Hole 1 "Parkside"

An enticing opening hole on account of its shortness, its simplicity (the green can still be in reach even after a poor opening drive) and the sense that it must offer an ideal birdie opportunity. Yet danger lurks throughout. Even Tiger Woods might opt against a striaght hit at the green, only the front edge of which is visable from the tee, instead choosing the shot down the fairway, to where it turns sharp left, and a short approach between the front bunkers. For the direct line risks entanglement in the group of trees and short left of the green which grow higher by the year; worse, a sharp hook and the river beckons - though probably not as far as the far bank and play-park, after which the hole is named - unless one of the line of tall beech trees, marking the western boundary of the course, intervenes. But anything drifting right risks an awkward lie among the trees loitering beyond that edge of the fairway. Overall, most players walk to the second tee satisfied with a par.