2341. Hamilton Golf Club

1st hole, par 4, 340M

2009-06-09T16:03:00.008+12:00

There are three fairway bunkers on the left (190M, 220M and 245M) and houses with very expensive looking glass windows on the right. Keep your drives down the middle or slightly to the left. You will be able to attack the first green with your long irons. Two putts for your first par!

2nd hole, par 4, 370M

2009-06-07T15:52:00.000+12:00

Keep to the left hand side with your second tee shot. From here you can attack the green with a 3 wood. Only one bunker on the right side. It might be wise to overclub and overshoot the green, chipping back on, from the third fairway. One putt for your second par...

3rd hole, par 3, 166M

2009-06-05T15:47:00.000+12:00

This is the first par 3 hole. It is very challenging because the right hand side is the mighty Waikato River. I use the longest iron in my bag for this hole (a rescue club with a 21 degrees face angle). The fairway bunker on the right is about 20M from the green. It catches all errant sliced shots without exceptions.

4th hole, par 5, 430M

2009-06-03T15:32:00.000+12:00

This is the first par 5 hole. There are two fairway bunkers along the right side of the fairway. The first one at 220M will trap all errant drives. The second bunker is located strategically on the right side at 125M from the green, where most second shot will be landing. The left side of the fairway nearer the green is protected by a Willow tree near the 135 marker and another bigger Pine tree on the left of the green. All balls landing on the green will roll speedily to the right towards the River. Approach shots missing the green to the left, will be lost in thick Agapantus bushes. The surface of this green is undulating and not so easy to read correctly. Be happy to mark your first bogie on your card.

5th hole, par 4, 307M

2009-06-01T15:28:00.002+12:00

This is the tightest hole with a very narrow fairway. The left side slopes towards the 4th fairway and some large Pine trees at 170M. The right side is protected by a row of very tall Pines. The green is small and guarded by bunkers on three sides with the green keeper's shed on the far end marked by blue markers (free drop?). Take your second shot with a mid iron and an easy swing. Putt for your first birdie!

6th hole, par 4, 361M

2009-05-28T15:20:00.000+12:00

This is one of the more straight forward holes. Watch out for the large tree on the left at 190M. A second shot from there with a long iron should place the ball on the large green which is protected by bunkers on each side. 2-putt for an easy par.

7th hole, par 4, 285M

2009-05-26T15:16:00.002+12:00

This is one of the shorter par 4 holes. Try to keep to the centre or slightly left of the fairway for an easy second shot to the green, which has bunkers only on the right side. They have just recently dug 3 more small bunkers behind that big tree on the right, roughly at 220M, 230M and 250M to trap all the long hitters who fade their drives.

8th hole, par 4, 260M

2009-05-24T12:53:00.004+12:00

Beware of the deep bunker on the right at 195M and two very large trees on the left of the fairways with deep hollow depressions in front of each. If you end up inside the depressions, you could be taking your second shot in a very awkward position with the ball either higher/lower than your feet or getting a nasty lie at the uneven bottom of the hollow. Removing a twig will infringe a penalty of one stroke.

There is definitely a chance for long hitters to hit this green in one, using the very small corridor between the two large bunkers guarding this green. Hit the ball high and go for it. One putt for your first eagle!

9th hole, par 5, 482M

2009-05-22T12:41:00.001+12:00

This is our longest hole with a slight dogleg to the left. When playing your second shot, please keep an eye out for the golfers in front (hidden by the hollow in the ground). The large green is well protected by bunkers on both sides. It is possible to hit this green in 3. Two putt for another easy par.

(Look for a resident possum in the hollow of a pine tree, behind the red tee box)

10th hole, par 5, 440M

2009-05-20T12:32:00.002+12:00

It is wise to avoid the left side of this fairway which slopes down towards a ditch. A good and long second shot with the 3 wood should put your ball clear of most of the trees and other hazards. From here, use a high pitching shot over the bunkers to the green. Get ready to score another easy par.

11th hole, par 4, 385M

2009-05-18T12:24:00.000+12:00

This is our longest par-4 hole, stroke index 1. There is a sharp dogleg to the right. I usually aim for the tree with red leaves in the centre of the fairway. A stray ball to the left of the fairway will probably end up in one of the 3 bunkers which belong to hole No: 1. For your second shot, you will need your longest iron or a fairway wood (185M)

(As you approach the green, pull your carts towards the left side of the green to avoid being hit by stray tee shots slicing from the 10th tee!)

12th hole, par 4, 356M

2009-05-16T12:17:00.001+12:00

There is a depression hiding a lateral water hazard (ditch) at 160M. You need to drive your ball at least 190M to get up onto the fairway. Use an easy swing with a long iron for your second shot to the green, (slopes to the right). Left side of the green is protected by a bunker. Rest stop.

13th hole, par 4, 349M

2009-05-14T12:07:00.000+12:00

This is our usual toilet stop because of the location of the loo. Avoid the right hand side of the fairway at all cost. It slopes towards the Waikato River on the right. Your ball will probably end up unplayable, under the trees, outside the red markers. Pick up and drop for a penalty of one stroke. The fairway bunker on the left is 225M from the tee. All stray second shots towards the right edge of the green will be kicked back to the centre of the green by the slopes of a small hill. The left is protected by a large bunker.

14th hole, par 3, 165M

2009-05-12T11:56:00.003+12:00

This is not an easy hole for aggressive golfers because of the deep bunkers on both sides. I usually used a 3 wood for my tee shot. Smarter golfers may decide to underclub and use a suitable iron to put the ball in front of the green just short of the bunkers. Then follow up with an easy pitch and run shot to roll the ball within one club length of the hole and tap in for par.

15th hole, par 4, 328M

2009-05-10T11:47:00.000+12:00

There is a large tree to the right and a deep hollow depression at 170M on the fairway. It is not possible to see the third bunker, hidden at the far side of the green.

16th hole, Par 4, 346M

2009-05-08T11:39:00.000+12:00

The fairway bunker is at 220M on the left side of the faiwray. There is a severe right dogleg. Avoid the large tree on the right and keep the ball to the left side of the fairway for a straight long iron shot to the green.

17th hole, par 4, 345M

2009-05-06T11:29:00.000+12:00

The tricky part is the tall tree on the left, in front of the fairway bunker at 230M. It is imperative that a tee shot lands in the centre or just a little to the right of the fairway. From there, it is a long iron shot to the green. All along the right side is an ob line separating the fairway from the driving range. The large green is protected by bunkers on the right side and slopes sharply towards the left.

18th hole, par 3, 120M

2009-05-04T11:11:00.001+12:00

The 18th hole is elevated. It is very challenging because of the large and deep bunker on the left side and also the other 4 bunkers surrounding it. The green is large, multi-tiered, with very tricky slopes. I usually use an 8 iron for my tee shot from the red tees. (Kevin Lee uses a pitching wedge!)