Best Par 5 Holes

The choice on the tee has to be made if one goes down the left hand side of the fairway (giving the bigger hitters a chance to go for the green in two shots) or play to the wider part of the fairway to the right but risk finding the trees in the semi-rough as the slope of the land falls towards them.

The real options start however when you must decide not only if you will chance the green in two, but if not, how far back do you lay-up? as there is a fairway bunker at the 100 yard mark ready to gather the wayward lay-up.

A small stream must also be negotiated with either the second or third shot into the sloping and well protected green. The green itself is narrow and has subtle breaks which make this our favourite long hole.

As an opening hole the first at Crosland Heath really tests every aspect of your game from the word go. A straight drive is required as out of bounds cuts in on the left hand side of the fairway and fir trees await the sliced drive. A long drive is also required if any attempt at going for the green in two is concerned.

The green is on an island surrounded by heather and a very deep valley on all sides. The approach for those trying to get there in two is blind and requires a massive and accurate carry to hit and hold the well sized green.

For most golfers a lay up is required and judging the distance can be difficult as there is no real horizon, only sky  to look at. For those laying up accurately a shot of around 130 yards then awaits to what can be a terrifying yet exciting shot, especially if the wind is blowing as all though the green is quite large it looks much smaller.

If the green is missed a good short game is required to get up and down from the "quarry". All in all a very good par 5.

A series of fairway bunkers must be carried and then an accurate approach into a narrow two-tiered green, well guarded by bunkers.

This is stroke index 1 and can be an absolute monster if the wind is blowing down the fairway and really separates the men from the boys.

Big hitters have the choice then to take on the creek at the bottom of a small ravine behind which sits the green or alternatively lay up short. The lay up is not an easy one however as the fairway slopes steeply and the green is semi-blind from where you will be playing from next.

A good drive is required and an accurate approach however the green is what makes this hole as it is angled, two-tiered and has plenty of slope on it. A small water hazard sits just to the left of the green to complicate matters for the golfer. The clubhouse overlooking the green frames the hole nicely.

The reason we rank it in our top-10 is because it is the last hole on the course and can set up some great finishes. If you are on a good score a bogey can easily be racked up by playing too conservatively however if an eagle is required there is a possibility of this happening.

A lot depends on the drive which if you are able to get the ball over the steep hill 250 yards away, which then allows the ball to roll a further 70 yards means the green is very reachable in two shots. In matchplay it makes for a great finishing hole where literally anything can happen.

The bunker which cuts into the front of the green means that a pin tucked to the front of left makes matters more difficult.

A really good matchplay hole when the game is in the balance because there are a variety of ways this hole can be played.

Keeping the ball in play off the tee at Willow Valley is important but especially so on this hole as placement on the second shot to leave the best angle of approach on your third is of paramount importance. The way that the green slopes favours an approach from the right and whilst you do not want to get too close to the pond .... you don't want to be too far away either!

Clever bunkering make this a hole which although you could be greenside in two shots you would be happy walking away with a par. The green is narrow and slopes deceptively more than you think. A great birdie opportunity.