Hole by Hole
Our course is a fine test, 6579yds par 71 and has hosted many National and County events over the years. The course is rich in wildlife and is always a joy to play for golfers of all abilities.
Hole 1 – White Tees 476yds, Yellow Tees 465yds - Par 5
Although out of bounds runs all the way up the left-hand side, this par 5 start provides a gentle opener, with the practice area on the right hand side the usual preferred option from the tee. Two good shots won’t leave you too far short but beware on the green as the slope from back to front is steeper than you think.
Hole 2 – White Tees 422yds, Yellow Tees 406yds - Par 4
After the gentle start this is a tough second hole with out of bounds again lurking all the way up the left-hand side. It will take two good shots to get close to the green and once there three putts are possible on this large green, be satisfied with a par as you walk to the next tee.
Hole 3 – White Tees 172yds, Yellow Tees 157yds - Par 3
A nice par 3 for the first short hole, as you turn to see St Mary’s island for the first time. A good mid-iron shot will find the green making sure you have taken enough club to avoid the gully at the front.
Hole 4 – White Tees 377yds, Yellow Tees 368yds - Par 4
With the raised tee you can see everything in front of you on this slight dogleg left par 4. A good drive will leave only a short iron to a large green.
Hole 5 – White Tees 391yds, Yellow Tees 374yds - Par 4
This is first hole where the Brier Dene comes into play. It requires a good drive to carry the dene making sure you keep to the left half of the fairway. After a picturesque walk over the dene on the pedestrian bridge you are left with a mid-iron to a well guarded green.
Hole 6 – White Tees 515yds, Yellow Tees 501yds - Par 5
A good par 5 and with the prevailing breeze from the left-hand side the out of bounds and trees down the right hand side at to be avoided at all costs. A good drive towards the marker post short of the two fairway bunkers will give you a clear view of the green. An accurate second avoiding the fairway bunkers will give you a short iron to a two tier small green with bunkers either side. Make sure you leave yourself on the right level or a tricky putt will be needed to make par.
Hole 7 – White Tees 374yds, Yellow Tees 366yds - Par 4
A testing par 4 where a good drive leaves you a tricky second to a raised narrow green. The second shot is always further than you think and a par is a good score on this hole.
Hole 8 – White Tees 352yds, Yellow Tees 334yds - Par 4
A short par 4 dog leg right where a good drive to the left half of the fairway will leave you with a short iron to small well bunkered green.
Hole 9 – White Tees 155yds, Yellow Tees 146yds - Par 3
An excellent finish to the front nine. This par three which is usually played into the prevailing breeze, requires an accurate iron shot to a well guarded narrow green.
Hole 10 – White Tees 356yds, Yellow Tees 337yds - Par 4
The start to the back nine and you can see everything before you from the raised tee on this slight dogleg right par 4. An open ditch runs across the hole 60 yards from the green. A good drive leaves a mid-iron to a green which slopes from front to back.
Hole 11 – White Tees 414yds, Yellow Tees 401yds - Par 4
A testing par 4 which requires a good drive towards the 8th tee box and the left-hand half of the fairway to ensure that you have a good view of the green. This hole has a long green that is well guarded on the left-hand side by a large bunker. A par is a good result on this hole.
Hole 12 – White Tees 582yds, Yellow Tees 566yds - Par 5
The signature hole of the course, a magnificent par 5 which meanders its way west along side the dene. A drive to the right half of the fairway will give you a good view of what is before you. Only the brave golfers among us will take on the long second shot with the viaduct and large tree on the left making the entrance very narrow. A well placed second over the tree in the middle of the fairway, ‘Charlies Folly’ will still leave you with a testing third to a two-tier green. Walk off with a par and you will have achieved an ambition.
Hole 13 – White Tees 162yds, Yellow Tees 156yds - Par 3
Time for a rest! The best view on the course from this tee. A good par 3 to a partly hidden long green where club selection is very important.
Hole 14 – White Tees 390yds, Yellow Tees 381yds - Par 4
From the tee box tucked away in the trees in the corner you need to pick out a spot on the left half of the fairway to give you a view of the green from the top of the hill. If the longer hitters can reach the top of the hill they will get an extra 40yds as their ball runs away but this will leave a blind shot to the green. The green has a narrow entrance with bunkers either side.
Hole 15 – White Tees 384yds, Yellow Tees 364yds - Par 4
The dene is back! This picturesque hole is played from a raised tee with a backdrop of gorse for the drive. The hole again is a slight dog leg right and requires a good drive to the left half of the fairway over the gorse on the bank of the dene, anything on the right hand side will run away leaving a blind shot to the green. This leaves a mid-iron shot to a long green where three putts are possible.
Hole 16 – White Tees 409yds, Yellow Tees 400yds - Par 4
This is the start of the tough finish. The drive is back over the dene where only the brave take a line up the right-hand side of the fairway. The second shot is always difficult to judge as the bottom of the flag is not visible and therefore it is further than you think. A par is an excellent result on this hole.
Hole 17 – White Tees 189yds, Yellow Tees 176yds - Par 3
A good up hill par 3 where club selection is once again very important. Take plenty of club and you will hit this large green with two putts for a solid par.
Hole 18 – White Tees 459yds, Yellow Tees 406yds - Par 4
One of the best finishing holes in the North East as you turn back to the Clubhouse. A good drive to the top of the rise will leave a long second shot to a narrow green that runs away on both sides in your quest for a closing par.
Now to the 19th hole and time to relax on the balcony watching your fellow golfers play the 18th.
We hope you enjoyed your round and return again soon.
Whitley Bay Golf Club, Claremont Road, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE26 3UF