The Sands, Torquay

The opening hole is a relatively short par 4, but is tightly bunkered at about 250 meters from the back tee. Long hitters have the option to attempt to carry the cluster of bunkers on the left side, opening up a very short pitch to the green, but the more prudent tee shot might be a three wood just in front of the fairway bunkers.

The second hole presents a heavily bunkered vision to the golfer, who may be a bit intimidated by the view. In fact there are at least three good options for the tee shot on the shortest par 4 on the course, but the stage for the round has been set. Golfers will see plenty of sand during this adventure, and they will have to use their heads constantly in order to avoid being trapped. The green here is relatively small and tightly bunkered so precision is the key at #2.

At the long third, golfers are asked to add power to their tee shots, but there is plenty of room to let one fly. Most golfers will opt to head left and if you make it over the rise, a clear shot of the next landing position is clear. The green is perched in the air slightly, helping to make this hole a true three shot par 5, but long hitters can have a go in two if they dare.

This medium length par 4 offers plenty of room off the tee but has a closely guarded green. The hole is nearly straight away and plays slightly downhill, so it is a good chance for a birdie for those with accurate iron play, if they are not too distracted by the beautiful backdrop of the tidal wetlands.

The first par 3 on the course plays into the prevailing wind and borders the wetlands, so it presents an intimidating target. The green is well bunkered on the left side, so a draw is favoured for most pin positions. Only the back right pin placement invites a fade approach.

The sixth hole is perhaps the most difficult challenge on the front nine of The Sands Torquay, and it looks even tougher than it plays. The bunker placement in the landing area presents an intimidating picture, but there is in reality plenty of fairway to receive the tee shot. The line of the second shot must be carefully considered, however, as the bunker on the right side is well short of the green and offers a difficult recovery. For many golfers a little humility in selecting a safe bogey route may be the best strategy.

At 162 meters the seventh hole is not long, but it is closely and somewhat deceptively bunkered, so having the right club in one's hands may not be a simple matter. The prevailing breeze is slightly across the line of flight and will have a tendency to knock lofted shots down and to the right of the green.

This medium length par 4 has water down the entire right side, wrapping tightly around the right side of the green. A series of large bunkers protects the left side of the hole and helps turn the hole slightly to the right. The green falls away slowly to the right side, making the pin position on the right side of the green a real challenge.

There is a clear risk-reward choice for the tee shot. Only a golfer, who challenges the water off the tee, will have a reasonable approach to the green on the second shot. Golfers playing away from the water off the tee will have a much more difficult journey to this closely guarded green.

The back nine starts with a medium length par 4 that doglegs a little to the right. Golfers looking for birdies should work hard here, as it may be the last good chance. A good tee shot should challenge the right side bunker, opening up the green for the approach, especially the difficult left side pin position.

The long eleventh hole embodies all of the natural elements of the Torquay site - sand dunes, tall grass, Moonah trees, and even some rock outcrops. Thankfully, the wind is normally at the golfer's back, so a well hit tee shot should clear the small Moonah trees op the left center of the fairway. The fairway splits around a natural slope with four embedded bunkers and rises to a well-protected green, gently tucked into the dunes landscape. If golfers can keep their focus here and not become distracted by the natural beauty of the hole, par is possible.

This par 5 plays from an elevated tee to a fairway bordered tightly on the right side by a large grove of Moonah trees. Bunkers on the left side define the tee shot and gently bend the hole to the right. The green bends back to the left a bit and has a wetland backdrop.

The shortest hole on the course plays sharply uphill onto a high ridge that dominates the next two holes. Although the green is pitched towards the golfer, the putting surface will be blind for the most part, so golfers will need to trust the yardage on the card and give the club its full value.

The fourteenth hole is an excellent example of creating a natural look in context with the stunning surroundings. Although the existing site was not much to look at, the distant dunes backdrop offered inspiration for what has turned out to be one of the most beautiful holes on the course. And it's plenty challenging, especially the second shot to a green set carefully on a side slope, but the wind is normally at one's back, so tee it high and let it fly.

This relatively short hole is no patsy. The wind is nearly always a factor on the ridge and the drop to the wetland on the entire right side of the hole is severe. This hole begins the four-hole finish of the golf course that will challenge even the best golfers.

The last par 5 on the course plays across a wetland into the prevailing wind, from an elevated tee. Having successfully reached the generous fairway, the golfer is faced with a narrow opening about 50 meters short of the green. Two big shots will clear the gap and leave the long hitter with an easy pitch, but the wiser play may be short of the bunkers leaving a slightly longer approach.

This is a long hard par three that plays into the prevailing wind. The hole sets up for a slight fade shot, and is open enough to allow a run-up approach, but there are plenty of bunkers to catch errant shots.

The golf course ends with a medium length par 4 that bends to the left around a Iarge fairway bunker. The hole plays into the prevailing wind, so it will play at least two clubs longer than the card on most days. The green is closely bunkered on the left side, making the right side of the fairway a better angle to the pin.