Bosch Hoek Golf Course Hole by Hole Analysis
PAR: 4
STROKE: 11 / 10
LENGTH: 322m / 338m
Stepping out of the Pro Shop, the First & Tenth tee box is situated adjacent to the magnificent country style Clubhouse. All who have visited Bosch Hoek have a sense of feeling that they are stepping onto one of the greatest Golf Courses in the world.
Playing 322 meters, the First Hole can be quite deceiving as it tempts even the wisest golfer to take the risk of hitting Driver. A well-placed fairway bunker down the left side sits 240 meters from the green leaving your approach in around 80 meters. Taking this into consideration your club selection off the First Tee is vital to secure your first par.
Club Pro Tip:
Using a Fairway Wood (5 or 3 Fairway Wood), play your first shot up the right half of the fairway. Your approach shot should sit at around 100 meters into the green. Again, play the second shot up the right half staying clear of a well-placed bunker on the left side of the green.
I always suggest to first time visitors at Bosch Hoek to have a couple practice putts before heading onto the course. Having Bent-grass greens running at an average speed of 9.5 on the stimp, the greens can be slick for the first two or three holes if not tested beforehand.
PAR: 4
STROKE: 17 / 18
LENGTH: 250m / 230m
After completing the First & Tenth Hole you will find yourself walking through a magnificent garden surrounded by old Pine Trees. The Second Tee is well placed on the far left, half surrounded by a small dam. The Second & Eleventh are, respectively, the two highest stroked holes on the course. Saying this, both holes deserve the utmost respect as a wayward shot off the tee can leave you with a tricky approach to a well-guarded green.
Playing only 250 meters, the longer hitters can most certainly reach the green for their first shot. The green itself is not too large & favours a high lofted approach to ensure your ball stays on the putting surface.
Club Pro Tip:
Make this hole easy by playing a long iron up the right half of the fairway allowing you a fuller second shot into the green. Your approach will be around 40 – 50 meters in. Using your 56’ Sand Wedge, hit a high lofted shot toward the back half of the green allowing the ball to land softer on the putting surface, maybe even encouraging the much-needed back spin to end up closer to the hole.
PAR: 5
STROKE: 7 / 8
LENGTH: 517m / 480
Often referred to as the “Beast” at Bosch Hoek, the Third Hole plays the longest at 517 meters. Your Tee shot is important & requires a right to left shape off the tee in order to hit the fairway. A well-guarded fairway bunker & small dam protect the left side of the fairway & can often catch the longer hitter’s ball from the tee.
Once you have found the fairway you will be faced with a similarly long approach to the green. Being a Par 5, the sensible approach would be to lay up down the left half of the fairway allowing you a more comfortable distance into the green for your third shot.
The green is well placed behind a small stream and is perched on the side of a bank. A green side bunker also protects the back right half of the green & often catches those balls that land on the back bank.
Club Pro Tip:
After finding the fairway you will have around 240 meters to the stream found just in front of the green. Use a suitable club to hit your ball a distance of around 220 meters allowing you to have an approach shot with around 120 to 100 metres in.
PAR: 4
STROKE: 5 / 2
LENGTH: 360m / 391m
Surrounded by the Bosch Hoek Farm & stunning views of natural forest the Fourth & Thirteenth tees are located on the furthest part of the golf course. Playing from an elevated tee, your drive will need to be precise as the landing area is narrow, with a lateral water hazard down the left side. A driver is certainly the club of choice off these holes as it allows you the chance to clear a majority of danger, both left & right.
Finding the fairway is not so simple on this hole; once you have you will have an approach of around 130 – 150 meters, wind dependent it could be even further back. Your second shot will be deceiving first time round as the green, half hidden, gives you the impression it is much closer than it looks.
Club Pro Tip:
This has to be one of my favourite holes on the golf course. For the longer hitter of the ball, favour the left half of the fairway allowing a favourable bounce toward the green, for the shorter hitter play your tee shot for the heart of the fairway favouring the right half if possible. The second shot again is vitally important & can lead you into hitting a club short; my advice is to club up. If you are thinking of hitting a 7 iron, rather hit a 6 iron.
The Fourth & Thirteenth green also seem to be the fastest on the course, if you have a 20-foot putt from the front edge leading to the back, ease it to hole allowing a short putt for par rather than a nerve-racking 7-foot putt back.
PAR: 3
STROKE: 9 / 14
LENGTH: 152m / 150m
The first of the Par 3’s the Fifth hole requires a high-flying tee shot to carry a large body of water. Playing at 152 meters the average club selection on this tee will be a 7 iron. Don’t be fooled by the beauty of this hole as a stray tee shot to the left will most certainly find a watery grave.
On your second trip around to the Fourteenth, you will find this hole similar in distance as the Fifth, the only “upside” is you do not have to carry over the dam. Keep your shot right off this tee & you should find yourself on or near the green.
