course tour

1. Dukes Drive - Par 4, 256m

The first hole at Leonay gives a good impression of what to expect in the round of golf to follow. Named after Life Member and club legend Ray Dukes, the hole’s slight dog-leg right presents the first of many decisions to be made during the day. An accurate drive taking on the corner will leave a short pitch to the green however the heavily tree-lined fairway leaves little room for error leading to many players laying up to the corner for a short iron approach shot. A wide green with little depth featuring two tiers requires an accurate approach shot with any ball going beyond the green in danger of entering the hazard from which a shot will be difficult to play.

2. The Gorge - Par 3, 132m

A well hit short to mid iron is required to a green with pin locations often out of view from the tee. Directly in front of the tee is a steep slope that leads to a water hazard that is often in the forefront of a player’s mind as a swing is made. The green is offered protection by a bunker catching shots that drift short and right of the target. Once on the green, what seems like a relatively flat green features some subtle breaks. Putting needs to be precise over long distances as the speed of the green can see a firmly struck putt drift past leading to a testing return putt.

3. Flying Fox - Par 4, 367m

Ranked as the most difficult hole on the course, the third requires an accurate tee shot with trees to the right and out-of-bounds in range slightly further. A tee shot heading too far left with the lie of the land will often be blocked out by the tree line. A strong drive down the right hand side of the fairway will produce best results. The difficulty of the hole lies in the green with bunkers either side. The front half of the green features difficult breaks whilst the back half of the green is narrow and presents a small landing target for approach shots.     The green is also protected by a swale on either edge in the middle of the putting surface adding further need for an accurately placed shot.

4. Cyprus Flat - Par 4, 301m  

With a tee shot from in front of historic Buring Cottage, the fourth hole requires a well placed drive for the slight dog-leg to the right. The main danger off the tee is the thick trees to the right of the fairway that runs along Leonay Parade. A shot down left of centre will lead to a good angle for an approach shot whilst long hitters may take on the corner for a straighter pitch shot up the green. Bunkering again increases the need for accuracy with a wide bunker in front of the green accompanied by left and right placed sand traps for any shot missing the green by more than a metre. Swales on the side of the green also make for a challenging chip or putt if an approach is off-target.

5. Lapstone Drive - Par 4, 333m

Running parallel to the seventeenth fairway, the trees that separate the holes are the biggest danger to the right of the fifth fairway. The fairway narrows in the landing area of long hitters whilst a shorter shot will take advantage of the widest part of the fairway. Approaching the elevated green from the fairway offers its own difficulties which are compounded by a front bunker that extends the width of the green. The putting surface slopes downhill from back to front and can be one of the faster putts on the course. The no-go zone for approach shots is beyond the green as the chip shot that results makes for a tough up-and-down.

6. The Cottage - Par 3, 185m

A picturesque hole that also ranks as the toughest par three on the course, the sixth requires a well struck and accurate tee shot. The need for a quality strike is obvious due to the length of the hole and the long green. The accuracy is essential to avoid the left and right greenside bunkers. The long narrow green is elevated above the left and rear surrounds adding to the difficulty of chip shots from these locations. If in doubt on the tee as to which club to hit, the tendency should be to favour the shorter club as chances of making par will be easier from short of the green than beyond it.

7. Crow's Rest - Par 4, 324m

With another of Leonay’s fairways that narrows the further a drive is hit; long hitters may consider a three wood to find the wider spaces of the fairway whilst shorter hitters can take driver with confidence. Out of bounds lines the right hand side of the hole beyond a line of trees but is only in play for errant tee shots. A fast paced green requires an approach shot to be left below the hole as three putts are common when putting down the green. Shots missing the green right or long will result in a chip shot from an elevated position which is tough to stop. Short or left is not much better with the green raised from these positions. A slight false front may also see shots landing on the green spin back off the putting surface and down the slope.

8. Buring Drive - Par 4, 343m

From an elevated tee, the eighth hole may entice a big swing with the driver to take advantage of the downhill-sloping fairway. This may be fraught with danger however with the hazard metres to the right of the fairway claiming a number of balls. The lie of the land also slopes towards this hazard so the best place to land a tee shot is left of centre. A shot aimed too far left may find the trees separating the seventh and eighth fairways. The green features bunkering short-right and left of putting surface. Mounding around all sides of the green makes an accurate approach shot quite valuable. Once on the green, judging the subtle breaks and deceptive speed will be the key.

9. Chateau Valley - Par 3, 183m

Regarded by many as the signature hole of the course, the ninth is another long par three that is further complicated by a water hazard that runs the length of the hole collecting any stray shots to the right. Along the left of the hole is a steep slope littered with large trees waiting to catch shots left of centre. It becomes clear that anything but a straight shot is going to be punished. First time visitors should take note there is a bunker to the right of the green that is partially obscured from the tee. The green is long and depending on hole placements, a number of clubs may be used to dial in on the flag otherwise a long putt awaits.