The tougher of the two courses, the Pines Course measures over 7000 yards from the championship tees. Employing the wild shaping of the links courses and a natural bunker style this course offers a rugged beauty as well a tough but fair golfing challenge.
Hole 1- The Big Easy This medium Par 5 is an easy par but a tough birdie hole. A long and generous fairway gives the player a change to get the swing warmed up. A well protected green requires the player to have struck two good shots so that they might have a good chance of negotiating the two aggressive greenside bunkers. It is possible to drive this green in two but this would require two very long and accurate shots. For the brave this is an opportunity for a great start and for the more conservative a good Par hole.
Hole 2- Up and Over
A relatively easy par 4, only a poor drive might find the fairway bunkers short and left. The player must get as close to the lakes as possible to lessen the severity of the greens approach and only a well struck mid-iron will hold a heavily this contoured green.
Hole 3- Little Gem
At just over 160 yards off the championship tees this hole offers a picturesque shot over a lake to a peninsula green. The player has a commanding view of this Par 3 and all its hazards. Be warned for all its beauty Little Gem will punish any shot that is too far left.
Hole 4- The Equalizer
With four bunkers restricting the length of the tee shot this par 4 puts the long and short hitters onto an even footing. A well played tee shot will give the golfer a shot in from the right hand-side of the fairway. The further left the tee shot goes, the more difficult the greenside bunkers become. In the true traditions of strategy the ideal combination would be a fading drive followed by a raking draw approach.
Hole 5- Houlstons’ Folly Winner of a national competition this innovative Par 4 is the brain child of Mark Houlston. A classic in terms of risk and reward the 5th hole has a split fairway, the player can cut the corner on the left opening up the green or take the long, easy way round making the approach longer and yielding an awkward angle. In contrast to hole 4 the course is becoming a little more difficult. The horse shoe step will ensure that all who play this hole will remember it.
Hole 6- Dipper A beautifully sculpted Par 4, the 6th is nestled in amongst majestic pine trees and first pours down the hillside and then rises spectacularly to an amphitheatre green. A birdie opportunity, this medium par 4 has 6 bunkers waiting to punish wayward shots, whilst those brave enough can cut the dogleg and save precious yards from the approach.
Hole 7- The Commitment
This long par 3 requires a carry of 160 yards over water, the golfer requires absolute conviction otherwise a watery end is almost certain. A diagonal green with diagonal bunkers ensures that even the very best players will be satisfied with a Par.
Hole 8- Twister
Hole 8 is a double dogleg monster of a Par 5. From the tee the golfer must avoid the waste bunker on the right and negotiate the ancient Pine guarding up to the brow of the hill, once round the Pine the second shot must be pin point accurate to set the approach for a narrow entry into a green cosseted by a pine forest.
Hole 9- Lands End Doglegging right this long Par 4 terminates with a peninsula green. With a high banking fairway to the left a low draw will make the most of the undulations. The second shot will almost certainly have to carry water and it takes a steady nerve to negotiate this and the greenside sand traps.
Hole 10- Fairway
A short Par 4 the 10th hole will kick start the back 9. The wide and unguarded fairway forgives most tee shots, but the ideal line will be on the left hand-side. Most golfers will be left with a short approach to the exquisite green, which is over hung by a veteran pine and surrounded by water. A birdie opportunity, the 10th is a players favourite.
Hole 11- Long Reach
A straight and long Par 4 the 11th hole invites the player to skirt the side of the waste bunker if they wish to open up the green to an inviting shot. Straying left on the tee compounds the problems of the subsequent shots.
Hole 12- Veteran Alley Set in amongst Veteran Pines trees this rolling par 4 plays into a green surrounded by majestic trees. The aggressive player will skirt the waste bunker as much as they dare to increase the angle of opportunity to the green.
Hole 13- Rugged Valley Hewn through a valley, playing over a waste bunker and nestled amongst the pine forest Hole 13 is a visual delight. The table top green will welcome the traditional bump and run approach whilst repelling the aerial shot. Birdie hunters will welcome this hole.
Hole 14- Toros Splendour
A glorious vista to the Toros Mountains greets the golfer on the 14th tee. A long and straight tee shot is required on this Par 4 whilst a diagonal group of bunker cross the fairway punishing weaker shots to the green. The closer you get to the waste bunker the easier your approach will be.
Hole 15- Slugger A mammoth Par 5, Hole 15 is surrounded is encapsulated on all sides by pines. The drive is wide open but the closed the golfer gets to the green the tighter the fairway becomes until a waste bunker wraps around the front left of the approach. Only the very longest and straightest of player can hope to hit this in 2.
Hole 16- Pin Point
Playing over the waster bunker it shares with 15, hole 16 is a medium par 3 into a devilish two tier green; just don’t land on the wrong tier.
Hole 17- Roller Coaster
Playing from an elevated tee Hole 17 is a bumpy ride. A potential birdie opportunity for the bigger hitters, the ideal line is a draw followed by a fade to open up the approach and avoid the fairway bunkers. The generously contoured green will help a long approach hold the green
Hole 18- Mirage
From the tee the 18th is a visual illusion, giving the golfer the feelings that he has almost no space to land his drive, however when he reaches his drive he’ll find the space opens up. The further right the golfer can place he drive the better the approach into the green will be.
Course Details
Par 72
Yardage 6413 mtrs
Maximum Required Handicap Men 28 Ladies 36
Practice facilities include a driving range, chipping and pitching greens. practice bunkers and putting green
