Course Book

1st Hole

Playing Tips: The first hole is a 319m dogleg left and begins the adventure on a hole where the corner can be taken on by the daring. However, the tall gums on the inside of the corner are unforgiving. The safe start is straight down the fairway (200m) to leave an open, short iron approach. This tricky green slopes back to front and is guarded left and right by mid size bunkers. Too long an approach and you will be left with a testing chip back to the green. For the humble, this hole will provide a good birdie opportunity to begin the round.

Sponsors

• ANZ Bank
• Darren Matthews - Painter & Decorator
• Greg Allen Farm Machinery

2nd Hole

Playing Tips: No visible green from the tee can intimidate the average golfer on this 327m straight par 4. Out of bounds down right hand side of fairway, so an accurate drive is a must here. Optimal tee shot is just left of the beautiful spotted gum will leave you with a low iron approach. Long narrow green has deceptive borrow left to right and back to front. Green is elevated at the rear and too long an approach shot will be penalised.

Sponsors

• BioGreen
• Bulla Dairy Foods

3rd Hole

Playing Tips: This par 3 demands the straightest tee shot to negotiate the tall gums guarding the offset green. The green is bunkered on left and right by large deep bunkers which will catch the errant shot. This hole also plays due west into the prevailing winds. A magnificent golf hole which can make or break a round of golf. A birdie hole for some but par is a good result on this testing hole.

Sponsors

• Colac Toyota
• David Parker Plumbing
• Marc Furniture

4th Hole

Playing Tips: The first of three magnificent par 5s. To the right, the 482m of this hole showcase the beautiful Lake Colac, township and hinterland. A striking view if you catch a clear day that only adds to this picturesque layout. Out of bounds down the entire right hand side of this impressive hole can distract the wayward. An accurate drive just to the right of the centre of the fairway will allow the long hitters a chance to make the green in two. The more traditional play leaves the golfer with a blind second shot to the 150m mark and a tricky downhill approach to this green. By this time, the golfer has a good feel for the course and settling into Colac’s testing layout. Challenge awaits you just around the corner!

Sponsors

• Colac Veterinary Clinic
• Mixx FM / 3CS
• Water Supply Specialists

5th Hole

Playing Tips: The dogleg right par four 5th hole provides the golfer with their 3rd blind tee shot for the round. Right hand side is protected by large pines. Safe drive is right of centre, which leaves short iron into a long narrow green with bunkers back left and front right. The green is raised at the rear and holds trouble for those who overshoot it.

Sponsors

• Cemex
• Rhodes Veterinary Clinic

6th Hole

Playing Tips: Straight par 4 of 326m. Views over Colac give this hole an imposing backdrop. Out of bounds runs the length of this fairway on the left. Yet another blind tee shot where the accurate will need to stay to the right of centre as this fairway slopes right to left. Too far right brings into play more large pines and a lateral water hazard. The large, relatively flat green invites the high shot for the confident or the chip and run for the wary. Again, an aggressive shot into the green will need to hold the putting surface as green drops away dramatically. Best play here is to lay up short and walk away with a well made par – perhaps!

Sponsors

7th Hole

Playing Tips: The 7th hole brings players to the shortest par 3 on the course. Uphill tee shot to large green bunkered front right and large deep bunker running the length of green on the left. Best to be under the hole as this green borrows deceptively. Club selection is important from the tee and will depend on the prevailing easterly winds.

Sponsors

• Lyness Steel Fabricators
• Minerva Financial Strategies

8th Hole

Playing Tips: The 2nd longest and most imposing fairway on the course greets the golfer at the par five 8th. The fairway is wide at the landing area but will test those who lack placement. The humble 3-wood is often the best choice from the tee here to set-up a long second shot. Fairway bunkers left and right short of green are to be avoided and club selection into the green will depend on pin placement. This well protected, two-tiered green could go from a good birdie opportunity to a hurtful bogey as this large green can be one of the most deceptive on the course.

Sponsors

• Andrew Carr Plumber & Gasfitter
• Superior Staff

9th Hole

Playing Tips: The longest of the par 3s on the course provides the golfer with an intimidating view. The large green offers little relief after a testing front nine and the three green side bunkers will attract the wayward tee shot. Club selection here will depend on the predominant wind conditions with a well placed lay up to the shallow on the right of the green the choice for most. The drastic left to right slope of the green will provide testing putting and to walk away with a par here is a great result. Club selection can be anything from a 5-iron to driver depending on the prevailing wind.

Sponsors

• Colac Windscreens - Tint King
• Ray Croft Mens & Ladies Wear
• St Laurence Employment Services

10th Hole

Playing Tips: Par 4 requiring a straight drive to maintain centre of fairway. Large trees line the right and out of bounds attracts many down the left over the road. Green surface is unseen for the second shot with a small bunker to the right short of the green. Green looks relatively flat but borrow will surprise.

