W.W.G.S.
Course Guides
WW2020 Round 11 - Woodham Golf Club
Course overview
HOLE 1
Walk from the clubhouse down the short path and step onto the 1st tee looking straight down the fairway and if you look closely you may be able to see the top of the flagstick on the green some 510 yards away. To your left is out of bounds so beware, to your right beyond the 9th and 18th greens lays heavy rough and trees. A straight tee shot is required aim it at the left half of the fairway as the ball will bounce right when it lands. Depending on your position you may be able to reach the green but anything in the dip would need a magnificent strike to reach it. For a blind second shot aim at the telegraph pole in the distance and you won't go far wrong, too far left however a bunker, rough and trees await. Walk over the top of the hill and there it is! The green, bunker to the right with a large bank behind, have you reached? If not it's usually a short iron third shot onto the large predominantly flat green, 2 good putts and you have secured your first par. Good start.
Pro's Tip
Keep it down the middle and the green is a comfortable 3 shots away.
HOLE 2
Onto the next elevated tee, out of bounds again!!!!!!! All the way down the left to the large tree in the distance aim too far right and a large bunker with rough and trees beyond await so beware the bail out. The line is over the right hand edge of the nearest bunker, a good tee shot on this line will find the centre of the wide and generous fairway, too good of a strike however the ball could go over the peak of the hill and down in the water hazards which cut into either side of the fairway. The second shot will usually be with a mid to short iron depending on your position. The green is protected by dual bunkers on the right and mounds on the left with a track and heavy rough beyond, take note this is a very long green and can add up to being a difference in two clubs front to back. When putting some subtle slopes and hollows will catch you out if you're not careful.
Pro's Tip
Aim to the right half of the fairway avoiding the bunker on the left. That bunker claims a lot of victims from the tee.
HOLE 3
Walk off the back of the 2nd green towards the elevated 3rd tee take a moment to tip your hat to George Golightly a fine golfer past and a true gentleman of the game. The 3rd tee high above the heavily sloped fairway, a collection of high willow trees in the dip just before the water hazard all waiting to collect a stray tee shot, is driver too much? Do I take an iron? These are questions you need to consider when teeing off, the line is just to the right of the willow trees with the ball landing on the top of the bank and bounding down into the centre of the fairway, anything too far left rough, copse of trees and any amount of trouble awaits as well as being blocked out onto the elevated green, too far right the ball bounces straight right into the water hazard or worse still the trees beyond. The second shot is tricky, elevated green into an avenue of trees, swirling wind can and will catch you out so take notice of the weather conditions, the green is two tiered, long and slopey, there are no bunkers but trouble awaits an errant approach shot. 2 putts is a good result.
Pro's Tip
Hit long and close to the trees on the left to avoid a big bounce off the side slope towards the red stakes.
HOLE 4
Walk through the trees along the path and up onto the 4th tee, turn round and have a look, re-check the card “yes it really is stroke index 18!!!” tee the ball up there's only three options, thread the eye of a needle through the narrow gap in the trees, grab a bit of loft, hit it hard and sail over the trees onto the front to back sloping green, option three is hit it right or left and you're more than likely deep in the trees, blocked out or lost ball, good luck you need it. All your tee shots are watched over by George Ronald Stafford, Father of our first Club Captain Harry Stafford an honorary life member. If your approach to the green is anywhere around the fringes it is a tricky up and down as are lengthy putts with the slopes and run off areas, walk off with a par and you have done well.
Pro's Tip
No need for anything fancy on this hole just try to hit the green and two putt.
HOLE 5
Walk down the bank and look right what do you see, the narrowest of fairways and deep trees on both sides, once you're on the tee it looks wider but the seed of doubt has been laid “don't hit it into the trees” the tee shot is a decision, do you play safe and hit a mid-iron gambling your longer second shot can reach the corner so you can see the green 90 degrees to the left or do you take the big stick out and take a chance, the choice is yours. The second shot is no easier but whatever you do make sure you get the ball out of the end of the avenue of trees the braver golfer takes the corner on and gives you a wide open shot onto a fairly flat circular green protected by a single bunker short right, but hit it too far left and out of bounds awaits, par is always a score that is most welcome.
Pro's Tip
Avoid dense trees left and right, position your second shot out of the trees at the corner of the dog-leg to open up the green. Signature hole of the front nine. Keep it straight as you can. Beware it's so easy to lose your ball.
