Hole by Hole
Hole No 1 - 318yrds Par 4
At 369 yards the opening hole at Machynys is a gentle start to a championship golf course. A dog leg from left to right with water running down the right side, making the player mindful of this opening tee shot. A drive starting on the two bunkers down the left hand side, moving a little left to right will leave a short pitch or Iron to a receptive green which slopes from back to front.
Hole No 2 – 155yrds Par 3
A short par 3 offering a birdie opportunity for the player that takes on the water and bunkers that protect this shallow green, should you bailout to the left, making par will require imagination and considerable nerve!
Hole No 3 489yrds Par 5
A straight forward Par 5 once the you have safely avoided the bunker down the left side, the decision then is whether to go for the green which is well protected by two bunkers blocking the approach to a shallow green or to manage your way down the left hand side, leaving a pitch down the full length of the green.
Hole No 4 371yrds Par 4
This Tee shot will require some thought, the choice of Driver requires accuracy and length to carry the ball over the water hazard to find the narrow fairway, leaving a short Iron to yet another shallow green on the angle of approach. The safer option of the tee will leave a difficult approach with a mid to longer Iron and less control to the shallow green, the runoff area to the right of the green will be a popular spot for many players.
Hole 5 No 332yrds Par 4
A short dogleg left right to a green surrounded by water, a seemingly straight forward hole but players should watch out for this second shot if the wind blows as distance control becomes paramount to this sloping shallow green.
Hole 6 487yrds Par 5
Long par 5 which generally plays into the prevailing wind with water coming into play on the second shot. The player that produces both a solid tee and fairway shot will be rewarded with a fairly simple pitch to a receptive green. Those players bailing out to the right will find two large bunkers and some very wild native rough which could turn this par 5 into a monster of a hole even for the most powerful of hitters.
Hole 7 179yrds Par 3
Another solid par 3 with a very deep green this encourages a lower ball flight to chase the ball up green. The runoff area to the right of the 7th hole will catch a lot of balls hitting the right edge of the green, you can expect to see a variety of shots by the professionals trying to save par on this short hole.
Hole 8 373yrds Par 4
To find the widest part of the fairway requires only a long Iron or fairway wood, leaving a second shot of around 165yrds across a water hazard and greenside bunker blocking the approach. The more aggressive play is to hit Driver down the left side flirting with the long native rough and bushes to the narrower part of the fairway this will leave only a short pitch or Iron depending on the wind direction.
Hole 9 360yrds Par 4
The key to this hole is avoiding the bunkers off the tee; a drive starting down the left side using the natural contours of the fairway to move the ball down the middle, this will leave an approach with a short Iron or pitch which you will need to have to control on this well bunkered sloping shallow green.
Hole 10 377yrds Par4
The water can come into play off the tee if the wind blows with no real bailout left or right
The ideal tee shot is down the right side of the fairway which gives the best angle to approach this green especially when the pin position is placed back left.
Hole 11 166yrds Par3
A real gem of a hole requiring a well struck Iron shot across water to a narrow but deep green. The obvious bailout is to the right but this will leave a tricky chip shot down towards the lake. You have to be mentally strong and committed for this tee shot, most will be happyto escape with a par on this hole.
Hole 12 426yrds Par4
A good tee shot here will give an opportunity to attack the flag with a short Iron. Not an easy green to hold the ball on, as the prevailing wind is normally blowing from behind.
Hole 13 488yrds Par5
A stern test for those playing in the opposite direction to the previous hole as it will play back into the prevailing wind. A good drive sliding past the last fairway bunker on the left will leave a difficult approach to a wide but fairly shallow green in parts. A high towering, soft landing ball is required to keep the ball on the putting surface should the players decide to take this green on in two.
Hole 14 330yrds Par4
A short par 4 which generally plays down wind, providing a great a scoring opportunity as long as you can manage to avoid the five bunkers scattered across the fairway, you should then be left with a short pitch to fairly large green.
Hole 15 386yrds Par4
Spectacular looking tee shot requires some thought, whether to take a long Iron or fairway wood to take the bunker out of play leaving a second shot of around 160yrds or to take Driver and risk both bunker and water for a relatively short pitch to an undulating green.
Hole 16 411yrds Par4
The signature whole here at Machynys playing slightly up hill and with the prevailing wind into and off the right, this can take two good hits to reach the green in two. A good tee shot over the right edge of the left hand bunker will leave an approach to a narrow entrance any shot not reaching beyond the fringe of the green will roll back down the fairway ten to fifteen yards leaving an awkward pitch to a fairly slick green.
Hole 17 156yrds Par3
A great short hole that requires a lot of spin control as the green has many undulations. Though a relatively short hole downhill, the green is heavily guarded with a large bunker on the left and a steep run off area to the right of the putting surface.
Hole 18 481yrds Par5
Perfect finishing hole for Championship golf, a stunning tee shot across a swan filled lake to a very generous fairway, setting up an intriguing second shot to a well protected green. There are so many ways of managing your ball down this hole, the green has been designed for a pitch shot with lots of spin for ball control but any player able to hit a towering long Iron shot or fairway wood will be well rewarded should they find the green.