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The first green sits only feet from the out of bounds on the left and a bunker guards the right side of the green.

Verulam is an established parkland course that has matured over the years to provide a stern test of all aspects of the game.

At all holes the tee shot sets a premium on accuracy and shot control leading to the approach to the greens that are well protected by bunkers, slopes and mounds. Once on the green there are subtle undulations that are true and fast. Out of bounds is a danger on many holes and there are tree plantations, water and the River Ver to be negotiated. Verulam presents an excellent and interesting test of golf offering a tough challenge even to the experienced golfer as evidenced by the amateur and professional course records of 66 and 67 respectively.

At 6429 yards from the medal tees the course is not long. The course has a good drainage record with very few hole and course closures in the winter and in summer the ball really does run on the fast well-manicured fairways. The best scores result from being straight and having a good short game rather than long hitting that doesn’t follow the fairway. There is an extensive driving range and practice chipping, bunker and putting greens surrounding the traditional clubhouse.

Hole 1 - Par 4 - Braid’s Hollow – Stroke index 11 men/9 ladies

White 361 Yellow 352 Red 336 A widening fairway but with strategically placed trees on the right side require accuracy from the start. Wherever your drive finishes, you face out of bounds a few yards from the left of the green and a bunker guarding the right side of the green. The green is probably one of the flattest on the course but still has subtle changes of direction. Pro’s Tip: Keep your tee shot to the left side of the fairway. If the green is out of range, keep to the left side again.

Hole 2 - Par 4 - Railway – Stroke index 7 men/13 ladies

White 343 Yellow 323 Red 312 A true test of accuracy for the tee shot on one of the most demanding holes at Verulam with a bunker on the right of the fairway and out of bounds running the full length of the hole on the left. The green slopes front to back and sits only feet from the out of bounds on the left with a bunker guarding the front right. www.verulamgolf.co.uk 13

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Concealed bunkers are to be avoided with a lay-up and your approach to the green will often be blind.

Pro’s Tip: Pick a club off the tee which takes the fairway bunker out of play and aim for the left hand side of the fairway. The approach shot to the green should be full and favour the left centre because of undulations short of the green

Hole 3 - Par 4 – Sopwell View – Stroke index 17 men/17 ladies

White 311 Yellow 299 Red 295 Drivable for the bigger hitter but select a line that allows a clear second shot to the severely away-sloping green and avoids the bunkers to the right and left of the fairway. Approach shots will often have to land short and run on. Not an easy two-putt! Pro’s Tip: Get your drive as close to the green as possible but ensure you leave an uphill birdie putt.

Hole 4 - Par 4 – Matthew’s Walk – Stroke index 3 men/1 ladies

White 413 Yellow 398 Red 338 One of the few drives with room on both the left and right of the fairway. Big hitters may need to avoid the in range bunker and trees on the left side of the fairway. Approach shots will be blind until you reach the top of the hill. Trust the marker in the tree, it is well placed but remember there are two bunkers guarding the left and right side of the entrance to the green. Pro’s Tip: Drive down the left side of the fairway as tight to the bunker as you dare. This opens up a second shot to the centre of the green avoiding two bunkers at the entrance to the green. Don’t forget to ring the bell.

Hole 5 - Par 4 – Bluebell Corner– Stroke index 5 men/5 ladies

White 375 Yellow 356 Red 349 A tough left-to-right dog-leg with mature trees guarding the corner. Enough club must be taken off the tee to reach the corner but avoid the fairway bunker on the left. Out of bounds down the left side of the fairway with substantial trees on the right makes accuracy off the tee a premium. The green is lowered with a bunker to the right and steep bank at the rear of the green. The green has a tier running subtly through the centre. Pro’s Tip: A tough par 4 so stay close to the left side of the fairway to ensure a straighter shot to the green. Beware of the bunker that

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catches a tee shot that is too long and the bunker right side of the green. Check the distance to the green and keep left as ground undulates to the right. Check the line of the putt carefully.

Hole 6 - Par 4 – Abe’s Ace – Stroke index 15 men/11 ladies

White 322 Yellow 304 Red 285 A short right-to-left dog-leg with out of bounds on the left running the full length of the hole. The lay of the land will sweep balls towards three fairway bunkers on the right side of the fairway. The green is raised and slopes from back to front, with a bunker to the right and significant mounds guarding the approach from the left. Any shot played past the flag is a tactical mistake on this fast and sloping green. Pro’s Tip: Club selection is vital so try to play your tee shot short of the fairway bunkers in order to leave a short chip shot to the green. Make sure you leave yourself below the hole for a birdie putt.

