After an hour or so drive we arrive at Ross Bridge the newest course on the RTJ Golf Trail and depending on what teeing option you choose can measure a staggering 8,191-yards, the second teeing option is 7,446-yards, yes you get the idea but don’t let your heart sink to much because there are three other teeing options going down to 5,312 from the Teal tees.
As I step onto the 1st the good news is the fairways very wide so it's a real grip it and rip it course. For the sake of the video I am playing a lot of holes from the back tees on this tour so you can see the changes in elevation from the tees to the fairways and as I’m standing on the black tee with my playing partners on the whites there is a 109-yard difference in distance. I certainly won’t be playing my second shot from where it lands, as I do not carry a bazooka in my bag – and I am not even sure that will be long enough and I will probably need a SAM!!
Like the fairway on the first the green is enormous and 3-4 putting is definitely on the cards if you don’t hit the right section from your 3-shot, which is played across water that sits in a valley below the fairway and green.
Water doesn't come into play on the 2nd that is played from an elevated tee, but it does come into play on the par 4, 3rd hole which is all risk and reward from the tee. Your tee shot is played across a fairly wide river to the fairway on the other side and the further back you play the safer you are, the more river you cut off the shorter the second shot you will be left with. As I stand on the tee it is visually stunning and strategically a brilliant piece of design work. That same river comes into play on the par 3, 4th hole where it’s all carry to make the wide green.
The 7th hole has a blind tee shot to a rolling downhill fairway, but if you get a long drive away you could be looking at hitting only a mid iron into this par 5 hole giving you a shot at eagle.
Water comes back into play on the final two holes of the front nine with water protecting the left side of the green on the 8th and running along the entire left hand side of the fairway on the 9th with the green sitting on what looks like a peninsula from the tee as the hole gently doglegs left.
There is a 177-yard difference between the black and white tees and its all risk and reward on the tee shot from the back with how much water you want to try and carry!
From the tee on the par 5, 13th you can’t see the green until you hit the top part of the hill and if you get a good drive away hopefully you can hit the hill and pick up some much needed yardage for your second shot, but its when you hit the top of the hill and see the green below you that you start to see what a beautiful hole this is with the green sitting between two sculptured white sanded bunkers, with the river running to your right – which is not in play – it really is a beautiful hole.
The par 3, 14th hole is played to a semi island green with water short and left. No matter what tees you choose to play from on the 15th you need to go and take a look from the tips. The fairway sits some 200ft below you with three sculptured white-sanded bunkers in the fairway and a lake to carry which then runs along the left of the fairway and the green, its another wonderful design and the vistas from the tee are breath-taking.
The 18th is a fitting end to a wonderful course there is only a 130-yard difference in distance between the black and white tees that again takes you back across the lake. The design of the hole that doglegs right means it’s another risk and reward hole and depending on pin position and how brave/stupid you are will dictate how much water you are going to take on.
It's yet another great course on the RTJ Golf Trail and if you choose your teeing options wisely you will have a lot of fun and enjoyment. Choose to go from the tips and you will walk off thinking you have just been 18 rounds with Mike Tyson the choice is all yours!
Top 17th and 18th Green. Above: 8th green, waterfall at the 9th green and par 3, 14th hole
Sunset over the 15th fairway with the bunkering and bridge from the 17th to the 18th