Back Nine

Back Nine

10. Par 5 425 M men : Par 5 414 M ladies
Pros Tip   How are you feeling? If you are driving the ball well and you have a high shot in your armoury, then you can aim well left of the obvious line, but you must be long and you must have a high ball flight. This could leave as little as a nine iron, unobscured, in to this par 5 and the obvious benefits. More conservative drives leave the green obscured by huge pines, but a mid iron to around 50m short of the green is then a good play for a pitch and putt birdie chance. I like holes with many options and this one has more than most.

  • For medium to long hitters an ideally positioned drive permits a long, straight second shot with a chance of a birdie on this double dog-leg hole.
  • The green is well protected by a pair of large gum trees, 50 metres from the green on the right hand side and bunkers on both sides.
  • A large grass mound in front stops running shots to the green.
  • Grass mounds behind the green leaves long shots in trouble.

11. Par 3 152 M men : Par 3 145 M ladies
Pros Tip  Unfairly in most people’s eyes, this hole is again less complicated for longer hitters. Trees obscure the green from the tee, but as it is only an 8-iron or so for long hitters the trees are not an issue. For those using their longer clubs here the tree is a real nuisance, forcing a lay-up shot short of the bunker on the right or a draw shot to ease the ball around the tree. I like the hole, but when you play the hole you will see why many a member is hoping that in the next electrical storm ‘that tree’ goes!

  • A large gum tree directly in line with the partially-obscured green dictates a high tee shot.
  • A bunker on the right hand side protects the green.

12. Par 3 189 M men : Par 3 187 M ladies
Pros Tip  This course has some of the best par 3’s. Here a mid-iron but more normally a long iron is necessary to reach the green where the natural terrain slopes away from the on either side. From the front tee, which is often used in Stableford competitions, you cannot see the bottom of the flag.  This is unnerving so although it is a shorter shot it is still no picnic. A score of 4 is good if you have a shot a hole.

  • A long par 3 to an elevated green necessitates an accurate tee shot.
  • Shots missing the green to the back and to the right are punished by enforcing a difficult chip.
  • Two good shots required by a challenging hole.

13. Par 4 258 M men : Par 4 258 M ladies
Pros Tip This is a risky drive which I have rarely been able to resist, but the truth is that in laying up I would probably make birdie more often. It is a comfortable distance for the driver for the longer hitter, but the green is a small target and anywhere left catches a huge tree or leaves a chip from lush roug.  Anywhere long or right and you are in further trouble in the trees, while a short mis-hit is in the hazard. The percentage shot is a 180m drive to the middle of the fairway and a pitch across the hazard for a likely birdie putt.

  • A very picturesque hole with a water hazard stretching across the fairway at 225 metres.
  • Long drivers are tempted to go for the green which is protected by mounding on the back and edges
  • Correct club selection and length control are a must.
  • An enjoyable hole for all standards of golfers.

14. Par 3 129 M men : Par 3  107 M ladies
Pros Tip  Again looks easy on the card, but a good shot with distance control is required to get close as the green slopes toward the tee in the front half and then falls away at the back to the fringe. Bunkers left and right there is punishment for a directionally wayward shot.

  • An uphill par 3 to a raised, partly-obscured and hard to hit green with a banked front and bunkers on each side.
  • The sloping green, back to front, is also one of the larger greens on the course.
  • The depth of pin placement is difficult to judge from the tee.

15. Par 4 269 M men : Par 3 180 M ladies
Pros Tip  Can be an intimidating drive for the higher marker as there is water to carry.  Out of bounds on the right and trees that narrow in at around 180metres can catch an errant drive.  However, a well struck and accurate drive should give a good score. A real birdie chance but played sensibly should yield a par for most.

  • The tee shot over the dam requires a 140 metre carry.
  • Longer drives are challenged by a narrow neck to the fairway.
  • A grass swale in front of the sloping green adds complexity to the approach.
  • A very challenging and rewarding hole for the long driver.

16. Par 4 289 M men : Par 4 279 M ladies
Pros Tip  A generous fairway.  This hole is all about the second shot and the green. Your approach to the green, even with a long drive is critical because past the hole will lead to a defensive putt on a very ‘slopey’ green. Five metres going uphill beats one metre going downhill here every time. Any crooked shot to the green leaves a heavy breaking chip and no certainty of a two putt finish.

  • A reasonably open fairway encourages a full drive.
  • A short iron approach to a severely forward sloping green.
  • Leave an uphill putt !
 Hole 16

17. Par 4 362 M men : Par 4 362 M ladies
Pros Tip  The first of two wonderful closing holes. A demanding tee-shot requiring a draw around trees which encroach from the left around 100m from the tee. The best line is further left than it looks from the tee but, be careful as out of bounds runs along Links Road all down the left if you overcook it. A long drive can be rewarded with a short iron into the green, but more typically a hybrid/fairway metal is needed to get home from the top of the hill. A small green sloping from left to right makes for an easier putt from the right half of the green. A birdie chance if played well, but it is also very easy to take a big number doing very little wrong. My favourite hole on the golf course as you can never let your guard down here as anything is possible here – good or bad!

  • A tough, blind tee shot guarded by out of bounds on the left hand boundary.
  • A straight drive permits a second shot to the low lying green avoiding the two large gums on the right side of the fairway.
  • A grass mound on the right hand side protects the green.

18. Par 4 408 M men : Par 5 398 M ladies
Pros Tip     Signature Hole A great finishing hole.
The view from the tee is acknowledged as one of “the” Bowral views.The hazard that crosses the fairway is at around 220m from the tee. The carry is shorter on the right than the left but into any sort of wind it is a very good hit to get over. A wide landing area, when laying up, leaves at least 180m to go.  There is plenty to think about with out of bounds on the left and well positioned mounding on the right. Pick a hybrid or fairway metal, and commit yourself! A score of four is a very good score here and five would not lose ground on the field.

  • A 240 metre drive will clear the water hazard at the crossing.
  • The second requires a long iron, uphill to the green – make sure you have enough club.
  • The green is protected by mounds on each side.
  • A demanding hole that brings out the best in players as they approach the Club House.