It's best to start the game as a novice because although you
won't be able to
improve your handicap or save any profiles the lack of wind and
the fixed
swingometer means that you're able to concentrate on the basics -
course
strategy and power. Strategy means summing up the dangers and
choosing the safe
route down the fairway which can be far from easy with some of
the tortuous
holes included in the game. When it comes to short pitching you
need to learn
from experience how much power to apply to get the distance you
need. Otherwise
you face fifty-foor putts to the equally tortuous greens.
An old golfing adage says that the pros drive for show and putt
for dough and
to a large extent it's true. It's possible to waste a ridiculous
number of shots
on the greens so putting practise is essential. The most
important thing to
remember is that the halfway mark on the putting meter always
represents the
optimum power for a flat green whatever the distance of the putt.
All you have
to do is hit harder if the putt is uphill or less hard if it's
downhill - you
can check the slope by clicking the right mouse button to see the
path to the
hole from side on. The other thing to worry about is the borrow -
use the 'grid'
icon to see whether this is left-to-right (or right-to-left) and
compensate by
playing to the left (or right). When you start saving your
profile and average
of 1.5 putts per green is good but lower putting averages are
possible - 1.0
is perfect.

THE 5 HARDEST HOLES:
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1 - Ballybrook - Hole 18 (Par 5) 'Birchwood Corner':
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This is one of the hardest par five on any of the six courses so
don't worry if
it takes you some time to make par.

First shot:
The fairway makes a dog-leg so use the far right tee position to
straighten out
the angle. Don't be afraid to drive over the wood but make sure
you tee up on
the top position to gain enough height. Follow this advice and
you should be in
a good position far enough down the fairway to be tempted by the
green for your
second shot.

Second shot:
If you have anything other than a perfect lie be content with a
short pitch to
near the edge of the brook. From a good or fluffy lie you will be
able to use a
three wood to play to the right of the bunkers guarding the
green. Be sure to
pitch accurately onto the green because it's large and has very
difficult
contours.

2 - St Augustine - Hole 9 (par 3) 'Devil's Green':
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Fourtunately unless you're a scratch player you'll be playing off
the front
tee which is a good 30 yards forward and gives you a clearer view
of the green.
Make sure you don't underclub and flirt with the brook and target
the right side
of the green because the steep slopes funnel the ball to the
left. Don't worry
if you end up off the back but try to pitch accurately otherwise
you'll be
three-putting.

3 - Buckland Heath - Hole 16 (par 4) 'Devil's Putt':
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The fast sloping left-to-right green dictates the strategy for
this hole. Target
the right-hand edge of the fairway beyond the bunker so that
you're able to play
onto the green. Aim directly at the flag and use a slightly
under-powered
pitching wedge - you should end up pinhigh but slightly beneath
the cip for an
easy birdie putt.

4 - Fenham Valley - Hole 18 (par 5) 'Jacob's Lake':
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First shot:
The big lake looks threatening but keep your cool and raise your
tee and it's
easy to clear. You should pitch over to the left-hand side of the
fairway to
give a good view of the green.

Second shot:
For the brave a three wood over the trees and risking the bunkers
is possible
but the green is very small. Always check the green before your
shot to see
if the flag is on the closer tier or the lower back tier. It's
best to play a
long iron short of the bunkers and then pitch accurately to the
pin.

5 - Mountsummer Pont - Hole (par 5) 'Old Lumpy':
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First shot:
This is the links course and the fairways tend to be very bumpy.
This fairway
kicks balls to the left so aim for the extreme right hand edge
and hit a driver
with some overswing to make good distance. Hopefully you're left
a second shot
from the centre of the fairway - if you end up too far to the
left then you have
an awful approach over tall trees and a deep pot bunker.

Second shot:
Anywhere on this course you should watch out for sloping lines
which make your
stance more awkward and mean you can't hit the ball so hard.
Always check the
power curve on the swingometer first. Here you're likely to be on
an upslope
so take more club - a three wood perhaps - and aim for the
right-hand edge of
the green.

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