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Sports Telegraph | Golf | Forest Pines
FOREST PINES - COURSE GUIDE
Not for the feint-hearted - Forest Pines has water and trees aplenty.
FOREST Pines has completed its £11-million refurbishment which includes a new shop and new 'The Pines' bar with stunning terrace views.
It overlooks a 190-acre site which boasts a 27-hole championship golf course and a health, beauty and leisure club with swimming pool and luxury spa. There are currently three loops of nine, Forest, Pines and Beeches, giving the golfer the opportunity to combine two of the three to make up 18 holes.
The course is not for the faint-hearted with tree and water trouble aplenty, but those who play straight and judiciously should have a reasonable card.
The shortest nine, the Beeches, forms the centre of the golf acreage and though par 34 and only 2,922 yards off the yellows, it still presents some stiff challenges.
It has three par threes of 162, 161 and 175 yards and a 440-yard par four to contend with.
The two-tier green on the par four third will certainly concentrate the mind.
The Forest loop, at 3,125 yards (yellows) begins with a comfortable par four but the second, at 394 yards, needs a perfectly-placed tee shot to avoid trees which block out anyone left or right.
The narrow, sloping green is well guarded.
A par five, where a ditch surrounds the green and a dog-leg left par four follow before a 487-yard par five which has a bowl green with a death trap pot bunker at the back.
Hole six, a short par three, now has a lake in front while the dog-leg par four seventh requires a long and accurate tee shot.
There is a big three-putt green on the par three eighth while the ninth, stroke index one, needs two big hits to get near a well-protected green.
The Pines is the toughest nine at 3,358 yards and the round can be made or finished in the opening five holes.
The first, a 476-yard par five, has two big fairway bunkers in a hollow 150-yards from the green. The putting surface runs at an angle and is guarded by two deep bunkers.
On the dog leg right second, a 372-yard par four, placement is all-important to avoid a tree and a bunker at 200 yards. Judging the approach is difficult because of a raised green which again has a slope.
The 188-yard par three third presents a daunting tee shot with bunkers ready to gobble up anything slightly off target.
The par four fourth is one of the toughest on the course to par for the average golfer. There are trees on the left, OB on the right and fairway bunkers at driving length.
A fade is needed from the tee while the second is invariably a long shot which can often finish in the bunker to the left.
Another tough par four follows before the easiest hole, a par five, index 18, which now has the added hazard of a lake to make you think twice about the second shot.
More water confronts the player on the long par three seventh, index two, which has a wickedly-sloping green.
The famous tree in the middle of the fairway has come down on the par five eighth so a line of five bunkers has been constructed.
The big hitters may take them on but the more cautious may want to play it in regulation and take three to reach the green.
Pines closes with a long par four which has a lake awaiting for any pulled approach.
FACTFILE
TELEPHONE: 01652 650756.
ESTABLISHED: 1996.
ESTABLISHED: 1996.
MEMBERSHIP: 400.
LOCATION: 200 yards from junction 4, M180, near Brigg, North Lincolnshire.
TYPE OF COURSE: 27 holes set in forest with three combinations to play. Forest Pines 6,859 yards white, 6457 yellow, 5,781 red. Forest Beeches 6,393, 6,047, 5,358. Pines Beeches 6,670, 6,254, 5,660.
PAR: Forest Pines 73 (ladies 74) Forest Beeches 71, (72) Pines Beeches 72 (74).
GREEN FEES: Special rates available daily.
PRO RECORD: Cameron Clark
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