1st Hole par 4

A great opening hole measured at 336 metres (Black Tees) is by no means the longest hole on the course, but any wayward shots can result in disaster. From the tee you are faced with bunkers both right and left of the fairway, avoid these at any cost. A shot of about 220 metres should be hit and favour the left side of the fairway, as this will open your second shot with a mid to short iron to a well-bunkered green. Beware of the deep bunker short right of the green. It will take a brave player to shoot at any right hand pin position. A par or bogey is a good way to start your round.

2nd Hole par 5

A straightaway par 5, not the longest measured at 518 metres, which means it may be reached in two shots for some of the longer hitters. From the tee you are faced with O.O.B to the right plus 2 large bunkers both left and right of the fairway, these are positioned around 230 metres from the tee. A conservative second shot should be laid up with a 3 or 4 iron to the left side of the fairway, this will open your approach shot from approximately 120 metres to a large but well bunkered green. The secret to succeeding on this hole is making sure you select enough club from the fairway as the hole plays slightly uphill. A good birdie chance but if you get too greedy a six or seven may result.

3rd Hole par 4

This is a medium length par 4 measured at 377 metres. There is a series of three cross-bunkers you are faced with from the tee. The first decision you need to make is that if you play aggressively you can fly these bunkers (about 220 metre carry) that will leave you with a short iron to the green and a much easier shot. Otherwise a lay up will leave you in excess of 165 meters to a shallow green that runs down hill from front to back. A bunker awaits any shot hit over the green with water beyond that. It is advised to trust your swing and play this hole aggressively.

4th Hole par 3

A shortish par 3, measured at 170 metres but it is all water carry. Do not be intimidated by the water, as the green is quite generous in size. Bunkers await shots that are hit long or left so do not worry about where the flag is located and aim to the centre of the green to allow for a comfortable par.

5th Hole par 4

This is where the course starts to really make you think as positioning the ball is very important. A 372 metre, par 4 that shapes gently from right to left, avoid O.O.B on the right side. A long fairway bunker awaits any tee shot hit left, which makes for a difficult second shot. You should favour the right centre of the fairway, this will leaves you with a mid iron across a valley to a semi-perched green with three bunkers guarding a miss hit approach. The green setting provides a stunning view of the South China Sea.

6th Hole par 4

One of the best par 4’s on the course measuring at only 326 metres, on paper this does not seem to be too difficult. On the tee you are faced with an intimidating 190 metre carry over a deep valley to a narrow fairway. The “cliffs of doom” await anyone who strays right. A bunker is nicely positioned on the left side of the fairway. Leave the driver in the bag and play for position. Take a long iron tee up on the right hand side so that you fire away from trouble. From the fairway you will be faced with a tricky short iron to an angled green. Three bunkers surround this green with a pot bunker at the back right to keep your ball going down the cliff. It will take 4 good shots to walk off with par. A great view of the Hotel and the South China Sea awaits you on this tee.

7th Hole par 4

A very demanding par 3 measured at 215 metres makes it the longest par 3 on the course. The bonus is that there are no bunkers and it is all down hill, which makes it play a little shorter. That is where the good news ends as any shot hit short or right will send you back to your bag for another ball. The safe play is to hit to the left side and hope for a good up and down. Sometimes even the pros have to settle for a 4 on this hole.

8th Hole par 4

A medium length par four measured at 365 metres. This hole doglegs sharply to the right, it plays slightly downhill to a lagoon that guards the entire right hand side of this hole. You have no fairway bunkers to contend with but to hit this fairway will make life a lot easier. Choosing the right club for the approach is crucial, as anything coming up short may find the water or a bunker that is positioned at the front of the green. It is advised to take an extra club from the fairway, as it plays a little longer than it looks.

9th Hole par 4

A long downhill par 4 measured at 378 metres, that swings gently from left to right. There is not a lot of elevation change from the tee but once you reach the dogleg it drops dramatically downhill for about another 7-8 metres. From the tee you need to avoid bunkers both left and right of this fairly forgiving fairway. A second shot from approximately 150 metres will be played to a double green shared with the 18th. Bunkers are positioned left and right of this green to catch any wayward approach shots. Again the South China Sea provides another beautiful backdrop.

10th Hole par 4

This is one of the best holes on the course, measured at 359 metes, and winds gently downhill from right to left. The tee shot is fairly forgiving with bunkers left and right of the fairway, anything hit wide will result in trouble. Ideally a shot favouring the left side will leave you with a shorter club in to this fairly generous sized green that is guarded by 3 bunkers on the left side. These are really saviour bunkers protecting against a pulled approach. There is also a bunker on the right side to collect any shots that have been bailed out away from trouble. As your approach shot from the fairway is downhill be careful that you do not take too much club as anything hit beyond this green will result in a lost ball. A four is always a good score on this hole.

