Course Tour
Nestled in the heart of Heathcote, our 18-hole course rewards precision, patience, and a little courage. From the opening par 5 to the deceptive closing par 3, every hole tells its own story. Here’s your insider’s guide to playing it well.
Hole 1
Par 5
Welcome to Heathcote. This opening par 5 bends sharply to the left, immediately separating the bold from the cautious. Big hitters will fancy their chances of reaching the green in two, but a creek cuts across the approach zone and punishes the greedy. The smarter play is a controlled lay-up, leaving a clean wedge in — the perfect way to settle the nerves and start your round right.
Hole 2
Par 3
Don’t be fooled by this one. At first glance, Hole 2 looks like a straightforward par 3 — until you notice the towering gum tree standing guard on the right side of the green. Stray that way and you’ll be scrambling from the scrub. Pick your line carefully, take enough club, and flight it true. A tidy par here sets a confident tone.
Hole 3
Par 4
The real challenge on Hole 3 isn’t the fairway — it’s the green. Slippery, contoured, and unforgiving, this putting surface rewards only those who approach from below the pin. Leave yourself above the hole and a three-putt becomes a very real threat. Think strategically off the tee, and position your approach shot with the pin location firmly in mind.
Hole 4
Par 5
The second par 5 on the front nine demands respect from the first swing. Drive left of centre to set yourself up, then face the course’s great dilemma: lay up short of the creek, or go for glory and attempt to clear it? Those who do carry it are rewarded with a mid-iron into a long green flanked by four guardian mounds — beautiful to look at, tricky to putt. Three solid shots win this hole. Heroics rarely do.
Hole 5
Par 4
Running parallel to the 4th and climbing gently uphill, Hole 5 is a par 4 that earns its place. A drive to the left half of the fairway is essential — the hole bends right beyond a cluster of tall gums, and only the correct angle opens up the green. Work the slope, trust your club selection, and walk off with a par. You’ll have earned it.
Hole 6
Par 4
At under 300 metres, Hole 6 is one of the front nine’s best birdie opportunities — and one of its most tempting traps. This dogleg right looks gettable off the tee, but two ponds positioned on either side of the fairway demand a disciplined line. Thread the needle and you’re in prime position. Go for too much and you’ll be fishing for your ball instead. Play it smart, and a birdie is very much on the cards.
Hole 7
Par 4
The number one stroke index hole for a reason. Hole 7 hugs the northern out-of-bounds fence all the way uphill to a demanding double-tiered green. Into a headwind, reaching this green in two is a genuine achievement. Stray left and you’re gone; miss the tier and you’re three-putting. This is Heathcote at its most honest. Walkaway with a par and you’ll feel like you’ve won something.
Hole 8
Par 3
Short in distance, long on consequence. At 130m (120m for women), Hole 8 is the briefest par 3 on the course — but a bunker lurks front-left, and the rear of the green falls away sharply. Miss long and you’re chipping uphill with no margin for error. The green is compact, so take the right club, trust your swing, and give yourself a regulation putt. A bogey here stings more than it should.
Hole 9
Par 5
A fitting finale to the front nine, and one of Heathcote’s most dramatic holes. Out of bounds runs the full length of the left, a creek defends the green at the front, and a bunker lurks to the right. There is very little room for error on your approach. Many a promising scorecard has come undone right here. Respect the layout, stay patient, and close out the front nine with a clear head.
Hole 10
Par 5
The back nine opens with an invitation. This par 5 is reachable in two for the longer hitters — and represents your best genuine birdie opportunity on the inward half. A tight dogleg greets you off the tee, and two bunkers protect the green, so precision still matters. But if you navigate the dogleg well and catch the second shot cleanly, eagle is in play. A great way to launch your back nine.
Hole 11
Par 4
Two enormous gum trees stand like sentinels in the middle of the fairway, narrowing your window off the tee to a precise corridor right of centre. Miss it and you’re punching out sideways. Find it and you’ll have a clear approach to the green — but you’ve earned it. Rated the number 1 stroke index hole for women, this is a hole where accuracy beats power every time.
Hole 12
Par 4
Don’t let the short yardage lull you into complacency. Hole 12 funnels you down a narrow fairway toward a small, undulating green that makes a simple approach feel anything but. Hit the green in the right spot and you might walk away with a birdie. Miss it — or leave yourself on the wrong tier — and the hole can unravel quickly. As they say at Heathcote, this one can be an easy 3 or a painful 7.
Hole 13
Par 3
Welcome to the signature hole. Hole 13 is a picture-perfect mid-iron par 3 played across water to a double-tiered green framed by a bunker. It looks stunning and plays even harder. The green tilts away from you — so anything that lands short of perfect will feed off the surface. Read the tier, commit to your club, and make a smooth swing. This is the hole golfers remember long after they’ve left the course.
Hole 14
Par 5
Hole 14 is all about discipline. The second par 5 of the back nine demands two consecutive well-struck shots through a tighter-than-comfortable corridor. The green slopes gently front to back, and a bunker at the front right catches anything that fades slightly on the approach. Three controlled shots beats two ambitious ones here. Stay patient and take the birdie chance that a solid par sets up.
Hole 15
Par 4
The gums are back, and they mean business. Hole 15 demands that your drive threads a tight alley of trees before you can even think about the green. It’s not long, but length is irrelevant if you can’t find the short grass. Miss the fairway and a narrow target awaits your second — making par feel like a stretch. Pick a precise line, swing with confidence, and enjoy the satisfaction of a well-managed par 4.
Hole 16
Par 3
No bunker, but no free passes either. Hole 16 is a mid-iron par 3 where the green sits within a ring of mounds — miss and you’re left with a delicate chip back to a surface that doesn’t give much away. With the wind often swirling through this part of the course, club selection is everything. Commit to your number, trust the shot, and give yourself a putt.
Hole 17
Par 4
The penultimate hole is one of the toughest tests of the back nine. Length off the tee gives you a fighting chance, but the real drama is on the green — only the middle 50% offers a true flat landing zone. Anything drifting toward the edges slopes away sharply, turning a near-miss into a tricky recovery. This is a hole that rewards the well-struck iron and punishes complacency. Nail it, and head to the last with real momentum.
Hole 18
Par 3
All square comes down to this. The closing hole is a mid-iron par 3 sharing its green with the 11th — a neat full-circle to finish. Bunkers front and rear leave you with one option: the right club, the right shot, the right finish. Birdie is there for those who commit. It’s a beautiful, tense way to end a round at Heathcote — and it’ll make you want to go around again.