Hole 7 - Par 4 – The Oak – Stroke index 1 men/7 ladies

White 433 Yellow 429 Red 415 (Par 5) A long, demanding uphill hole that will require two long and accurate shots to reach the green in regulation. Higher handicappers will need three shots to find themselves on the putting surface. Beware of the in range bunker to the left hand side of the fairway and treacherous and well-bunkered green. An uphill putt is recommended. Pro’s Tip: Drive up the left side of the fairway avoiding the fairway bunker to leave a more open shot to the green. It may be a struggle for shorter hitters to reach in two so avoid the bank crossing the fairway to allow a short iron to the green. Watch out for the two greenside bunkers and hollow back left of the green. Once again stay below the hole for an easier putt.

Hole 8 - Par 3 - Trinity – Stroke index 9 men/15 ladies

White 180 Yellow 172 Red 121 Club selection is the first problem as the wind direction is difficult to assess but note the trees around the green to assist your decision. The green slopes sharply back to front with two bunkers guarding the right and left side of the green approach with another bunker

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A good driving hole with a lake and river Ver on your right and the approach to a hidden green is guarded by two bunkers. Look back at the Abbey from the green for one of the best views on the course.

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A true test of accuracy for the tee shot on one of the most demanding holes at Verulam with a bunker on the right of the fairway and out of bounds running the full length of the hole on the left. The green slopes front to back and sits only feet from the out of bounds on the left with a bunker Pick a club off the tee which takes the fairway bunker out of play and aim for the left hand side of the fairway. The approach shot to the green should be full and favour the left centre

Hole 3 - Par 4 – Sopwell View – Stroke index 17 men/17 ladies

Drivable for the bigger hitter but select a line that allows a clear second shot to the severely awaysloping green and avoids the bunkers to the right and left of the fairway. Approach shots will often have

Pro’s Tip: Get your drive as close to the green as possible but ensure you leave an uphill birdie putt.creating a visual test as it crosses the fairway approach to the green. Hole 4 - Par 4 – Matthew’s Walk – Stroke index 3 men/1 ladiesThe green is difficult to hit and does not concede two putts easily. Pro’s Tip: White 413 Yellow 398Select a club to get you past the three guarding bunkers. Red 338 One of the few drives with room on both the left and right of the fairway. Big hitters may need to avoid the in range bunker and trees on the left side of the fairway. Approach shots will be blind until you reach the top of the hill. Trust the marker in the tree, it is well placed but remember there are two bunkers The ideal green placement is short and right of the pin with invariably an uphill putt. Past the pin leaves a slippery downhill putt that can cause nightmares. guarding the left and right side of the entrance to the green.Hole 9 - Par 5 – Mayor’s Parlour – Stroke index 13 men/3 ladies White 542 Yellow 525 Pro’s Tip: Red 458 Drive down the left side of the fairway as tight to the bunker as you dare. This opens up a second shot to the centre of the green avoiding two bunkers at the entrance to the green. The drive must be straight to right side of the fairway and the second Don’t forget to ring the bell. shot requires thought so as to avoid significant trees and the three Hole 5 - Par 4 – Bluebell Corner– Stroke index 5 men/5 ladiesfairway bunkers. The green is guarded by bunkers right and left with White 375 Yellow 356yet another green with severe slopes from the right side of the green to bottom left. Red 349 A tough left-to-right dog-leg with mature trees guarding the corner. Enough club must be taken off the tee to reach the corner but avoid the fairway bunker on the left of the fairway. Out of bounds down the left side of the fairway with substantial trees on the right makes accuracy off the tee a premium. The green is lowered with a bunker to the right and steep bank at the rear of the green. The green has a tier running subtly through the centre. Pro’s Tip: The fairway slopes from right to left so a drive should allow for the slope. If you can reach the green in two the drive should favour the left whilst for shorter hitters lay up to the bunkers and play your approach shot carefully noting the severe slope of the green.

Hole 10 - Par 3 – Old Third – Stroke index 8 men/14 ladies

White 194 Yellow 183 Red 143 The second demanding par three on the course where club selection is complicated by the putting surface not being fully visible from the tee. Out of bounds runs down the full length of the right side and considerable trouble lies in wait if you stray too far left. A bunker waits at the left hand side of the green entrance and the green slopes gently from right to left Pro’s Tip: A tough par 3 so forget about pin placement and make sure you hit the green. Trust the yardage on the card and take plenty of club. The ideal line is to the right side of the green and one of the flatter greens once you have found it. Beware of the out of bounds on the right hand side of the hole.

Hole 11 - Par 5 – Abbey – Stroke index 14 men/8 ladies

White 534 Yellow 527 Red 497 Out of bounds down the right hand side of the hole so beware of the prevailing wind. The best line is the Abbey in the distance but be

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aware of the three fairway bunkers that await for a drive hit too far left as the fairway slopes this way. Bunkers make the second shot landing area a premium and the approach shot to a green that is well below the top of the hill easier. Be careful of the two bunkers either side of the entrance to the green which slopes a little to the back. Pro’s Tip: Aim at the Abbey off the tee avoiding fairway bunkers and with a fairly flat green at the bottom of the hill keep your approach to the centre. A blind hole so wait for the bell before you play.

