White

   SR

   132

   CR = Course Rating     SR = Slope Rating

A short opening hole, the par 4 1^st hole doglegs slightly to the left around some large fairway bunkers. A bunker long right defines the right edge of the fairway for longer hitters.

The best line off the tee is centre to just left of centre which will provide the best angle into the green. However given the length of the hole and the relatively lofted approach club, anywhere on the fairway should enable a golfer to get close with his second.

 The green is raised at the front left and falls gently to the rear right of the green surface – this makes it difficult getting close to front right pin positions, especially when approaching from the right of the hole

After the trials of the first green, the second hole may come as some relief. The tee shot is relatively open with plenty of room to miss. The best approach is from the right side of the fairway, but shots played too far right may find the approach to the green blocked by trees.

A more aggressive line is down the left side of the hole; however the approach then needs to be played over the greenside bunker on the left. The green surface is relatively benign and should yield plenty of birdies

The main feature on the drive at the 3rd is the large bunker on the right side of the  fairway. Longer hitters may like to try and carry this bunker with their driver which will leave them with a very good shot at being on the green in 2. But most will play short or to the left of this bunker.

The monsoon drain comes into play on the second shot and golfers must make a decision whether to carry the drain or lay up short. Carrying the drain brings with it the advantage of a better angle and more open approach into the green, however  it also carries the risk of both the drain and of the many bunkers lying in wait short  left of the green. For sensible players or shorter hitters, a better approach will be to lay-up well short of the canal leaving a full wedge shot for better control and  backspin.

A challenging medium length par 3, play on the 4^th Hole is heavily influenced by the trees along the boundary which crowd the tee shot, especially for those who draw the ball excessively.

The green is a medium sized target, pushed up and with a predominant slope of left to right, it will tend to favour players who can move the ball right to left. Deep and formidable bunkers surround the green although there is an opening provided front right for weaker players to run their shots on.

The par 5 5^th plays back towards Jalan Tun Razak with the skyscrapers of KL

providing a dramatic backdrop.  Fairway bunkers on the right in the landing area and near the green provide strategic choice and will challenge longer hitters.

The raised green is sited very close to the drainage canal on the left and that must be avoided at all costs if a large score is to be avoided. In addition a deep bunker at the rear of the green awaits overeager approaches.

Although relatively short for a par 5, the hole presents plenty of challenges for golfers of all abilities. Long straight hitters will of course be rewarded with plenty of opportunities for birdies.

The 6^th green is quite heavily bunkered, predominantly in front left, and is open on  the right, similar to hole 4. The green is an unusual shape with “wings” to the left and back right.

This shape, combined with the shaping of the green means that depending upon the flag location either a fade or draw will be the preferred shot on the day.

The dogleg right par 4 7^th hole is the toughest par 4 on this  nine, with  length, trees and the monsoon drain all combining to make things difficult for the golfer.  Huge mahogany trees on the inside of the dogleg have a big affect on the tee shot and longer hitters will probably continue to select 3 wood to avoid these trees.

The preferred line into the green is from the centre to right of the fairway as the

green is aligned from right to left. The green is set very close to the monsoon drain  but missing right is no picnic due to the strong contour of the green.

A short and attractive looking par 4, Hole 8 favours accuracy over brute length.

A central fairway bunker short of the green complicates the approach club selection by making the green appear closer than it is although this bunker will rarely come into play except for the very longest of hitters who may have to chip over it.

The green is one of the smallest on the course and like most of the greens it is a push up design, fairly simple in shape and contour. Due to the shortness of the hole small, deep pot bunkers surround it. The green is designed for a wedge or short iron approach and size appropriately.

Off the tee the main strategic interest is the large trees (and OB) on the left side of the fairway. Basically these trees set up the hole and define where the ball should be hit. Smarter golfers may decide that it is better to lay back a little and avoid these trees than hit driver and risk being blocked out or worse. However, if you can hit past these trees, there is no obstruction to the green and of course you are closer to the green.

Shorter hitters will also need to be accurate as there is a narrow margin for error between the trees on the left and right – too close to either and some shot-making will be required into the green.

