Course Map

Introduction

At 6125m the par 71 Tee Trees Golf Course will not be one of those brutish monster courses that have proliferated in recent times. Shear length is never going to nullify the continuous advancements in equipment or the prodigious distances many players are now striking the ball.

We have therefore designed Tee Trees so that all standards of player, regardless of how long they hit the ball, can enjoy a round yet need to take on and conquer the many challenges the course has to offer if they are to play to their handicap. Thinking your way around this course will provide the best results.

The layout contains a varied mix of short, medium and strong par 3's, 4's and 5's which, when combined with the four teeing positions on each hole presents a huge variety in playing experiences.

Excellent practice facilities including a large putting green, chipping / sand play green and driving range target greens are on hand to warm up before your game.

After a solid practice session the competent A grade player will be ready to take on the Tee Trees challenge from the Championship tees.

Graham Papworth 

(Layout Indicative only - subject to change)

1st Hole 320m par 4 (350 yds)

A gentle enough start but decisions are already called for on this short par 4 that doglegs around Coombabah Creek. There is ample room to the right of the fairway however the green is designed to best suit an approach from the left. The decision is to lay-up short of the fairway bunker or try and sail one past the trap. Given that trees could block anything long and right a conservative approach might be the best way to get an early par on the card.

2nd Hole 160m par 3 (175 yds)

A natural stand of melaleuca provides a picturesque backdrop to this long and narrow green. These trees also serve as a severe penalty for any shots long or left and with a large bunker guarding the right side of the green the pressure is well and truly on the tee shot. There is a small gap between the front traps providing some relief if you are on line but not quite up to the green. Once on the green it is like most other Tee Tree greens providing several pin positions segregated by gentle undulations.

3rd Hole 475m par 5 (519 yds)

The long man will look to take advantage of a booming drive on this hole and perhaps get home in two. The hole will accommodate this aggressive style of play provided the large bunker on the edge of the wetlands and forming the dogleg is successfully carried. If unsuccessful of course the penalty will be severe. Playing to the safe left side of the fairway means a long well controlled draw is required to reach the green in two. Bunkers short of the green will make it look closer than it really is and many players will ponder being within range for their second shot but walking away with par or worse.

4th Hole 130m par 3 (142 yds)

Such a short hole should present an easy birdie and it will, provided of course, that you have landed on the same small terrace as the pin. The green is a matrix of tabletop terraces and drops away steeply on all sides. The forward pin zones are guarded by a deep pot bunker and the back section sits between the pot and the wetland hard against the back of the green. Yes it's an easy birdie but a much easier bogey.

5th Hole 335m par 4 (366 yds)

Another short par 4 that should present a good par chance for the sensible player and a birdie chance for the good player who succeeds in taking on the dogleg bunker. The green favours entry from the right side of the fairway and most pin placements will call for a high and accurate shot to provide a one putt proposition.

6th Hole 420m par 4 (459 yds)

Entering what is sure to become the Amen Corner of the front nine this hole should be played as a par 5 by all but the low markers. Magnificent wetlands are the overpowering feature of this and the next hole. Apart from a large tea tree that will catch any shot not hit to carry the heath on the left side of the fairway the drive is fairly straightforward. Straight and forward however are the essential ingredients here and left side is also desirable if you are going to have a go at the green with your second shot. The revetted green sits in and surrounded on three sides by the wetland. It is large enough and shaped to accept the long shot in. The lay-up second seems an obvious alternative however if you play to the safe right side of the fairway with your second the angle of the pitch to the green becomes increasingly more difficult and brings the wetland behind into play. Even to the scratch man, a par on this hole will be very rewarding.

7th Hole 395m par 4 (432 yds)

A missed tee shot here spells disaster, playing of the black markers means a minimum wetland carry of 150m and although we prefer to offer players alternative routes this was not possible given the extent of this wonderful natural feature. The preferred line of play calls for a 180m carry so there are some serious decisions to be made on the line of play from the tee. There is great incentive to take on the major carry as this not only shortens the shot to the green but offers a clear shot down the length of the tree lined fairway. Bunkering right of the dogleg and left of the green provides definition and a less random penalty than might otherwise be found amongst the adjacent eucalypts or heathland.

8th Hole 165m par 3 (180 yds)

The fairway of this solid par 3 is like an avenue lined with eucalypts, although tight at the tee it opens to a large green with a wetland backdrop. Looking more intimidating than it really is with large traps on the left and a pot on the right the hole will offer good birdie opportunities and there is potential for caution by playing a running shot in to the front right pin position.

9th Hole 525m par 5 (574 yds)

A genuine three shot hole to finish the front nine finds you on a revetted tee with a generous fairway on the other side of a short wetland carry. A long drive down the right side of the fairway will avoid a huge gum tree standing sentinel on the left side of the short grass. From this prime drive position a view of the flag location will determine the best side of fairway to place your second shot. If the pin is forward play the left side and flirt with the water, if it's back flirt with the bunker on the right. In either case a deft pitching wedge will be required to get close to the pin on this large, elevated, undulating green to hopefully finish the front nine with a two putt par.

