Some observations on the Strategy of playing Thurles Golf Course
Some observations on the Strategy of playing Thurles Golf Course
1st Hole:
Accuracy, not length, is the key for the successful playing of this hole. Go for the green in two shots at your peril. Avoid the left hand side at all costs. Position your second shot to suit the pin position. An undulating green rewards accurate pitch shots which might best be played from full shot distance.
2nd Hole :
Position your drive on the left side of fairway. Short left is the safe position for your second shot. Difficult par four. Bogey is not a bad score here.
3rd Hole:
Beautiful scenic par three. Be careful to observe the wind direction before you go to the tee. A shot with plenty of backspin will be an advantage. Play an extra club if the pin is on the right half of the green.
4th Hole:
Play a lay up shot off the tee to be short of water which is 230 yards away. A difficult 2nd shot awaits against the prevailing wind to a well guarded green.Use a club more than it seems. Left of the green is the safe option
5th Hole:
Excellent uphill par three to a testing green. A spine runs through the middle of the green. To avoid three putting make sure to be on the correct side of the green. Putting can be fun on this undulating green.
6th Hole:
Short but very tricky par four. Optimum line for your drive is over the big beech tree in front of the tee. An extremely demanding pitch shot awaits to a shallow green guarded by bunkers front and back. Clean grooves on your club are essential for this difficult shot!
7th Hole:
Tough par four. Drive should be slightly left of big tree on fairway. The second shot to a slightly elevated green is longer than it seems. For safety, play short and left of the green.
8th Hole:
Long par five with two options off the tee. The left side option is shorter but bunkers at 220 yards must be carried and the out of bounds fence is uncomfortably close. The more conservative option is to drive right of the bunkers towards the old quarry. For safety position the second shot short and right for a straight forward pitch along the length of the narrow green. Water guards the left and a large bunker the right of this green. Only the brave and the brilliant will attempt to reach this hole in two shots.
9th Hole:
Challenging, picturesque par four along the banks of the Suir. An undulating fairway leads to a narrow, left sloping green perched on the side of the river. Courage and skill will be rewarded on this excellent golf hole.
10th Hole:
Difficult par four. Avoid the left hand side at all costs. A demanding second shot to the right hand side of the green requires that you hit enough club! A bogey is not bad here.
11th Hole:
Spectacular, difficult par three. Playing you tee shot short of the green can yield dividends. Missing the green pin high almost inevitably leads to a bogey. Observe interesting ruins called "Jacks House" on route to the green.
12th Hole:
Short par four that demands quality shots. Tee shot favours a slight fade of approximately 220 yards around the trees on the right to land short of punitive fairway bunkers. The approach shot is deceptive. Use one or two more irons than you think you need.
13th Hole:
Long par five. Keep away from the left hand side. A well placed iron for your second shot is often advised. An extremely narrow green demands that you must not miss it on the wrong side, particularly the left. The green slopes from front to back.
14th Hole:
Demanding par three to a narrow green. Do not miss it at the wrong side. Be careful of your alignment on your tee shot.
15th Hole:
The longer hitters will attempt to shorten the dog-leg by driving over the trees on the left. A straight drive will run out of fairway at approximately 220 yards. The narrow bunkered green ensures that nothing but an approach from the centre of the fairway is rewarded.
16th Hole:
Again accuracy is at a premium on this hole. The green is long and narrow. A quick check on the pin position as you pass the green when playing the thirteenth hole is often of value.
17th Hole:
A long demanding par four. For most golfers two woods are required to reach the green. Keep slightly left off the tee. The green slopes from front to back so be careful of your club selection for your second shot in firm conditions.
18th Hole:
The N63 guards the left hand side of this short but tricky par five. A very accurate tee shot and second shot is required. Players with a good score often choose the safer route of driving down the tenth fairway. This leaves a very demanding second shot. The positioning of your second shot is crucial.. A third shot coming from anywhere on the right of the green must clear the bunker and land on the down-sloping green. Not a shot for the faint hearted.
