A straightforward tee shot should set up a good opportunity for a birdie, depending on the accuracy of the 2nd shot. Beware of the hidden pot bunkers sep arating the 1st and 2nd fairways on the left hand side; and the out of bounds to the rear of the green.
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Again a relatively easy par 4, but beware the hidden bunkers to both sides and the rear of the green. Do not make the mistake of being drawn into a false sense of security over this apparently gentle introduction.
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From the tee of this hole it will become apparent what now lies in store for the remainder of the round. A reasonable 2-shot hole, with the drive having to be placed on the plateau to the right of the marker pole overlooking a sunken green. Having negotiated the steeply falling ground, the golfer on looking back from the rear of the green may be under the impression that he has just negotiated a lunar landscape.
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A testing hole even for the scratch golfer, who may try to get home in 2 shots to the plateau green. No assistance is given to the 2nd shot and many dangers await a ball sliding off either side of the green.
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The 1st of 3 short holes. Most golfers will know the reputation of ‘The Postage Stamp’ at Royal Troon. This hole is of similar character, but longer. There is no fairway from tee to green. If the green has to be missed, then doing so on the right hand side and landing in 1 of the 3 bunkers there, will probably give you the best chance of retrieving your par figure.
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A demanding 2-shotter with a dogleg to the left. The natural contours of the fairway will kick your ball left towards the green if you have managed to choose the accurate line from the tee and avoided the pot bunker lurking in wait for the inaccurate shot.
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From the tee, every piece of danger is visible and it is for the thinking golfer to determine how to play the hole. Too far right and a lost ball or an impossible 2nd shot will be the result. Too far left and a lost ball is again the likely outcome; or at the very least, a blind 2nd shot over or around a gorse covered dune. Depending on wind direction, even the scratch golfer may be happy to settle for a bogey 5 here.
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The feature of this hole is a semi-blind 2nd shot to the green. An area of ‘dead’ ground lies in front of it forming a gully, which will prohibit a weak 2nd shot running up. In effect the 2nd shot must be struck firmly right into the green.
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A short par 4 that necessitates an accurate 2nd shot, to a long green with danger at either side.
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Another difficult 2-shot hole that doglegs to the left. The marker pole at the top of the hill is the direct line to the green; however, any error to the left of it can be very costly. The ideal line from the tee is slightly to the right of the marker, as this opens up the green to the 2nd shot.
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A blind tee shot onto a plateau fairway with the preferred line from the tee being slightly to the left of the marker pole. Another hole with dead ground to the front; any short 2nd shot will inevitably find itself in the gully below and to the right hand side of the green. It is also fatal to be over strong, as the possibility of pitching and putting from the rear of this green is almost impossible due to the slope of the green.
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A straight forward iron shot, but again beware the pot bunkers at either side of the green.
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Another difficult par 4, with out of bounds on the right hand side from tee to green. The normal club golfer will attempt to place his tee shot just short of the hill in the vicinity of the marker pole, leaving a 2nd shot to the sunken green. Those who feel they can carry the hill from the tee would be well advised to view the hole from the 11th tee, as this indicates the dangers that lie in wait should they fail to completely carry the hill.
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A par 5, with out of bounds again coming into play down the right hand side, especially for the 2nd and 3rd shots. Anything short of the green will have a tendency to run from left to right and maybe even off the fairway. Be mindful of the burn that runs green high to its right.
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From the ‘Royal Gold’ tee deep in the gorse, this is one of the finest holes on the course – especially in match play. Depending on the placement of the tee shot, the 2nd shot can be a perfect example of ‘death or glory,’ with a burn and a heavily protected elevated green to negotiate.
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With no fairway from tee to green, a similar short hole to the 5th. All the difficulty is there to be seen, apart from the 2 pot bunkers, 1 at each side of the green.
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A slight dogleg to the left is the feature of this hole. Although a relatively simple looking hole, it has broken the heart of many a golfer coming to the 2nd last with a good score in the offing. Any ball going left is as good as lost and being slightly right of centre is the ideal way to open up the green to the 2nd shot.
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From the tee, the danger is there for all to see. An accurate drive will set up a simple 2nd shot to a well guarded green, but don’t relax just yet as there is also out of bounds around the car park and clubhouse.
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