Hole 5 "Watersedge"

The walk to the fifth tee is short but now the direction turns westerly into the prevailing wind, helping to make this the most difficult hole of the outward nine. Yet, viewed from the slight elevation of the medal tee, the drive seems inviting enough. True, there are trees, bushes and undergrowth stretching all along the left, while the first hint of the river, encroaching from the right, is only too obvious. Yet the landing area, if not the fairway, looks sufficiently broad. Too easy, though, to line up on the tallest tree in the far distance, be phased by the two bunkers on the left and allow a drive to drift right. Maybe not as far as the area after which the hole is named but sufficient to make any shot to the green demanding. And don't pull that shot left, the line of hawthorns stretching alongside the final part of the fairway can prove unforgiving. The green itself, once found, is comparatively flat but tightly bunkered at the front on both sides. All but the very best would accept a par standing on the tee.