 The green has been designed to favour a left to right shot from the centre to left side of the fairway. Bunkering to the right of the green is well defined and deep. There is a slight ridge from the high point on the left of the green that will complicate approaches into the green. There is also a small ridge running diagonally from front left to back right which makes back pin positions particularly difficult to get to.

A short opening hole to ease you into what is the longest nine of the course. The green peeks out at you from the left side of the fairway and tempts you to take that line. In fact, the best driving line is centre to centre left as this gives you a good line into the narrow green, especially when the pin is set at the back.

Too far left and long though and the greenside bunker will make pitches difficult. Most golfers would be advised to take a shorter club off the tee to leave themselves a full wedge into the green. A potential birdie hole on a nine with

not too many of them!!

Hole 11 favours golfers who drive the ball long and straight. The best line to take and what is otherwise a fairly featureless fairway is down the left avoiding the large hump in the fairway and giving you the ideal line into the green. Its an all or nothing heroic carry with a mid-iron into the green so those lacking heart or height would be advised to play out to the right and hope their pitching skills are up to snuff. A difficult par 4 and a sign of things to come.

Hole 12 is an attractive mid-length par 3. Open front and right, the hole is well bunkered left so avoid this direction. Right side is fine, however there is a hollow and deep pot bunker in this area that will make recovery to a back right pin position especially difficult. A solid golf hole where par is a good score.

A relatively short par 5, this hole provides all golfers with the opportunity to make an early birdie. Long hitters may well find themselves gaining a turbo boost off the crest of the hill that will leave them a long iron in to the green. Numerous large bunkers, a large rain tree and small green makes going for the green in 2 very difficult and perhaps a smart miss to the right may be a better alternative as long of the green leaves a most vexing pitch back. In addition, a miss hit or ball hit into the rain tree will end up short of the green in the long cowgrass – from here an up and down is almost impossible.

Sensible golfers and those with a higher handicap will no doubt have played their second shot out to the right of the green and fairway bunkers where a generous fairway awaits. From here, the approach is much more straightforward.

Short but no pushover, the 13^th hole rewards intelligent play over brute power.

From the tee, the line for the drive is just to the left of the beautiful rain tree - just to the right of the 2 fairway bunkers is perfect. From here it’s a little pitch to a green that is open front and right. The green is long and segmented so distance control with the short irons is important. Miss right and recovery is very difficult

The driving line is as close as you dare to the line of carry bunkers on the left side. Longer hitter should be aware of the monsoon drain crossing the fairway, especially if they are playing forward and may need to club down appropriately.

The second shot up and over the hill is relatively straightforward although you should veer right for a better line into the green. Again, longer hitters should dial back and leave themselves a full wedge into the green.

The green is undulating and surrounded with deep bunkers – accuracy and distance control is a must.

The first of three, extremely tough closing holes that might be called the “Amen Corner” of RSGC. If your score is struggling when you get to 16 you are in trouble and if you are ahead in your match, no lead is sufficient.

Hole 16 is a very tough and long dogleg right par 4. A lone bunker guards the inside of the dogleg – the key is to drive as close to this bunker as you dare as every yard closer is a yard saved from your approach shot.

The medium sized green is open front and right and will accept a running shot depending on green conditions. A lone bunker front left guards a tournament pin position in this location.

The longest par 3 at RSGC the 17^th calls for a long and straight long iron or wood to a long and undulating green. A forest of large tembusu trees crowd the tee shot creating a chute through which the shot must be played. Water lurks on the right so if you are going to be short, left is the place to be – although depending on the pin position chipping from this location can be difficult.

A long tough closing hole, the 18th asks for excellence in every facet of your game. The drive needs to be long and slightly left to allow for the natural fall of the fairway towards the lake. From the ideal spot near to the fairway bunkers a long iron or fairway wood is required to the large undulating green. Golfers should use the green contours to get close to tight pin positions, especially front right as trying to fly the ball all the way to the hole will be difficult. The green is open on the left so players trying for a bogey should have no problems.

 An easy bogey but a difficult par, just like the 2 preceding holes!