Pittwater Golf Club is a 9 hole, 16 tee course. It is 5463 metres par 70 from the blue tees, and 4673 metres par 72 from the red tees. The Australian Course Rating (ACR) is 70, slope rating 124 (blue), and ACR 70, slope rating 115 (red).
Pittwater is known for it’s narrow tree lined fairways, tough but fair greens, lush fairways and constant danger from Orielton Lagoon and water hazards. It’s length allows for strategy while being accessible to shorter hitters, and can serve as a test for the short game. Find out more about Pittwater Golf Club’s layout below.
Blue text = blue tees
Red text = red tees
Hole 1
Par 4 305 metres, (10th par 4, 331 metres)
Par 4 271 metres (10th par 4, 271 metres)
The 1st hole is a gentle introduction to Pittwater. Moving in a south-easterly direction from the clubhouse, the 1st is a slightly downhill, straight-away par four. An average width, tree-lined fairway frames the green as you tee off. On your approach an oval shaped green awaits, guarded by two bunkers on the left side. The first is a great opportunity to get your round started right.
The 10th plays longer from the blue tees, with an elevated tee directly behind the first tee.
Hole 2
Par 4 375 metres (11th par 4, 381 metres)
Par 5 371 metres (11th par 5, 371 metres)
As the hardest hole on the course, the 2nd offers a jump in difficulty in comparison to the 1st. Running alongside the opener, the 2nd hole plays back uphill towards the clubhouse. Again, the landing zone is of similar width, but the fairway pinches at driver length making accuracy critical. Overhanging branches along the right make playing to the left of the fairway the best option. With a mid-to-long iron in hand, a long green with a false front is in sight, and while bunkerless, the overarching trees and a gully on the right make for a nervy approach. The green slopes back-to-front and feeds off on the low side. If you come away with a par or better on the second, you’re happy.
The 11th plays a similar length, the only difference being a tee box some 20 metres right of the second.
Hole 3
Par 4 339 metres (12th par 4, 351 metres)
Par 4 291 metres (12th par 4, 305 metres)
If playing the hardest hole as the 2nd wasn’t enough, the 3rd hole at Pittwater is the second hardest. A sweeping dogleg par 4 to the right, the partially blind tee shot from below the 2nd green must be placed perfectly for the approach. With out of bounds along the fence line left, a forest of trees down the gully right and the fairway narrowing at 200 metres, the tee shot demands accuracy with either a wood or driver. The first portion of the fairway slopes dangerously left to right, but flattens slightly on the lower portion. A mid-to-short iron approach to a mid-sized sloping green again requires accuracy with a deep bunker left, and water back and right. The raised green slopes towards the water. This makes the 3rd a tough but rewarding par four.
The 12th plays from a tee box on the top side of the 11th green, making the 12th a straight hole, but the tee shot is now fully blind. A hook will surely make you play 3-off-the-tee, so make sure to hit the fairway with your drive.
Hole 4
Par 3 158 metres (13th par 3, 148 metres)
Par 3 104 metres (13th par 3, 126 metres)
The 4th is a mid length par 3. From the tee, the first views of the Orielton Lagoon feature as you try to hit a well guarded mid-sized green. The tee is elevated above the green by a some margin. The tee shot requires hitting your tee ball over Frogmore Creek which can come into play with a poor shot, as you battle with bunkers right and left, as well as a false front. A dam well left is generally out of play, but can be trouble in high winds.
The 13th plays shorter from the blue tees, and longer from the red tees.
Hole 5
Par 5 490 metres (14th par 4, 494 metres)
Par 5 410 metres (14th par 4, 410 metres)
The 5th plays as the longest hole on the course. It begins with a straight-away drive to a right-to-left sloping fairway guarded by Orielton Lagoon. The fairway is wide, but you must aim up the right to allow the slope to feed the ball left. The green is generally out of reach for most players, so a long second shot through the dogleg to around 100-150 metres out is common. From this point, a long 3-tiered green is in sight, guarded by a bunker far short right, and bunkers short and left. Don’t go long, or you’ll suffer a down hill chip shot which is hard to pull up. A great par or better opportunity is at play here for most players, provided you keep the ball down the middle.
The 14th plays at a similar length to the 5th. The blue tee blocks are moved from behind the 4th green to over on Orielton Lagoon’s boundary. Both tee shots land in similar spots, although you have to hit over the lagoon on the 14th, which can undo some nervous golfers.
Hole 6
Par 3 176 metres (15th par 3, 183 metres)
Par 3 165 metres (15th par 3, 138 metres)
The 6th is the longest of the par 3s at Pittwater. The tee shot is semi-blind, taking you up a small incline towards the shallow, wide green. There is plenty of fairway short of the green so laying up is an option for shorter hitters, and serves as a bailout. A tree comes into play to the right of the fairway, and must be missed left or carried to reach the green. Orielton Lagoon flanks to the left, and long and left of the green are bad misses as the ball ends up metres below the green. Think your way through this hole to score well, otherwise suffer a struggle for par with a poor shot.
The 15th is a signature hole at Pittwater. The tee shot is played from Reynolds Point, a man-made peninsula reaching out into the Lagoon. On a windy day, this tee shot is one of the hardest you will encounter, playing anywhere from a 9 iron to a driver.
Hole 7
Par 4 279 metres (16th par 4, 279 metres)
Par 4 261 metres (16th par 4, 261 metres)
The 7th is a short but challenging par 4. Again following the Lagoon, the tee shot requires some thought as a fairway bunker comes into play to the left of the fairway. A steep drop off left towards the Lagoon ensures an errant ball will finish out of bounds, and a dam far right can come into play for long hitters. A good tee shot will make for a short approach with a wedge to a flat green guarded by a pond left, bunkers short and long, and a dam far long. Par is quite achieveable here but a poor shot will mean bogey or worse.
Hole 8
Par 3 123 metres (17th par 3, 133 metres)
Par 3 99 metres (17th par 3, 91 metres)
The 8th is the shortest of the par 3s. Willows and poplar trees frame the green, providing a target for golfers with a short iron or wedge in hand. A pond in front of the tee and dam left aren’t generally in play, but serve as reminders that the 8th can bite. Bunkers short and left protect the green, and the bailout area right can be troublesome as a raised collar surrounds the right of the green. A great birdie opportunity awaits here, as long as you can hit the green.
The 17th plays longer from the blues, although it’s slightly downhill as the teebox is positioned towards the 9th tee. The view of the green is partially obstructed by the willow tree, and a slight pull further brings the bunkers into play, but it’s still a good birdie opportunity. The 17th plays shorter from the reds, with the teebox positioned in line with the blue 8th tee.
Hole 9
Par 5 459 metres (18th par 5, 459 metres)
Par 5 364 metres (18th par 5, 364 metres)
The final hole demands accuracy as you make your way back to the clubhouse. Hitting through a narrow shoot of trees, the 9th fairway opens up at wood length, but runs out at 230 metres from the blues so long hitters may need to rethink pulling the big dog. The dam can come into play far right off the tee with a poor drive. 230 metres from the blue tees the fairway narrows significantly and turns sharp left, with overhanging branches off the left causing trouble for a left to right ball flight. Long ball hitters can reach the green in 2. The green is bunkerless but raised, so long and right can cause issues for most golfers. Make sure to get your ball on the right tier as it can be a tough green to read. Come away with a simple regulation par or take it on and make a nice birdie or eagle to end an enjoyable round at Pittwater Golf Club.