Hole One - Par 4 348 metres:

Keep your tee shot right of centre to avoid the thick rough on the left and bunkers on the right. A shot from somewhere near the right bunkers will leave you with a short iron into a firm green and a chance to avoid the bunker at the left side of the green.

Hole Two - Par 5 507 metres:

A long par five that is normally played into a prevailing breeze. Two straight shots are required for the chance to reach the green in two, with the bunkers short and left of the green to catch any miss judged approach shots.

Hole Three -Par 4 266 metres:

One of the infamous holes of Australian golf. Norman Von Nida once took a nine there to lose an Australian Open. Wise players usually hit a 3- or 4-iron from the tee to stop the shot straying to the side of this holes narrow fairway. From the top of the hill one has to hit a careful wedge over a grassy mound guarding the green. One, of course, can clear the hill with a driver and sometimes even reaching the front of the green, however, many have discovered over the years an apprehensive shot can wreck a score card.

Hole Four - Par 4 410 metres:

An interesting hole which doglegs to the left. Your tee shot must be placed through a narrow gap of pine trees and over an awesome sand crater. A brave shot over the pines at left can catch hidden bunkers on the left of the fairway. From this bunker it still requires a good 4- or 5-iron to reach the green.

Hole Five - Par 4 420 metres:

The fifth dog-legs right and the tee shot should be left of centre to avoid bunkers encroaching on the fairway. Once again, it requires a mid iron second shot to reach the green surrounded by deep rough.

Hole six - Par 4 420 metres:

The tee shot of the sixth hole requires a slight draw to hold the fairway, which then needs to be followed up with a mid iron to reach the green. The wind is a real factor on this hole. One must remember it can be merciless; a 7- iron one day can demand a 2-iron the next. The result is that judging distance can become a nightmare back into the prevailing breeze.

Hole Seven - Par 3 165 metres:

One of the most intimidating par threes anywhere, the green is guarded by tight, deep bunkering short, left and right, an 5 or 4-iron in normal conditions. Once on the green be sure to remember this is a fast and sloping green a great viewing spot on the tee to see all the action.

Hole Eight - Par 4 358 metres:

From the back tee a straight shot is critical. The tall pines, for 100 or so metres along each side, have a habit of reaching out and grabbing the ball. The second shot to a small green is usually a short iron but can be hard to judge the bounce of the green.

Hole Nine -Par 5 495 metres:

The nine closes with a demanding par 5, which requires a well struck driver, but anything straying right will be swallowed by the bunkers and deep rough left. The second shot must avoid a huge bunker left, swirling wind conditions on this hole will dictate club selection on the players third shot to ensure putting on the right area on the green.

Hole Ten - Par 4 345 metres:

Tenth has a blind tee shot over a hill. Keep the ball left of centre and from a downhill lie an 8-or 9-iron should get you somewhere close to the flagstick, however, be cautious of the sloping green.

Hole Eleven - Par 4 353 metres:

The next is one of my favourite par fours anywhere. The prevailing wind from the south west helps, but still requires a good 2-iron to keep the ball in play. Two bunkers right and left catch a stray tee shot. The aim is to hit your tee shot over the crest of the hill and short of the huge sandy crater short of the green. It requires a well-hit short iron from the crest to reach the inviting amphitheatre green.

Hole Twelve -Par 3 205 metres:

There are many bogeys on this hole. Into the wind requires a well struck long iron to a slightly elevated green. Par here is well earned.

Hole Thirteen - Par 4 395 metres:

Dog-legs to the left and be sure to keep well clear of the left where the sandy rough and pine trees give the appearance of a dried up river bed. It will take a good tee shot and solid mid iron to reach this hole, which has a green that requires a lot of respect.

Hole Fourteen - Par 4 445 metres:

A long, visually intimidating par 4. A long tee shot straight down the middle will avoid bunkers on the right and skip the ball down a slope to give you a sight of the green through two groups of pines. A good mid iron shot will get you over the deep hollow in front of the elevated green, the green is long and deep and will create difficult club selection choices to ensure the players par.

Hole Fifteen - Par 5 464 metres:

A simple hole providing you place your tee shot through the narrow neck of pine trees 100 metres out from the tee. Too far left over the trees will catch a series of grassy mounds and sandy waste. From the fairway a well played long iron could set up a good birdie chance and sometimes an eagle.

Hole Sixteen - Par 3 165 metres:

This striking Par 3 hole requires both length and direction. The wind can sweep the ball into bunkers at the left and a hollow at the right making a three difficult.

Hole Seventeen - Par 5 473 metres:

This par five will tempt most players to hit driver off the tee in order to give them a chance to hit this green in two, the centre of the fairway is certainly a wise place to find since there are sand bunkers protecting the right and deep rough left, the second shot is played from a slight sidehill lie. You can either go for the green or lay up short of a bunker across the fairway short of the green. Again, as for the 15th, two well hit shots can set up an eagle chance.

Hole Eighteen - Par 4 383 metres:

And finally a very demanding par four final hole. Keep the tee shot down the left hand side of the fairway, but avoid the bunkers left and right and from there you will need anything from a mid iron to long iron, depending on the length of your tee shot. There is a huge bunker well short and to the right of the green with a grassy hollow to the left. This green has many subtle breaks that will fool quite a few players.

Cameron Howell
Royal Adelaide Golf Club Professional