Course Description
1st Hole
A relatively easy opening hole. A good drive or long iron will leave a short iron or wedge to a narrow green protected by a gaping bunker to the left of the green which should be avoided. Many members play to the bank on the right hand side of the green and let the ball feed off the hill onto the green. Good opening birdie chance as the green is driveable to the big hitters.
2nd Hole
A tough par 4, usually plays as one of the most difficult holes on the course. From the medal tee a well struck drive is required to clear a large embankment about 170 yards off the tee. If you clear this hill you are left with a blind approach to a green that can be hard to hold in firm conditions. Out of bounds runs along the length of the right hand side of the hole. Par is always considered a good score here.
3rd Hole
A good drive will leave a short iron to a green that sits high above you- so beware of leaving your approach short as you will be left with a tricky lob shot. A burn crosses this hole but should not come into play with a good tee shot.
4th Hole
The first of the Par 3s at Blairbeth which can be a card wrecker. You can admire the view as you tee off from an elevated tee to a green that is heavily guarded with a burn across the front of the green, a bunker left and out of bounds right and to the back of the green. Can be a tricky hole in windy conditions.
5th Hole
A relatively long par 4 which if you find the fairway off the tee should present few problems. Beware however that out of bounds runs up the right side of the hole and anything left of the fairway off the tee can be blocked out by trees. 2 Bunkers left and right protect the green.
6th hole
This hole is usually played into the prevailing wind and as such can play very long. Again a good drive will leave a mid iron to a small green protected by a bunker left. Avoid being big as trouble and out of bounds lurk close to the back of the green. The green slopes from left to right so anything above the hole can leave a tricky downhill putt.
7th Hole
The first par 5. A decent drive will leave a relatively blind second shot. Beware a burn meanders across the fairway near the landing area for the 2nd shot so care should be taken to take enough club to clear the burn. Two good shots will leave a pitch shot into a green that slopes severely from back to front Again beware being big as any shot through the green will leave a treacherous pitch back from below the back of the green
8th Hole
A short par 4 that is driveable but is well protected by fairway bunkers and a greenside bunker. Again the green is slightly raised so can produce tricky chip shots from the peripheral of the green. Good birdie chance although anything right off the tee will find heavy rough or indeed out of bounds.
9th Hole
Again a relatively short par 4. A drive to a right to left sloping fairway will leave a short iron to a green that has many subtle borrows. A small bunker lies at the front of the green to catch those trying to drive the green or any approach shots that come up short. The green drops steeply away on the left hand side so coming from the right hand side of the fairway can be the best line off the tee.
10th Hole
A difficult par 3 to start the back 9. Measuring over 200 yards the green can be notoriously difficult to find off the tee. Anything left or right will leave a difficult chip and putt for par. 3 is a good score here.. The green slopes from front right to back left so depending on pin position you can be left with a tricky putt.
11th Hole
From the elevated medal tee the views are majestic but beware the tee shot is fraught with danger. A drive needs to be threaded through a gap in the trees to a fairway you cannot see from the tee and severely slopes away from you. Many people find that their second shot is usually played from a hanging or downhill lie. If you find a good position from the tee, the green is certainly reachable in 2 for an eagle chance although many players are happy with a par 5.
12th Hole
A straight forward par 3 although anything miscued right off the tee will find heavy rough. Again beware being long as an embankment lies behind the green and you will be left with an uphill blind pitch shot.
13th Hole
Another difficult par 3 over 200 yards. A driver is usually required off the tee and the hole usually plays into the prevailing wind and plays uphill. Out of bounds runs up the right hand side of the hole. Anything short left of the green will leave a tricky downhill chip shot to a sloping green. Par is a very good score here.
14th Hole
A 90 degree dogleg to the right hole. From the front tees it is possible for the bigger hitters to try and take on the green from the tee by cutting the corner. However out of bounds lurks all the way up the right side of the hole and the corner is also considered out of bounds. Smart play is to play left centre of the fairway off the tee to leave a short iron or wedge to a raised green. Should be a straight forward hole if played wisely.
15th Hole
Usually the hardest hole on the course. A par 5 measuring over 500 yards played into a prevailing wind with out of bounds all the way up the right side. Even 3 good hits might not get you to the green. The fairway slopes severely from right to left as you get near the small green so can be difficult to hold. The green is a small target which can be difficult to find from distance as a road runs just to the right of the green and the green drops away severely on the left hand side. Many members will take a 5 on the tee if offered !
16th Hole
Perhaps regarded as the signature hole at Blairbeth. A blind tee shot should leave a short iron to a small bowl shaped green. The views from the top of the fairway as you walk off the tee are unsurpassed when the whole of the city of Glasgow and down the River Clyde plus the mountains to the north open up in front of you. No matter how many times you play the hole there is always something different to look at. A majestic hole visually but keep your game focused and par should be relatively straight forward.
17th Hole
A cracking short par 3 where a well struck short iron will find the putting surface of the heavily guarded bunkered green . Some members use the bank to the left hand side of the green to their advantage known as affectionately as `the boys gate`. Club selection at this hole can be very tricky in windy conditions.
18th Hole
Last hole. This par 4 hole actually plays uphill dogleg to the left. The landing area on the fairway cannot be seen from the tee and this can lead to some finding the semi rough left of the fairway which can lead to trees blocking out your approach shot. If you can find the fairway a mid to short iron will leave you with a straight forward par attempt. Beware the bunkers front right and to the left of the green. Your approach shot is often blind so use the marker pole behind the green wisely.
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