The second nine built at Saugeen was Sunset, constructed in 1956 on the west side of the club's property. The Sunset is the longest of our three nines at 3,323 yards and is the more open nine, although it still has some demanding holes that make for an exciting test of your skills.
Watch out for the straightaway par 5, Sunset 2, playing 516 yards from the back and 445 from the front. "A small creek crosses the fairway here but doesn't come into play," says Myatt. "You can't reach it with your tee shot and most players can easily carry it on the second shot. The real trouble is willow that stands about 40 yards short of the green. You have to go through the opening between them or you have to carry them."
The 4th hole is a par-4 playing at about 433 yards from the back and 348 from the front. "You're hitting your tee shot into the prevailing wind," says Myatt. "There are fairway bunkers on both sides at about 200 yards. You'll also find a pond short and right of the green, about 15 to 20 yards off to the right that could come into play. You'll also want to watch out for the mound behind the green."
The 1st hole of Sunset boasts one of the most difficult greens on the Sunset nine. This green is much larger than it looks, so make sure to add a club if the pin is located at the back. This is the largest green on the nine, and contains the most significant down hill slope that can easily bring your ball to rest off of the front of the green for those putting down the slippery slope.
Sunset #1: This difficult starting hole requires a long tee shot and a precise second shot into a green protected by two greenside bunkers. Make sure you add a club to two clubs as this green is elevated and generally plays into the wind. The green runs back towards the fairway so don’t expect too much release on your approach.
Sunset #2: This par five allows for a big tee shot, as the fairway is quite wide, narrowing as you approach the stream that crosses at the 150 yard mark. Try to avoid the right side of the fairway on both your tee shot and approach shot as two substantial trees guard the right side. A short iron into the green will result in a shot at birdie.
Sunset #3: This dog-leg left par four requires a draw for a right handed golfer off the tee. This will leave a mid iron into the green. Be aware of the trees to the right of the fairway as a tee shot to the right side will cause your second shot to be blocked off from the green. Keep your approach shot in the middle of the green as the right bunker likes to collect balls.
Sunset #4: This par four is the toughest on this nine. Playing into the wind, a tee shot over or through gap between the fairway bunkers is a feat in its own. This green is guarded by two greenside bunkers and a pond on the right, so be sure to keep your approach to the left side of the green. A middle to back of the green approach is the safe play.
Sunset #5: This first par three of this nine requires a full carry over a pond from an elevated tee box. The green slopes from left to right, and be aware of the westerly wind that will generally push your ball from right to left. With a short iron in your hand on the tee, this hole is certainly one that can be a birdie on the score card.
Sunset #6: From the back tee, this par four is challenging. A tee shot that carries the pond below into a narrowing fairway is required. Your approach will require carry over a greenside bunker to any pin located center of the green and to the left. With a pin front right, be aggressive and go for your birdie. The green does slope slightly from left to right.
Sunset #7: Newly renovated in the fall of 2009, this challenging and lengthy par three now has mounding up the left side, wrapping around the green, with a new fairway target bunker 20 yards from the putting surface. A new waste area has also been created to the right side for those errant shots off the tee. Playing into the wind, add a club for this shot.
Sunset #8: This short par five was also renovated in 2009, with a new bunker complex running up the right side of the fairway. Avoid these by keeping your tee shot to the left. If you are a short ball hitter, utilize a fairway wood off the tee, as this is a three shot hole for most. With a ditch in front of the green, make sure you hit a lofted iron into this green.
Sunset #8: This short par five was also renovated in 2009, with a new bunker complex running up the right side of the fairway.Avoid these by keeping your tee shot to the left.If you are a short ball hitter, utilize a fairway wood off the tee, as this is a three shot hole for most.With a ditch in front of the green, make sure you hit a lofted iron into this green.
Sunset #9: The finishing hole for this nine was also renovated in 2009. New trees and a bunker complex now await your tee shot on the right side of the fairway. With more room available on the left side, hit a long iron or hybrid off the tee, leaving you with a short iron into the green. Add a club as this shot is straight up hill into a fairly flat green.
Click through the slideshow to learn strategies for each hole provided to you from our golf professional.