Club Pro Tip:
Playing the Fifth & Fourteenth you will often face a slight breeze coming off the left side. This breeze assists with keeping the ball from veering off toward the water. I prefer & suggest taking an extra club on these holes & focus on the heart of the green. Knocking down an extra club also prevents the ball from “ballooning” up into the air, which of course, could allow the wind to change the direction quite some bit. Once on the putting surface you will notice the green predominantly slopes toward the water; use this tip wisely as it may help to get you in the hole for two.
PAR: 5
STROKE: 13 / 12
LENGTH: 443m / 452m
Second of the Par 5’s, the Sixth and Fifteenth tees are both situated on the edge of a small dam. You will be required to hit a tee shot around 150 meters to a carry the vlei guarding the front section of this box. A lateral hazard hugs the left side of this fairway, all the way to the green, your tee shot again on this hole is vitally important. Whilst standing on the tee you will notice a well-placed fairway bunker on the right; this is your target line.
Sitting a comfortable distance off the tee & on the fairway, your second shot is fairly simple as you would like to avoid the lateral hazard on the left. Play it up the right half of the fairway, keeping away from danger. During the upgrade of the golf course in 2013, golf course designers envisioned this hole to absolute perfection, both from a playability & looks point of view. Playing your third shot, again, up the right half you will be rewarded with a favourable bounce toward the putting surface.
Club Pro Tip:
With a long carry off the tee the driver is most certainly required off the Sixth and Fifteenth. For the longer hitter, I would suggest selecting the three trees on the left as your target line, for the shorter hitters, playing at the fairway bunker will be a safer option.
Being the shortest of the Par 5’s at 443 meters, this is also a tempting green to go for in two. Aiming at the green side bunker on the right half of the green is a safe target; a well-connected second shot for the longer hitter will most certainly be rewarded.
Safe play is always a good option. Play your second up the right half of the fairway allowing the slope to bring the ball toward the green. Your approach will be within 100 meters, have a solid go at the pin from there, ensuring a makeable putt for birdie.
PAR: 3
STROKE: 15 / 16
LENGTH: 130m / 115m
At this point of the golf course you will be wondering, ‘when will I ever play a hole that doesn’t have water!’
The Seventh and Sixteenth are short Par 3’s playing at 130 & 115 meters. You will be faced with the beautiful Bosch Hoek dam all the way down the left side. Two extremely well-placed greenside bunkers protect the putting surface. The right side is a safer option with the slope favouring a bounce toward the green. For those pin seekers out there this is a great opportunity for you to make a birdie on a stunning Par 3 & of course impress your playing partners.
Club Pro Tip:
With the seventh hole only playing at 130 meters your club selection will be a lofted one. Using an 8 iron down to a gap wedge depending on the shorter & longer hitters; play the ball at the right half of the green avoiding the bunker on the left. Remember height is your friend on this hole, height will allow the ball to land softer again avoiding a wicked bounce into the back bunker. Once off the dance floor you will be faced with a slope, from either side of this green.
PAR: 4
STROKE: 1 / 4
LENGTH: 380m
The hardest of holes on the golf course, according to the stroke index, the Eighth hole plays alongside the canal at 380 meters in length. For first time players teeing off the Eighth can be intimidating as the canal is directly on your left with a fairway sloping from left to right down to a well-placed set of trees catching any ball landing in this area.
Longer hitters should not have much to deal with from their drive as the fairway opens up with 120 meters into the green. Once you have found the fairway from the tee you will have a small target for your second shot, surrounded by well-placed greenside bunkers.
Club Pro Tip:
The Eighth and Seventeenth holes are deserving low stroke holes as they are both equally as hard to find the fairway off the tee. Playing at 380 meters these holes also require the golfer to play a longer tee shot in order to play at the green for your second shot. Longer hitters are able to clear the canal & trees down the left side leaving them in the wider section of the fairway with only 120 meters in. I always suggest to first time players to use what they feel comfortable with off the tee as the most important thing is finding the fairway. Once on the fairway, play your second shot down the left half of the fairway as the natural slope will encourage the ball up onto the putting surface. Friendly tip on this hole, club up for your second ensuring you play toward the back half of the green staying clear of all the trouble both left, right & front of the green.
PAR: 4
STROKE: 3 / 6
LENGTH: 398m / 382m
Last of the holes at Bosch Hoek the Ninth and Eighteenth play back toward the beautiful country styled club house. As on the Eighth & Seventeenth the canal will once again be down the left side. Besides the trouble alongside the left half you will have an extensive open space down the right with a wide fairway to place your drive.
Your approach into the green is slightly obscured by a green-side bunker on the right. The green is quite deceiving as you cannot see the true length & golfers tend to leave their second shots at least one club short.
Club Pro Tip:
One of my favourite driving holes, the Ninth & Eighteenth lend themselves to a full aggressive drive. Space is your friend on both the Ninth & Eighteenth holes, that is, as long as you set your target line up the right half of the fairway. A good drive will leave you around 150 meters in for your approach shot. Again, your approach shot is deceiving as the sloping bunker on the right gives the golfer the impression the green is closer than it actually is. Take one club extra & aim for the heart of the green, you will be pleasantly surprised at the result.