A long and demanding opening hole sets the tone for this demanding golf course.

With thick trees on the left and the OB of the range right, it makes sense to play straight down the middle of the fairway, although straying to the left does provide a better and more open line into the green.

The green is open on the left and will accept longer shots although mounds and rolls short and left will push off weaker approaches to deep lows on the left of the green.

Bunkers on the right protect the more difficult pin positions on that side of the green.

The green surface is subtlety contoured and putting should be relatively straightforward.

Hole 2 is another tight driving hole. A cluster of bunkers on the left and a bunker on the right and long define the driving line. Longer hitters may flirt with carrying the left fairway bunkers though the right bunker will keep them honest. Shorter hitting players would be advised to flirt with the left side bunkers in order to end up on the right side of the fairway with a good line into the green.

From the right side of the fairway the green is relatively open and receptive to most shots.

The green contouring is relatively uncomplicated and if on the green surface you will have a good chance of making your birdie.

Hole 3, the first and longer of the par 5’s continues with the tight driving theme of the first couple of holes. Thanks to the many large trees, there is not much room to play left or right on this hole, although the shaping of the fairway will favour a long power fade hit left as this shot will receive a bit of a power kick on and to the right.

The new lake is the main feature on this hole and defines the right side of the hole all the way to the green. The best line to the green is from the right side next to the lake so lay-up as close to the lake as you dare. Longer hitters may be tempted to go for the green in two despite the strong protection around the green. However only a perfectly struck shot will land and stick on the green.

Players bailing out too far to the left with their second or third shot face triple jeopardy: not only is the green alignment and shaping against you from that position, but the lake, bunkers and overhanging tree all come into play.

A solid par 5.

It’s all or nothing at this beautiful little par 3. Water front and right will intimidate many. The green slopes from back to front, so for a good chance at birdie you really need to keep your shot below the hole, which can be difficult with all that water surrounding the green.

Bail out is on the left, but recovery can be difficult with a downhill lie and bunker to negotiate.

This hole is all in the mind – for mentally strong golfers it’s an excellent birdie chance but for the weak of heart or mind, it may be the start of their mid-round downfall.

The first of the short par 4’s, the fifth is a real birdie chance for those good with a wedge. The uphill but relatively easy tee shot is complicated by 2 deep fairway bunkers on the right that protect the ideal line to the green. Players bailing out and hitting too far left with their tee shot will not only face a substantially longer approach shot, they will also have to carry the large and forbidding greenside bunker on the left.

The green pad is elevated and well protected on the front left and rear right by more deep bunkers. Although the green looks like a tiny target from the fairway, once on the green surface you will see it is more generous than first thought. The 5^th is an excellent birdie chance.

A relatively short and reachable par 5, the 6^th is nevertheless challenging for all but the straightest drivers. A clutch of deep bunkers guard the left side of the narrow uphill fairway and these need to be negotiated to have a chance at reaching the green surface in two.

From the top of the hill, it is obvious that the key to this hole is the lay-up – and most sensible players would be strongly advised to lay-up to full wedge distance. The canal, bunkers and some aggressive green contouring protect the green from all but the most accurate of long shots. Long hitters should take note of the deep bunker behind the green, which will capture shots hit through the green.

Of interest at the green is the severe fall off on the left of the green, which will face many of those longer hitters who have bailed out to the “safer” left side.

The stronger par 3 on this nine, the seventh requires an accurate mid-long iron to an elevated green. The green has depth and contour so club selection is important. The flanking bunkers are deep and will extract a hefty punishment. Par is a good score on this hole.

One of the easier par 4’s on the course and a last chance to grab a birdie before the tough closing hole. The fairway appears relatively wide off the tee and there are no fairway bunkers to complicate the drive.

The best driving line is down the left side, since this line will both shorten the approach as well as improve the angle into the green.

 The green is quite large and the approach shot is uphill, so take enough club to get the ball to the hole. Putting is relatively straightforward and a fair share of long putts will be drained here.

After the relatively generous 8^th, the 9^th provides a stern challenge of both driving and shot making ability. The tee shot is very tight and guarded on the left by a brace of fairway bunkers.

Stray too far right, however, and you are likely to be guided even further off line by the fairway shaping. Best to keep your tee shot either short of the bunkering with a fairway wood, or if confident of driving ability, nuzzle your tee shot as close to the bunkering as you dare.

 The second shot is long and into a raised green that is tightly guarded by bunkering right and long. The left side of the green is closely mown to allow for various chipping styles from the “safe” left side.

A moderate length-opening hole, the par 4 10^th appropriately tees off straight at the twin towers of KLCC, highlighting the unique location of RSGC.

The fairway is bunkered on the right with a series of bunkers set into ridges starting out at about 242 yards from the back tee and choking down the fairway at about 303 yards.

