Tynedale Golf Club The course is relatively flat with a variety of trees that create tight fairways It has an excellent record of all the year round opening, rarely being closed due to bad weather The following is a ‘greens in regulation’ hole by hole description for a right handed player a slice shot is to the right and a hook is to the left Course description

Tynedale Golf Club 1 st Hole Par 4 White yards 245 (SI 13)Red yards 242 (SI 16) The first hole is a short par 4 that requires a straight drive. The two large trees in the foreground provide an intimidating arch to drive through, after which the trees on the left or right are waiting for a hook or slice. The railway lines just through the trees on the left are out of bounds. Tee box Railway lines

Just a short pitch or chip from the middle of the fairway should safely find the green. Tynedale Golf Club 1 st Hole Par 4 White yards 245 (SI 13)Red yards 242 (SI 16) Bunkers protect the green for those who have sliced whilst the hookers can find the approach to the green difficult

The second hole is also a short par 4. The converging fairway is again framed on either side by mature trees with the out of bounds railway line again on the left and out of bounds beyond the second row of trees on the right. Those who put their drives beyond this second row of trees on the right will possibly be in the river. Tynedale Golf Club 2 nd Hole (and 11 th ) Par 4 White yards 274 (SI 15)Red yards 272 (SI 13) Teeb ox River Tyne

Big hitters may try to drive the green but beware of the bunkers guarding the front. The mere mortals, who are on the fairway, require a pitch shot to carry the bunkers, but of course, those trees await yet again for those going left or right. Those who go through the green may have a tricky chip back from the rough beyond. Tynedale Golf Club 2 nd Hole (and 11 th ) Par 4 White yards 274 (SI 15)Red yards 272 (SI 13)

The drive on the par 5 third hole is over the 2 nd green to a fairway that opens up and allows some deviation from straight, but the drive cannot be too wayward, because of the trees left and right. Tynedale Golf Club 3 rd Hole (and 12 th ) Par 5 White yards 474 (SI 10)Red yards 471 (SI 5) The big hitters can get into trouble with a long drive that could enter the trees left of centre at about 270 yards, indicated on the photo. Tee box

Tynedale Golf Club 3 rd Hole (and 12 th ) Par 5 White yards 474 (SI 10)Red yards 471 (SI 5) The fairway narrows for the second shot, with the trees and rough on the left and right to be avoided, otherwise additional shots begin to accumulate.

Tynedale Golf Club 3 rd Hole (and 12 th ) Par 5 White yards 474 (SI 10)Red yards 471 (SI 5) A straightforward chip or pitch to the green is the regulation third shot. A small bunker lies in wait at the back of the green

Tynedale Golf Club 4 th Hole (and 13 th ) Par 4White yards 388 (SI 6)Red yards 385 (SI 4) The fourth hole is a dog-leg left with the fairway opening up on the right hand side. The advice here is don’t go left. If your ball is in the trees on the left you are in trouble. Those drives that cross over the trees on the left to the 5 th fairway incur a penalty shot (local rule) unless they are beyond the red and white marker poles which are over 300 yards from the 4 th tee box. Good position A good fairway position is indicated Tee box

If you are near the good fairway position previously indicated, you have a clear shot to the green between the trees. Tynedale Golf Club 4 th Hole (and 13 th ) Par 4White yards 388 (SI 6)Red yards 385 (SI 4) A drive to the left of the fairway results in the green being blocked by the trees. The trees just to the right of centre can also be an obstacle for drives from big hitters.

Tynedale Golf Club 4 th Hole (and 13 th ) Par 4White yards 388 (SI 6)Red yards 385 (SI 4) The green has a slight slope from right to left and is protected by bunkers left and right. If you are short with your shot to the green, it better to be left than right, especially if the pin is on the right.

The 5 th is the longest par 4 (par 5 for the ladies) and is often played directly into the prevailing westerly wind. Danger again lurks with the trees on the left awaiting hook shots. A slice can take you across to the 6 th fairway and relative safety, but the big slice may land out of bounds beyond the second line of trees on the right, or in the river Tynedale Golf Club 5 th Hole (and 14 th ) Par 4White yards 416 (SI 1)Red yards 413 (Par 5 SI 9) River Tyne Tee box

Tynedale Golf Club 5 th Hole (and 14 th ) Par 4White yards 416 (SI 1)Red yards 413 (Par 5 SI 9) The second shot requires driving to the green through a converging fairway with trees and rough at the sides and back of the green. Those who have sliced to the 6 th fairway need to hit a shot over the 6 th tee box and the small trees to the left of the tee box. River Tyne Tee box

Tynedale Golf Club 5 th Hole (and 14 th ) Par 4White yards 416 (SI 1)Red yards 413 (Par 5 SI 9) If a third shot is required, it should be a relatively simple chip or pitch to the green assuming you are not impeded by the trees

The tee shot to the 6 th fairway has big problems on the left where the two rows of mature trees are to be ‘avoided like the plague’. A shot to the right makes the approach to the green much more difficult. The need here is for a straight drive. Tynedale Golf Club 6 th Hole (and 15 th ) Par 4White yards 335 (SI 9)Red yards 332 (SI 7) Tee box

