Lee Westwood’s Guide to The Colt
Lee Westwood has recently provided Golf North East readers with this exclusive hole-by-hole guide on how to play our 71 Colt Course. In the recent Celem-Am, he was the only golfer to play the full course of 6813 yards off the blue tees. When The Journal Champion of Champions is staged on Sunday September 4, it will be the first tournament on the Colt in which all the players will go off the blue tees.
Hole 1 – What Lee Says
“The best approach is often from the left side of the fairway where golfers will get an unobstructed view of the putting surface. This is however the most difficult side of the fairway to hit.”
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Hole 2 – What Lee Says
“Plays uphill and has a generous driving area, then the green is very undulating so the flag can be tucked away on that green. Play to the left of the fairway if the flag is on the right side of the green, and right when the flag is tucked left so you get the best view of it. There’s some room left of the green, if your approach is off target.”
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Hole 3 – What Lee Says
“Good risk and reward hole. It was downwind when I played, so I tried to drive the green. I got it just short of the green, so I chipped on and made birdie. Or I could have laid up and gone in with a full wedge. An excellent little hole made better by the two-tiered green with amazing views.”
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Hole 4 – What Lee Says
“Perhaps the toughest of the Par 3′s – certainly it’s the longest. Generally there’s a crosswind and it seems to play a half club longer than you think, so take an extra club to avoid the bunkers at the front of the green. And it’s safer to play to the left half of the green.”
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Hole 5 – What Lee Says
“Uphill. The priority was on avoiding the two bunkers in the fairway and then it sets up a birdie chance. A lovely green set into a hill – like an amphitheatre. The green has two main sections and it generally slopes right to left. It’s important to hit the right club into the flag, you might need to add another club to compensate for the uphill nature of the approach.”
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Hole 6 – What Lee Says
“Downhill and a great hole. Tightish drive but more fairway over the wall than it looks and then a nice second shot down the hill with out of bounds on the left and a deep bunker at the front right of the green. You have got to be precise.”
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Hole 7 – What Lee Says
“Starts off by the old stone wall and plays up the slope. Lovely cross-bunkers, so you have to decide your route. Generally play left, but watch out for the bunkers short of the green. Your decisions may be based on the wind direction. Big, interesting green. A really fun hole.”
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Hole 8 – What Lee Says
“This can be tough. Options driving down the left or the right with a bunker in the middle of the fairway. Then a difficult second shot, especially if the wind is blowing, to a green with a swale running through it. It’s a very difficult approach shot to club because it’s going downhill and there’s lots of hazards around the green. Par is good here.”
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Hole 9 – What Lee Says
“An attractive and difficult hole, quite long from the back tees, but lots of fun. Narrow green front to back so tough to pull the club but lots of room on the right half of the green. Got to avoid the water.”
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Hole 10 – What Lee Says
“Good hole up the hill. Tightish drive to avoid the bunker on the left. Second shot uphill – about a three iron to a raised green. I like the old ridge and furrow contours on the second half of the hole but it a tough green to hit in two, and watch out for the ‘coffin bunker’ just short of the green!”
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Hole 11 – What Lee Says
“Top of the hill. The tee shot is like threading a needle it’s so tight. I tried to hit it out there about 260 yards to leave about 140 yards in. No bunkers, but trouble right of the green. Some of the best views on the course from this green.”
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Hole 12 – What Lee Says
“Lovely, slightly uphill Par 3 with to a green with quite severe slopes on the left side. Crosswinds can make this hole play tough. So just play to the centre or right half of the green. The cross-bunkers aren’t in play if you take enough Club.”
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Hole 13 – What Lee Says
“Great hole. Very wide fairway with lots of bunkers and incredible views. When the flag is front right, play right, otherwise best to get as far left as you can. Good drive will leave me about a sand iron or a wedge in. Watch out for the stream to the right of the green. This is the biggest green on the course, so play the percentages.”
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Hole 14 – What Lee Says
“Another good Par 3, this one is all in the trees. It’s the shortest hole on the course with the smallest green. Hit over the stream and keep to the left. If you hit the green, you’ll have a birdie chance.”
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Hole 15 – What Lee Says
“Starting behind the little old lake, this is probably the hardest tee shot on the course. Uphill, accuracy is the key. Aim at the tallest trees in the distance, but try to turn it round the trees on the left hand side. You have got to hit the fairway to hit the green. For the approach shot, the bunkers on the right of the green should be out of play. There is more room over the green than it appears from the fairway. The danger is to the left. Four is a good score on this hole.”
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Hole 16 – What Lee Says
“A dog-leg left, through a corridor of trees. Got to get past the corner to have a shot to the green. From the back I tried to drive it out there about 280. That leaves about 150 in. When approaching the green, hit over the cross-bunkers and you can use the slopes left of the green to run the ball in. The trouble here is right of the green. A very good hole.”
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Hole 17 – What Lee Says
“A Par 5 to aim for birdie. A wide fairway that slopes right to left. Aim right and allow for the wind. There is a copse of Oak trees on the second shot that you have to avoid. The slopes in front of the green will help kick a ball onto the green. The danger is over and left of the green. The hole often plays into the wind so can be very tricky, but great fun.”
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Hole 18 – What Lee Says
“A classic strong finish. It’s not just the bunker on the left side of the fairway which you have to try to avoid, there’s also the Ha-Ha wall down the right side of the fairway. Hit down the right side of the fairway if you can, and this will give you a good shot to the green up its long axis. The green is well guarded with a wall and a bunker and the old ‘Ice lake’ round the right side. Par on this hole is a result.”
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