Alderney Golf Club

Teeing off across the road from the clubhouse this opening hole gives long hitters a huge advantage as it brings into view the green for their second shot. Lesser hitters remain blind to the green and must rely on the mid-fairway marker post for direction. A nice wide fairway leads to the putting surface which has two green-side bunkers and offers a superb view across the English Channel.

A longish par 3 with a slightly elevated green protected left and right by bunkers. An accurate tee shot should be rewarded with a par, but wayward shots to both left and right of the fairway will find trees and rough.

A long par 4 with a blind shot to the dog-leg right fairway. The temptation is to drive as close as possible to the large plateau green but a more subtle approach will more often than not reap benefits.

A short and tempting hole protected by numerous bunkers but a large green awaits and an accurate tee shot makes a birdie a reasonable possibility.

Affectionately known as ‘heart-attack hill’ this is a steep uphill par 4 with a very wide fairway. Most golfers will have the opportunity to reach the green with their second shot, but having an uphill lie makes the task quite a challenge.

A very attainable par 3 which sees you teeing off from an elevated position down the fairway to a flat green but over ambitious shots will pass through and fall away off the plateau, giving a difficult chip back to the flag.

A long steady uphill fairway with a left to right slope means the first shot off the tee will reward straight hitters. The green is blind, but has a large putting surface on two levels and no bunkers to protect it. Carding a par here is very possible but, at the same time, satisfying.

A short par three over a small valley with the green protected by bunkers on the front left and middle right, this is a challenging hole.

The longest and most difficult hole on the course, for experienced golfers a good “tiger line” drive brings enormous advantages but comes with costs if you hit short. More prudent players take a line on the fairway centre marker post, but reaching the uphill green in two then becomes difficult. An immensely satisfying hole to par for those who manage it.

With the tee lying adjacent to the first, the hole is identical to hole one in every respect and again gives a huge advantage to a straight and long tee shot.

With bunkers protecting the front left and centre right sides of the green, an accurate tee shot is very important as hitting short brings into play a fairway bunker and a small thick copse to the front right of the green.

An elevated tee position gives sight of the green down a long wide fairway with a slight dogleg to the right. An accurate first shot is important as a slice will find the ball in trees or deep rough, which border the fairway right down to the large putting surface. A controlled second shot is important, as a short hit is unlikely to run straight onto the green and an over-aggressive shot will fail to hold onto the plateau.

Teeing off high above the blind green, hidden by trees, makes this a tricky par three, and any wayward shot to the left brings in deep rough and tree hazards. Accuracy both with distance and direction will bring a rewarding par.

Hitting from a slightly elevated tee to a wide fairway brings little trouble for the first shot. But then the fairway climbs steeply to the blind putting surface for the second shot and care must be taken not to underestimate the distance remaining due to the elevated position of the green.

This is a long par three starting from a very elevated position above the green with deep rough to the right and left of the sloping fairway. This hole is particularly difficult when the wind is strong but a low straight shot will generally find the green although if over-hit the ball will fall down the steep back slope and make for a tricky chip back.

A long straight shot will find the fairway which gently slopes up to a blind two level green. However, any tee shot short to the left or right will find impenetrable rough, so accuracy is important. The right hand side of the fairway slopes steeply away so it is beneficial to be centre fairway or slightly left for the second shot.

An accurate tee shot is important as to reach the green the player hits over deep rough before the uphill fairway is reached. The green is protected on the front left side and middle right side by bunkers but by playing slightly to the left top side of the green most troubles are avoided and a par is very attainable.

The second longest par four on the course, the hole tempts the golfer to “open up” with their tee shot, and those following the line of the marker post will have no problems, but too much left brings in deep rough grass, and too much right could mean out of bounds onto the practice ground. A second shot uphill finds the green nestling against the side of the hill and to complete your round with a par here brings a huge feeling of satisfaction.