Trevor Immelman

Par 5 | Stroke 9

Tournament Length:586 metres
Daily Play Length:531 metres

A wide first fairway greets the golfer. The tees are elevated, giving a glorious long view with a magnificent backdrop. The green can be reached with two mighty blows, but bunkers await the fade. A St Andrews-like swale left of the green will call for deft approach play. Immelman appreciated the elevated nature of the first tee which makes the starting hole welcoming. Also, the generous width of the fairway entices the player to take on the challenge of reaching the green in two, and hopefully resulting in an opening birdie. He wanted the second landing area to be clearly visible for the more conservative lay-up shot. It was suggested that the swale to the left of the green be substantially lower than the green, thus gathering anything but the purest shot and leaving the golfer with the choice between the pitch shot, the bump and run or “Texas wedge”.

Thomas Bjorn

Par 4 | Stroke 3

Tournament Length:485 metres
Daily Play Length:418 metres

The undulating fairway is turned left by directional bunkers down the right side. The exacting second shot is played to a deep and well defended green. Courage is required to find the putting surface which is defended by a lake which wraps almost all around the green, creating an island effect. To be home in two on the second would be an achievement! Bjorn was keen to create an early test in the round. He emphasised that the greenside water hazard be visible so that a successful shot would be a moment to be treasured.

Bernhard Langer

Par 3 | Stroke 11

Tournament Length:209 metres
Daily Play Length:143 metres

The green is set up to receive the incoming ball on the shortest hole on the course. A pin position at the back left will provide a testing target. Two clusters of natural bush frame the putting surface. Langer’s input focused on the set-up of the green and emphasised precision, a hallmark of his own game, which should find the reward of a birdie putt. A false front will gather any shot which is less than perfectly judged and leave the player an interesting up and down.

Michael Campbell 

Par 4 | Stroke 7

Tournament Length:474 metres
Daily Play Length:421 metres

The longest par 4 on the course plays to the furthermost point of the layout before making the turn towards home. The landing area is relatively narrow and the ambitious player should avoid a large bunker to the left. The carry from the championship tee is 310 metres so mere mortals should show prudence!
Campbell felt that the hole bearing his name should be a strong one calling for two perfect shots to reach the green. His input was to ensure that only a full-blooded blow would clear the bunker, providing deep pleasure to those happy few who can take on this challenge successfully.

Mike Weir 

Par 3 | Stroke 13

Tournament Length:215 metres
Daily Play Length:186 metres

Depending on wind direction and wind strength, a variety of tees offers the player an intriguing challenge. The bunkers fronting the green are clearly visible so that long rather than short play will pay dividends. Weir focused his input on the variety of length and the angle of the tee positions in order to ensure that all levels of golfers would get joy from a well played hole. Chipping areas left and long add a further dimension to this par 3 and highlight Weir’s fondness for interesting short game challenges.

Camilo Villegas

Par 4 | Stroke 17

Tournament Length:400 metres
Daily Play Length:311 metres

The subtle balance of risk and reward that characterises the entire course is especially apparent in this hole. A wide fairway greets the amateur line. For the brave, their tee shot will need to carry some 260 metres over the target bunker, which boasts a punishing face reminiscent of links golf at its most testing. Villegas showed design flair in wanting golfers to make a bold start from the tee. They should decide whether to take on the carry bunker and set up an easier approach to the flag. This could hopefully secure the bonus of a birdie. Anything short of pure with the tee shot and a bogey or worse could be the penalty.

Padraig Harrington

Par 4 | Stroke 4

Tournament Length:451 metres
Daily Play Length:357 metres

The start of the back nine plays along a dense cluster of trees to the left of the fairway. The longer the tee shot, the tighter the target, thus calling for accuracy and restraint. The longer and straighter player will gain position by clearing the bunkers and face a testing shot to a green located in an indigenous wetland. Harrington was tempted by “Hogan’s Alley” at Carnoustie to set up a shorter pitch to the green for an opening birdie to the back nine. A finger of fairway on the tiger line tricks the brave into playing down “Padraig’s Alley”! The more cautious line will leave a longer and more exacting approach with wetlands awaiting the errant play.

Raphael Jacquelin

Par 5 | Stroke 12

Tournament Length:568 metres
Daily Play Length:471 metres

A picturesque hole playing gently uphill with the Hanglip Mountain as a backdrop. Depending on the wind direction, the putting surface could be reached by the longer players in two shots. The tees are located in a natural wetland area. A double dogleg through a cluster of bunkers defines the fairway. Jacquelin wanted this hole to be reachable in two, so the hole was slightly shortened for tournament play. That would encourage the player to seek a birdie with two pure shots. He introduced a turning bunker on the right-hand side to improve the visual orientation of the hole.

Luke Donald

Par 4 | Stroke 2

Tournament Length:456 metres
Daily Play Length:371 metres

An exacting, slightly uphill tee shot is required on this hole, which plays through the natural vegetation. Due to the prevailing wind which is from left to right on this hole, the green is canted to welcome the shot from the well defined fairway.

Robert Allenby

Par 4 | Stroke 10

Tournament Length:480 metres
Daily Play Length:315 metres

The sight of the ball descending through the air towards the vast plain will be memorable. The landing area is clearly defined by large bunkers. Your eyes could fool you in these undulations! The backs of the slopes conceal the yardage from the golfer’s perspective and foreshorten the shot. Players should trust the distance indicators more than the eye.

Sergio Garcia

Par 4 | Stroke 14

Tournament Length:463 metres
Daily Play Length:363 metres

“Risk and Reward” is the theme of this slightly downhill hole. A well-mounded fairway encourages the safe option but leaves a longer and more testing shot to the green. The taller player will be tempted to take on the carry over the left side bunkers to give a better position from which to attack the narrow green over a prominent tree. A bale-out zone is provided behind the green from whence a par-saving chip could be played.

KJ Choi

Par 3 | Stroke 18

Tournament Length:195 metres
Daily Play Length:158 metres

This hole with its framing bunkers and dramatic backdrop plays directly towards the spectacular Hanglip Mountain some 400 metres above the plain. It is a relatively short hole but you need precision to get to and hold the shallow green. The ball in flight is invariably etched against the ever-changing reddish hue of the mountain.