Sponsors

• Ball & Croft Betta Electrical & Betta Home Living
• Hip Pocket Workwear
• Western Insurance Brokers

11th Hole

Playing Tips: The 2nd longest par 4 on the course provides one of Colac’s toughest tests. This fairway slopes gently to the left and is not only protected by out of bounds on the left, but the dam which cannot be seen from the tee will come into play for the long hitters. Drive to right of centre will set up mid-iron into large flat green with a deep bunker on the right side.

Sponsors

• Laurie & Warren Plasterers
• Mackay's Milk Bar - Free Choice Tobacconists
• South Western Sanitary Services

12th Hole

Playing Tips: With the average golfer happy to see the 11th behind them, there is little relief to come. The 12th is rated the hardest hole on the course. The green is visible from the tee on this slight dogleg left hole and out of bounds down the left of the fairway will again penalise the inaccurate drive. Mound on the left elbow of the fairway can catch the golfer who takes the short cut over the corner. Fairway is wide at landing area and a drive down the middle will reward the golfer with a mid-iron to a narrow raised green with deep bunkers on both sides. Best play is to lay up short as there is plenty of difficulty if you’re aggressive and don’t find the putting surface with your second shot. Par will bring a smile to most golfers.

Sponsors

• Carpet Choice Colac
• HF Richardson
• Timboon Earthmoving

13th Hole

Playing Tips: Twelve holes completed and what looks like a standard par 4 presents the golfer at hole 13. This slightly uphill dogleg left will prove testing from the tee with out of bounds to contend with left and heavy tree line on the right. A 3-wood from the tee will provide a long-iron approach. However, placement is vital here. This long green runs diagonally right to left and depending on pin placement can prove a difficult second shot. Best to put the driver away and hit the middle of the fairway off the tee and keep all of your options open.

Sponsors

• AKD Softwoods
• Red Rooster Colac
• South West Sheds & Homes

14th Hole

Playing Tips: An inviting fairway greets the golfer at the longest hole on the golf course. From the tee the drive needs to flirt with trees on the left to hold the centre of the fairway and prevent running into trees on the right. The long hitter can attempt the green in two and will have to play cleverly to avoid a finish in the well placed green side bunker. The green runs diagonally to fairway so a humble lay-up with the second shot will allow an attack on the pin for three and a chance to make an opportune birdie.

Sponsors

• Denise Duryea Hairdressing
• Shelton Timber Treatment

15th Hole

Playing Tips: Again at the 15th hole, the golfer is presented with the question asked many times around the Colac layout: driver or 3-wood? The long hitters can shape the ball on this sweeping dogleg left hole and leave a pitch approach to a raised green. However with the green not visible from the tee, tall trees to the right of the fairway, the prudent golfer more often than not will choose a 3-wood or a long-iron to the centre of the fairway leaving a good mid-iron approach. From the fairway, this elevated green drops away at the rear and the approach must firstly avoid the bunker to the right of the green and hold the putting surface with the second shot to avoid the need for an awkward recovery.

Sponsors

• Blanes Newsagency

16th Hole

Playing Tips: The 16th hole presents an inviting par 3 with the green set beyond a slight depression in the landscape and sits higher then the tee-off area. Bunkers guard this large sloping green both left and right. Pin position and wind conditions will dictate your club selection here. The best play is to leave your ball below the hole and avoid the trickery of this very difficult putting surface.

Sponsors

• Adam Brown's Home & Garden Maintenance
• CMTP
• LBW Accountants

17th Hole

Playing Tips: The gentle downhill sloping 17th fairway signifies the home stretch and presents the golfer with yet another blind tee shot. This dogleg left hole will offer a good birdie opportunity for a tee shot aimed long and left of centre. Most should avoid the fairway bunker left for the approach. Golfers must be sure to hold the green with the second shot as there is little relief for those who press too hard and overshoot.

Sponsors

• Charles Stewart Real Estate

18th Hole

Playing Tips: Those wishing to finish on a high will need to play well to avoid the danger that all 368m of the 18th hole provides. Water seems to be a magnet for golf balls. A carry of only 75m over water greets the men. Dense trees left and right ensure that accuracy off the tee is needed to hold the fairway and offer the best approach into this difficult green. Usual pin placement is often protected by the front bunker and can be negotiated with a long iron approach. Bunkers on both the right and back of the green provide no relief for those to anxious at a putt for birdie. Laying up with a low iron and a chip close will allow the chance at a well made par and a great finish to your 18 hole adventure at the Colac Golf Course.

Sponsors

• McDonalds Colac
• Think Water Colac