It's best to start the game as a novice because although you won't be
able to improve your handicap or save any profiles the lack of wind
and the fixed swingometer means that you're able to concentrate on the
basics - course strategy and power. Strategy means summing up the
dangers and choosing the safe route down the fairway which can be far
from easy with some of the tortuous holes included in the game. When
it comes to short pitching you need to learn from experience how much
power to apply to get the distance you need. Otherwise you face
fifty-foor putts to the equally tortuous greens. An old golfing adage
says that the pros drive for show and putt for dough and to a large
extent it's true. It's possible to waste a ridiculous number of shots
on the greens so putting practise is essential. The most important
thing to remember is that the halfway mark on the putting meter always
represents the optimum power for a flat green whatever the distance of
the putt. All you have to do is hit harder if the putt is uphill or
less hard if it's downhill - you can check the slope by clicking the
right mouse button to see the path to the hole from side on. The other
thing to worry about is the borrow - use the 'grid' icon to see
whether this is left-to-right (or right-to-left) and compensate by
playing to the left (or right). When you start saving your profile and
average of 1.5 putts per green is good but lower putting averages are
possible - 1.0 is perfect.
THE 5 HARDEST HOLES:
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1 - Ballybrook - Hole 18 (Par 5) 'Birchwood Corner':
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This is one of the hardest par five on any of the six courses so don't
worry if it takes you some time to make par.
First shot:
The fairway makes a dog-leg so use the far right tee position to
straighten out the angle. Don't be afraid to drive over the wood but
make sure you tee up on the top position to gain enough height. Follow
this advice and you should be in a good position far enough down the
fairway to be tempted by the green for your second shot.
Second shot:
If you have anything other than a perfect lie be content with a short
pitch to near the edge of the brook. From a good or fluffy lie you
will be able to use a three wood to play to the right of the bunkers
guarding the green. Be sure to pitch accurately onto the green because
it's large and has very difficult contours.
2 - St Augustine - Hole 9 (par 3) 'Devil's Green':
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Fourtunately unless you're a scratch player you'll be playing off the
front tee which is a good 30 yards forward and gives you a clearer
view of the green. Make sure you don't underclub and flirt with the
brook and target the right side of the green because the steep slopes
funnel the ball to the left. Don't worry if you end up off the back
but try to pitch accurately otherwise you'll be three-putting.
3 - Buckland Heath - Hole 16 (par 4) 'Devil's Putt':
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The fast sloping left-to-right green dictates the strategy for this
hole. Target the right-hand edge of the fairway beyond the bunker so
that you're able to play onto the green. Aim directly at the flag and
use a slightly under-powered pitching wedge - you should end up
pinhigh but slightly beneath the cip for an easy birdie putt.
First shot:
The big lake looks threatening but keep your cool and raise your tee
and it's easy to clear. You should pitch over to the left-hand side of
the fairway to give a good view of the green.
Second shot:
For the brave a three wood over the trees and risking the bunkers is
possible but the green is very small. Always check the green before
your shot to see if the flag is on the closer tier or the lower back
tier. It's best to play a long iron short of the bunkers and then
pitch accurately to the pin.
First shot:
This is the links course and the fairways tend to be very bumpy. This
fairway kicks balls to the left so aim for the extreme right hand edge
and hit a driver with some overswing to make good distance. Hopefully
you're left a second shot from the centre of the fairway - if you end
up too far to the left then you have an awful approach over tall trees
and a deep pot bunker.
Second shot:
Anywhere on this course you should watch out for sloping lines which
make your stance more awkward and mean you can't hit the ball so hard.
Always check the power curve on the swingometer first. Here you're
likely to be on an upslope so take more club - a three wood perhaps -
and aim for the right-hand edge of the green.
