The Course: Holes 1 - 6

Hole 1

The first, like most good opening holes, gives you a gentle introduction being a shortish par four, but you have to play it well to make par or better.

The nervous prod off the tee leaking to the right could leave you reaching for another ball as out of bounds is closer than you think.

Also, as it is played against the prevailing wind you could need more than you think for your second shot.

Hole 2

The second is sterner and uphill and most often into a fighting wind. The old tree on the right needs avoiding, as do the bunkers left and right.

You can't see the bottom of the pin with your second, so don't underestimate the distance and under club. The green is big and back right is almost a certain three putt from front left.

Hole 3

The third is downhill and often wind helping but one of the toughest par fours on the course.

Find the fairway and you still face a really tough second to a small green which is nearly impossible to run onto as the ground falls away on both sides.

Unless you can carry the ball all the way, lay up. The green has some big contours.

Hole 4

Where is all the water you say as you leave the third green with your ball intact and walking down the path to the fourth. Indeed, you can see the tee ahead and it does not look too bad. Climb onto the back tee and think again!

Water right, and although you can not see it you know the river is on the left. Good players can be daunted and even stoop to a short iron to keep the ball dry. In reality the drive is not unfair, just extremely testing as is the second shot which needs to be well placed on the fairway to give a firm pitch into the green. Go for it in two. Yes, but you could take a six or more quite easily.

Hole 5

After a par five a par three to rebuild the score if you like to keep your score against level fours or fives. The lake should be clearable, but where has the river gone? The answer is right behind the green making this very tough to judge.

Be brave, chose a club and go for it. Not a hole to have the honour on. At least the river is a lateral hazard taking you to a drop zone, so you haven't got to repeat the tee shot.

Hole 6

Six is a quite short par four and the water on the right shouldn't be in play. Keep away from the bunkers on the right as an inviting pitch should give hope of a birdie, but be up.

Most people are short here and the green has some slopes which makes putting interesting.

Continue to The Course: Holes 7 - 12 >>