The fairway shot to the green should be OK unless you have to fire in from the 5 th fairway when there is difficulty due to having to approach over trees and a greenside bunker on the right. The trees on the left would again await the over-hit shot. Tynedale Golf Club 6 th Hole (and 15 th ) Par 4White yards 335 (SI 9)Red yards 332 (SI 7)

This photo of the 6 th green illustrates the problems for those approaching from the right Tynedale Golf Club 6 th Hole (and 15 th ) Par 4White yards 335 (SI 9)Red yards 332 (SI 7)

Tynedale Golf Club 7 th Hole (and 16 th ) Par 3White yards 108 (SI 16)Red yards 105 (SI 18) This short par 3 would appear very easy with a gentle pitch to a relatively large green, but a shot to the left can bring big trouble in those trees again and a bunker awaits front left. Tee box

Tynedale Golf Club 7 th Hole (and 16 th ) Par 3White yards 108 (SI 16)Red yards 105 (SI 18) This short par 3 would appear very easy with a gentle pitch to a relatively large green, but a shot to the left can bring big trouble in those trees again and a bunker awaits front left. Bunkers are also situated to the right and rear of the green

Tynedale Golf Club 8 th Hole Par 3White yards 150 (SI 12)Red yards 145 (SI 12) The second par 3 is more difficult, usually playing more than its 150 yards. The problem is that the tee box is often sheltered from the prevailing westerly wind which effects the ball in flight as soon as it rises above the tree line. Tee box

The green is well protected, being narrow and having bunkers at the front and left hand side. Out of bounds is all the way up the left hand side, with a burn beyond. If the tee shot is too long, there is rough, trees and out of bounds awaiting. Tynedale Golf Club 8 th Hole Par 3White yards 150 (SI 12)Red yards 145 (SI 12)

Tynedale Golf Club 9 th Hole Par 4White yards 387 (SI 3)Red yards 384 (SI 2) The 9 th requires a challenging drive with not much room for error since the practice area just beyond the line of trees left of centre is out of bounds. The fairway opens up after the practice area, but it requires a good shot of about 250 yards to reach this more open area. Tee box Practice area

Tynedale Golf Club 9 th Hole Par 4White yards 387 (SI 3)Red yards 384 (SI 2) The fairway shot to the green is over a ridge with the top of the flag just visible

Over the ridge the green is surrounded by rough and small trees. There is also a greenside bunker to the left. The 9 th green is the most undulating on the course Tynedale Golf Club 9 th Hole Par 4White yards 387 (SI 3)Red yards 384 (SI 2)

Tynedale Golf Club 10 th Hole Par 3White yards 205 (SI 5)Red yards 201 (SI 1) The 10 th hole is the same green as for the 1 st hole However, the tee box is advanced 40 yards creating a long par 3. Again, this is usually into the wind and thus requires a good straight drive.

Tynedale Golf Club 11 th Hole (same as 2 nd ) Par 4 White yards 274 (SI 14)Red yards 272 (SI 14)

Tynedale Golf Club 12 th Hole (same as 3 rd ) Par 5 White yards 474 (SI 11)Red yards 471 (SI 6)

Tynedale Golf Club 13 th Hole (same as 4 th ) Par 4White yards 388 (SI 7)Red yards 385 (SI 3)

Tynedale Golf Club 14 th Hole (same as 5 th ) Par 4 White yards 416 (SI 2)Red yards 413 (Par 5 - SI 10)

Tynedale Golf Club 15 th Hole (same as 6 th ) Par 4White yards 335 (SI 8)Red yards 332 (SI 8)

Tynedale Golf Club 16 th Hole (same as 7 th ) Par 3White yards 108 (SI 17)Red yards 105 (SI 17)

Tynedale Golf Club 17 th Hole Par 3White yards 150 (SI 18)Red yards 145 (SI 15) The 17 th is played to the same green as the 8 th but from a tee position 30yds forward of the 8 th

Tynedale Golf Club 18 th Hole Par 4White yards 304 (SI 4)Red yards 274 (SI 11) This is the signature hole of the course. When Northumberland County matchplay competitions are played at Tynedale, they request that the 18 th and 9 th holes are switched, ensuring all competitors must play the 18 th. The hole is a dog-leg to the left

Tynedale Golf Club 18 th Hole Par 4White yards 304 (SI 4)Red yards 274 (SI 11) The drive is from a position 40 yards forward of the 9 th tee, allowing easier clearance of the out of bounds practice area on the left than from the 9 th tee box.

Tynedale Golf Club 18 th Hole Par 4White yards 304 (SI 4)Red yards 274 (SI 11) A good drive should result in a position 70 to 100 yards from the middle of the green but the ball needs to be directly in front of the green. If the drive is too long or too short, the 2 nd shot would be at angle to the green, requiring flying the ball over the very large tree on the right or the smaller tree on the left.

Tynedale Golf Club 18 th Hole Par 4White yards 304 (SI 4)Red yards 274 (SI 11) The difficulty can be appreciated with a closer view of the green, which shows a gully containing a burn in front of the green ready to take a ball that is being run in. Furthermore, if the trees are avoided there is a raised, split level green surrounded by bunkers and having out of bounds just off the green to the left and to the rear. The pin at the front left of the green is a particularly difficult position.

Tynedale Golf Club We hope that this description of the course has been useful and also hope that you will enjoy playing it. We are sure that you will also enjoy a drink or two in the Clubhouse afterwards, where you will find that the reputation for friendliness is not misplaced.