TORWOODLEE

The opening tee shot from the elevated tee demands a straight shot with a driver. Be sure to avoid the right hand fairway bunker as this prevents getting home in 2. The perfect drive gives a good chance of avoiding the bunkers around the double green shared by the 15th.

This hole named after the course designer Willie Park is the 2nd hardest on the front 9. It requires a very good tee shot which needs to be aimed to the left hand side of the fairway as the ball will feed down to the right hand side of the fairway. Shorter hitters may wish to aim to the right of the bank as it may be too far for them to carry. The second shot usually sees the ball below the feet and increases the difficulty of an already challenging second shot which needs to be accurate to avoid the large trees greenside. A bunker lurks on the front right and it is easy to topple off the back and right of the green. Gauging the distance of the approach shot is key. A very sloping green makes it easy to 3 putt.

This hole named after the Railway line to its rear is a very well protected par 3 guarded by 5 bunkers. There are not many straight putts on this green and putts from back to front can be scary fast. Be aware out of bounds on the road especially if playing downwind.

This is the 1st hole of the new 10 holes of the course situated on the south side of the Waverley Railway line that were designed by John Garner and opened in 1995. A short dogleg par 4 with a 3 tier green is protected by greenside bunkers, Aim for the red & white barber’s pole. A good tee shot will leave a short approach with a decent chance of birdie. A driver is not always necessary depending on the wind and ground conditions. Make sure you are on the correct level with your second shot otherwise it can be easy to walk off with a bogey.

As the name suggests you are climbing to the highest point on the course. This is the toughest hole on the front 9 demanding 2 very good shots to get the green for even the lowest handicapper. Very rarely is anyone through the green in two shots. Out of bounds all the way up the left. Avoid being right of the green with your approaches as this leaves a very hard up and down. This hole generally plays into a strong breeze. A par on this hole feels like a birdie.

With a superb view of the Bowland estate and also Longpark windfarm in the distance, this is a classic risk and reward par 4 that is driveable in dry conditions. If you can carry the field and the 3 mature trees the ball can run all the way to the green. A wide fairway awaits but the elevated tee along with high winds can play havoc with the tee shot. A drive aimed in between the two big trees is the safe shot. A long narrow green has lots of borrows but is considered by the members a good birdie chance and has seen many eagles.

This hole is a very challenging uphill blind par 3 with a narrow green. Players should aim the right hand side as the percentage play. Any shot missing the green left is in difficult up and down territory. A tee shot to the right of the green sometimes takes advantage of a members bounce and will bring the ball to rest on the long thin green. Not many straight putts on this green.

This par 5 is named after the former trout farm which was removed in 2014 to make way for the Borders Railway. It is a long hole fraught with danger if you are out of position. Finding the centre or preferably the left hand side of the fairway is a great start. The ball has tendency to kick left where the out of bounds lurks. Next it is important to get the second shot past the 2 large trees and leave a 3rd shot of around 100 yards to the green. Hitting the mature trees , steering away from the out of bounds all the way down the left hand side of the hole and negotiating the ball onto a narrow green flanked by a pot bunker on the right and a steep slope on the left side of the shared green makes this hole a potential card wrecker. Double figures are not uncommon here and statistically it plays the highest over par!

Named so as the Sun is in your eyes in the evening. This slight dogleg par 4 to the left requires an accurate drive to miss the fairway bunker situated on the left side of the fairway which protects the shortest route to the green. It is important to keep out of the rough on this hole as this will almost certainly stop you getting home in two. The second shot should be aimed at the left hand side of the green as the ball feeds down to the green. Anything right will leave a very hard up and down from the tangly rough. Not many Birdies here and a hard closing hole on the front 9.

Named so as you turn for home on the back 9 this medium distance par 3 which plays generally into the prevailing wind. Right handed faders of the ball should beware the large trees on the left. The shot here for those not carrying the green is to take advantage of the gathering slope on the left of the green and let the ball bounce down to the middle of the fairly large green. Any weak shots to the right could leave a difficult bunker shot. There are often more bogeys than pars here.

Named after the former majestic monkey puzzle tree at the gateway to the green, this is one of the hardest par 4 holes in Scotland – To have any chance of getting home in 2 a player must firstly negotiate the large tree in front of the tee. Whilst the drive favours a right handed players draw the second favours a fade which is not easy when the ball lies above the feet. The Second shot needs to be aimed on the Monkey puzzle tree in order to hold the green especially in dry conditions. A week shot could easily end up in the bunker just short left of the green. A long saddle type green with plenty of borrows awaits but be prepared to a chip and putt for your par here as the likely hood is you may well end up to the left of the green.

Named so due to being the shortest hole on the course. The tee shot should be aimed left as this is the bail out shot and a members bounce from the left banking will leave you with a decent chance of birdie especially if the pin is in the middle or front portion of the green. This hole often plays 2 clubs more into the wind. You don’t want to miss the green to the right as you could be left with a blind shot to the flag. No prizes for being short and/or right.

The last hole on the new part of the course is a classic dogleg that has lots of danger from the tee. If you manage to get past the dogleg then the 2nd shot varies with the ground conditions. In the wet fly it all the way, but in the dry you must land it short. Be careful of the pot bunker on the left or of going through the green.

Named after the area of the river near to the green. This is one of the best par 5 holes you will play anywhere. A double dogleg to the right with an elevated tee-shot. Watch out for out of bounds all the way down the right and the trees all the way down the left. Beware the large fairway trap on the left and out of bounds at the corner on the right when playing your second shot. The 3rd shot requires precision to allow for the undulations at the front of the green to get near to the flagstick. A large greenside bunker also interferes whilst coming from the left side of the fairway.

Named after the river, this par 4 is probably the best chance of a birdie on the back 9. A wide fairway with trees both sides should be easy to hit but taking the shortest route to the green brings a wide fairway bunker into range. Bunkers also guard the green but a fairly short approach shot should allow a decent birdie putt on the large double green that is shared with the 1st Hole.

A great par 4 which bears the name of the hill that overlooks the green. The tee shot here needs to be out of the top drawer as good distance is key to have any chance of getting home in 2. The drive will probably land on the upslope limiting any run and as the green is elevated most will need 2 of their very best to reach the green. A perfect drive here will come to rest in front of the clubhouse leaving the gallery to watch you hit your second. Watch for out of bounds on the right and also don’t be left as large trees will cause you to be blocked out. Take care to navigate the greenside bunkers which guard one of the biggest greens on the course.

A long par 3 at over 200 yards which used to be the 1st hole when Torwoodlee was a 9 hole course prior to 1995. This hole plays like a par 4 for the Majority and is by far the toughest par 3 on the course. A straight tee shot is needed here to avoid the fairway and greenside bunkers and leave a chance of a 3. Most pars are gained from off the green. This hole has double bogey potential written all over it.

A great tight finishing hole named after the bridge behind the green. The river on the right is out of bounds as is anything too far left. The ideal tee shot landing in the centre of the fairway avoiding the mound and trees on the left should leave a straight forward 2nd to a deep green which slopes towards the river. Possible birdie chances exist but beware of the greenside bunkers and the river! This is never an easy par if you are under pressure.