The 1st hole is a par 3 of 172 yards. Most players will hit a five or six iron looking to avoid the bunkers on left and right of the green. Hit the ball straight and you should start your round with a par.

The 2nd hole is a par 4 of 371 yards. Out of bound runs all down the right hand side that gives you a daunting tee shot early in the round. The fairway is generous but three bunkers are there to catch wayward shots, miss these and you are playing into one of the largest greens on the course.

The 3rd hole is a par 5 of 560 yards. From the tee you have a reward versus risk decision. The hole dog legs right and if you can carry your drive about 260 yards you can take it over the corner of the dog leg leaving you with a long shot into a very accessible green. Playing the hole conservatively can bring tree trouble into play on both sides of the fairway.

THE THIRD GREEN AND FAIRWAY

The 4th hole is a par 4 of 347 yards. Again out of bounds runs down the right hand side, with trees lining the left of the fairway and a strategically placed bunker on the right, you need to hit the fairway. Do this and you have a second shot to the largest green on the course, which is protected by out of bounds right and long, and a bunker front left.

The 5th hole is a par 5 of 570 yards. This is a very daunting hole from start to finish. Unless you have a death wish DON’T go for the green in two. Trees, a bunker and out of bounds guard the right of the small fairway and trees the left. A good tee shot is aimed at the red farmhouse in the distance. If you have missed all the trouble your third shot is to a green that slopes away from you, out of bounds behind and right and a small bunker front left, very demanding but very pretty with the River Wear running behind the green.

The 6th hole is a dogleg par 4 of 400 yards. Another daunting tee shot. With trees everywhere you think “ where is the fairway? “, aim at the very picturesque Penshaw monument and you will find it, sloping left to right. Your second shot is to the smallest green on the course, built into a hill sloping away toward the river and a 30 ft. drop on the right. You may be forgiven if the term “ postage stamp “ comes to mind.

The 7th hole is a par 3 of 160 yards, one of the best in the area. Water, water everywhere! Your tee shot must carry 130 yards over a valley to the green protected by bunkers right and left, with mounding which makes it very difficult to get up and down. This is a very tough par 3 but oh so pretty.

THE SEVENTH HOLE

The 8th hole is a par 4 of 375 yards. It doglegs left to right with a fairway sloping in the same direction. A well-placed tee shot will again be aimed at Penshaw Monument. Your second shot will almost certainly be from a hanging lie. The green is quite large, protected by bunkers right and left, a good hole.

The 9th hole is a par 4 of 339 yards. Trees line both sides of one of the tightest fairways on the course giving you a tough tee shot. The fairway runs uphill for 60% of the way so if you are not long enough you are faced with a blind second shot to a green protected by mounding on both sides.