Course Overview
The 9 hole Pastures Golf Club is built on undulating meadow land. It is not a long course and does not have any ārealā hills so can be played by most golfers. Every hole is tree lined with fairly narrow fairways which could make your game āinterestingā. One small pond on the third hole and a few bunkers scattered around the course also help to keep you focussed. With that in mind, the course can be as easy or hard as you wish to make it.
Course Flyover Videos
Whilst the yardage may tempt some to go straight for the green, the strategic play is to lay up short of the bunkers with a mid-iron, which will leave an uphill shot to a one of the largest greens on the course. Beware of a bunker to the back left of the green, as this cannot always be seen from the fairway. The green slopes slightly from back to front.Ā Ā
Professional View
Opening hole, par 4, 311 yards. Intimidating tee shot especially for first shot off the day, out of bounds all down left and tree lined down the right. Take the bunkers out of play and choose club to hit short of bunkers. Uphill, at least 1 club difference because of upslope possibly two, also itās a slight hanging lie meaning the ball will tend to curve left to right and for all right handers that will take off even more distance. (Managed a 2 putt par
Ā
Hole 2 and 11, Par 3, 131 yards, Stroke 17/18
The shortest par 3 on the course with the highest stroke index. However, do not let this fool you as hitting the green is a must to secure a well-earned par. The green slopes severely from left to right, and as all locals know there is never a gimme on this hole!
Professional View
Second hole, short par 3, 146 yards. Looks easy but very small green and raised green makes it a very tough up and down if you miss the green. The best option is to aim left side of the green, as it will kick down from the right. This hole is very uphill; adding at least 1 club on, if there is any wind then itās two clubs. Looking back from the green you can see it is very much downhill and you would have to hit at least two clubs less from green to tee when compared to tee to green. (Managed a 2 putt par)
Hole 3 and 12, Par 3, 195 yards, Stroke 11/12
This is a long par 3 with a pond (approx. 50 yards short of the green) and two greenside bunkers waiting to catch any misplaced shots. The strategic play for mid to high handicappers is to play a straight shot short of the green, taking the bunkers out of play and leaving a relatively simple chip onto the green. Long hitters should be weary as there is a number of trees at the back of the green. The green slopes gently from back to front.
Professional View
Third hole, par 3, 209 yards. Plays very long. I would say if you struggle to hit this green in one then play it as a 2 shot to hit the green and chance of a 1 putt for par. Donāt overstretch yourself hitting driver as there is not a lotĀ
Hole 4 and 13, Par 4, 303 yards, Stroke 15/16
As with the 1st hole, some players will be tempted to hit driver and go for the green in one. However, a misplaced shot will likely end up behind a tree, blocking any recovery shot the green. As such, a shot with a mid-iron down the fairway will leave around 130 yards to the green. In the summer when the ground is hard, this green can be tough to hold with an approach shot and so it is wise to aim to land the ball before the green.
Professional View
Fourth hole, par 4, 310 yards. Very intimidating I would advise hitting a club that goes 200 to leave a wedge for anyone under 18 handicap on average. Driver would not be what I advise as it is so narrow any kind of bad shot and you are going to be chipping out sideways. (I pulled wedge into bunker, good bunker shot but couldnāt sink a 6 footer, currently 1 over)
Hole 5 and 14, Par 4, 331 yards, Stroke 3/4
This is a very intimidating dog leg right tee shot which ideally requires a fade to counteract the sloping right to left fairway. In the summer with hard ground it can be as little as a 6 or 5 iron to reach the corner whereas in the winter playersā should expect to be hitting utility woods. Left of the green is out of bounds and a greenside pot bunker, so the safe shot is to play right of the green leaving a relatively simple chip onto the green.
Professional View
Fifth hole, par 4, 331 yards. (Dog leg) Very well laid out hole, 170āish to the corner, no need to hit driver for anyone over 13 handicap, play to the corner with iron or hybrid and then hit towards elevated green. Making sure you add on at least one club to the distance. This strategy will not make lots of birdies but it will reduce the chance of any higher than a 6 with a 5 the most common score on your scorecard for the hole. For anyone on fire with the driver 10 handicappers and below by definition, if you are comfortable fading the ball this is an easy birdie opportunity. (I managed a very good fade with driver around the corner to 30 yards pitch and one putt makes a birdie back to level par)
Hole 6 and 15, Par 3, 209 yards, Stroke 5/6
One of the toughest and longest par 3ās on the course, with out of bounds running down the entire left side of the hole. A miss to the right side of the hole could lead to a blocked shot due to the numerous trees on this hole. The safe play is to treat this as a par 4 and hit a straight shot off the tee with a mid-iron which will leave a pitch of around 70 yards to the green. For those going for the green, the fairway slopes slightly from left to right and so aiming for the left side of the green is a good idea.