Half way through the round and the superb overview of the 18th green from the spike bar provides inspiration of things to come. This inspiration may well be called upon as the morning breeze typically increases to a wind later in the day and there are many challenges to experience on the back nine.

10th Hole 540m par 5 (591 yds)

The longest hole on the course and with the prevalent wind hurting this will require three well struck shots to make the green. A classic reverse dogleg hole, it has a deep trap on the inside of the tee shot which doglegs to the right and a large pot on the left side of the second shot which bends slightly to the left. Two very good shots could still see a 9 iron or more come out of the bag for your third to a small green that is well protected by sand when the flag is forward. The pro pin however will be rear right to a tight-elevated terrace surrounded by grassy hollows.

11th Hole 390m par 4 (427 yds)

A dogleg left playing from an elevated tee and with the wind helping to draw the ball on most days this hole sets up very nicely to drive past the large fairway bunker and shorten the approach shot to the green. The green and the sand traps in front are diagonal to the line of play and an approach from the left is an advantage. A generous green receptive to a shot from this direction provides a good birdie chance.

12th Hole 355m par 4 (388 yds)

This hole also doglegs to the left but being a shorter hole, with water defending the corner and a fairway narrowing at a good drive length the tee shot becomes a totally different proposition. A 3-wood off the tee to the wider section of the fairway would seem a sensible choice leaving a mid-iron to a green which is effectively divided into quarters with each pin placement fortified by sand or grass hollows. Those who take on and carry the water from the tee will obviously be rewarded with a shorter iron into the green but is it worth the risk?

13th Hole 175m par 3 (191yds)

Unlucky for some the 13th will be a stern test of long iron play and will belie its serene setting by adding a high number to many a players scorecard. The green being narrow and at least three club lengths deep places emphasis on both distance and direction. Significant copses of native trees surround the back of the green and bunkers left and right ensure that recovery from off the green will not be a simple matter. A par on this the longest par 3 will be well earnt.

14th Hole 470m par 5 (514 yds)

With two goal post like trees directing play down the fairway and one further along the right hand side just short of the dogleg the hole sets up well for a lengthy drive between the two trees and fading slightly around the latter one. From here the long hitters will consider a shot, albeit risky, to a green fortified by a "wee burn" in front. The direct line to the centre of the green requires a carry of about 200m however a small approach apron provides incentive for a clever draw with a carry of about 170m that will most likely see the ball run up the length of the putting surface. Mind you with the water in front and a bunker at the rear it will need to be the perfect shot and one that will be immensely satisfying when executed according to plan.

15th Hole 410m par 4 (448 yds)

Turning to play the longest par 4 on the back nine also finds us facing the prevailing wind. Just getting home in two will be an achievement when the south easterly blows and many may consider playing safe to protect a good score as their best strategy. To combat this however the fairway with water down the left is quite tight from about 210m to 230m and then widens thus posing questions to the longer hitters: Do I take the risk of hitting the narrow part of the fairway? Lay up short and thus likely have to lay up short with the second shot? Or take the driver, avoid the bunker on the right and go for the wider part of the fairway? The green is large but trouble lurks nearby with water left and rear right and bunkers left and front right. All of which places more importance on making the correct decision on the tee.

16th Hole 360m par 4 (394 yds)

An interesting medium length par 4 strengthened by its slight uphill nature. A gentle dogleg to the left offers good reward for taking on the bunkers on the left and inflicts a sandy penalty on those capable of carrying the bunkers but choosing the safe line. Varying forms of water hazard are ever present along the left side of the hole and take the form of a rock cascade as we approach the elevated green. Given the mystique of this uphill second shot good scoring on this hole will be helped by local knowledge and great visualisation.

17th Hole 150m par 3 (164 yds)

Another uphill hole has the green approximately at eye height of the player on the tee. With two large traps in front of the green and a nest of bunkers on the bank behind the depth perception belies the length shown on the card and many will come up short. The depth of the green is also deceptive in that although it looks shallow there is at least three clubs difference between the front and back pin placements. The penultimate hole will bear witness to many major swings in scoring and often decide the winner of a match or monthly medal.

18th Hole 345m par 4 (377 yds)

A dynamic finishing hole sees the players atop a hill with the lay-up fairway directly below them. An iron or finessed fairway wood is all that is required to reach the preferred position right of the fairway to play the second shot across the pond to a large sympathetic green. An over zealous tee shot can easily reach the pond and put paid to a winning score. If however the tee shot is purposely long and left a blind lay-up fairway just short of the green provides a slim chance of an eagle. This obviously calls for desperate play but provides a last gasp chance to swing a match and reflects the risk for reward design philosophy adopted for the Tee Trees Golf Course.