Waterford Valley

Officially opened for play in April 2006, the 18-hole layout at Waterford Valley Golf Club lies within a substantial residential development that impacts the routing most on the front nine. The course can be set up to play any distance between 5170 and 6545 metres so it’s certainly capable of hosting championship events from the back markers.

Fairways are grassed with Santa Ana couch and greens are carpeted in bent, offering first class playing surfaces throughout. Water in the shape of lakes and wetlands comes into play at several holes on the card but fairways are generally wide enough to prevent most players from losing too many golf balls in these aquatic hazards.

Highlight holes include the 179-metre 2nd, with a big bail out area left of the green for those who don’t want to risk taking on the green over water from the tee. The par five 6th is another mighty hole on the front nine, veering gently to the right with water running the full length of the fairway on the left until reaching the tree-encircled green.

On the more open back nine, the double doglegged 14th is the easiest of the par five holes, offering the chance of a late birdie. It’s not often the 18th hole is rated stroke index 1 but that’s the case at Waterford Valley, where the home green has been remodelled as an island green, with four large bunkers providing further protection next to the putting surface.