Charlton Course
The Charlton 18 hole course contains many interesting features. There are two excellent par fives, the second of which is a double dog-leg of 569 yards into a hidden green. This is a test of nerve as well as accuracy. The four par 3 holes can pose an interesting challenge in club selection.
Hole images courtesy of Birdie Golf (01225 760918). Click to enlarge.
Hole 1: Blackdown View
A gentle start offering the first birdie opportunity. Hit a driver preferably down the left side of the fairway so as your approach shot avoids the greenside bunker to the right. Follow this with a wedge to the green.
Par 4 - Yardage 351
Hole 2: Charlton Descent
This hole offers two options off the tee. The safe shot is to hit a 3 wood or driver aimed at the white house in the distance, followed by a medium iron to the green. Option two, requiring a following wind, is to carry the corner of the out of bounds with a driver, leaving only a wedge to the green.
Par 4 - Yardage 444
Hole 3: Ronald's Way
This par 5 requires a driver from the tee, avoiding the hedge on the right and the fairway bunker to the left. Once safely negotiated the hole gives you a choice. If it is possible to carry the bunker short of the green, the putting surface can be reached in two with a wood, offering a birdie. If the wind is in your face the play is to lay up short of the sand with a 3 iron and follow with a short pitch to the green.
Par 5 - Yardage 527
Hole 4: Lashpool
The signature hole of the course, a short par 3 but fraught with danger as the green is surrounded by water. A solid 9 iron to the green and two putts will give you a par.
Par 3 - Yardage 147
Hole 5: The Canal Turn
A driver should be aimed up the left hand side of the fairway avoiding the pair of bunkers. A sand wedge to the green will give you a birdie opportunity.
Par 4 - Yardage 331
Hole 6: Friar's Drive
A short par 4 but it can hold dangers if your second shot does not find the putting surface. A driver and a wedge is all that should be needed.
Par 4 - Yardage 318
Hole 7: Sunset Rise
A long par 4 where it is essential to hit the fairway to enable you to hit a 5 iron onto the green, followed by 2 putts giving you par.
Par 4 - Yardage 413
Hole 8: Deer's Leap
A par 3 of 197 yards which calls for a well struck 3 or 4 iron to the centre of the green. Any shot off line will catch the sand.
Par 3 - Yardage 197
Hole 9: Foxhole
Another birdie chance if the fairway bunkers are avoided by the drive which should be hit down the left side. An accurate pitch with a wedge will offer the opportunity of a par 3.
Par 4 - Yardage 325
Hole 10: Woodcote Turn
This second par 5 on the course suits a lower hit with a draw to take the ball around the dog leg. If the wind is following, a well struck 3 wood second shot can reach the green.
Par 5 - Yardage 572
Hole 11: The Arches
A hole that requires an accurate tee shot with a 3 iron or 3 wood onto the fairway, anywhere left will find the water. The green is a difficult target, protected at the front with a bunker and the ground falling away off to the right. If the pin is on the front a 9 iron is required, if it is on the second tier an 8 iron should be used.
Par 4 - Yardage 398
Hole 12: Dingle Bell
This is a right to left dog leg requiring a driver hit with a draw which will kick on down the hill. The second shot requires exact club selection with a short iron to a green well protected by a lake and two bunkers in the bank, short of the putting surface. A par 4 is a good score here anytime.
Par 4 - Yardage 398
Hole 13: The Willows
A driver hit to the top of the hill opens up a small undefended green where a short pitch should present a great birdie opportunity.
Par 4 - Yardage 389
Hole 14: Coombe's Approach
A high shot struck with a medium to long iron is needed here to carry the bunker short of the green and then to hold it before running into trouble at the back. A very difficult par 3.
Par 3 - Yardage 177
Hole 15: Greenacres
A most challenging hole again placing great importance on the tee shot, with reaching the fairway a must to give any chance of getting up in two. From the fairway left of the bunker a 7 iron should find the green, followed by 2 putts for par.
Par 4 - Yardage 405
Hole 16: Crash Corner
This is a short par 4 but needing some thought to negotiate it successfully. There are two choices. Option one, a well struck tee shot with a driver can reach the green, but a large bunker is awaiting a miss-hit. Option two is a long iron off the tee short of the sand, then only requiring a wedge to the green. This hole always offers the chance of a birdie.
Par 4 - Yardage 386
Hole 17: Strawberry Fields
Another long par 3 finishes the short holes, this one measuring 199 yards. A 3 iron from the tee, keeping the ball to the right of the bunker which protects the front of the green, is the ideal tee shot. A chip and a putt or two putts gives you par.
Par 3 - Yardage 197
Hole 18: Heathfield
This is a tough par 4 to finish. A tee shot up the left hand side of the fairway puts you in an ideal position to play the well protected two tier green. The second shot should be played to the centre of the green, anything pitching near the edge will fall away, two putts then give you par to finish.
Par 4 - Yardage 359