The best long two-shotters test a player’s ability to execute a pair of classy long shots. At the same time, they show off interesting strategies most often built around a green benefiting a shot played from a particular part of the fairway.
THE GRANGE GC – WEST COURSE
423-metre, 3rd hole
The 3rd hole was dramatically changed during Mike Clayton’s redesign in 2008 by removing trees and opening up the spectacular sandy wasteland formerly used as a site for mining sand. A long bunker is cut along the right side of the driving area but there is a wide fairway stretching far to the left for the less adventurous to play into with safety.
THE GRANGE GC – WEST COURSE
415-metre, 17th hole
One of the West Course’s most demanding holes, the pine tree-lined fairway adds to the beauty of the hole, while the natural movement of the ground makes for exhilarating golf. A drive to the right half of the fairway opens a clear view of the green but a small dune further blocks the view of the green for those who have driven left.
VICTOR HARBOR GC
402-metre, 1st hole
Victor Harbour is one of the prettiest courses in South Australia and it opens in a blaze of glory. From the elevated tee, the fairway lies more than 30 metres below and heads on a straight course to the green, bordered by thick trees left and right. The harbour off in the distance provides a beautiful backdrop.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
ALBANY GC
398-metre, 2nd hole
There is a good reason why this hole is called ‘Memorial Drive’. Like so many holes on the Old Course at St Andrews, the preferred line of play from the tee is towards a landmark way off in the distance. In this case, it’s the War Memorial on top of Mt Clarence that guides the way on this dogleg left hole. Once you have navigated the elevated tee shot over 100m of seaside scrub to the fairway, a very long second shot into a long and narrow green.
JOONDALUP RESORT – QUARRY COURSE
370-metre, 2nd hole
The most photographed hole at Joondalup is played from an elevated tee, through a valley and up to a massive green perched atop another hill. In between is a long diagonal bunker as well as a moon crater bunker, carved out of the incline to the green. Both need to be avoided to have any chance of making par.
JOONDALUP RESORT – QUARRY COURSE
370-metre, 5th hole
No two holes at Joondalup are the same and despite being exactly the same length as the 2nd hole, the 5th plays very differently and asks plenty of questions. These questions are posed by the limestone quarry that is easily reached from the tee and forces the fairway to turn left and follow its edge all the way to the green.
JOONDALUP RESORT – DUNE COURSE
372-metre, 3rd hole
You won’t find another par-4 like this one anywhere in Australia. The route to the green is wide but complicated by a split in the fairway as it climbs gradually from tee to green. The low road is a shorter journey but leaves a blind uphill second shot, while the high road is longer, but you have full view of the putting surface.
KALGOORLIE GC
429-metre, 14th hole
This hole can be stretched even further – especially when the courses hosts major events like the WA PGA – to 451 metres but is just as challenging from the blue tees. The fairway turns gradually right as it snakes away into the distance. The best line into the green is from the right edge of the fairway to best avoid two large bunkers short and in the left half of final approach into the green.
LAKE KARRINYUP CC
427-metre, 2nd hole
This is a long sweeping two-shotter turning left and downhill and is as steep as the journey down the 10th hole at Augusta National. Cross-bunkers short and right of the green make the second more difficult for the shorter hitters or those who have played too far to the right from the tee. The complication of the second shot is that it is most often played off the steep slope and the shot is a test of the player’s ability to improvise from an uncommon stance.
LINKS KENNEDY BAY
382-metre, 15th hole
The 15th is a great example of hole being simply designed and not being overdone with challenges. Three pot bunkers are scattered, seemingly in a random manner, in the widest first 250 metres of the hole. These traps, if found, guarantee a bogey or worse. Play left of the bunkers and the second shot is semi blind, while the tighter drive down the right leaves a better line to the green.
THE CUT GC
400-metre, 12th hole
Any mention of The Cut and talk soon turns to the spectacular 12th hole that hugs the West Australian coastline. The fairway winds between wild sand dunes as it descends to the bottom of a hill and your drive needs to be threaded between sandy wasteland areas left and right to get there. A fairway wood or long iron is needed to reach the elevated green, which is perched high above the beach beyond.
THE VINES RESORT – LAKES COURSE
391-metre, 11th hole
A tough hole for all, which hinges on the drive being strong and straight. A lake lies in front of the tee and is a significant carry to reach the right edge of the fairway, which leaves the more accessible left side. This, however, is countered with a tougher second shot.
VICTORIA
BARWON HEADS GC
390-metre, 3rd hole
Played into the prevailing south-westerly, the 3rd plays to all of its 390 metres. The tee shot must skirt three large limestone pits to the right before veering right and heading slightly uphill to a bunkerless green. This is classic links course gem.
COMMONWEALTH GC
352-metre, 16th hole
This is one of the most photographed and challenging holes on the Melbourne Sandbelt. The fairway sweeps around a lake to the left and challenges brave players to skirt the water’s edge to set up an easier approach. The further right the tee shot, the harder the approach.
Mike Clayton says: “This is one of the best two-shot water holes in the country with the left hazard perfectly dictating the strategy.”
KINGSTON HEATH GC
393-metre, 6th hole
The 6th returns the routing to the clubhouse and presents an uphill drive over the perfect length rise in the fairway with bunkers strategically placed to trap any drive drifting left or right. A huge bunker scheme short and right of the green dictates that the best line into the putting surface is from the left half of the fairway.
KINGSTON HEATH GC
380-metre, 11th hole
The dogleg right asks several club selection questions from the tee. From a long iron off the tee to a three-wood or a driver, the further you hit it the narrower the fairway is. There is trouble on both sides with bunkers on the right and ti tree on the left. The green is narrow with bunkers to the right and swales left so a miss leaves a difficult up-and-down for a par.
KINGSTON HEATH GC
391-metre, 16th hole
You’re faced with another blind tee shot here, so have a good look at what lies beyond the hill as you walk back to the tee from the 15th green. The subtle angle of the green, the bunker placement and the pin position of the day dictates the best placement for the drive. Find the right spot and you can hit straight up the green rather than over the edge of the bunkers.
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