Course Master Plan v1 | Page 48

HOLE 14 Existing Par 5 480m Proposed Par 5 480m EXISTING HOLE DESCRIPTION This par 5 plays parallel to the river in a south-westerly direction and is notably the only par 5 on the back nine. The tees feel quite hemmed in with trees at the side of the river and those between it and the adjacent 16th green. Those on the left extend out and tend to push the alignment of the hole to the right, while the tees also align to the right side of the fairway. The tee shot landing area is very strongly bunkered down the right side with four linear bunkers. These are not that visible from the tee and their role appears to be that of ball retention to stop some sliced balls from a worse fate. The fairway is generally flat in nature and doglegs slightly to the left after the second shot landing area. The green is flanked by a pair of bunkers at front left and right, and both green and bunkers are of a low-profile character. An attractive hole with room for improvement. STRENGTHS + Attractive hole along the river. WEAKNESSES + Strength of vegetation beyond tee at left tends to push shots out to the right. + Fairway bunkers at the right are not very prominent and could be remodelled to look more imposing. + Lack of any second shot bunkering means there is no premium on the second shot which currently can just be played down the fairway with impunity. + Bunkering to the green is uninspiring and their positioning either side of the green places no premium on second shot placement for a preferred line of approach. O PPO RTU N ITI E S & R E C O M M E N DATI O N S + Prune overhanging branches and tall shrub adjacent and in front of tee to open up left side of hole. + Prune limbs along right side and in front of tee. + Remodel right side fairway bunkers to provide a more visually imposing sight. Combine the third and fourth bunkers. Cut the last bunker 4-5 metres further into the fairway to increase hazard as well as break up linear line of bunkers. + Construct new second shot fairway bunker, left side of fairway, to challenge those golfers laying up short of the green. + Remodel green complex to create a more interesting and challenging experience on this the only par 5 on the back nine. Reduce the size of this relatively large green to tighten up the target. Push the left side bunker back and tighter right to the green. This also allows for improved egress and reduced wear to the next tee. The right side bunker is to cut closer to the line of play by approximately 4-5 metres and is to extend forwards towards the golfer to aid depth deception. TH R EATS + No apparent threats. PAG E 4 5 14