A Hackers Guide To Royal Ascot - Hole 18 (Hungry Hill)

At last, we've reached the final hole. Hopefully you've kept the ball in play and the scorecard is looking good. Beware, as this par 5 has the capability of leaving a dent in an otherwise decent score and there is danger at either end of the hole.

The club website describes the task in hand as:

"Decision time on Hungry Hill. A sweeping par 5 that doglegs right up the hill to a green that is located directly in front of the clubhouse. The scratch player may consider flying the first ditch at 265 yards with his drive. This will leave a 230 yard uphill shot to the green that is located just over a small lake. The sensible play is an opening shot short of the ditch, ensuring you do not block yourself behind the oaks on the left. Keep the second up the left side of the fairway to give a view of green and less water to carry with your third. A par will send you away happy to the 19th hole".

The final drive of the day. The ideal line is on the small bushy tree in the distance

The golfer is faced with an intimidating tee shot. There is a hazard directly in front of the tee box in the form of an environmental area although this shouldn't come into play. However there is an out of bounds that runs down the right side of the hole from the environmental area to the ditch that crosses the fairway. This ditch can come into play, especially when the hole plays down wind and the fairway is running and so care is advised, especially in the summer. The out of bounds should be sufficiently wide but it will catch anything badly sliced or blocked. Care needs to be taken to avoid going too far left as there is an imposing oak on the left side of the fairway by the ditch which will impede progress and require the second shot to be played underneath or shaped around it.

The second shot needs to be aimed towards the left edge of the fairway. This takes the lake that encroaches the right side of the green out of play. Do not stray too far left as the rough is heavy and penal and makes controlling the approach much harder. A decent second shot should leave an approach of between eighty and one hundred and twenty yards or so. There are a line of bunkers down the left side which can catch the second shot, particularly in the summer and there is a bunker lurking behind the green for a shot that is hit too hard. If you have to take on the lake make sure you have enough club.

The view back down the fairway from behind the green

This hole is tricky as the wind direction can be variable. It is predominantly into the wind although in the summer months it can turn around and play with the breeze. The green itself is large and accommodating and relatively flat. The ball will tend to gravitate towards the water and so you need to look at the line carefully and take this into account. A par is not to be sniffed at. The big hitters can take the ditch on off the tee and gamble with their second to set up a potential eagle or birdie chance but for most, play it as a three shotter and use your short game and putter to make a birdie. It is a good finishing hole, playing slightly longer than its yardage as it wanders up a gentle slope back towards the sanctuary of the clubhouse.

Avoid the bunkers left - it's a scary shot with the pond lurking just beyond the green

It is another hole that has caused me many problems, usually straight right out of bounds off the tee or a snap hook into the long rough on the left of the fairway. However I've been known to be in prime position off the tee and then hit a horror shot left or right into deep, deep rough. The right hand side has a plantation of young trees and the rough is ankle deep at best and deeper in places so this is the last place you want to go. Left isn't much better but there is a chance to find the ball and recover. Even when I've hit two decent shots, the lake is always there and plants the seed of doubt in your mind. I've been known to find a watery grave when a well executed shot would have yielded a rewarding par. The bunkers left of the green are also a dangerous place to be as the lake is only just over the other side and the green and fringe slopes back towards the aqua. It takes a steady nerve to splash out with confidence.


On the flip side, hit two good shots to leave a simple approach and there is a real chance to close out with a birdie. The green isn't too tricky and although it slopes a little from back to front it there is nothing that should intimidate. If you haven't got the pace by now you never will. Hit your approach safely on the green, make your par and you can walk off a happy golfer. Hopefully the scorecard will still be intact.

I hope you've enjoyed the tour of the course and that it has whetted your appetite to come along and play. You can be assured of a friendly welcome and a good test of golf at anytime of the year. It is a course where the par 3's will make or break your score and although it does offer birdie chances, there is danger lurking on every hole and each one needs to treated with respect and played on its merits. Come along and enjoy the challenge and tell them Homer sent you.