Cardrona - Hole By Hole

1st Hole, 521yards, Par 5

A generous fairway beckons you from the first tee; a tee shot down the left half of the fairway leaves the best angle of approach into the green. Then it's decision time; a lay up short of the green or take on the cross bunkers which are 80 yards short of the green?

2nd Hole, 280 yards, Par 4

For the longer hitters this is certainly reachable, unfortunately go for the green, get it wrong and a 6 is on the cards. The safe play is an iron short of the fairway bunkers, leaving a nice uphill pitch from around 100 yards.

3rd Hole, 454 yards, Par 4

Standing onboard the tee the entire hole sweeps gently right to left below you. Beware however the River Tweed down the right hand side awaiting any pushed or sliced tee shots. A drive over or as close as you can get to the bunkers at the dogleg leave a short or mid iron approach.

4th Hole, 459 yards, Par 4

This downhill par 4 is usually played straight down the prevailing wind; with no fairway bunkering this is a hole to really open your shoulders with the driver. Keep left with your approach shot as a large cavernous bunker gobbles anything up down the right.

5th Hole, 199 yards, Par 3

A par here is a great score, take plenty of club and aim just left of the bunker that guards the front right of this large shallow green.

6th Hole, 527 yards, Par 5

A straightaway tee shot, with the natural topography of the ground easing your ball down the right side of the fairway. Aim your second shot at the left edge of the greenside bunker to once again allow the contours to help open up this large two-tier green.

7th Hole, 402 yards, Par 4

The burn crosses the fairway at 200 yards from the white tees. If you take on and achieve the carry a short to mid iron awaits. Take the danger out of play and a shot of 200 yards plus must be negotiated to find the putting surface.

8th Hole, 364 yards, Par 4

A long draw with a two iron or three wood is the ideal shot for this hole. If you cannot hit a draw then a long iron or rescue club skirting the bunker down the left of the fairway is the best option. Find the fairway and a short iron shot awaits to a long multi faceted green. If the flag is at the back ensure you take an extra club.

9th Hole, 189 yards, Par 3

From the tee this hole creates an optical illusion as it makes you think the green is closer than it really is. Trust the yardage; even take an extra club, as a shot landing short of this green seldom bounces up.

10th Hole, 407 yards, Par 4

A tee shot down the right side of the fairway, away from the trees, may be the obvious line off of the tee,. however a pond awaits the golfer who bails out far right. The best line to open up the green is just left of centre and allows a mid to short iron to this slightly elevated green.

11th Hole, 211 yards, Par 3

Aim your tee shot just right of the greenside bunker; take plenty of club, as anything landing short of the putting surface is unlikely to receive a favourable kick forward.

12th Hole, 494 yards, Par 5

A brave tee shot just left of centre is the desired line off of this reachable par 5. If you are in any doubt of being able to carry the water hazard that crosses just short of the green, take bogey out of the equation, lay up, go for a pitch and putt birdie.

13th Hole, 189 yards, Par 3

It can be extremely difficult to judge the wind on tee due to the shelter afforded by the large trees down the left side of the hole. Take aim at the centre of the green with an extra club and move on to the next hole with a par 3.

14th Hole, 565 yards, Par 5

This hole demands a long straight tee shot that bisects the trees guarding both sides of the fairway at 240 yards. A fairway wood or long iron down the left side of the hole sets up a mid to short iron approach to a treacherous 2 tier green.

15th Hole, 372 yards, Par 4

It is 232 yards to carry the fairway bunkers from the back tee and 199 yards to lay up short. This smallish green requires a high soft landing shot with which you should favour the left hand side.

16th Hole, 387 yards, Par 4

A terrific risk and reward hole. A tee shot down the left side of the fairway, away from the trees and water is the safe option. However fail to achieve over 260 yards from the tee and tall trees will block you out for your second shot. Ideally your tee shot hugs the right side of the fairway leaving a short iron to this enormous putting surface.

17th Hole, 454 yards, Par 4

In my opinion this is the toughest hole on the golf course. It is paramount that you hit a long tee shot which must find the fairway in order for you to facilitate having a realistic opportunity to reach the green in regulation. If you don't hit the fairway, keep double bogey off of the card, lay up to your favourite yardage and go for a pitch and putt par.

18th Hole, 516 yards, Par 5

From the championship tee a drive over the famous River Tweed is a prerequisite, however from the regular tees a fairway wood or long iron as close to the fairway bunker as you dare is the order of the day.
Water guards the right side of the green and is a definite consideration if playing the hole as a par 5. From just shy of the fairway bunker you have a mid iron to a large sloping two tier green. Two putts and haste ye back!