Hole-by-Hole Tips on Northern Dunes

As you head into the front nine, you are coming to the wooded part of the course where tall white mature pines, spruce and maples flourish. Hole # 1, a dogleg left par-4, measuring 350 from the back and 280 from the front, offers a good example of the woodsy feel on this part of the course. The fairway is lined with trees left and right. Bunkers stand to the left side so stay to the middle of the fairway or slightly right. Once you are on the green, it is a matter of reading the break to put your ball in the cup!

Hole # 2 is a par-5 (462 yards from the back and 396 from the front). The best tip for this hole is to aim for the rock with your tee shot. Once you are there, you should have a good approach into the green however, you should stay to the left side of the fairway near the perimeter fence as there is another large bunker stretching over 100 yards. Playing it smart and taking a few yards off your game to be able to position the ball closer to the green is not frowned upon as it is the smarter way to scoring a better score.

Hole # 3 will test your power, as it is a par-4 with good length, about 400 yards from the back and 322 from the forward tees. You will also be shooting into the wind off the tee. There is a large waste trap that stretches from the tee to about 100 yards off the tee, filled with heavy grass and sand. You need to hit your tee shot over it. Keep your ball close to the left side of the fairway and watch out for the pot bunkers closer to the green on the right-hand side of the fairway as they can 'trap' you!

Hole # 4 is a par-3, measuring 146 yards from the back tees and 110 from the front. The green is nearly surrounded with trees that stand high and with a few bunkers left and right. This is the type of situation where you will challenge yourself with club selection. The best approach is to keep it low and away from the breezy winds over the treetops however, you want the ball to sit on the green comfortably. If you choose to go higher than the trees, aim right (west) because the wind will push your ball left (east).

Hole # 5 offers a par-4 that is not too threatening. It plays at 386 yards from the back and 344 from the front. Once again, you are teeing up out of the bush. However, once you are out of the tee box, the fairway opens up. There are a few bunkers halfway up on the left edge of the fairway almost in the rough. The right is free and clear until you come to the right hand bunkers nearer to the green.

You will find another spectacular par-3 hole at Hole# 6, playing at 176 yards from the back and 112 from the front. You tee off from an elevated spot above the green. A lot of sand threatens on the right and left. Trees form the backdrop to this wonderful hole.

After this relatively easy hole, you face our toughest and most difficult par-4, Hole # 7 measuring 376 from the back and 310 from the front. It is a dead straightaway, but there are trees right and left that make it tight to get down the fairway. In addition, as your shooting to the West you are also shooting into the wind so that it seems more like a 400-yard hole. There is a waste bunker to the left of the green. You will need to poke your ball to the centre of the fairway for a second shot that needs to stay left to avoid the trees on the right.

From the tee box of Hole # 8, a par-4 measuring 382 yards from the back and 310 from the front, you are shooting down into a gully and then climbing back up to the elevated green. Watch out for a large bunker on the right side of the fairway. If you hit short, aim right towards the large bunker, and if you hit long, aim left over the huge Dune or toward the centre of the fairway.
Your finishing Hole # 9 on the front 9 is a tough par-5, 490 yards from the back tees and 376 from the forward. From the tee, you will see a large waste area of grass and sand to cross. In the distance is a large maple on a knoll to the right. Aim to the left of the tree and for your second shot, play short because a bunker runs from the fairway to the right of the green and around stretching for many yards.

IN BETWEEN NINES YOU WILL FIND OUR CLUBHOUSE, OPEN WEEKENDS AND BUSIER DAYS TO OFFER YOU A QUICK SNACK AND DRINK BEFORE YOU CONTINUE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TO ALLOW YOU TO CONTINUE WITH YOUR GAME AND THE PACE OF PLAY WITHOUT AFFECTING OR INTERUPTING ANYONE ELSES GAME. BE SURE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CLUBOUSE, AS THE SAUSAGES AND BURGERS ARE THE BEST WAY TO ENERGIZE YOU FOR THE BACK NINE!

