A Hackers Guide To Royal Ascot - Hole 16 (Woodend)

We're on the run for home now but what a run. Three very difficult and demanding holes remain starting with this 425 yard par 4. It is basically a straight hole but there is danger lurking.

The club website describes the hole as:

Hang on to your hat, the start to a difficult finish. A tough, long and tight par 4 where the drive is everything. To secure your round ensure you get drive in play. If you have to play a four iron from the tee to keep it in play that should be the choice. The bunker that appears to guard the front right of the green is some 25 yards from the putting surface. Don’t be fooled into taking too short a club. Use your stroke wisely on this hole."


The problem starts off the tee. Out of bounds runs the length of the driving area and is a matter of some ten yards left so anything starting off left will be in mortal danger. Similarly, get the ball to turn over right to left and the same fate awaits.

The tee shot - you can see how close the out of bounds left is. Scary

The ideal line is at the left hand big oak on the right side of the fairway. This give a little margin for error. If you over compensate, whilst there is rough to contend with and going for the green is taken out of the equation, it does offer sanctuary from the card wrecking reload off the tee. It tends to play down wind and so a good shot will sail past the trees on the right. The tree line left stops opposite these big trees and the fairway opens up beyond that.

Arguably the best looking hole on the course. The trees make a perfect backdrop whatever the season

Assuming the drive has been safely negotiated, the second shot can range from a fairway wood or hybrid (the big tree right is some 200 yards from the centre of the green) to a mid iron if you hit a good one and get it past the timber and it runs. As the website says, there is a bunker short of the green which does fore-shorten the hole considerably and is to be avoided. Anything leaking too far right runs the risk of finding the lateral hazard to the right of the hole and the out of bounds beyond and there is also another bunker about ten yards short and left of the green.

The green is surrounded left and right by contoured mounds and so anything missing the green will find a tricky lie. The green itself is generous and relatively flat. It's stroke index three and in the opinion of many members is a harder proposition than either of the two harder ranked holes on the course.

This hole has laid claim to many a good round including some of mine. I came to the 16th in a midweek medal +6 gross (off a 14 handicap). Inevitably I hooked the first tee shot left and although I made a bogey with the second ball it cost me a double bogey and paved the way to a 6, 6, 6 finish (double, treble, single bogey). A few days later in the monthly medal I arrived at the tee +5 gross and proceeded to replicate my error and compile a similar 6, 6, 6 finish.

It's a beautiful looking hole, running down towards the green almost cut out of the trees (hence the name) and it is flanked on the left and behind with a number of different species. It never fails to impress whatever the weather or season and for a moment you can take your mind off the the potential tale of glory or woe and enjoy the scenery.

It's definitely not for the faint hearted and you need to pick a club off the tee you can trust even if that means losing distance and then using your shot to make a score. If you do pull the big stick out, choose your line wisely, stick to your plan and trust the swing. If you can make a par here, you'll definitely pick up at least one shot against the field. Treat the hole with respect but don't let it intimidate.