HOLE 01
Existing Par 4 318m
Proposed Par 4 318m
EXISTING HOLE DESCRIPTION
The opening hole at Green Acres plays downhill through a well-vegetated corridor from tees close-by the clubhouse. It is a short to
medium length par 4 and the tee shot is dominated by a pair of fairway bunkers that visually block off the fairway. The right bunker
appears more centrally positioned in the fairway and is closest to the tee at a distance of around 230m from the rear tee, while the
left bunker is set further down the hole at around 250m out. The ef fect of both bunkers in combination is to restrict the apparent
fairway width in the tee shot landing area, and appears to be too imposing for an opening tee shot. The green is well modeled and
is guarded by a pair of right side bunkers at front right and right rear, with a single bunker at the left rear that is set into a subtle
ridge. The green contours themselves are subtle but interesting. A decent opening hole that could be improved with a fairer tee shot
landing area.
STRENGTHS
+ Visually striking hole laid out below the golfer on the tee.
+ Strongly vegetated hole corridor, however with a good sense of spaciousness.
+ Good green complex with subtle interest to the green contours.
WEAKNESSES
+ Fairway bunkering visually blocks the tee shot, with too narrow a gap between the two bunkers.
O PPO RTU N ITI E S & R E C O M M E N DATI O N S
+ Improve landscape presentation to tee complex with supplementary planting.
+ Naturalise carry between tee and start of fairway with occasional planting of native tussocks.
+ Remove first right side fairway bunker. Relocate approximately 12-15 metres shorter and 12-15 metres to the right. This new
position opens up the visual ‘field of play’ as well provides for a more-fair opening tee shot landing area. For the longer hitter the
carry of approximately 215m is more tantalising and will more often pose the question of whether to take on this bunker or lay-up.
The higher ground before the bunker will be lowered to ensure visibility to the bunker.
+ Remove two Acacia bushes along the right to unclutter the view.
+ Plant two to three new canopy trees to replace recent tree loss.
+ Cut front greenside bunker across line-of-play by 2-3 metres. This compensates strategically for a less restricted longer drive
option with the shifting of the right side fairway bunker. Therefore a drive played long and right of centre is then faced with an
approach shot over the expanded bunker guarding the right half of the green.
TH R EATS
+ No apparent threats.
PAG E 1 7
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