11th Hole par 4

One of the tougher par fours on the course, measured at 402 metres and doglegs from left to right. There are no fairway bunkers to be concerned about which makes for any easier tee shot. You should favour the left side of this fairway, as this will open your approach shot which will leave you approx 150 metres to the green. From the fairway the hole drops dramatically straight down towards the green, which, like the tenth hole, will make club selection difficult. Beware of the very deep bunker short of the green. The water on the right side of this green does not really come into play unless you have hit a really wayward shot. Again it pays to be playing from the fairway that will leave you with a decision to make on which club to select to the green. If possible try to land the ball below the hole on this green as anything above the hole will result in a fast and tricky putt. A par on this hole is something to be proud of.

12th Hole par 5

This is a three shot par 5, measured at 513 metres with a downhill tee shot to a long flat fairway. A stream crosses the fairway approximately 300 metres from the tee, which only comes into play for a small percentage of golfers. Be careful of the position of the tee block as it sets up aiming towards the left side so that it will catch anyone whose concentration is lapsing. There is a fairway bunker that guards the left hand side, while beautiful trees frame the right side of this hole. From the fairway you are then faced with in excess of 250 metres to the green, which makes reaching it in two shots quite unrealistic. The safe play would be to aim to the left hand side of the fairway with a long iron as anything right might find the large bunker, which makes for a difficult third shot. Once you have safely found the fairway for your second shot you will then be faced with a shot of about 100 metres to a green which sits an a slight angle. Three bunkers guard the left side while one sits at the back of the green, but seeing you have a short club in, these bunkers should not come into play. This hole is probably one of your better birdie opportunities on the course.

13th Hole par 4

A medium long par 4 with elevated tees, measured at 404 metres, it certainly plays one of the longest. The hole can be made to play as easy or as hard as the Golf Course Superintendent decides as there are a number of different tee’s to choose from. Huge bunkers await any shots that stray to the right side of this fairway, so on the tee try and favour middle to left of this fairway. There is a stream that guards the whole front section of the green with a bunker that awaits any shots hit left. If you are long on this hole there is a fairway pad back behind the green that gives the golfer a chance for recovery. So it pays to be long rather than short when approaching this hole.

14th Hole par 3

A par 3 measuring 202 metres. From the tee you are faced with a green very generous in size, but is surrounded by a very large and deep bunker, which from the tee gives this hole a very distinctive look. You also have a saltwater marsh that you have to carry so any miss-hit shots may find you reaching for another ball. The prevailing wind is generally off the sea which means you will be hitting into the breeze so make sure you select enough club. Bogey on this hole is not the end of the world.

15th Hole par 5

Playing directly along the beach from the tee all the way to the green. Measured at 502 metres this par 5 will take three good shots to reach. A fairly open tee shot, although this should not be taken for granted, as it is important to find the fairway to allow for an easier second shot. From the fairway you have the option of playing for position with a long iron or trying to attack with a wood. Be careful and avoid the bunkers awaiting any shot straying to the right. Your third shot’s difficulty depends on the hole location, as any left side pin position will make for a tricky approach as a large bunker waits for anything coming up short. Bunkers also sit behind this green so distance control from the fairway is very important. Take the time to enjoy the sights this hole has to offer, with the sea to your left and the hotel in the distance behind the green it makes for some beautiful camera shots.

16th Hole par 3

A tricky par 3, not so long measured at only 156 metres. On paper this hole does nott seem to be too difficult but when played this hole really keeps you thinking. From the tee you are nestled back in amongst some natural rainforest and it is not unusual for some of the local monkeys to come out to pay you a visit. The green is quite long and narrow in shape and is shouldered by bunkers left and right. Like a number of other tees on this course the 16th tee sets up aiming to the left so be wary of where you are aiming and because you are guarded from the breeze on the tee take note of which way the flag is blowing so that you can allow for any wind assistance.

17th Hole par 4

You are now faced with two very demanding finishing holes. The 17th is a tough dog-leg left par 4 measured at 397 metres and will take two great shots to reach this green in regulation. From the tee you are elevated looking down to a narrow landing area. A bunker along the left of the fairway stops your ball finding the large marsh wetland, although finishing in this bunker will leave you with a decision to make as from the bunker you will need to carry the ball uphill all the way to the green. Otherwise if you have a bad lie you may rather pitch the ball back to the fairway. If from the tee you choose to play safe to the right side of the fairway you will be faced with a long shot to the green. From the fairway it’s all up hill to the target, which makes club selection difficult. Anything hit long and left of this green will find trouble. A deep, deep bunker sits at the front of the green catching any shots coming up short. If you make a par on this hole you will be the envy of your playing partners.

18th Hole par 4

You are now at one of the highest points of the golf course overlooking some magical views which sets up for a beautiful scene come sunset. The 18th hole is a par 4 measuring 435 metres and is index 1 on the course, which means it should play the hardest. From the tee you are looking straight down the fairway with cliffs to the left and a large bunker to the right, it makes for a daunting final tee shot. Try not to be intimidated by these distractions and focus on taking dead aim down the fairway. From the fairway you are now faced with a medium to long iron to this double green, which is shared with the 9th hole. There are bunkers left and right of this green awaiting any misdirected approach shots. Again like the 17th if you make a par here it feels like a birdie.