Hole By Hole Tips - 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 yards from the back and 280 yards 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 yards 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 yards from the forward tees. Typically the prevailing wind is into you on this tee shot. There is a large waste bunker that stretches from the tee to about 100 yards off the tee, filled with heavy grass and sand. 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 yards from the front tee deck. The green is closely surrounded by trees that are tall and full and with a few bunkers left and right this makes for a great golf hole. 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. If you choose to go higher than the trees, be ready to play the wind.

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

Hole# 6 will find another spectacular par-3 hole , playing anywhere from 112 yards at the front tee to 176 from the back tee. You tee off from an elevated tee to a well bunkered tricky green. Trees form the backdrop and frame this hole wonderfully.

After this relatively easy hole, you face our toughest and most difficult par-4, Hole # 7 measuring 376 yards from the back tee to 310 yards from the front. It is a straightaway tee shot, 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 playing into the wind so that it seems more like a 400-yard hole. There is a waste bunker to the left of the green as well that will challenge the short game. 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 yards from the front, you are playing 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. For the short hitter, aim right towards the large bunker, and if you're a bomber, aim left over the huge Dune or toward the centre of the fairway and let it fly! Risk reward is the name of this game.

Your front nine finishing Hole # 9 is a tough par-5, 490 yards from the back tees and 376 yards from the forward deck. From the tee, you will see a large waste area of grass and sand to cross. In the distance on the right side you will see a large Maple Tree, aim to the left of the tree and for your second shot, play short because a bunker runs from the fairway to the right side of the green. Finishing strong on this hole is a great way to start the back half of Northern Dunes!

 

IN BETWEEN NINES YOU WILL FIND OUR CLUBHOUSE WHERE WE HAVE A GREAT RESTAURANT AND SELECTION OF BEVERAGES TO FUEL YOU FOR THE BACK NINE! FROM BURGERS TO DOGS, FROM CHIPS TO COOKIES, YOU'LL BE SURE TO FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. OUR FRIENDLY STAFF WILL BE SURE OF THAT! 

BRING ON 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 shot to a right bending dogleg as it gets narrow at the bend, and then from there it is approximately 100 yards to the green. In doing so you will have to contend with a huge bunker on the right side of the fairway. Many golfers try to cut the bunker to cut off distance to the green, but it's a fair carry so be cautious.

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 anywhere from 104 to 174 yards you'll find it plays further with the wind generally pushing into you. 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 a few photos.

Hole # 12 is a moderately long par-4 (372 yards from the back tees and 304 yards from the forward). With a tough tee shot into the wind facing three large bunkers on the right, fescue on the left and a tight landing area in between you'll be glad to make it to the green in regulation. At the green you will find it is surrounded by bunkers on the left and right side and has a back edge of tall fescue. An enjoyable challenge for all playing levels.

Hole # 13, is a par-4, playing at 398 yards from the back tee and 306 yards from the forward tees. It is a fairly straight hole and a good chance for par or birdie if the wind is behind you. There are a couple of 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 away from the right side of the green to avoid the deep bunker.

On Hole # 14, you are now faced with a shorter par-5 (458 yards from the back tees and 400 yards from the forward tees). The challenge here is a large tree on the left side of the fairway, ideally your tee shot will favor middle to right 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 have a putt 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 tee and 256 yards from the front tee. You are teeing off out of a well covered shoot to where 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 can be in your face throughout the 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 to avoid trouble. The green is elevated, large and undulating so even though there is no bunkers to contend with, your 2 putt is anything but gauranteed.

Hole # 16 is a short little par-3 that measures 164 yards from the back and 106 yards from the front. A solid strike is key 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. Find the green on your tee shot and you are in great shape here!

The long par-4 at Hole # 17 (438 yards from the back and 326 yards from the forward tees) requires your best tee shot of the day. The trouble here is that the fairway narrows significantly to about 15-yards wide. From there your approach is up to an elevated difficult green. As you tee off you'll aim at or just left of the pump house in the distance. On your second shot, stay Centre / Left of the fairway as OB sneaks up on the right side of the green. A good safe approach shot here lands on the front half of the green or in some cases short of the green to play the run up. Par is a great score here! 

The finishing Hole #18 is a par-5, 502 yards from the back tees and 390 yards from the forward tees. This hole is guarded by a fence on the right side which is OB. Careful here as the wind can really take your ball off line. The best option is to aim for the left side of the fairway. There are bunkers on the right side nearer the green, so stay left on your approach and finish your round strong with a birdie or par.

ONCE YOU'VE COMPLETED YOUR ROUND, BE SURE TO STOP BY DUNES RESTAURANT FOR A PINT AND SOME APPETIZERS! WE HAVE A GREAT SELECTION THAT I'M SURE WILL MEET YOUR EVERY NEED.