Harburn Golf Club - The Front Nine

The Front Nine

Hole 1 - Torphin

TEES
YARDAGE	326	317	310
PAR	4	4	4
S.I.	9	9	11

Hole 1 overview The opening drive is partially blind from the main tee with the bank obscuring the view of the fairway. Ideal line is left of the big tree. The second shot usually requires no more than a short iron to a challenging first green, flanked by two bunkers and sloping back to front.

Hole 2 - Haugh

TEES
YARDAGE	385	371	361
PAR	4	4	4
S.I.	3	3	1

With a dog-leg to the right, drives from the second tee must be aimed to the left of the fairway to ensure a clear view of the green for the second shot. Guarded by an Out of Bounds on the right, trees on the left and a fairway bunker short, the second shot is played to a green which slopes from left to right. Anything left of the pin will leave a very tricky downhill putt.

Hole 3 - Beeches

TEES
YARDAGE	142	126	120
PAR	3	3	3
S.I.	17	17	17

The first short hole at Harburn requires an accurate tee shot through the narrow gap between the trees on the right and the railway on the left. A generous target green is protected by four sculptured sand traps before and to the left, while strong undulations across the putting surface will penalize less than accurate approaches.

Hole 4 - The Brig

TEES
YARDAGE	480	464	441
PAR	5	4	5
S.I.	2	2	5

The wind tends to play a major part when hitting from the elevated tee on the first par 5 at Harburn. With the railway on the left and gully on the right, driving must be accurate to leave any chance in two. Second shots need accuracy to avoid the protection for a two tier green, two bunkers on the left and a deep bunker to the right.

Hole 5 - The Raids

TEES
YARDAGE	214	208	208
PAR	3	3	3
S.I.	15	15	7

A testing par three, whose length is deceptively greater that it appears from the tee. Uphill all the way, the 5th requires at least one club greater than usual to reach a green protected by a large bunker on the left and a stone shed on the right. The green generally slopes from back to front but subtle changes in grade can create a tricky birdie or par putt.

Hole 6 - Faulds

TEES
YARDAGE	334	332	275
PAR	4	4	4
S.I.	14	14	15

Driving from a low tee position, the first shot must land on an undulating fairway to make hitting the green in regulation possible. Once on one of the fairway plateaus, we are left with a blind second shot to a well guarded two tier green. Knowledge of the pin position is vital at the 6th where the left hand bunker can leave no option but to putt sideways.

Hole 7 - Torheaving

TEES
YARDAGE	426	412	395
PAR	4	4	4
S.I.	5	5	3

From the highest point on the course, offering excellent views across West Lothian and the "Five Sisters" bing, a tee shot aimed down the right edge of the fairway is advised. Though risking the out of bounds and a fairway bunker, extra distance can be found through the undulations. A two tier, generous green awaits the second shot, as do three deep bunkers for any miss-hits.

Hole 8 - Hillock

TEES
YARDAGE	383	305	290
PAR	4	4	4
S.I.	7	7	10

Reachable from the front tee for the long hitter, the 8th makes full use of the natural landscape to create a green difficult to hit in regulation. The undulating fairway is surrounded by plantations and deep grass on the right will take no prisoners. The target is flanked by two deep bunkers and another short left with a steep bank at the rear.

Hole 9 - Lang Whang

TEES
YARDAGE	516	506	424
PAR	5	5	5
S.I.	10	10	9

The longest hole at Harburn begins with a tee shot to a blind, narrowing fairway. A well hit second is required to navigate the undulating lower fairway, where two bunkers lie waiting. A stream and pond await any short approach shots. A test for the long irons and fairway woods, par can be considered a very good score at this hole.

The hole features Harburn's own "Swilcanesque" bridge, built in memory of JD Clarkson, twice captain and former club champion and C Sharkey, former club champion, by their families.