putt (first real non-putt of the day). Missed left, but gets a par.
11. Short par 3, over a dip to a two tiered green. Pin was bottom tier, around 150y, with a corking wind right to left. Just right for a good 9i to ride the wind...except I got it all wrong and left myself 30y short
Walked off with a 4.
12. Strange setup this! Lots of what can only be described as massive, parallel cricket nets!! These are obviously designed to protect the houses on the right. Our tee was furthest right with the tee box set so that the stanchion come right into play! As for the hole, a really good, short hole, with good green space. Slightly elevated tee, with plenty of fairway run. Lake on the left catches the draw shot and good bunkering on the right catches most fades. Only one thing for it with a downwind - bomb it! 
Found the green with a strong 3w. Missed the eagle on a sloping green.
On to 13...
8. Short par 4, but you can't overpower it. Fairway slopes left to right, meaning a well placed tee-shot to the left has to be in order. Too far right, and you'll definitely be in the trees right as the fairway is so hard. You can't really go long as there's a bunker left and a pond right - there is a direct channel to the green if you really want to risk it, but that's a BIG risk. Two 9i irons and three putt later - a 5.
9. This par 4 runs parallel in the opposite direction to the 1st, taking you back to the clubhouse. Relatively straight forward hole as there's no significant trouble - long iron or wood off the tee and a simple short iron to a flatish green (too far right and I think you're in the lake). 3w, pw and two putts for 4.
Reached the turn in +3.
Summary of the first nine holes - simple looking holes, not long, but certainly requires thought on club selection of the tee. Greens were massive, not very bumpy, running slow to medium. Pleasantly surprised.10. Another blind tee shot! Where does this hole go? Oh, dogleg right? Where do I aim? You tee off in front the car-park and clubhouse and aim a longish iron at the big tree in the distance and hope for the best.... Once over the hill, the hole moves sharpishly right to a nice looking, long green. A big lake left of the fairway catches any long drives pulled left! Pw to 10ft, leaves a sharp downhill putt (first real non-putt of the day). Missed left, but gets a par.
11. Short par 3, over a dip to a two tiered green. Pin was bottom tier, around 150y, with a corking wind right to left. Just right for a good 9i to ride the wind...except I got it all wrong and left myself 30y short
Walked off with a 4.12. Strange setup this! Lots of what can only be described as massive, parallel cricket nets!! These are obviously designed to protect the houses on the right. Our tee was furthest right with the tee box set so that the stanchion come right into play!
As for the hole, a really good, short hole, with good green space. Slightly elevated tee, with plenty of fairway run. Lake on the left catches the draw shot and good bunkering on the right catches most fades. Only one thing for it with a downwind - bomb it! Found the green with a strong 3w. Missed the eagle on a sloping green.On to 13...
