COURSE

Located just a short drive south west of Christchurch Greendale is a great example of a country course that ticks all the boxes. Irrigated tees, approaches and manicured greens offer year-round golfing. Easily accessible from both SH1 or SH73 it presents a challenge for golfers of all abilities. Whether you’re new to golf, wanting a bit of space to work on your game or a low handicapper wanting a challenge, Greendale is for you.

A Hole-by-Hole Summary:

Holes 1 and 2 set up for a good start to your round with little trouble on the 1^st and the 2^nd is a short par 5 although beware the penalty area to the right with your second shot.

The 3^rd is a challenging par 3 off the whites but just a short wedge off the yellows.

The 4^th is a risk and reward par 4 with a penalty area on the right (though usually dry) where you can choose to carve off as much of the hazard as you fancy from the tee or play safe and follow the dogleg right fairway all the way to the green.

The 5^th, another par 5, also features the same penalty area on the right but it takes a fairly wayward shot to get in it. The green can be tricky and your approach is better straight and short rather than pin high wide left or right as it slopes away.

The 6^th is a shortish par 4, particularly if the nor’wester is blowing, so being a bit conservative off the tee won’t leave you a tough approach in but avoid the hedge on the right.

N^o 7 is a par 3 with a tricky side-on sloping green that isn’t deep.

The 8^th is our longest par 5 with obstacles all down the right and a green that can test your putting depending on where the flag has been placed. Plays shorter in a howling southerly!

The 9^th is a pleasant par 3 from an elevated tee. Best to play slightly right where a favourable bounce could see you end up on the green rather than to miss left where a tough up and down awaits as you end up below green level.

The back nine is somewhat shorter and having only one hole with OOB its the perfect 9 for beginners to make up some Stablefords if you left a few behind on the first 9.

The 10^th is a short par 4 with an elevated green requiring a precise shot in.

N^o 11 can be a tight drive off the whites but if you hit a draw you can let rip. The small green has some tricky borrow to deal with.

The 12^th runs adjacent to N^o 1 and is very similar.

The 13^th is a straight forward par 3 although beware of the hedge left of the green.

N^o 14 is a nice par 5 well suited to a draw or a long straight drive over the corner of the hedge on your left. This achieved and the green is reachable in 2. There’s a small grass pot bunker front left of the green which, depending on your lie, could make chipping it close a bit tricky.

The par four 15^th is stroke hole one off the whites and a short par 5 off the yellows. It appears fairly straight forward but the green with its left to right slope can present some problems if your approach leaves you a bit of work to do.

The 16^th is also a testing par 4 with a hollow running across the middle of the fairway about 110 mt out from the green and from there on in along the right side. The green while small has, thanks to the Sept 2010 earthquake, some subtle undulations.

N^o 17 is a short par three to an elevated green with OOB along the left and a bunker to the right of the green. In a strong nor’wester be brave and hoist one up left over the hedge and have the wind bring it back!

The par four 18^th is a good finishing hole where you can play it safe off the tee with a long iron, hybrid or three wood, or get the driver and have a go. The green is drivable for a big hitter with a power fade but overcook the fade to the right and you’ll be amongst the pines and probably have no shot at the green. If you hit it long without a fade there are some big trees on the left which could also make your shot in less than ideal. The green has a wee bunker on the left and a big drop to the right. The green itself is fairly straight forward so give that final putt a good roll and it could well drop in.

The 19^th hole (clubhouse) is open on Saturdays, tournament days or by prior arrangement and a great place to relax and re-live your round.

So if you are looking for a friendly club to join or a casual  green-fee round you’ll have to go a long way to find something better than Greendale! See you soon…