The Front Nine

Setting Out

Leura Golf Course is a par 70 classic mountains course. It is carved into the magnificent Blue Mountains clifftops and challenges golfers with its rolling fairways and well manicured greens. The front nine summary follows an excerpt from Peter Hume’s essay – The Beauty of the Challenge.

In the beginning, after a tight opening hole, one treads on fairways that have been in place since 1902. Mature pines and eucalypt stands line the early fairway giving way to more open plantings of European deciduous trees that make autumn very colorful and winter, well, very sculptural as bare limbs border the playing grounds.

Back to back par fives on the 3rd and 4th holes present a welcome challenge to the serious golfer who can be tempted to try for eagle from the tee with due attention to the best angle of approach on the second shot, especially so when the fairways have firmed up in the summer months.

The outer limits of the course surround the 4th green and one hits from an elevated tee to a par 3 at the fifth on the return journey. The uphill 6th is the first glimpse of the magnificent Jamison Valley and rewards the golfer even when scores don’t.

Parkland holes complete the first 10 holes of the course.

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1st Hole – 273 m – Par 4

A challenging start. Uphill hole with Out Of Bounds on the left with a sloping fairway from left to right. Best to hit an iron to the bottom of the hill. Approach shot club selection is critical. Aim for the back of the green, the ball will roll back down onto the green.




 

2nd Hole – 125 m – Par 3

Three tiered green. Find the right club and a birdie is in the offing.


3rd Hole – 441 m – Par 5

A short par 5, long hitters can reach in two if accurate. Drive to centre left of fairway. The green angles left to right going away from the golfer. There are bunkers protecting the front and middle of the two tiered green. The smart play is to lay up to the left hand side of the fairway then pitch and putt for a birdie.




4th Hole – 495 m – Par 5

Straightaway par 5. The last 130m is uphill with Out Of Bounds fence behind the green. Play the “Scottish Pitch” and take the OOB out of play.

 

 

5th Hole – 195 m – Par 3

Tough hole with a narrow green. Best to land short of the green leaving you an easy chip and putt for your par.

 

6th Hole – 381 m – Par 5

A short, uphill hole which plays longer than its 381m. Longer hitters can reach the green in two. Aim your tee shot centre left of fairway, as the ball will then feed back. Approach shot to a small severely sloping back to front green with Out Of Bounds at the back of the green. The smart play is to take 1 club less, land the ball short and run it in.

 

7th Hole – 131 m – Par 3

Index 18, downhill par 3 to a flat green. A good chance at birdie.

 

8th Hole – 285 m – Par 4

Accuracy is the key to this hole. A blind tee shot to dog leg right. Aim left with a fade. The green has bunkers either side and a precise approach is required to get your par.

 

9th Hole – 162 m – Par 3

Straight tee shot to heart of green. The green slopes back to front.

The Back Nine
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