A guide to the 18 holes on East Kilbride Golf Club
Hole One - East Nerston
This opening 411 yard Par 4 often gets the assistance of the prevailing wind. Avoid the fairway bunker off the tee , then depending on your angle to the green, you will either be challenged by the huge oak tree on the left or the greenside bunkers on the right. A par 4 to start is always a good result.
Hole Two - Lettrick
This Par 4 hole, 398 yards demands an accurate tee shot to get your drive out from the teeing area which is located in a narrow chute of trees. An inviting downhill second shot awaits. Good birdie possibility, but the green often deceives even the best putter.
Hole Three - Quarry
The best chance for a birdie 2 on the course, the 131 yard Par 3 usually features at the top of the Medal Magic 2 list. Don't get caught short or a deep bunker will make a par recovery hard to achieve.
Hole Four - Crookit Shields
A gentle dog leg rewards a good drive on this 357 yard par 4. Get a good drive away should leave you with a relatively straightforward approach shot and another birdie chance. Flirting with the trees on the right, however, will turn this into a much more problematic approach.
Hole Five - Willies Hill
The large tree on the right is one to avoid with your drive on this awkward 335 yard par 4. The uphill second shot can be difficult to judge for length.
Hole Six - Stoney Meadow
An inviting driving hole next on the 407 yard downhill dog-leg right sixth. Get a straight, high drive away will leave you with a short iron, but check the pin position , since this is a long green from back to front and when the pin is at the back, you are exposed to a 3 putt.
Hole Seven - The Horsey Gill
The first of the 3 par 5's all of which play in the same direction and are typically into the prevailing wind. This one measures 529 yards and needless to say a straight long drive is required to set up a par score. The recently revamped green design rewards an attacking approach, since it's now easier to see the target area. Offset this by a set of bunkers at the front of the green is another reason to be bold with your approach.
Hole Eight - Mill
This par three of 180 yards requires a proper strike, no easy way of running the ball up to the green, which is well protected.
Hole Nine - The Roods
Head back to the clubhouse and be happy to do so with a par 4 on your card. Two good shots required on this 397 yard par 4. A sliced drive usually means a chip out of the trees back to the fairway. The large green is one of the best on the course, always good news if a pitch and putt is required to save par.
Hole Ten - The Nook
You are about to start the back 9 loop of 4 which usually makes or breaks your scorecard. Start off with a pretty par 3 of 193 yards, where only your best strike will catch the green. A nicely enclosed hole where club selection is important as your tee shot emerges from the sheltered teeing area.
Hole Eleven - Willowglen
This challenging par 4 of 424 yards is mentally challenging. A sharp dog left awaits and the landing area on straight drives will kick you off to the right if you drive it too far making the second shot difficult. Drive left and you will risk getting caught up in the hedgerow or larger trees beyond. The tiger line is recommended only for the longest of hitters. Avoid trouble off the tee and a nice downhill shot awaits to a large attractive green.
Hole Twelve - Blackbraes
This par 4 449 yards needs a long , straight drive, but the key aspect to this hole is getting the distance right onto the sloping narrow green. Pin on the back right is always a challenge, equally don't be deceived and leave it short if the pin is at the front.
Hole Thirteen - Law
A nice par 5 of 496 yards climbs back to the clubhouse area. The compelling feature of this one is how to tackle the dogleg. A thick copse of trees guards the angle of the dogleg, and will get you in trouble if you go too low or cut the corner too much. Accurately placed approach shots can often bring the best rewards on this one.
Hole Fourteen - Chapelside
The tee on this par 4 386 yards is next to the clubhouse putting green. Keep it straight and watch out for the hidden fairway bunker on the right of the fairway. Go further right and you'll have another chip out from trees. The green slopes towards from back to front, making it easier to get your second shot right.
Hole Fifteen - Calder View
Best chance of a birdie on the back 9 on this short par 4 of 255 yards. Catch the green with a well directed tee shot, but dangers await especially if you go left off the tee and if the pin is back left on the green. You will be undoubtedly be working out how to get your pitch shot close or even how to keep it on the green. Finally, watch out for the deceiving breaks on this green, the ball will break more than you think on most putts.
Hole Sixteen - General's Brig
A par 4, 322 yard hole, calls for a nice uphill drive. Keep your drive close to the trees on the right hand side will get you to the best part of the fairway from which to approach the green and will ensure that you don't flirt with the hidden fairway bunkers on the left of the fairway. The green gets its main protection from the front right hand bunker, especially when the pin is tucked behind it.
Hole Seventeen - Dechmont
It's another par 3, this time 179 yards, where there's no easy route to the green except for a well struck shot over the approach bunkers. The two tier green causes many 3 putts just when you can't afford to give away strokes.
Hole Eighteen - Lang Trak
No easy finish , a long par 5 of 553 yards, the longest hole on the course. Stick to the fairway and work out how to cross the track, so that you have a clear view for your shot to the green. The 18th green nestles below the clubhouse and ofers a nice level surface to pop a nice putt in to finish your round with.
