Cleethorpes Golf Club is an 18 hole course which is made up of two nine holes. The par for men is 70 with a total yardage of 6,272 yards. The ladies par is 73 with a yardage of 5,568.

Hole 1: The par 4 first hole (par 5 for ladies) can be attacked off the tee. Flanked by two other fairways, it is the approach shot that needs caution as a ditch and heavy rough guard the entrance on both sides. A four to start is good; a five is never a disaster.

Hole 2: The par 4 second hole needs more caution off the tee as heavy rough left, and a wide ditch right, can render a lost ball. Often a good play is a three wood aimed towards but short of the left hand fairway trap.

Hole 3: The par 3 third has deep bunkers front left and right, so a good play is to be past these. This can leave a treacherous downhill putt though!

Hole 4: A tricky tee shot off the par 4 fourth tee, but if negotiated leaves a short iron in for the lower handicap and a definite birdie opportunity. Watch out for the back sloping green though as often we can see the ball run through the back.

Hole 5: This is a risk and reward par 5, where longer hitters can cut the corner to leave an iron in to the green. This green is guarded at the front by water so it needs an accurate second or third shot (if you have laid up) as this is a narrow depth green.

Hole 6: The short par 4 sixth requires an accurate long iron off the tee which will leave a wedge to the green most days. Beware, as the bunker you are hitting over has more ground past it before the green than you may think.

Hole 7: The second of our two par 5s is the seventh hole, and again, a good drive can leave the big hitter scope to get to the green in two. However, a tight right out of bounds can be a factor in deciding whether to lay up or go for it.

Hole 8: The eighth is the longest and most testing of our four par 3 holes, and as it often has a cross wind, can be a real test. There is no easy bail out,, with newly grown trees on the left cutting that bail option out.

Hole 9: The par 4 ninth requires an accurate tee shot, but if negotiated, can bring another birdie chance. This is lessened if the wind is off the sea and therefore against you.

Hole 10: A short par 4 starts the back nine. Usually a mid iron and a wedge if played well will give a low handicap players a birdie chance. For shorter hitters two tough front bunkers can be perilous, so beware.

Hole 11: This par 3 has a long narrow that funnels the ball right into a bunker or left into a tricky to chip from gully. This hole is tougher than it looks, and often a par eludes you.

Hole 12: The twelfth is a dog left, needing an accurate tee shot between two fairway bunkers. Too long, and a tree can stymie your second shot. Water short left and a wide ditch running to the right have been the card wreckers of many a round.

13 - 18: With the wind blowing, thirteen to eighteen are a true test.

Hole 13: The thirteenth is a long par 4 (par 5 for ladies), where accuracy and length are required off the tee. Often you can be left with a long second shot; so a lay up short of the green with your second could be a good medium to high handicapper play.

Hole 14: Fourteen is guarded with a wide ditch left, but with rough potentially coarse down the right, accuracy is again required. The ridge in the green can make putting difficult if you have got safely on the green in two.

Hole 15: The fifteenth has the same ditch as fourteen, but now to your left. You can, and people do, bale out to the right to avoid this. This can leave some tricky rough to negotiate. Again, wind can mean a long second in, so again, prudence and laying up for an easy 5, is a good call to all but the best.

Hole 16: The sixteenth allows you to open your shoulders, but a well bunkered fairway could catch you out. Often a good birdie chance over the closing holes after a good tee shot.

Hole 17: Seventeen is another card wrecker if not played relevantly to your handicap status. Trouble on both sides, level and to the back of the green may suggest hitting the ball on the front portion of the green. A three may still not be easy as this is one of the more undulating greens.

Hole 18: Our last hole at 447 yards (men) (uphill slightly as this course has no cardiac moments), and in a wind off the sea, is always the hardest hole in all our competitions. Drive left side of the fairway to avoid messing with a deceptively seductive right side out of bounds. Two traps, 100 yards from the green mean a decision into a strong wind to lay up or to fly them. If on in 2, or if pitching on for three, watch for a back pin placement which can see your ball run off the green as it slopes away there.

With super greens for pure putting, and no wind, a good score is there. But with lots of bumps and rolls to mean lies where the ball is above or below the feet and lots of potential pitfalls, many a visitor has been surprised by just how hard it is to attain that good score.

Paul
Head Professional