The Course

The Old Nene Golf Course provides a good test of golfing skill for beginner and experienced golfer alike. A combination of drains, trees and the natural environment make this an interesting course to tame. Not a long course at 5393 yards off the yellow tees, the course rewards straight long hitters with low scores, but go off-line and your score will soon mount up. Shorter hitters are rewarded for keeping out of trouble. A friendly atmosphere in the temporary clubhouse awaits at the end of the round. See the course card

How to get around the Course (the Non-Scratch Golfers Way)

HOLE 2: A short Par 4 considered the easiest hole on the course (according to the stroke index) at just 262 yards. A definite birdieable hole for the longer straighter hitters who can go for the green as long as they can carry the bunkers at 190 yards that guard its approach. As the fairway is lined with trees waiting to punish any wayward tee shots a straight mid to long iron will leave the average golfer with a short iron approach to a flat green. The banking at the back of the green helps to stop overhit shots from disappearing into the wood at the back. Two putts and your round is looking good so far. 

HOLE 3: One last hole to ease you into your round of golf.. A slight dogleg right this 303 yard par 4 needs a longish tee shot to cross the shallow dry ditch that runs from the woods on the right down to the marsh reeds on the left. As you stand on the tee ignore the pond in front of you waiting to swallow any mishit tee shots, instead concentrate on the fairway ahead and aim well. A short shot will usually leave you unable to see the flag as a huge oak tree standing in front of the green blocks its usual view. A good tee shot sees you with a short iron in to an elevated green. Hit the green and two putt and you've finished 3 holes without dropping a shot, well that's the plan.

HOLE 4: Beware the wind! Although not quite the highest point on the course you still get a wonderful view in the evening as the sun sets behind the green. A par 3 with a large green protected by a bullrush filled ditch. The prevailing wind is usually blowing into your face slightly left to right so the 166 yards usually plays longer than you expect. Take that extra club or two depending on the wind. Fall short with your tee shot and the ditch swallows the ball and you're donating 20p to the captains charity ! A well struck tee shot landing on the green gives you a chance of a birdie. Now its over the bridge and onto the 5th tee.

HOLE 5: A 427 yard par 4 dogleg hole with a deep tree lining on both sides. Slice your tee shot here and make sure you shout Fore! to warn the golfers blissfully unaware on the 7th tee! Hit a long tee shot here and you'll have a mid iron to the large green. The shorter your drive the more trees you'll be looking to hit your second shot over. Hit it short and you'll be better off playing your second shot to the corner and playing your third into the green. The green itself is protected by a large bunker to the right waiting to catch all those shots over the trees and a small bunker on the left side but if you've put yourself in the right position you'll see fairway all the way to the flag. Don't drop a shot here and you could be on your way to a good round.

HOLE 6: Par 3 139 yards. A single bunker protects the left side of the green from short approach shots, the trees await anyone short and right. So a mid to short iron into this green and your putting for a birdie! Plenty of areas of rough await anyone missing the green long.

HOLE 7: A short Par 5 at 442 yards, reachable in two for the longer hitters, depending on how far they want to hit their tee shot along the drain.  A perfect draw shot off the leaves you in the fairway with a long to mid-iron to a large green. Draw it too much or take too tight a line along the drain and you'll be wet! For the average golfer a shot over the bridge onto the fairway leaves you with a wood or long iron down the fairway followed by a short iron to the green. A large bunker protects the right side of the green so an approach from the left side of the fairway is encouraged. A large green with subtle slopes ensures a fair test of golf.

HOLE 8: Named Bodsey Bridge ( you can see the bridge behind you from the tee) this Par 4 382 yards hole usually plays directly into the prevailing wind. A bunker on the right side of the bunker awaits shots that don't clear 190 yards but there is plenty of fairway to its left. Further left three willows collect balls that would otherwise end up in the out of bounds ditch. Miss the bunker (either left or short) and you'll have a wood or long iron to the circular flat green. If you cant reach the green then beware the small bunker hidden from view 50 yards short of the green in the centre of the fairway.

HOLE 9: An elevated tee placed back from the drain makes this an interesting tee shot. At 413 yards this Par 4 wills you to clear the drain and land anywhere on the large fairway the other side. Fail to catch your tee shot correctly and the drop zone for your replacement ball is beside the bridge you walked over earlier. A good tee shot sees you with anything from a long iron/wood to a short iron uphill to the green. You cant see the base of the flag so use the 150 yard markers to judge the distance. Dont go long on this shot as the fishing lake awaits that shot. A plateau in front of the green gives the false impression of distance from the flag, trust the distance markers. So thats the first 9 holes completed, lets go around again from the second set of tees.  

HOLE 10: This tee is adjacent to the first tee. Almost identical distance to the first hole the same traps await, its just the angle to the green that has been changed.

HOLE 11: Nothing like the second. This Par 4 289 yard hole starts with a tee shot through an avenue of trees. You cant see the green and if you hit is slightly right you wont see your ball land amongst the outcrop of trees waiting for it. Get your partner to stand on the second tee to watch the ball but tell him whether to look left or right! A straight shorter shot leaves you with a short or mid iron to the green.

HOLE 12: Unlike the 3rd this tee shot actively encourages you to flirt with the out of bounds on the right to attempt to drive the green. If you are going to attempt it make sure the group ahead have vacated the green first. You cant quite see the green from the tee but at 267 yards a faded drive gives you the chance for a birdie. If your round isnt going so well at this point just aim to hit your tee shot over the ditch and a short iron gives you the chance to build the confidence up. 

HOLE 13: A Par 3 137 yards. A short tee shots will leave you wet and a shot down. A short iron shot well hit leaves you a definite birdie chance. 

HOLE 14: Cross over the bridge again and tee off next to the moorings. At 460 yards you get an extra shot this time round. The fairway is the same width as last time but the corner is just  further away! Hit the fairway if you can and then take as much off the corner as you dare! The longer hitters can be tempted to be greedy but don't forget the bunker on the right side of the green. Shorter hitters aim to put your ball in the middle left of the corner to give yourself a mid iron shot into the green.

HOLE 15: The longest par 3 on the course at 177 yards. A wood or long iron needs to find the green to get down this hole in three.

HOLE 16: The stroke index 1 hole at 447 yards Par 3. The drive is straighter than the last time you were here but you've got one less shot to get there in. The main aim of the tee shot is to stay in the fairway so you're not throwing those shots away. Even the long hitters will find themselves with a mid/long iron to the green.

HOLE 17:  This 415 yards Par 4 takes you to the furthest reaches of the course for your tee shot. Standing at the tee  the wind is usually blowing into your face. Remarkably different from the sister tee (8th) you are presented with out of bounds to your left, trees left and a bunker right and a narrow fairway where you are aiming. Take care at this hole if you are having a good round. Land left of the bunker and you are presented with anything from a wood to a short iron depending on the distance of your tee shot.