Holes 13 and 14

This is a short and straight forward, albeit downhill par 3. Stream in front and pond to the left so don't be in there! There really isn't anything to worry about here and a large green makes for plenty of opportunities for a bird so just go do it. OK?

 Now before you get started here you might want to just have a little sit down for youself. This par 5 is long and involves the only real climb in Gowran. Its a nice view backwards though from the top of said hill. Long and straight off the tee here leaving a 5-7 iron for your second shot which in turn leaves about 100m odd to the green. If you are on the upslope of the hill after your tee shot remember that a fairway wood will launch the ball a lot higher than off the flat so not a lot to be gained by tying yourself in a knot. The green is shallow enough and protected short right and left by bunkers so really try to give yourself the best possible approach with your third shot. This is quite a contoured green and can often be 2/3 putt territory if you're not careful. All in all a lovely hole and one of my favourites.

12th Hole - Index 1

This is a genuinely tough hole. Its long and a left to right dogleg with water all along the right hand side of your tee shot. The fairway slopes down to that lake if you are too far right (I know this) and OB is located along the length of the right side. Most players take out the Big Dog for this shot but let me offer a little insight as someone who has lost balls to both the lake and the OB. Next time you go to play this hole try a five iron. Then when that takes you down to a point wher you can now see the green, take another five iron. Can you guess what that will leave you with for your shot to the green (which will be invariably played into a headwind)? Yep another five iron leaving all but the most unfortunate amongst us you with a birdie putt.

Now before you jump up and down, just think for a minute. Have I sent you wrong yet? No, so just try it and let me know how you get on. This hole does deserve its rating as the hardest hole on the course for a number of reasons really. The difficulty presented with the tee shot, and the subsequent shots usually played into a stiff breeze. A babbling brook  runs the length of your second and third shots on the right with the left side tree lined and not easy to deal with if you are off course. In truth I haven't seen too many birdies but they can be scored. (Disclaimer: If you lose the monthly medal by playing this hole badly whilst following the advice I gave you.......Tough). What do I know?

The 11th

I've "borrowed" the official description from Gowran Park for this one because it explains it very well.

There is danger on all sides on the approach shot. Concede distance for accuracy as you will be out of bounds all up the left with bunkers on the right at 207 to reach and 266 to carry.
Always favour the right of this green, which is well protected both left and right with green side bunkers, as this leaves you a relatively easy putt. Anything big here is dead as there is a severe slope behind this green. Note that this green is only 22 metres deep on its left side and 29 metres deep on its right side.

Straight forward enough stuff boys and girls. I can't add too much to this except by way of a little vignette of knowledge that couldn't be bought if you tried. A good friend who for legal reasons will not be identified (there you go Bob I promised I wouldn't name you)  has a theory on the best way to play this hole. On a normal day playing from the forward tee a rather large tree tends to be, well in the way really. Actually its in the way no  matter where you stand. But Bob reckons that its much easier to play this hole from the back (about 5m further back) because now you take the tree out of play by (wait for it) going over the tree.

Go have a look at that tree or better still go play the hole and tell me if its me or Bob that needs professional help. There is always a bird on offer here so chart this hole as one to move your score on a bit.

How are you feeling? The back nine and Hole number 10

Well, how are you feeling at this stage? How have you done on your scoring? Have you threatened the course record at the halfway point?
Of course the reality is that it doesn't really matter! If you know the course well then you know you have just played nine beautiful golf holes, all different and all presenting their own challenges. If you are new to Gowran Park then you will undoubtedly have enjoyed the front nine and be looking forward to more of the same. You are not about to be disappointed.
Sometimes depending on whats going on it is possible to get a burger at the starters hut (not a common occurrence though) and although the locker rooms are not far away there is a toilet block available near the tenth tee box. So lets move on to the back nine. Unusually enough you are about to play another par 3 (two together...yeah I know) but this one as with all other holes in Gowran makes you stop and think about what you are going to do. Have a look at the picture...go on then come back to me.

Right so. Looks simple enough and as with all things if you play it right it is available to birdie, but you will have to take account of the course and the conditions. The breeze plays a big role here so allow for it and the hole is starkley downhill so again allow for this with club selection. Bunkers on the left and tough rough on the right with a rather large tree for those that are wayward and have over clubbed it.
The hole is a good birdie shout so aim to get one here.
As always all comments are very welcome. Let me know  what you think

Coming up to the turn. The 8th and 9th

Now despite the fact that I have actually eagled this hole from the 12th fairway it isn't as simple as it seems. Fairway rolls left to right and the wind seems to blow the same way so really just put your drive on the short stuff leftish if anything. Now from here the length of your drive dictates your next shot. If you want to go for the green make sure you can reach it without over pushing yourself on the shot, the lake runs along the right side of the green and a babbling brook (nice touch) lies along the front. Big green and always a chance of a bird. Following on from my opening comment the eagle was a fluke.

 This photo is only of the back of the 9th tee box (for the benefit of the webmaster). Anyway straight forward par three with just a load of water to contend with if you're greedy. Its often windy in da face so you might need a bit more club than you think. Remember "into the breeze swing with ease". Take a par and move on.

Captains Day 2011

Saturday 25 was Captains prize with Sean Kiely's prize on offer for those who put their reputations on the line. I played at 8.36 with Ray Kent which made for a very enjoyable morning in good company. We didn't pull up trees on the way around but we didn't get wet and the craic was good. Well done to Eoin Jordan with 69 to lift the glass at the end of the day. Congrats to Sean and Breda on a lovely day for all.

Around the bend-6th and 7th

 If at this stage you are feeling smug after a bird on the par 3 and a well made par on the previous hole, this next hole would on the face of it look like a good opportunity to drive home your advantage over the course. In truth this is not the most difficult target on the planet but its index 12 and you have to play this hole the right way.

Unless you hit big you should just knock one down the middle leaving a short iron into a generous green that generally slopes from back to front with a flattish section at the top. From the tee the left side curves with the race track and is out of bounds, and on the right are a continuous stand of tall trees that despite looking threatening do leave enough room to recover if its not too wayward. Some will try to cut off the left corner but I don't think there is a lot to be gained because the grass is longer in the landing area and if you pull it its out of bounds. Stay on the short stuff.

Now assuming you get the perfect or otherwise drive away, what then? Well if you've middled it you've got a really good position to shoot straight at the target. Left or right and the grass is a bit longer but still manageable with some thought. Now let me share a little thought with you here. I sometimes tell people how important it is to play the right shot even when it may not be the beautiful shot or the one you think you want to play. What do I mean? Almost without exception most of the players I've seen play this approach shot choose from their vast array of wedges and attempt with varying degrees of success to do a "Leftie" on it and lob one high to land soft or "get some action goin'on". But as I said the green slopes back to front so a short ball won't go up the green and if it spins it will come back down. So my advice is to run one in low and especially when the ground is dry it will run in.

The green is big with plenty of contours and as I'm not the best putter in the world you're on your own from here. Good luck.

The 7th is Index 4 and well worth the tag. Trees down both sides leave a wayward tee shot in trouble with generally no chance of making the green in two. A straight drive leaves a thought provoking second shot here. A body of water protects the front of this green and runs more or less right up to the edge of the green so whatever shot you decide on it has to carry all the way or else its wet. At the back and to the right are trees that make a shot back on to the green difficult. The breeze also needs to be considered here. I'm not sure which direction one would describe as the prevailing one but to me it always seems to be right to left, right to left or in your face (thats them all covered)so take account of it.
So whether you decide to lay up with your second or go for it just make sure you commit to it and then let fly. Lads if you get a par here take it and be eternally grateful to whatever deity you deem important.