THE BACK NINE
NO. 10 (Regular No.13) 288 YARDS, PAR 4
This will be the most exciting hole of the tournament as the short par 4 forces the player to make a decision either to lay up with a long iron, or drive the green. But the latter becomes difficult thanks to a large lake guarding the frontright of the green and three well-placed bunkers on the sides and back of the green. Some pros will make eagles with the right pin placement, some birdies and some a lot worse thanks to the water.
NO. 11 (Regular No. 14) 415 YARDS, PAR 4
After coming off birdies and even eagles on the previous hole, the pros step up to perhaps the most difficult hole on the course. There’s a narrow fairway and danger everywhere. The fairway is bordered by a lake on the right, trees on both sides and dense brush. The pros will need to be down the right-centre of the fairway to allow for the best approach angle because the green is protected by a bunker on the front left, and yet another large Garry oak on the right. Bogeys or worse are possible here.
NO. 12 (Regular No. 15) 476 YARDS, PAR 5
The pros should be able to work the ball around the dogleg right here and make the green in two. But this is one of Uplands smallest greens and it’s surrounded by danger, making for a difficult approach. There are mounds, bunkers, trees and even the lake from the previous hole surrounding this tough green, so a birdie won’t come easy.
NO. 13 (Regular No. 16) 335 YARDS, PAR 4
It’s drivable, but you had better be straight because the fairway is narrow and lined with trees. Most of the pros will lay up and hit a wedge in because this green slopes away from the players and can be a challenge holding approach shots. A good short game gets you a birdie here.
NO. 14 (Regular No. 17) 185 YARDS, PAR 3
The pros will attack the pin on this, the shortest hole — and most scenic as in the distance can be viewed the Olympic Mountain range and Juan de Fuca Strait — on the course. Pin placement will be key here, as the green slopes drastically left to right.
NO. 15 (Regular No. 18) 406 YARDS, PAR 4
As the regular 18th hole, this is a good finishing hole. It’s a tough par 4 thanks to an uphill tee shot into a fairway that is guarded on the right by out-of-bounds and trees along the left. When the pros near the green, they’ll find it protected by mounds at the front and a large bunker at the back. They’ll likely be happy with a par here.
NO. 16 (Regular No. 10) 361 YARDS, PAR 4
The pros, if they’re accurate, will have no problem with this slight dog-leg right. They’ll be hitting down the left-centre of the fairway to give them the best angle to a green that is long and narrow and protected by bunkers on either side. If the pin is back-right, even the pros will be challenged.
NO. 17 (Regular No. 11) 171 YARDS, PAR 3
It’s all in the pin position here. The green is so long it can result in three different club selections. And with a huge bunker protecting the front left of the green, accuracy is at a premium. Wind can also play havoc with club selection. Par is a good score here.
NO. 18 (Regular No. 12) 430 YARDS, PAR 4
A classic finishing hole as it typifies what Uplands is all about. It’s long, narrow, lined with trees and the rough will be thick and lush come tournament time. The pros will be hitting midirons into a green that slopes toward them but is full of little mounds. Birdie putts won’t be easy, so pars are more likely.