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The 18-hole golf course at The Fajara Club - hole-by-hole fly-by

My Magazine 2023/01
6 min
The Fajara Club, then called Bathurst Club, was established in 1954 in Banjul. In 1971 it was relocated to Fajara and renamed The Fajara Club. Today it offers many recreational services for its members. Still, the main one is golf. You can enjoy golfing at their 18-hole golf course. The course, once called Fajara Golf Course, is now named Sir Dawda Jawara Golf Course.

Being a member of the club allows you and your family to enjoy all sporting activities like golf, badminton, squash, table pool etc.

However, if you are not a registered member of the club, you can still play golf at the 18-hole golf course for 1000 GMD and an extra fee for the caddy and brown sweeper. You can also hire a golf bag and balls for an additional charge.

The golf course is a minute away from the main building of the club. It sits quietly in the heart of nature, with trees, birds, monkeys and the Kotu stream, which flows by the golfing area. A picturesque view of the Atlantic Ocean makes it a special place for nature lovers.

The hole-by-hole fly-by gives you a rough understanding of each hole and its position on the golf course.

 

Hole No 1: The Crater

A par 4 Hole, 356 yards, has a wide fairway bordered by unforgiving penalty areas on both sides, Stroke index 12 (the 12th hole in terms of average difficulty, is quite easy if you stay on the fairway. The brown is guarded by two palm trees that are quite famous for holding lofted approach shots.

 

 Hole No 2: Hell Fire Corner

The 2nd most difficult hole (Stroke Index 2) is a 340-yard par 4, which doglegs to the right. The large neem on the left is the ideal place to be under, and the large tree on the right edge of the dogleg makes the approach require a skill. A tall palm watches over the left of the brown, with overhanding neems on the right.

Hole No 3: The Road Hole

Our first Par 5, Stroke index 4, almost 500 yards, starts with an imposing neem tree that intimidates you. Past the neem tree is a long wide fairway bordered by a treacherous rough area on the left and tall fir trees on the right. Over a small hill, two bunkers guard this fairly large brown.

 

Hole No 4: The Fajara

A short par 4, 311 yards, required a well-lofted drive to clear trees just ahead. Two bunkers guard the brown of this hole that has a Stroke index of 8.

 

Hole No 5: Sand dunes

A short 146-yard par 3, Among the easier holes with a stroke index of 16, has a sand dune with troublesome palms just short of the fairway, slopes towards the left towards the brown and two bunkers on the left of the brown.

 

 

Hole No 6: Westward Ho

Aptly named, A beautiful view from this elevated 170-yard par 3, looking down into the Atlantic ocean. Stroke indexed 14, not as easy as it has irrecoverable rough areas all around the brown, accentuated by a strong breeze coming in from the Atlantic.

 

Hole No 7: South Col

This 274-yard par 4 is not at all as easy as its 18 Stroke Index suggests. Thick impossible rough bush border the narrow approach past tall palm trees and a large fairway bunker that requires a straight long drive to take you uphill to the brown – definitely not a walk in the park.

 

Hole No 8: West slopes

A 225 yard Par 3 is quite challenging if you slice to the right. Tall palms are renowned for holding well-lofted balls. Two brown side bunkers, one on the left and the other just over the hole, and a very tall palm tree guard the brown. The stroke index is 6.

 

Hole No 9: North Col

This 152 yard Par 3 needs to be accurate – John Baldwin's pond sits midway on the right of the fairway, with impossible rough penalty areas on the right. Virtually surrounded by palm trees, this brown slopes heavily to the right, making it a very challenging putt on this 10th Stroke indexed hole.

 

Hole No 10: Bakotu

This 11 Stroke Indexed, 330-yard par 4, has a very narrow fairway bordered on the right by an out-of-bounds area. Short drives find a marshy pathway which could make play difficult. Your approach over the hill finds this sloping brown that borders the Kotu stream – so be careful if your approach is long.

 

Hole No 11: Kotu Stream

Our first Par 3 water hole – indexed 13, a little footbridge and muddy pathway takes you to the tee box. 147 yards is not long but a difficult rough, and the water of the stream, with children quite often jumping off the footbridge into the stream, makes this an intimidating hole. The brown slopes towards you, and putting is not very easy either.

 

Hole No 12: Neems

The 478 yard Par 5 stroke indexed 15 has a long narrow approach that needs to be straight to get to the fairway. Impossible bush on the right and tall palms on the left – the fairway opens out to take you to a short neem tree on the left and two palm trees on the right of this fairway. On the left of your approach to the brown is impossible to recover rough. Neem trees guard the far end of this fairly large brown.

 

 

Hole No 13: The Water Hole

Stroke Indexed 1, our toughest hole, is a 385 yard Par 4, which starts with a narrow approach to the fairway, guarded by dense bush with palm trees. The fairway widens out to the edge of the mainland – guarded by palm trees that will stop any ball not well lofted. Hole 13 is situated on an island with a large brown. A narrow footbridge takes you across to this island – surrounded by the Kotu stream – along with its plethora of flora and fauna that makes this golf course special for nature lovers.

 

Hole No 14: Oil Palms

Stroke indexed 3 is indeed a tough hole – palms on the right prevent slightly errant approaches to the fairway and too left, and you will have to deal with bush and rough areas – on this 312 yard Par 4, which doglegs sharply to the left. Bust on the left and palms on the right, and a bunker protect this rather difficult hole for errant golfers. A far brown side bunker seals your fate if you overshoot.

 

 

Hole No 15: D’Arcys Dilemma

This short 132 yard Par 3, from right under the tall palm trees, seems quite easy if you hit the ball straight. Guarded by two brown side bunkers and a rough pathway over the brown makes this 17 Stroke Indexed hole not as easy as its stroke index suggests.

 

Hole No 16: Everglades

An intimidating Over the mangroves marshy area tee shot on this 371 yard Par 4 makes this a favourite place to lose a ball. An out-of-bounds on the right and difficult terrain on the left welcome you to the fairway and an approach to the brown. Palm trees on the right and a bunker on the left protect this Stroke Index 5 Hole.

 

Hole No 17: Fig Leaves

Par 4, stroke index number 9 – a narrow pathway approach to the fairway, blocked by a tall central palm tree, takes you to this 365-yard fairway past a huge fig tree on the left. A narrowing approach to the brown that doglegs to the left makes this a not-so-easy approach to a brown guarded by a bunker on the left and palm trees on the right.

 

Hole No 18: Deach & Dorius

 A 487 yard Par 5, with a Stroke Index of seven, bordered by Out of Bounds fencing on the right and the large Fig tree on the left past palm trees overlooking the ladies' tee, doglegs to the right past a large mango tree on the right. The brown is guarded by two approach bunkers and large mango trees overlooking the brown on the far side.

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