THE FRONT NINE
NO. 1 433 YARDS, PAR 4
This is a great starting hole as there likely won’t be a lot of birdies, especially with the addition of two strategically placed sand traps. The pros will try to keep their drives down the lefthand side to give them a better shot at the green, but the recent addition of a fairway bunker on the left-hand side might make them think twice. The green is huge and has numerous subtle rolls. And if the pin is tucked to the back-right it will be guarded by a bunker, making the hole even tougher. Add to that a thirdgreen-side bunker on the frontleft and trouble lurks.
NO. 2 435 YARDS, PAR 4
The pros will go from a tough par 4 to a not-so-tough par 4. This straight hole will give up numerous birdies, but the fairway is heavily treed, so swaying to the right or left will cause trouble. The green is sloped back to front and certain pin positions will add some challenge to this hole.
NO. 3 382 YARDS, PAR 4
This straight hole is tougher than it looks and with the right side of the fairway bordering ‘out of bounds’ the pros will have to be careful off the tee. The green is what makes this hole tough as it slopes fairly severely to the right and is protected on the left by a huge Garry oak and on the right by a deep bunker. If the pin is on the right, birdies won’t come easily.
NO. 4 194 YARDS, PAR 3
The long hitters will be able to hit mid-irons here and birdies are possible. But the green slopes left to right and the bunker on the left could lead to bogeys.
NO. 5 403 YARDS, PAR 4
A fairly straight hole and the pros won’t have to worry about the fairway bunker on the right because they’re going to be trying to stay left of centre with their drives to keep from having a well-placed Garry oak about 100 yards out get in the way of their approach shots. There will be some birdies here.
NO. 6 460 YARDS, PAR 4
This dog-leg right is, course handicap-wise, the toughest hole on the course. It’s the longest par 4, so mid-irons will be used on second shots. And once the pros get to the green, they will be put to the test because of two distinct humps about 30 feet apart. It’s by far the toughest green on the course, and birdies will be few and far between.
NO. 7 513 YARDS, PAR 5
The longest hole on the course is narrow with long rough and a fairway bunker on the left, so keeping it straight is a must. The pros will likely have a long iron into the green, which has a little valley running across the middle front. The green is also protected by bunkers on the left and right, meaning approach shots must be accurate. It’s not an easy par 5, but most of the pros will make birdie here.
NO 8 331 YARDS, PAR 4
If the wind is up and blowing at their backs, most of the pros will attempt to drive this green. But if it’s not, an easy layup shot will leave a wedge into a green that is heavily guarded by three bunkers. This hole will likely lead the tournament in birdies.
NO. 9 202 YARDS, PAR 3
The new elevated tee box will give the pros a great look at this green, but pin placement will be key. The bunker on the front left seems to gather a lot of golf balls, but it also makes for some great sand shots. And the sloping green makes for several birdie misses.