HOLE 6
Along the back of the copse of trees is the 6th tee, walk on, take a look and tee it up, where's the green? What do I aim at? The line is slightly left of the black and white marker post is perfect, little bit of shape left to right and you're in the middle of the fairway, anything too far right and you're blocked out to go for the green and you're chipping into the throat of the trees, too far left the same fate awaits as the fairway slopes strongly to the left and the ball always takes a huge bounce. The second shot is always tough if you're right or left you're looking at chipping out or hitting a shaped shot towards the green. From the fairway it's not totally straight forward, no bunkers but a large tree overhangs short right with a kidney shaped green below, hit it too long, too right or too left and you guessed it the trees are waiting, middle of the green and you're not too far from the hole, be careful with the subtle slopes and hollows.
Pro's Tip
Beautiful hole, position again is so important of the tee, favour left side of the fairway to a long green, set in beautiful woodland.
HOLE 7
Off the back of the 6th green there are two paths left or right? It's not a hard decision when you take into account the view from the tee and you look at what's ahead. An elevated tee shot out of a chute of trees onto what looks like a wide open fairway but whatever you do don't hit it right, a long hedge, thick rough and a copse of trees are waiting, the bailout is left towards and maybe onto the 10th fairway, don't forget the courtesy shout if that's what you do, the line is the shrub in the distance with the red leaves, hit driver you might reach it the choice is yours, the second shot is slightly uphill onto a stepped green, no bunkers but trees cut in on both sides a well struck wedge will always settle, two putts and walk on.
Pro's Tip
Tee off from tee set in woodland, hole dog-legs from left to right.
HOLE 8
Straight across is the 8th tee, up onto the slightly elevated tee, the green is usually occupied on those busy days so why not take a rest on John Hodsons bench a proud brummy with a peculiar swing and a heart of gold. The tee shot is usually a mid-iron, be careful of the false front and dip in front of the green, three bunkers right and one left with a split level green between them, distance control is paramount so make sure youre using the right club.
Pro's Tip
Par 3 to a basin type green, avoid bunkers left and right.
HOLE 9
Off the back of the 8th green and onto the 9th tee again you might be waiting, short reachable par 4 so there a decision to be made do you hit hybrid or long iron to the left of the trees and into the fairway or do you throw caution to the wind and hit it high and mighty straight over the large trees into the throat of the green and beyond, take notice of the heavily bunkered sloping green though, just the five bunkers here, as you walk off the tee there's Paul Clarks bench, a force to be reckoned with when on his game. Walk round the trees, where's your ball, if you're left you have bunkers to contend with if you're short right it's trees. The green faces you sloping from back to front. It's only a short iron but again can be tricky, two putts is not a given either a good par to get. Halfway, time to count them up 36 blows the card is expecting!!! What have you got?
Pro's Tip
Short par 4 round the big trees to a green surrounded by bunkers.
HOLE 10
If you stand on the 10th tee looking down the hole towards the green whatever you do don't look right, you don't want to see the 17th before you have to!!! The 10th is a long straight par 5 between two copse of trees, the tee shot is quite an easy decision hit driver and bring the trees into play or hit 3 wood or less short and leave an easy second through the gap or over the top. The longer hitter may think about reaching in two, a bit of advice, hit it left into the area in front of the 7th green, it opens the green up and shortens the 2nd shot. For the mere mortal play a mid-iron second shot to 100 yards or so leaving a short iron over the water hazard in front of the green, anything short rolls back into the water, anything long is in the trees and most likely dead, take care, two putts and walk off with a par or better and you have done well.
Pro's Tip
Big par 5, second shot avoiding tall trees left and right, lay up 80 to 100 yards short as to avoid the stream in front of the green.
HOLE 11
Down the gravel path, through the trees and onto the 11th tee, it's not obvious where to hit it, the hole dog legs softly to the left with an off camber fairway to the right, the longer hitter will aim approximately 10 yards to the right of the copse of trees, the shorter hitter make it 20 yards, a well struck tee shot will end up in the fairway anything from 120 yards to 170 yards to the centre of the green, hit it too far left and its trouble in the trees, too far right and it's a long iron or even hybrid into the green which is protected by a bunker short right and another next to the green on the left. The green slopes heavily from left to right so take note of the flag position when choosing the line of your second shot, this green is three putted regularly so be warned.
Pro's Tip
Dog-leg from right to left to a green with a lot of slope.
HOLE 12
Off the left hand side of the green and up the slope to the elevated 12th tee, a quick look down onto the green and a quick check of the card, yes its stroke index 17, a bit like the fourth, How!!! A short par 3, with a sloping two tiered green surrounded by 6, yes 6 bunkers, out of bounds to the left for the slightly long left shot and rough all the way from the tee to the green. Beware of the helping wind as sometimes you haven't got a short enough club, into the wind all I can say is GOOD LUCK, two putts is always good and a four is no disgrace.
Pro's Tip
Now to a very tough run in to the finish, from an elevated tee to a well bunkered green, par 3 take it and move on.