The 10th hole is a dogleg right par-4, measuring 338 yards from the back tees and 284 yards from the front. You need to be accurate to position a good poke to the bend in the dogleg as it gets narrow at the bend, and then from there it is approximately 100 yards to the green, But in doing so you will have to contend with a huge bunker on the right side of the fairway. Many golfers try to cross the bunker to cut off distance to the green, but it is a tough hole for that. It is wisest to play it safe and go the long way around as you could potentially set your round off to a bad start by going in that massive bunker.

Hole # 11, a par-3, is one of the most scenic holes at Northern Dunes. There is a pond to the left that encroaches on the green. Although this hole plays at 174 yards from the back or onyx tees, when the wind blows, it is more like a 200-yard distance. The combination of the water on the left, the fescue grasses lining the back of the green and a small bunker on the left make for a picturesque spot to snap photos as well as play golf.

Hole # 12 is a moderately long par-4 (372 yards from the back tees and 304 from the forward). It�s a tough first shot into the wind facing three large bunkers on the right, fescue on the left and a tight landing area in between.  As you approach the green, you will find that it is surrounded by bunkers on the left and right side and has a back full of fescue. An enjoyable challenge

Hole # 13, a par-4, playing at 398 yards from the back and 306 from the forward tees, is a fairly straight hole and a good chance for par if the wind is behind you. There are a few bunkers on the left side of the fairway and one deep pot bunker that is found near the front centre of the green. The best thing is to hit toward the green from off to the side, even if the pin is in the middle of the green, and then take the long putt to the hole. It is a risky shot if you go for the centre of the green and very much a Risk: Reward Situation as the green is narrow.

On Hole # 14, you are now faced with a shorter par-5 (458 yards from the back tees and 400 from the forward). The challenge here is a large tree on the left side of the fairway; you will need to come up the Centre / right-hand side. At about 150-200 yards from the green, a large shallow area filled with rough splits the fairway. The hole is short enough that a long hitter with a powerful drive could potentially be on the green in two and maybe even putt in for an eagle. There are lots of good scores on this hole, and after playing it a few times you will know why!

Hole # 15 is a par-4 that measures 388 yards from the back and 256 from the front tees. You are teeing off out of a bushy area and then the fairway opens up out of the bush about 100-150 yards from the tee. It can be very deceiving as to the distance, as the wind is still in your face as you go through this hole. There are a few bunkers up the centre of the fairway so you will need to play to the left or right of them. Near the elevated green you will find it large and undulating so even though there is no bunkers to contend with, your challenge lies in the green.

Hole # 16 is a short little par-3 that measures 164 yards from the back and 106 from the front. Be sure to "Make Contact" off this hole, as you will find many hazards off the tee (fescue, bush etc) as well as bunkers to the left and right of the green. Stick the ball hard to the centre of the green and play from there.

The long par-4 at Hole # 17 (438 yards from the back and 326 from the forward) requires a long shot onto the fairway. The trouble here is that the fairway shrinks to a small, narrow 15-yard-wide stretch of land to play up to an elevated green. As you tee off, aim for the pump house or to the left of the pump house, and you will probably be safe as it is a far stretch to get to the pond. On your second shot, stay Centre / Left of the fairway as the perimeter (OUT OF BOUNDS) lines the right side of the green. You are aiming for an elevated green with no bunkers so its best to play your shot short to roll up on the green as dryer conditions can take a ball landed on the green and have it roll off.

You will finish the back on Hole #18 with a par-5, 502 yards from the front tees and 390 from the forward. This hole lines up with a perimeter fence on the right-hand side. The wind can blow your ball past the fence as it is coming from the west in an easterly direction. The best option is to aim for the left side of the fairway to allow the wind to blow your ball back on track to the centre of the fairway away from the pond and toward the fence a little bit. There are bunkers on the right side near the green, so stay left on your approach and finish your round.