Explore the Course – East Course
Hole 19 Par 5 (467 metres)
The third nine at Eastern starts with a good birdie opportunity. A wide fairway awaits to a green that can be reached in two shots however the pin position is key. The green is wide and narrow with a bunker at the front making the approach shot difficult. Quite often a full shot will be easier than one from close range.
Hole 20 – Par 4 (381 metres)
Another short to medium Par 4 with a decision to be made from the tee – do I go right or left of the fairway bunker? Down the right gives a slightly better angle for the second shot however can also bring the water into play. On the second shot, keep your ball slightly right as anything left of centre can easily find its way into the water.
Hole 21 – Par 3 (137 metres)
The shortest Par 3 on the course is perhaps the best. From the blue and black tees, a shot of approximately 150 metres over the water awaits you – a precise shot is required here. The front left pin is the tough one but there is plenty of room to the right and short if you don’t trust your game. The back bunker provides a great backdrop for the hole but is definitely not the ideal place you want to be playing from.
Hole 22 – Par 5 (503 metres)
The second of the Par 5 holes on the East nine gives another opportunity for a birdie but usually plays into the breeze. The line of the tee for most is the fairway bunker at around 230 – 240 metres. From there, avoid the fairway bunker on the right leaving an approach shot of around 100 metres to a large green that is guarded by a large bunker on the left.
Hole 23 – Par 4 (347 metres)
A good drive is required at this medium length Par 4. The right side of the fairway is the safe play, although the left side over the fairway bunkers gives a better angle for your second shot. Once on the fairway, the best play is slightly left and long as anything short and right will leave a difficult shot from well below the green. Par is a good score at this hole.
Hole 24 – Par 4 (310 metres)
A feature of all Greg Norman designed courses are good, short, Par 4’s and this hole is a good example. With the right wind conditions, the longer hitters may have a go at clearing the fairway bunkers leaving an easy approach shot; but the sensible play is down the left side. The safer you play from the tee, the more difficult the second shot becomes so decisions need to be made everywhere on this hole.
Hole 25 – Par 3 (168 metres)
The second of the Par 3 holes on this nine requires a long to mid iron to a large green. The bunker at the front of the green is further back from the green than what it looks so don’t be fooled. Long is not a bad option here and like many holes at Eastern, the wind and pin position can play a big part.
Hole 26 – Par 4 (386 metres)
Eastern being a second shot course can be seen on this hole more than any other. The fairway is wide and generous, so you can open up a little off the tee as long as you avoid the water hazards on either side of the fairway. The second shot is possibly the toughest on the course with the bunker at the front demanding a high shot from around the 180 – 200 metre mark. The smart play for most is to lay up on the second shot and leave a relatively straight forward pitch up the green. Birdies will be rare here.
Hole 27 – Par 4 (316 metres)
The course finishes with a short Par 4 where you can open your shoulders and let your driver go. There is lots of room to the right here leaving an uphill short – mid iron to an elevated green. The second shot plays longer than it looks so be sure to take an extra club as long is better than short on this hole.
Hole 1 – Par 4 (296 metres)
Eastern’s first hole is a gentle one and begins with a short, straight forward Par 4 giving golfers a good birdie chance. The ideal line is down the right side of the fairway; but ensure you avoid the deep bunker positioned there. The green complex is a moderate one in terms of break and speed and short left makes an up and down difficult. One of the friendlier holes on the course.
Hole 2 – Par 5 (478 metres)
After a soft opening, things get a little tougher at the 2nd Hole. A moderate length Par 5 gives a couple of options from the tee. Playing left is the desired line – although narrower – and there is plenty of room right of the fairway bunker for the less confident. The green complex is one of the most difficult on the course and must be approached from the middle of the fairway. Any approach from right or left makes stopping the ball on the green extremely difficult. A lay up here leaving an approach of 60 to 90 metres is generally a better option.
Hole 3 Par 4 (418 metres)
One of the most spectacular, and difficult holes, awaits at the Par 4, 3rd hole. A downhill tee shot to a wide fairway sets up one of the most daunting shots on the course – a 200 metre carry over water to a difficult green. The smart play for most is to lay up out to the right, away from the water, and make par that way; although that can be ‘easier said than done’.
Hole 4 – Par 4 (357 metres)
This hole is a favourite. The tee shot plays uphill adjacent to the 3rd hole with a big bunker splitting the fairway. Lose your tee shot right and you face a much more difficult second shot to a green that sits on an angle to you. The best line into the green is from the left; two bunkers long left and short right to the green can make Par difficult.
Hole 5 – Par 4 (326 metres)
Another great short Par 4 that gives lots of options from the tee. A 200 metre carry is required to clear the bunkers on the right, making the approach easier. There is lots of room to the left, however the angle becomes poor and makes the second shot very difficult. A long narrow green makes getting the ball up and down from anywhere a challenge. A good chance for a birdie but six or more can also be on the cards with poor shot selection.
Hole 6 – Par 3 (152 metres)
The first of the Par 3 holes at Eastern has the hills along the Yarra River as its back drop. The wind is often into the player’s face on this hole making club selection challenging. The large green provides numerous options for different pin locations. A birdie here is a real chance.
Hole 7 – Par 4 (364 metres)
From the black tees this hole is a monster but from the blue and white tees, the hole shortens considerably. Hit your tee shot as hard and as far as you like towards the left side of the fairway bunker as there is plenty of room beyond. The second shot is played to a multi-level green that sits on an angle. Ensure you leave yourself plenty of green between yourself and the pin when chipping. Being on the same level as the pin when putting is a must. A strong hole where Par or Bogey are good results.
Hole 8 – Par 3 (171 metres)
A long and challenging Par 3 awaits here. There is lots of room to the right of this large green making three a possibility but with the pin on the left of the green, the large bunker becomes more and more in play making the hole very challenging. Play to the middle right of the green where ever the pin is positioned, and you give yourself a real chance of Par, without causing yourself too much grief.
Hole 9 – Par 5 (495 metres)
The front nine finishes with a downhill Par 5 with Eastern’s magnificent Clubhouse as the back drop. A powerful drive off the tee gives you a real chance at getting the ball close to the green in two shots. The second shot is also played downhill with more room out to the right as it seems but beware – the green is a difficult one to hold and very fast from above the hole. A good Par 5 where birdie is a real chance.
- Individual length of holes are taken from the Blue Tees
- Total length of course: 6359 metres (Black Tees)
- Par 72
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