Hole 7 - 520 Yards - Par 5 - Stroke Index 1 - Leading Pros Play this to 4.9
The downfall of many. A sharp dog-leg left, the out of bounds wall appears innocuous down the left side of the tee shot. A long draw carries the turn of the brick wall, setting up an opportunity to hit for glory in two. All it involves is a carry of just under 200 yards over the grass eating Carp filled lake. Out of Bounds menaces just yards left of the long narrow green. The so called safer route around the water body still involves placing your second shot well away from a creek feeding the lake. The short pitch from this angle is now to a green hardly 20 feet wide, made smaller by the stern slope into a bunker beyond. Most players will wish they had practiced their short game more.
Hole 8 - 225 Yards - Par 3 - Stroke Index 3 - Leading Pros Play this to 3.7
The most demanding, challenging, nerve wrecking hole at Gokarna Forest Golf Club. Few leave unscathed. The green is dominated by a seemingly magnetic, huge, deep, wood-faced bunker that appears to sit right in the center. This novel C-shaped green is unabashedly contoured to attract everything towards its 10 foot abyss. There is no safety anywhere as creeks seem to crisscross every avenue. This is the type of hole where you cannot think too much. Keep your head down, hit the ball, and suffer the consequences. Consider a par on this hole a collectors item to be treasured.
Hole 9 - 362 Yard - Par 4 - Stroke Index 9 - Leading Pros Play this to 4.1
Though appearing to be a modest in length, it often plays much harder. Out of breath after reaching the well elevated tee, a golfer needs a reasonably long drive to reach the ideal, flat landing area. A push to the right? Expect to add 50 yards to your next shot. The green can been driven by hitting high, long and left over the tall mass of tress protecting the 1st tee. Catch those tress though, and be ready to drown your sorrows at the half way house. Any tee shot under 250 yards from the back tee will leave you with severely uphill second, to a blind double green contoured from left to right. Stay well away from the central bunker in front. Hit the wrong part of the putting surface and be satisfied with a 3 putt on this huge three level green shared with the 18th hole.