Hole 12 - Par 4 – Old Nunnery – Stroke index 12 men/2 ladies

White 338 Yellow 333 Red 330 A tricky hole with out of bounds well in range down the right hand side of the hole. The landing area is obscured by the hill so you will not see the finish of a well struck shot as the fairway hides some sloping lies. Favour the left centre approach and fairway bunker awaits a poorly struck approach shot a few yards from the green. Two bunkers guard the left hand side of the green approach and a small bunker on the right side. The green slopes away front to back so be prepared for a chip from the back of the green. Pro’s Tip: Set your tee shot on a line left of the 150 yard marker on the right hand side of the fairway. As the green is fast and runs away from you the high and spinning second shot is the way to get it close or at least an uphill putt.

Hole 13 - Par 4 – Ver Side – Stroke index 10 men/12 ladies

White 372 Yellow 352 Red 344 The River Ver is out of bounds on the right of the hole and the practice area also out of bounds on the left makes the tee shot a priority. A cleverly positioned bunker on the left of the fairway will catch many drives and two bunkers at the green entrance make the approach to a long green a priority. The river lies only a yard from the right side of the green and some subtle borrows on the green may fool you. Pro’s Tip: A tough tee shot with trees on the left and out of bounds on the right. Accuracy is more important than distance off the tee. The safe drive is to the right of centre on the fairway and the safer approach to the long forgiving green is from the left.

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The approach to the 16th often plays longer than it appears while there is the chance for long hitters to go for the green, although the risk is high with a narrowing fairway and two bunkers guarding the approach.

Hole 14 - Par 4 – Swannery – Stroke index 6 men/16 ladies

White 348 Yellow 315 Red 212 A truly great hole with the lake and the River Ver on the right that will collect any poorly struck shot from the white or yellow tees. A ridge crosses the fairway just 100 yards from the raised green which is protected by two bunkers. The putting surface cannot be seen from the fairway making club selection awkward and it also slopes from back to front with subtle borrows making putts difficult to read. Pro’s Tip: Aim your drive to the left off the tee and avoid the mound in the fairway that can leave you a tough stance. Be careful as the approach to the green is shielded by two bunkers and you will need an extra club.

Hole 15 - Par 4 – Chasm – Stroke index 2 men/4 ladies

White 369 Yellow 358 Red 308 A demanding and intimidating tee shot for many golfers. The bank, the trees, the wind and the carry, all conspire to make the tee shot difficult. You will not see your shot finish once over the bank. The hogs back fairway has out of bounds well left and right with heavy rough close. The green is on two levels undulating from right to left with an additional slope to the bottom left. Mounds, hollows and a large tree guard the left hand side of the green with out of bounds a short distance away. Pro’s Tip: Aim your drive to right of centre as the fairway slopes right to left. Try to leave your approach shot past the flag as few putts are holed from the front of this green.

Hole 16 - Par 4 – Gatehouse – Stroke index 18 men/10 ladies

White 293 Yellow 285 Red 282 A short par four but a wolf in sheep’s clothing. An off line tee shot will rarely leave a shot to the green. The approach often plays longer than it appears and the green concedes few chip and putt pars. There is the chance for long hitters to go for the green but the risk is high with a narrowing fairway and two bunkers guarding the approach to the green

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Pro’s Tip: A drivable green for the big hitters however an iron may be the wise choice to ensure hitting the fairway. Trust the yardage to the green as you will not see the putting surface.

Hole 17 - Par 3 – The Road Hole – Stroke index 16 men/18 ladies

White 127 Yellow 120 Red 90 Probably the only hole at Verulam where what you see is what you get. Judging the wind is a major factor here. Ensure you carry the out of bounds hedge but expect no pity from the green as its severe slope from back to front will not give away two putts easily. Pro’s Tip: Beware of the road. Trust the yardage and a controlled shot over the fence short of the flag will set you up for a birdie. However if you find yourself long it can be perilous.

Hole 18 - Par 5 – Ryder’s Finish – Stroke index 4 men/6 ladies

White 574 Yellow 565 Red 498 Still a long way from the clubhouse. Three good strikes are required to reach the green in regulation. Out of bounds the full length on the left and cunningly sited bunkers are to be contended with down the full length of the hole. Shots must be positioned carefully to avoid disaster and once the green is reached be careful of the sloping green from front to back. Pro’s Tip: Time to open up the shoulders but avoid the bunker on the right of the fairway. An assortment of fairway bunkers follows down the hole so be sensible when setting up your shot. Be careful on the approach to the green and try to be past the flag for the chance of a single putt.