Steps from the new clubhouse, the first is a delightful opening par 5 where the ability to score is strong. A gentle, tempting opener that should still be respected. The tee shot is framed by this set of deep pot bunkers which tempt the golfer to take the aggressive line leading to position A and ability to go for the green in two. In doing so the golfer must place any approach shots carefully as this green is wide, but shallow from front to back.

Most people might notice the second, an aggressive short par 4 with bunkering that litters in the tight landing zone for most tee balls. The fairway cants rather hard from right to left, with the entire right side lined with fescue and OB further right, the angled tee shot requiring a fade for right handed golfers and a draw for lefties is deceivingly tough. This tricky, but scoreable start proves a rather interesting pacing through the front nine - the first through fourth offer more dynamic risk/reward opportunities to score and will tempt golfers to play aggressively, while the fifth through seventh leaves most hanging on for dear life, with the eighth and ninth a fair mix of both.

Razzling and dazzling players the set of par 3’s at Heathlands is strong. Starting with the fifth hole - a long one shotter that players must delicately place shots into with a deep run off area left and a set of flashed bunkers along the right side of the green complex. This green is rather narrow and angled slightly away from the line of play.

If there was ever a controversial hole at Heathlands, the ninth would be it. The tee shot is framed by large dunes along the left and a meandering ditch up the right. Often playing into the wind, players most often are required to lay up, but that’s rather tricky with a large dune that protrudes from the left side. Forcing players to play closer to the pond that sits near the green. The approach is tricky as well with this particular green perched into a knoll with a steep embankment along the front-right side, a fall off on the front-left, and surrounding bunkers. Like most golf holes at good courses, things that seem mostly straightforward often have trouble lurking around every corner.

In 2025, Osprey Valley unveiled a brand new clubhouse and changed the routing at Heathlands as a result. This allowed the club to restore the 10th (previous 14th) as the courses opening hole on the second nine as it was during the courses formative years. The 10th is a long and straight par 5 that is highlighted by a section of cross bunkers which are situated perfectly in the landing zone for all lay up shots. The diagonally stretch bunkers lean from left-to-right and ask the question as to which blind shot you prefer. Players can play over the short side (left) on their second shot but run the risk of putting it in the bunker, or play short, or further down the long side (right) leaving the blind shot on the approach. One thing the Heathlands does so well in the public sphere is deliver high quality strategic golf questions and the 10th is a great example of that.

The 11th is a good example of a a drive and pitch par 4. Players have plenty of options off the tee and with the green open in the front, you can happily run the ball into this one. Yet, there is a neat knoll that sits on the front-right side of this green. Like most holes at Heathlands, its short grass area is tightly mown to accentuate the contours and will feed errant shots far down and away from the putting surface.

One of the most difficult holes to navigate is the 13th - a stout dogleg right par 4 playing 510 yards from the championship tee. Players choosing to cut off as much of the corner as possible tempt fate with the long fescue grasses that cover the knolls and grassy areas right of the fairway. The long approach shot plays into a green which is again perched above its surrounds with deep rolling short grass run offs up the left and right sides. The green is split into three sections/quadrants which places emphasis on accuracy from long distance to score well. A rewarding hole that is highlighted by its delightful contours.

A vast majority of the holes at Heathlands play along the same North-South corridor. With only a small handful of holes that deviate to play East-West. One of those examples is the par 3 17th which is the finest one shotter on the entire property. At 178 yards, the hole likely requires a mid-iron approach to a green that sits perpendicular to the playing line and is perched up above the surrounding fairway areas. This embankment wraps around the green, propelling tee shots that attempt to run the ball and are unsuccessful. A central lions mouth style bunker is situated front and centre adding further complexity to this approach and recovery shots that must play over or around it. A fine example of a challenging par 3 with plenty of shot options.