HOLE 13
Stroke index 1, long slight dog leg left with a beck which runs all the way down the right hand of the fairway and into a small pond in front of the green, the beck carries on to the left and behind the green. The tee shot look's tricky but in all fairness it's pretty easy, pick the gap between the hedge and the big tree, a well struck shot will be on the fairway, too far right you have the possibility of going in the ditch, too far left you're in the trees and it's three off the tee. From the centre of the fairway you see a wide sloping fairway left to right, hit your next shot onto the top of the bank to open up the green, too far right again brings the ditch into play or a difficult pitch onto the green with a heavily sloping stance. If you decide to go for the green in two you're either mad or awesome. The third shot is always tricky you have to hit it hard enough to carry the water and not too hard to carry the green and leave a difficult 4th, the green is small and mainly flat and not too difficult it's the previous shots that cause the problems.
Pro's Tip
Right to left dog-leg. Try to leave your second shot at the top of the hill on the left hand side of the fairway this will give you the best view of the green but beware of the pond infront of the green.
HOLE 14
Across to the 14th tee and a blind tee shot the hole is a ninety degree dog leg to the right, there is out of bounds all the way down the right and behind the hole, as you stand on the tee firstly listen out for the bell to ring to say it's safe to play when you hear it aim to the left of the marker post with a club to hit between 200 and 250 yards this will leave a short to medium iron over the large pond onto a heavily back to front sloping green, too short will roll back into the water, too long and you're toying with the out of bounds, anything too far left and it's more water waiting, the green is also protected by three deep bunkers so be accurate with your approach, the green is very sloped so two putts is always good.
Pro's Tip
Again position is key of the tee, try to get your tee shot well down the fairway, to leave a shot over the pond to a big sloping green.
HOLE 15
Elevated tee, par 5 curving softly to the left, out of bounds everywhere, left and right, to add to this there a water hazard all the way up the right which cuts across the fairway and into a large pond in front of the green giving the effect of an island in front of the green which is elevated and has bunkers both right and left. Standing on the tee the line is to the right of the fairway bunker or the bigger hitter will go left of it and take the corner on making reaching the green in two possible, if you take this line your ball will bounce right into the fairway leaving a mid to long iron second onto the green, if your tee shot is shorter the decision is play short of the cross fairway water hazard or play over it onto the “island” either way it's a short iron onto the long narrow green which is relatively flat with a gentle slope back to front.
Pro's Tip
The signature hole of Woodham and one of the very best in the North East. Drive to the right of the fairway bunker, then decide to lay up either infront of the first stream crossing the fairway leaving some 150 yards, or hit over on to the island some 70/90 yards leaving yourself short of the big lake which guards the green.
HOLE 16
Across the wooden bridge and up the slope to the 16th tee and just look at the expanse of fairway, harder to hit than you think, a good straight tee shot will leave you at the bottom of the bank in the dip of the fairway, the fairway bunker is not in play to anybody but the bigger hitters so swing away. The green is uphill from here so don't forget to take one more club than you need!! It's deceiving, a bunker left is the only real hazard but if you hit it long water awaits, the green is two tiered and long so be careful to get on the right level, if you are two putts is the likely outcome if not it's more tricky and three putts isn't out of the question!
Pro's Tip
Strong par 4 avoid the left rough of the tee.
HOLE 17
Quite simply a card wrecker “THE HARDEST PAR 3 IN THE COUNTY” long uphill par 3, one fairway bunker and no bail out, the narrow tee shot leaves only two options play it short of the bunker and walk off with a four or go for it and possibly walk off with anything from a two to double figures, the green is flat and long so putting isn't too troublesome it's the tee shot where the danger lies. To the left of the tee you will find the bench of Ian Alexander, a past captain, a gentleman and hugely respected.
Pro's Tip
If you like a challenge well here's one. Very tough par 3, uphill, big trees left and right, play as a lay up shot as 4 here is good any day.
HOLE 18
Walk along the gravel path and onto the raised 18th tee turn and face the fairway and the first thing you see is the huge tree blocking the fairway, four options here left, right, over or in the tree. The fairway is wide so any of the first three options leaves you a shot to the green which is protected by a pond to the left and two bunkers on the bank to the right, the green is two tiered anything short left will slide off into the water so hit it to the right and the ball will naturally roll into the centre of the green. As you walk up to the green take a moment and look towards the clubhouse you will see a sundial a fitting tribute to Richard Jones, beam me up Scotty. Two putts and it's over a round of golf on the Woodham Golf and Country Club, 73 is the number we all look for but anything around your handicap and you've done well.
Pro's Tip
Tee off from deep in the woodland to a big wide fairway avoiding the lake infront of the 50 yard long green.
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