There is plenty of room for shorter hitters but longer hitters will find the demand on their accuracy increases the longer they hit the ball. Longer hitters playing strategically may thus wish to play an iron or fairway wood off the tee for position.

The best line off the tee is centre to left of centre as this provides the best line into the green. Too far left and tree canopies will start to cramp shot options.  The green is small, angled right to left (front to back) and favours an approach from the centre to left side of the fairway near the tree line.

Hole 11 is an interesting par 5. There is a cluster of bunkers in this location guarding the inside of the dogleg from greedy players. The bunkers start at about 237 yards and finish at about 270 yards so longer hitters may still be tempted to carry them. Doing so has its risks however as an overcooked fade may well end up under trees.

 The best play for most will be well away from the bunkers – playing away from the bunkers in this manner increases the length of the hole however and may remove any chance of getting home in 2.

 A series of bunkers down the left side, a bunker on the right and a large tree define the strategies for the second shot. The best shot is to play left carrying the bunker complex there that provides the best line into the green which is protected by the large rain tree. More conservative and shorter hitters can play right away from bunkers, however to do so brings into play both the short fairway bunker and the tree which will then need to be negotiated in some fashion.

Long, straight and tough describe the par 4 12^th Hole.

The best shot off the tee is down the centre of the tight looking fairway. This will keep players away from the fairway bunkers on the left (at 242 – 264 yards) and also provide a better line into the green. Too far right however and the target trees at the end of the fairway start to come into play and limit shot options.

The green is angled right to left and will favour drawn approaches.

The mound on the right of the green complicates recovery for golfers who have bailed out too conservatively as they will have to come over this mound to the green.

A medium length par 4, the 13^th looks like an attractive driving hole after the tight 12^th. There are no fairway bunkers on this hole and the best play is down the right side that not only takes yards off the hole but will also set up the best angle into the green. 

The green is bunkered left front and long right – the bunker long right is a nasty little one that will both protect a back right position as well as capture off line shots that run off the right side of the green.

The green has a subtle long ridge that basically bisects it into right and left portions requiring very accurate play to the correct side. The back bunker and right side fall off combine to protect the flat tournament pin position at the rear of the green.

A long par 3, the green can be approached with a running drawn shot from the right side of the green, however such a shot will need to flirt with a bunker about 22 yards short of the putting surface.

Running shots will also need to be kept on line as any shot a little to the right will run-off into the bunker and leave players with a difficult long bunker shot. Players can also approach the pin directly, but will need to carry all the way to the putting surface.

The green falls strongly back to front and right to left. A bunker that covers the entire front left side of the green protects  pin positions to the rear of the green. Fire away!

Hole 15 is one of the longest and toughest par 5’s in KL.

 The existing old style mounding on the left of the hole has been retained and defines the tee shot. Aggressive players seeking to cut distance off the hole as well as obtain an advantage of angle will

try to carry this mounding. A carry of about 253 yards from the back is required to carry the mounding with the right fairway bunkers extending to about 286 yards off the tee.

The second shot is dominated by the lake and players need to avoid it at all costs. Bunkers on the right side at about 407 yards (from tee) and then a series from 473 to 517 yards that choke down the fairway provide additional challenge. The first fairway bunkers generally only provide challenge for shorter hitters and those who have screwed up their tee shot, however the second series will really challenge the better player.

The 15th green is an elevated medium sized green. The green is set up in a butterfly fashion to favour shots from either the right or left side of the fairway, the preferred angle (either near the lake or fairway bunkers) will depend upon the pin position of the day.

A short par 4, the lake on the left of the hole is the dominant feature on the tee shot at Hole 16.

The ideal play is long and left, as close to the lake as possible as this greatly improves the approach into the small contoured green.

The bunkered mound on the right of the green hides much of the green from players approaching the green from the right side of the fairway. The right side of the green will therefore only be visible to golfers who have flirted with the water on their tee shot.

 The green is vexingly shaped and golfers with long approaches would be advised to hit to the left, more accommodating side.

One of the signature holes of the course the Volcano 17^th would be an unusual hole on most courses, though  it seems to fit in well at RSGC. 

 Although only a short  iron hole, the 17^th has potential to be a card wrecker, given the elevation of the small green surrounded by bunkers

A great driving hole, the dogleg 18^th plays from elevated tees to a generous fairway.

The lake while in view off the tee is not really in play for decent golfers. Trees hug the left side of the fairway and to hit into them is to basically ruin any chance of par on the hole. There is significant amount of room to the right and golfers who are not so straight or long would be advised to aim centre to centre right of the fairway – although doing so does not provide you with the best view or shot into the green. 

The green is large and quite well contoured, particularly on the front right where the green rolls off severely. Due to the length of the hole the green can be approached by a running right to left draw. However care will need to be taken both with the short frontal bunker and also with the slope on the front right of the green; a running shot will need to be well judged in order to remain on the green surface and not end up in a tough position on the right side of the green.