ARANDA
The Aranda Course (Par 36, 3125m – blue tee, 2861m – white tee & 2678m – red tee) was the first 9-hole to be completed in September 1993. The fairways are wide making golf an enjoyable game for many new enthusiasts. Some of the greens are undulating and huge, measuring an average of 700 to 900 square meters.
HOLE-BY-HOLE
Orchid’s road hole; the entire fairway, lined by tall casuarinas hugs the road on the right hand side which is out of bounds. Keep to the centre of the fairway. The large green has bunkers on the left and right sides.
A mid-iron shot from an elevated tee box for this first hole-in-one challenge on the Aranda. Good club selection with an eye on the prevailing wind is needed for this by no means straightforward Par 3. There are sand traps left, right and at the back of the green.
A straight hole where the tee shot is over a water channel to the top of the hill. Most will require a long iron from the near side of the fairway to be on in regulation. The large green slopes from right to left, guarded by two bunkers on the left-hand side.
This is our famous traffic-light hole. This is an up-and-downhill, dogleg left. The need for an all clear signal is easily appreciated as the landing area is a blind from the tee. A decent tee shot with a driver/wood puts the front group at risk. Wait until the green signal lights up before hitting to the right of the fairway for a good approach. The green slopes from back to front with bunkers at the front-left and back of the green and OB further back.
Orchid’s road hole; the entire fairway, lined by tall casuarinas hugs the road on the right hand side which is out of bounds. Keep to the centre of the fairway. The large green has bunkers on the left and right sides.
The green is wider than it is deep. This is not an easy roll-up as bunkers in front and also on the right. With water hazard down the right side of the fairway, you can walk away with the coveted hole-in-one with pride.
This Par 5 begins the return to the clubhouse and is memorable for the view across the Sungei Seletar Reservoir. A double water carry with the reservoir on the right hand side of the fairway. The left side fairway is in play for the longer tee shot. With awter still beckoning and greenside bunker on the left, attack the pin with caution.
The reservoir is ever present on this short hole. Drive to the left and approach the narrow green mindful of bunkers in front and to the left.
The home stretch is a short Par 5 with scoring opportunities. There are two bunkers on the left and right side of the fairway about 50m short of the green. The right side buggy track and the back of the green are OB and the green is flanked by bunkers on both sides.