Elite golf tours

This beautiful par 72 18-hole course was designed by the English golf course architect Frank Pennink and opened in 1976. A numbers of holes were reconstructed by the American architect Robert Trent Jones in 1985 with the idea of improving its playability and appeal to all level of golfers. The course measures 6192 metres and the first nine holes are an open land with pleasant sea views while the back nine wind through umbrella pines and gently uphill to the superbly appointed clubhouse. The greens are relatively small which compels a need for great accuracy of play and the true test starts as early as the second, a par 4 where the tee shots needs to be to the right to avoid a solitary pine which stands close to the centre of the fairway. The green on the par 5 3rd is guarded by a small lake and again the ideal shot here is down the right flank of the fairway to allow a secon lay-up shot short of the water. a lake also comes into play on the second shot on the 309 metre 4th and it provides another hazard on the par 3 5th where it snakes round in front of the green. A long tee shot to a rising fairway is needed on the 7th to make the par 4 possible. Careful play is also required to achieve a par 3 on the 12th where a cluster of pine trees poses the biggest problem. A drive from the elevated tee has to be played with enough height and distance to find the green in one stroke. On the par 5 17th there is a sharp dogleg some 180 metres from the tee with the second shot played blind over a quickly rising fairway. The 18th, a par 4, calls for a tee shot right of centre and the green here is well protected by bunkers.