Etiquette This guide aims to ensure that every golfer is given the chance to enjoy the game of golf whilst upholding its rules and traditions along with caring for the course. Please consider the points listed below. Safety Prior to playing a stroke or making a practice swing, please ensure that no one is standing close by or in a position to be hit by the club or ball. Do not play until the players in front are out of range. Shout 'Fore' if there is a danger of a ball hitting someone. Brandon Wood is a challenging course, as a guide the 7th tee should be reached in 75 minutes and the 13th in 150 minutes. 15 minutes per hole is too slow - all but the longest of holes should be playable in 10 minutes. Play without delay - there should be no hold ups for counting strokes or marking scorecards, especially on the greens. Consideration For Other Players Please do not talk or move when a player is about to play, or stand close to or directly behind the ball. Always have consideration for others on the course. All matches keep their place on the course.  If a clear hole is lost or if a ball is being looked for, then the following match must be invited to play through. On arrival at the putting green your golf bag or trolley should be positioned on the most direct route to the next tee - but not on the green itself. All players in a match should watch and mark the place where each ball comes to rest, in order to minimise the time spent in searching for the lost balls. Course Code Carefully smooth over holes and footprints made in bunkers. Replace and press down all turf cut or displaced while playing. Repair any pitch marks on greens. Repair any damage to greens after play on that hole. Keep trolleys away from greens, tees and bunkers.  Take note of any signs concerning the movement of trolleys. When taking a practice swing, avoid damage to any turf especially on the tee. Avoid damage to the putting green when putting down the flagstick and to the hole when removing the flag or the ball. No dogs are allowed on the course.

		Hole 1 "Far and Away" Par 5, 521 Yards, Stroke Index 7. Far and away the toughest of Brandon Wood’s four par 5s - a long dog leg to the right - requiring at least 3 shots to the green for all but the biggest of hitters. If not trying to reach in two shots, the ideal drive is left of centre, as this will allow the second shot to be angled away from the out of bounds and into the centre of the fairway. Those players attempting to get on to the green with their second shot will need to aim straighter with the tee shot to avoid being blocked out by the left hand corner of the dog leg - but beware, if the drive isn’t long enough it will kick off into the trees on the right! A tough start!
Hole 2 "On the Edge" Par 3, 158 Yards, Stroke Index 17. On the edge of the River Avon this hole requires a brave heart as anything more than the slightest of pull shots (for a right hander) is likely to finish in the water. However, a bunker lies in wait on the right - so only straight will do.
		Hole 3 "Beechers" Par 4, 390 Yards, Stroke Index 3. The main feature of this hole which dog legs to the left is a brook - reminiscent of the Grand National jump - which runs across the fairway at a distance that will give the higher handicappers some concern and will make the lower handicappers think twice about playing an iron for safety. The ideal tee shot should be aimed at the lone ash tree which is in the fairway directly opposite the corner of the dog leg - distance is critical though with anything short leaving a shot over the River Avon and anything long needing to be very accurate to avoid running out of fairway.
Hole 4 "Respite" Par 4, 339 Yards, Stroke Index 13. This hole does offer some respite after such a tough start - easily reachable for most with a drive and short iron but …. the River Avon runs its complete length on the left and trees lie in wait on the right including a very large oak guarding the front of the green. Tee shots left of centre give the best line of approach although many prefer to give the river a wide berth and try to manoeuvre  their second shot under the oak.
		Hole 5 "Round the Bend" Par 5, 470 Yards, Stroke Index 9. This hole dog legs to the left - round the bend in the River Avon - giving longer hitters the opportunity to cut the corner and reach easily in two. However, anything played a little too far to the left is likely to finish in the river.  Perhaps a better approach is to play for just short of the corner leaving a longer shot, but still in range, although the second shot is quite tight if you lay up.
Hole 6 "The Penny Black" Par 3, 149 Yards, Stroke Index 15. This is Brandon Wood’s version of the famous ‘Postage Stamp’ at Troon - comprising a small raised green with the River Avon just to the left and a bunker to the right. Club selection needs to be right as there are trees to the back of the green and the shot needs to be accurate since anything a little off will bounce away.
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