HOLE BY HOLE GUIDE
HOLE 1
BACK TEES DISTANCE : 567 YDS
CLUB TEES DISTANCE : 540 YDS
FORWARD TEES DISTANCE : 515 YDS
LADIES TEES DISTANCE : 497 YDS
PAR : 5
SI : 3
WATER :
The Water shouldn't come into play here as there's a fair distance for you to go offline and a few dunes before you're wet.
OUT OF BOUNDS :
Over the top of the green should you completely mad and take a 6 iron from 20 yards and blaze it up on top of the dunes. Otherwise don't worry too much. If you go well offline, get another ball out anyway, the grass is long in the heavy rough.
BUNKERS :
9 so there's plenty here. There's one right in the centre of the fairway right in the driving range then there's a tricky one in the rough if you stray slightly long and right on the tee shot. Then there's none for a little while until you pop up towards the green where you find pot bunkers a plenty. If you miss the green on the left you will find 5 nasty sand traps waiting with only 2 of them being literally greenside, while on the right, 1 bunker protects the layup area and another will catch stray green attempts.
TREES :
None, it's a links so no trees here.
TEE SHOT :
Steady on there and realise it's not sight seeing you've come here for. If you are not awestruck by the sight of the first hole with the green in the natural amphitheatre then you will probably be able to find a nice spot down the centre of the fairway. For most mortals it will be hard not to lose a bit of concentration so the main thing is to keep this as straight as possible. Even on a relatively placid day you will probably get a few gusty breezes so take that into account or you could end up playing your second shot from nearby Mullach. It's not the most fiersome of opening shots but weather will dictate the difficulty here.
2nd SHOT :
When you look at the distance here it wouldn't fill you with hope in having a crack at the green in 2 unless you've put your Ryder Cup bag away for the next 2 years but you need to keep the ball in the short grass because anything offline here is perilous especially as the hole tightens up from half way down so patience is key as there will be easier chances later on so keep it safe.
APPROACH SHOT :
Because of the layout of the land here it's one of the most amazing greens that you can approach. It's quite a tricky shot to try and get it close from far out as anything but an accurate shot will see you in serious trouble with heavy rough shod dunes surrounding the green and on the flat spots you have some serious pot bunkers cut from the ground to add to your troubles.
GREEN OVERVIEW :
It's all uphill from the front to the back but it does slope over to the right with a distinctive ridge going across the middle in a crescent type shape.
OVERALL TIPS :
As you will find out with most holes on this course, keeping it out of the hairy stuff and taking account of the wind are the main keys to this course. Don't get too greedy because if you do you'll be taught a serious lesson. It's one of those holes that if you come out with a decent score it will get the buzz going and steer you to a good round. The sand around here will cost you like it should do so play it safe and once you get to the green jump for joy if you scrape a par. Anything better, sign up for European Tour qualifying school next year.