HOW TO PLAY STOVER
The course at 5,952 yards, par 69, from the white tees is relatively short, however, careful course management is required to produce a good round, particularly on the back 9 holes.. |
The first hole is 415 yards, par 4, with a quite wide fairway, but there are trees, deep rough and bunkers to catch the wayward drive. The second shot to the green is uphill making the hole play longer than its yardage.
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The back 9 holes starts with the par 4, 325 yards, 10th from the tee right outside the Clubhouse window. If that isn’t intimidating enough, a very narrow fairway with rough and Liverton Brook on the right hand side serves notice of accuracy required for last 9 holes. It is important to keep to the left hand side of the fairway so that you get a good view of the small plateau green for your second shot.
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The next is a well-bunkered 178 yards par 3, slightly downhill where only total accuracy will find the putting surface. |
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The 11th, stroke index 1 is 365 yards, par 4. A narrow fairway with trouble both right and left. Trees and rough down both sides with the added problem of the river on the left hand side. A small green, which is protected by bunkers on both left and right. The stroke index indicates the degree of difficulty and a par on this hole is a good result. |
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The third, at 377 yards, par 4, is an uphill dog-leg left with a generous fairway leading to a small green tilting from left to right. Dont get caught out by the bunkers short! of the green.
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An elevated tee seems to make you more aware of the Out of Bounds on the right and the trees, river and open ditch on the left. Not a long hole at 334 yards, but tricky with the water to the left and rear of the green. |
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Now we have an extended par 4, at 379 yards, with a picturesque pond just short of the green. A large oak tree dominates the left hand side of the fairway; a bunker protects the right hand side of the fairway. A good tee shot is required, followed by a tricky shot from a downhill lie. |
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The 13th is a par 3 with the green encircled by trees and a bunker on left and right. The river will catch the mis-hit shot and swirling winds can make club selection difficult. Not an easy green to read, particularly if you are putting across it. |
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The 5th hole is our longest par 3 measuring 210 yards. A big straight tee shot is necessary to reach the green thus avoiding the row of mature trees down the left hand side of the fairway and the bunkers on the right hand side. |
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At 500 yards the par 5 14th hole starts with a tee shot through an avenue of trees and over the river. Large trees on both sides of the fairway together with a water feature on the right (watch out for your drive) can cause problems for players of all abilities. Having successfully driven, the hole dog-legs right gently uphill to a large green. The 2 large fairway bunkers should not prevent you from progressing. Important to keep to the left of the fairway to open up the green for your third shot, anything to the right blocks the green out, the only way directly to it is over some tall trees.
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Most players should find the 6th a fairly easy par 4 at 314 yards. Trees and gorse on the right hand side will catch the off line tee shot. |
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The last par 3 at 191 yards is downhill from an elevated tee. Dead ground immediately in front of the green can be misleading and bunkers in front and on both sides of the front of the green will trap the errant tee shot. |
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A truly beautiful 120 yards par 3 follows. Played through a funnel of trees to a small green, which is surrounded by bunkers. Club selection is important. |
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Our 16th hole was voted in the top 18 holes for the south-west; a fitting accolade for a very good hole. A good tee shot across the river onto a narrow fairway is essential because there is trouble on both sides. Keep the ball to the right hand side of this gentle dog-leg left which will give a view of the green for your approach shot. The green has a gentle tilt from right to left. |
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The par 5, 538 yards, 8th hole is the longest on the course and requires an accurate tee shot through a funnel of trees to a reasonably generous fairway. A ditch and Out of Bounds on the right hand side runs the length of the fairway, whilst on the left there are many trees to catch the poor shot. A strategically placed water feature on the right hand side of the fairway makes the player think about club selection for their second shot. If you have got this far successfully a large tiered green surrounded by banks, bunkers and water awaits with the opportunity of a birdie! |
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The tee shot on the 17th down a narrow fairway bordered with trees on the right, a dense copse and drainage channel protect the left. Bunkers on left and a water feature on the right of the green shouldn’t affect a decent second shot and having made the putting surface a birdie or par is within your grasp. |
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An excellent par 4 of 380 yards completes the front 9 holes and brings you back to the Clubhouse. With trees right and left off the tee, the scenic Liverton Brook, just short of the green, comes in to play for the first time for your approach shot to the green; do you go for it or lay up, that is the dilemma? |
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The 18th at 409 yards, par 4, is a good finishing hole, which dog-legs left. An accurate tee shot to the centre/right hand side of the fairway will give you a good look at the tiered green with large bunkers on each side. Trees down the left hand side and Out of Bounds on the right may intimidate some players, but there is plenty of scope to finish your round with a par. |
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All that remains is to go the 19th for a well-earned drink and snack
and relive the “If Only” of your round! |
