Hole 1 (Par 4)
394
339
297
347
The opening hole is a dogleg right played from the elevated tee. An aggressive player has the opportunity to aim over the right hand corner of the dogleg and with a well hit drive shortening the hole and leaving a short iron approach. The clever choice is to aim at the fairway bunkers on the left hand corner of the dog leg whilst hoping for a good wood for the next shot. The green is angled with a deep bunker on the left and run off area to the right. There is a tier within the green that is steeper than it appears and affects the speed of the putt.
Hole 2 (Par 5)
509
468
433
476
Tee shots should favour the left side of the fairway to carry over the lake which is longer than at first sight. A fairway bunker on the left acts as a good target from the tee and will be a good line for most golfers. Well placed fairway cross bunkers require good club selection for your second shot. What may not be at first apparent is the sizable approach area to the front left of the green. This area be is rewarding as it offers a reasonable straightforward chip shot. The bunkers and slopes to the front and right hand sides of the green are potentially threatening.
Hole 3 (Par 4)
379
336
281
348
The third hole drops steeply down from the tee to the fairway. Bunkering is placed on both sides of the hole which requires accuracy with the drive. Playing for the left hand bunker is recommended which will allow for the natural contours of the hole to move your ball back towards the fairway and an ideal position to play your second shot. The green is protected by water on all three sides. For the more cautious there is room to the left of the green which is shaped to gather the ball to the centre and back positions.
Hole 4 (Par 4)
358
306
283
327
The fourth hole fairway is uphill between a series of sculptured bunkers and a solitary bunker guards the front edge of the green. Club selection to this green is possibly the toughest as the hole slopes severely uphill and the bottom of the pin is often hidden by the lip of the front deep bunker. Remember that too strong a shot may leave a fast downhill chip or a putt from the back of the green.
Hole 5 (Par 3)
170
137
108
155
A downhill par 3 with a large contoured green guarded by bunkers. Play for the front right side of the green using one club less for the change in elevation. The green was very carefully constructed by Mr. Nicklaus and spending hours in creating one of the most testing putting surfaces on the course. This is not a long par 3 by modern standards, however it is still one that most golfers gladly accept their par.
Hole 6 (Par 5)
535
488
419
508
The tee shot at the par-5 sixth hole should be aimed to the right avoiding the three bunkers framing the left hand side of the hole to leave a long uphill second. Lay up well short of the massive green side approach bunker to allow a full third into the narrow green. Similar to the previous hole the uphill approach shot is made difficult by the inability to see all of the putting surface. Careful club selection is demanded which will then be helped by the slope of the actual putting surface. The easiest approach is to the right to avoid one of the deepest bunkers on the course which guards the approach.
Hole 7 (Par 3)
214
144
116
165
The green is the largest at 600 square metres but it is one of the most demanding shots to successfully hit and stay as the run-offs on either side of the hole will whisk the ball down and away leaving a tricky recovery. The subtle slopes and the raised back tier make this green treacherous to read for both line and pace.
Hole 8 (Par 5)
497
430
379
449
A good drive favouring the left side of the fairway will roll forward thus making the green reachable in two for the stronger players. Large greenside bunker protecting the slightly elevated green can cause problems. The slope towards the green from the right hand side can help the player in finding the green surface. This will allow approach shots to avoid the difficult front bunker. As this green is one of the longest on the course the pin position is to be considered in the approach shot.
Hole 9 (Par 3)
154
125
99
139
An accurate club selection is absolutely vital to successfully negotiate this short par 3 with the renowned Monte Rei bunkers forming a defensive circle around the green. Different pin positions change the character of this hole and club selection needs attention. A conservative approach is recommended with the pin on the front right of back left as a slight miss can cause problems.
Hole 10 (Par 4)
414
358
314
391
The tenth hole moves left and then right and finally upwards towards a long narrow green. The tee shot should be played towards the bunker on the left side of the dogleg. Any shots falling to the right will find themselves in a ravine running along the length of the hole. A pin situated in the back right of the green may require an additional two clubs to reach against a front left pin location. A sensible lay-up short and left of the green will present the reward of a reasonably straight pitch shot and thus avoiding the large front bunker and ravine to the right.
Hole 11 (Par 3)
206
163
91
182
The par 3 eleventh hole first plays over a valley of umbrella pine trees leaving bunkers sitting short left and right of the green. Generous water lies to the far left catching any wayward or pulled shots. There is a seemingly generous approach area located to the right of the putting surface. However, the green slopes downhill from this side and achieving a par is tougher than it may appear. Use plenty of club and be aggressive.
Hole 12 (Par 4)
344
302
252
319
The twelfth hole presents the long hitters the chance to attack this green from the tee when conditions are favourable. Think about playing a fairway wood or long iron from the tee then leaving a medium iron approach. The approach is one of the most demanding iron shots on the course and requires accuracy. The green is at its deepest an the middle and offers the wisest target when the pin is tucked to the left or right. Putting is also made difficult with lots of subtle slopes.
Hole 13 (Par 4)
404
348
257
361
This hole descends to the stunning backdrop of a natural lake. The tee drive should be played to a generous landing area short of the two fairway bunkers. This then offers a good shot into this green. Precision and feel will be required to safely land on this narrow green. This is the only green on the course without an obvious bail-out option. It is one of the most peaceful and tranquil locations to be found on a golf course. Is easiest to hit the green from the right side, however, when missed it leaves a tough recovery shot.
Hole 14 (Par 3)
181
136
100
155
The fourteenth hole is challenging and also most attractive. Water borders the left hand side of the fairway and the green whilst a carefully placed bunker catches shots long and right. The approach shot should be for the generous front third of the green but it can also create a treacherously difficult chip across the slopes and towards the water. A long green that needs careful club selection and consider any wind factor that can swirl about in the valley.
Hole 15 (Par 4)
378
335
295
348
The tee shot should be aimed towards the fairway bunker on the left. The natural terrain undulate along the left side of the hole grabbing any wayward tee shots. The stream running along the right hand side of the fairway will penalize a pushed drive. The wind which can gust between the foothills makes club selection for the second shot difficult to determine but very important to get right. There is lots of space to the left and a flat chip from there to the green. This is the best play for any handicap golfer as this hole is rated as the toughest on the course.
Hole 16 (Par 5)
525
478
389
496
The uphill sixteenth hole fairway has numerous bunkers framing the left side of the hole and approach to the green. A good tee shot aimed over the right hand fairway bunker will be best line so avoiding the narrow stream running across this fairway. The huge bunkers guarding the green offers a safety option by playing to the front and right of the green and then an uphill wedge to the very generous green.
Hole 17 (Par 4)
404
358
321
379
The seventeenth dogleg left right generally plays into any prevailing southern breeze. A strong tee shot will leave a long iron approach into this raised green guarded by bunkers front left and right. The deep bunkers that guard the green requires a skilled shot onto a severely sloping surface. The better player should choose the back of the green as it is a wider and larger target than it appears from the fairway. The strategic golfer may choose the approach shot to the green is easiest from the apron area.
Hole 18 (Par 5)
501
462
411
485
The round is closed with the a par-5 eighteenth hole. With a strong drive from the tee a player will have every chance of reaching the green in two and making birdie. Aim to land on the left hand side of the fairway to take advantage of the natural contours which will send the ball forward. The left of the green area is generous enough and gathers the ball off the banks. It also offers the best angle to attack the pin for the approach shot. Remember that the water is still in play so do not spoil your card on the last hole.
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