MARAN Hills Golf Club is located halfway between Temerloh and Kuantan and using the old trunk road it is about 53 km from Temerloh. The club is managed by the Majlis Perbandaran Maran so the maintenance budget is quite small but we can still enjoy playing golf here.
The green fees for visitors is RM80 on weekends and RM70 on weekdays and there are no caddies. The course measures 6,022 metres from the blue tee and 5,793 metres from the white tee, it is not a long course but the fairways are small and rain-forest on each side of the fairway.
HOLE 1 is 384 metres from the white tee with jungle on both side of fairway, bunkers on the left. My second shot was about 165 metres and I used a 5 wood to send it to the apron. It is better to miss it right of green and not left of green. I three putted for a double bogey.
HOLE 2 is a short par 5 dogleg left, the tee shot should be placed to the left and short of the pond. The second shot will be over the pond and just a short chip to the green for a birdie or par.
HOLE 3 is a short par 3 about 110 metre over a ravine and club selection is important, it is better to over club rather than short of the green. I made par here.
HOLE 4 is another short par 5 measuring just 415 metres. The tee shot need to carry 150 metres of water and then an uphill approach to the green. There are two large trees on the right of the fairway and a short chip will put you three on the green. An easy par here.
HOLE 5 is a par 4 measuring 354 metres. Its a tricky par 4 with hazards all the way on the left. My second shot was about 140 metres to the green and landed on the apron. I made a bogey here due to poor putting.
HOLE 6 is a long par 4 about 364 metres away. My second shot landed 30 metres from the green and made a bogey here. On the right of the fairway and green is all water.
HOLE 7 is another short par 3 downhill at 115 metres and I used a pitching wedge pin high to about 25 feet from the hole and made par.
HOLE 8 is a 360 metres par 4 and second shot is important because it is an island green. Depending on your tee shot, you have to make a choice whether to go for the green or lay up. I went for the green using a 3 wood and landed at the apron carrying 165 metres and made par.
HOLE 9 is a par 4 dogleg left about 356 metres uphill. Taking a Tiger line on the left must avoid OB and a large bunker.My second shot was probably 160 metres away and fell short of the green. I made bogey here.
HOLE 10 is a par 5 about 466 metres with downhill tee shot and pond on the right about 220 metres from the tee box. A good second shot will leave you less that 100 metres to the green and I made par here.
HOLE 11 is a tricky par 4 measuring 371 metres dogleg right, for me the second shot is a lay up to avoid the hazards and pond and needing another 60 metres to reach the green. This green is tricky and sloped from left to right and I three putted for double bogey.
HOLE 12 is a short par 4 measuring just 290 metres with OB on the right and jungle on the left. We cannot see much from the tee box and have to aim at the center of the fairway. Usually our second shot is about 60-70 metres to the green. Once on the green it is easy to two putt for par.
HOLE 13 is a straight forward par 3 measuring 141 metres and it is guarded by bunkers. A hybrid for me and 7 iron for others should reach the green and make par.
HOLE 14 is a par 4 sharp dogleg to the left measuring just 290 metres to a small green. A tee shot on the fairway will give you less than 100 metres to the uphill green.
HOLE 15 is a long par 4 measuring 379 metres away and very straight from tee box to the green. There is a green-side bunker short of the green. A bogey is a decent score here.
HOLE 16 is a long par 5 measuring 462 metres and dogleg left. The second shot must have enough carry to see the green on the left, for me a pitching wedge for my third shot to the green and an easy two putt for par.
HOLE 17 is a long par 3 measuring 178 metres to the green guarded by bunkers. For most of us senior citizens the faithful driver is in use here and I made it on the green, missed my birdie putt and made par
HOLE 18 is a short uphill par 4 measuring 333 metres and it is best to aim at the lamp post or the club house. A good tee shot will leave you about 140 metres to the uphill green and take one club longer for the approach especially if it is the blue flag. I reached the left apron with by second shot but a poor chip left me 20 feet to the pin and 2 putted for bogey.
HOLE 19 is a 'makan place' and there are plenty to choose from within the Maran town.
Happy golfing guys...
