Hole 1 – Par 4, 434 Yards
The Water course begins with a mid-range par four that doglegs to the right. A well struck, straight tee shot will dissect awaiting bunkers to the left and right of the fairway. This will leave you with a direct approach into a well-bunkered green. Going right at any point on this hole is not an option, as a large waterway covers this area and is set to capture any stray shots. A very challenging hole to start the round.
Hole 2 – Par 5, 574 Yards
The second plays straight away from the tee, with a small stream along the left side of the hole. The green sits on a small dune, about four metres above the landing area, and is protected by a series of four bunkers positioned diagonally across the centreline of the hole and by a pond to the left of the green. The green is reachable in two by long hitters, but the tendency will be to play cautiously to the right, setting up an interesting short approach.
Hole 3 – Par 4, 450 Yards
The third hole bends slightly to the left between dunes and then rises five metres to a green perched precipitously along a narrow dune and oriented from left to right. The tee shot calls for a gentle draw, while the best approach shot will be a slight fade. That combination will make this a demanding par for all golfers.
Hole 4 – Par 4, 351 Yards
The shortest par four on the front nine offers golfers a true risk-reward situation. The green, which nestles temptingly between two dunes, can be approached directly from the tee across the large pond. The more judicious tee shot, however, will be a lay-up to the right, leaving a challenging short iron approach. This is a birdie opportunity that will leave many golfers wondering how they made bogey or worse.
Hole 5 – Par 3, 184 Yards
The first par three on the course is over water to a green that sits diagonally from left to right. Careful club selection is the key here, as there is potentially a three-club difference between a front-left pin and a back-right pin.
Hole 6 – Par 4, 488 Yards
The tees on this very long straight-away par 4 seem to float in two pools of water. The water cascades between the pools and then spills to a stream that runs along the left side of the fairway and finally crosses to the right in front of the green. This is a very demanding hole requiring both length and accuracy if par is to be achieved.
Hole 7 – Par 5, 611 Yards
This long par five plays across water from the elevated tees and then turns gently to the left, with water on the left side of the hole, to a green that sits on a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides. The second shot is crucial here, as it plays between a pair of bunkers about 98 yards short of the green. It is much wiser to lay up short of those bunkers than risk the very difficult 80-90 yard bunker shot.
Hole 8 – Par 3, 213 Yards
This long par three has no water, but it plays to a tightly bunkered green that is best approached with a right-to-left tee shot. The green lies between two mounds that extend into the putting surface, somewhat affecting putting, especially for the rear pin placements.
Hole 9 – Par 4, 474 Yards
The front nine closes with a long par four that bends to the right. The tee shot is well bunkered to enhance the dogleg effect, making the ideal flight path a left-to-right shot. The green is heavily bunkered on the right side as well, while the left side of the green provides a bit of bailout that will offer challenging chip shots for those trying to save par.
Hole 10 – Par 4, 422 Yards
The back nine begins with a medium-length hole, with water on the left side of the landing area and through the green. The hole bends slightly to the left and encourages a slight draw off the tee. It is a straightforward hole, and par should be relatively easy to obtain.
Hole 11 – Par 5, 630 Yards
The longest hole on the course plays gently uphill and bends softly to the left. Golfers must cross water in front of the tee, negotiate the water on the left side of the landing area, and then cross water again just in front of the green. This is a true three-shot hole to a tightly guarded green, oriented strongly from left to right. Care must be taken on the second shot in order to get the approach shot tight to the pin.
Hole 12 – Par 3, 241 Yards
The 12th is the longest par three on the course and will be a fairway metal for most golfers. There is water just in front of the tees, but the real challenge is the uphill approach to the green and the two-tiered green itself. Although the green is larger than most on the course, due to the hole’s length, it is well bunkered on both sides. This will be a difficult par.
Hole 13 – Par 4, 445 Yards
This longish straight par four plays from a slightly elevated tee to a fairway that is very tightly constricted past the landing area. The approach shot plays along a gentle hogback and must carry a small deception bunker directly in front of the green. The green itself runs gently away from the golfer, making this hole a mental test as much as a physical challenge.
Hole 14 – Par 4, 461 Yards
The 14th hole plays a bit downhill from the tee and bends gently to the left as it rises about three metres into the green. The tee shot is well bunkered and the long green sits between two dunes. The long second shot will need to be carefully judged for distance, as the green is easily three clubs different from front to back. Chipping areas left and behind the green will add challenge to errant approach shots.
Hole 15 – Par 4, 367 Yards
The shortest par four on the course is a sister hole of the fourth, offering golfers a distinct risk-reward opportunity. It will play very differently from the fourth hole, however, as it is almost the opposite direction to the wind and poses an even tougher tee shot decision. There are at least two potential layup areas to tempt the golfer, in addition to the big gamble of going directly over water to the green. The green is very tightly guarded by water on the left side, while the lay-up is closely bunkered on the right side.
Hole 16 – Par 5, 586 Yards
This is another risk-reward par five that plays a bit shorter than its length. The elevated tee shot plays across water to the landing area and gives daring golfers a very real go-for-it option. As the fairway doglegs to the right, the water crosses in front of the green. The green sits right to left and presents an inviting target, but it is protected closely by bunkers as well as water and is enclosed by a strong mound behind. A good birdie opportunity, but be careful.
Hole 17 – Par 3, 182 Yards
The shortest hole on the course plays from an elevated tee over water to a peninsula green fronted by a rock wall on three sides. A single bunker guards the back of the green, which rises to a backing mound. Only a shot that is well planned and executed will work here, although the green size is very fair for the length of the shot.
Hole 18 – Par 4, 472 Yards
The home hole is a demanding par four with water on the left side at the landing area; the water then crosses the fairway to guard the right side of the green. The best tee shot will challenge the water to open up the best angle into the left-to-right-oriented green. Golfers will have to avoid being distracted by the clubhouse behind the green if they want to finish with a par on this difficult hole.