Professional View
Sixth hole, par 3, 217 yards. One of the best par threes you will find anywhere in Derbyshire. This would always be my dadās nightmare hole when he would play pastures and Iām sure some of the members know what Iām talking about. Regardless of who you are (excluding juniors under the age of 14) do not hit driver on this hole! If you cannot hit the green with a 3 wood or less they lay up and hit the green in two and have a putt for a par. With this strategy you should never make more than a 4 on this hole. If you try and hit driver and donāt hit it correctly you are staring at a double bogey at least. Donāt get greedy play to your strengths and know your weaknesses. (Into the wind I hit a good 3 wood into the centre of the green, left my first putt woefully short, but walked away with a par, still level)
Hole 7 and 16, Par 3, 196 yards, Stroke 13/14
This par 3 is severely downhill and offers some lovely views of the surrounding countryside from the tee box. As with the previous hole, out of bounds runs down the entire left side of this hole. In the summer when the ground is hard the ideal shot is short of the green using the slope to push the ball towards the green. To the right of the green there is a large bunker which will require you to play a shot to the green with out of bounds looming behind. The green itself slopes slightly from back to front.
Professional View
Seventh hole, par 3, 201 yards. Downhill, but not short! I didnāt have much to say about this hole and it looked straight forward, that was until I sliced my ball into the trees on the right!!I would say that the wind played a part as the tee was in cover off the wind and I underestimated how strong it was. (I hit a good chip and then again left my putt just short, the cardinal sin of golf. Thatās a bogey back to 1 over)
Hole 8 and 17, Par 4, 317 yards, Stroke 7/8
This is a very tight par 4, which is tree lined and ideally requires a slight draw off the tee box. The old fairway bunkers have been removed and trees taken out of this hole, to allow a greater chance of hitting the fairway which slopes from right to left. Hitting the fairway is a must on this hole and so again, leaving the driver in the bag might be a good idea for some. It is advisable to take one club less on your approach to the green as this hole plays slightly downhill. There are two greenside bunkers which will catch any wayward shots and the green slopes slightly from right to left.
Professional Views
Eighth hole, par 4, 344 yards. Another tree lined hole, again I would say hitting the fairway is a must. If you hit it slightly left or right you have to be very lucky to not be stuck behind a tree. So I hit driver and putt it into the trees on the right (us pros arenāt perfect). I managed to slice a 5 iron around a tree with a quarter swing and it managed to find the green. (Two putt par, after that drive Iām quite happy)green, subtle borrows.
Hole 9 and 18, Par 4, 370 yards, Stroke 1/2
Players View
This is the toughest hole on the course which ideally requires a fade off the tee. The trees lining the tee box will catch any wayward drives, along with the pond on the 3rd hole. For mid to high handicappers, treating this hole as a par 5 is a good idea, as this hole is known as the scorecard wrecker. For lower handicappers, a long drive with fade will leave a relatively short second into the green, but beware as out of bounds runs down the left side of this hole. The approach shot to this hole always play at least one club extra as the hole plays slightly uphill. There are two bunkers to the left side of the green and so an approach shot favouring the right side of the green is recommended.
Professional View
Ninth hole, par 4, 410 yards. Hardest hole on the course 400 yards, which would mean 250-yard drive, would leave 150 in. In the summer that is very doable for a lot of people under 18 handicap. For anyone over 12 handicap and for some under, a 5 is not a bad score at all, so play it as a par 5, take a 3 wood or hybrid off the tee and lay up for your second with a 5 wood, this will only leave you between 10 and 40 yards in for your third shot which most of you will be able to do with ease. For the big hitters, the best shot would be a fade with driver, this left me 100 yards in. The approach is sneakily uphill so makes sure you have one club more due to the hole being higher than your feet. (I hit a good wedge but story of the day left my birdie putt short, when will I learn).