Inverallochy Golf Club Front 9 holes

1st Hole - Binkie - Par 4, 380yds

This hole has very little trouble for the straight hitters, there is out of bounds down the left, but it takes a wild shot to reach the shore line that is classed as the boundary, across the access road to the club house is also out of bounds. Aim for the marker post on the Binkie, then your hitting a mid to low iron for your second shot. There is a bunker that is situated at the front right of the green and two pot bunkers just off the left side of the green that are not visible from the fairway. 

2nd Hole - Quive - Par 3, 194yds

You can reach this green with a mid to long iron, the shoreline down the left is again classed out of bounds. This comes into play the nearer you get to the green. On your approach to the green there is a shallow grassy ditch which runs at a slight angle across the fairway approximately 15Yds short of the green. This will catch a poorly hit shot and bring the ball up short of the green. The green is quite long and narrows at the back; a grassy knoll is positioned just in the rough on the South side off the green, which is a good target to aim for from the tee. But push your shot to the right and your facing a very tricky pitch, as this green is usually fast with a slight gradient. Misjudge the pitch and the ball will roll off into a slight hollow to the left of the green.

3rd Hole - Corn Yardie - Par 4, 376yds

An accurate tee shot is essential at this hole, which plays nearly directly north off the tee, then has a slight dogleg which has been more exaggerated in recent years, left back up towards the clubhouse. The rough down the left of this fairway is usually quite lush, plus two well positioned, bunkers guard this side, patiently lying in wait for the player who goes for the big one and cuts the corner. In and around these bunkers leaves a very difficult second shot to the green. Clear the short cut rough and the undulations at the start of the fairway and you have a clear shot into the green with a mid iron. A well struck shot hit to this green and it will stop, land slightly short where the ground is quite firm and the ball will usually roll through to the back and off the green. Two bunkers guard the front left and there is also a bunker, at the right side of this green. Out of bounds lurks in the clubhouse car park, just left of the green and 4th tee.

4th Hole - Sonny Braes, Par 4, 362yds

This should be a straightforward short par four. Down the middle or slightly to the left is the best approach, for your second shot into this green. There are undulations again on this fairway about 150yds from the tee, find them and your second shot will often have to be manufactured to suit the variety of lies/contours that you will encounter. A bunker is sited just in the right hand rough at about 200yds out. This is the newest green on the course and is the most picturesque, looking at it from the fairway. A bunker guards the front approach with one sited well into the left hand rough, another lurks on the right edge of the green. Hitting in with a mid to low will set up a good birdie opportunity.

5th Hole - Foldie - Par 4, 245yds

This was extended from a par three in 1999 along with the clubhouse upgrades, then again extended in 2005 with a new Tee set further back, giving a better panoramic view of the hole. Standing on this elevated tee you will notice the two pot bunkers on either side of the fairway, just under the 200yrd mark, waiting for any miss hit. This green can still be reach by the bigger hitters, but beware the green is guarded by two very intimidating bunkers that act as a magnet for most balls. If you do not have the power to flight these bunkers, it requires a very straight tee shot to slip the ball through the narrow opening between the bunkers onto the green. Also a bunker either side of the green lies in wait for any offline shot. There is out of bounds in the rough, down that runs parallel down the South side of this hole, but it takes a wild shot to go beyond the white marker posts. This little hole can set you up with a good Eagle opportunity if one is bold enough.

6th Hole - Bents - Par 5, 470yds

This is the only par five on the course, out of bounds runs all the way down right hand side of this hole, then ends by the burn, called the Allochy just right of 18th tee, which lies adjacent on the South side of the green. From the tee you will note the white marker stake that indicates the centre of the fairway. The landing area is quite wide but a bunker is lying in wait to the left of the marker stake. Down the rough on the right side this has been replanted with gorse and small trees, this is an area to be avoided. From the middle of the fairway the hole then takes a slight dogleg to the right, longer hitters can reach this hole easily on a nice day. The best approach into this green, is to position your tee shot as close down the right hand side of the fairway as possible. Always remembering that out of bounds runs down this side, yards into the rough. Two intimidating bunkers await your second shot down the left side of the fairway, in what used to be a grassy hollow. Good course management is required at this stage, so try position your ball just short, or down the right side of the fairway if not attempting for the green. The green itself is slightly unsighted if you intend going for the big second shot, as the green is located slightly below fairway level. Hit the down slope just in front of the green and your ball will normally shoot through the green into the rough at the back. A bunker lies in wait for any miss hit, shots down the right hand rough about 20 yards short of the green. A nicely hit shot onto this green will stop, either on the slight upslope at the front or on the finely manicured surface. The green gathers in from the left but a well placed pot bunker protects this side, also the contours at the front and left side of this green can slide a seemingly well hit shot into the hidden bunker to the left of this green.

7th Hole - Whitelink - Par 3, 198yds

This hole is a wee gem; the green was remodelled during the course upgrades and built up at the back, (the South side of the green) even if you hit your shot slightly stronger than you wanted the ball tends to stop on the slight upslope at the back. But hit over the green and you are left with a very difficult chip back up and over the bank. Depending on conditions you can play a mid iron up to a driver. Most of the locals try and hit a low running shot through the two deep undulations at the front of the green, but this is a very tricky shot to attempt from this range. A bunker guard the left side of the green and there is also one to the right, which is unsighted from the tee. To the right is the best side to miss this green on as it gives you the best chipping option. The green itself is full of undulations so one has still to be focused, as small putts can easily be missed if you drop your guard.

8th Hole - Brustic Braes - Par 3, 142yds

Shortest hole on the course by 1 yard, simple golf hole if you hit the centre of the green, and whatever position the pin may be located you should have an easy two putts for par. The hole is situated on a slight plateau, it has a grassy bank about 15yds out that runs from the 13th green all the way round the front then tapers out on the rough on the right. Looking from the tee there is a pot bunker looming ominously right in the centre of this bank. Over the bank and the short section of fairway runs slightly down hill and a bunker either side of the green captures any wayward shot. The green itself slopes from back to front, so basically hit the green and your ball will stop. The key on this green is the pin position, if at the front or left putting should be no problem, but the higher up the green the pin is situated, and especially on the right where the slope is more acute, you do not want to be hitting the ball past the flag. In the summer when the greens are slick, the ball just keeps on rolling. (Be warned)

9th Hole - Trenches - Par 4, 278yds

Standing on the tee with the green in full view, one is already thinking birdie! And played in the correct manner it is. Hit your tee shot slightly down the right hand side, this opens up the green for a simple chip up the green setting up an easy birdie. The problem is you don't see the trouble from the tee as most of it is hidden by a hillock about fifty yards out. First you have the out of bounds, (the old railway line) which runs all the way up the right hand side. Then if you hit the ball slightly down the left into the minefield of undulations that will invariably funnel a ball into either of the two bunkers lying in wait just on the fairway at the edge of the semi-rough that runs down this side. Going for the green from the tee, and if your unlucky enough and hit the steep slope just short of the green, which tends to guide your ball into the bunker to the left that is visual from the tee. You do not want to be in this bunker as it has one of steepest banks in this area. Once in it all you may see is the top of the flagstick. Another bunker it situated to the right of the green and also on this side just past the green in the rough, the out of bounds for the 10th hole starts.