Royal Sydney Golf Club

This opening par 4 is reachable from the tee by long-hitters. Players who find the fairway off the tee will be left with a short pitch shot to reach the green which is guarded by sand on both the left and right.

This hole is a long par 5 which can be reached in two, but sometimes only with the help of the wind. The green is wide and shallow and when the hole is into the wind the players must avoid the dreaded 60 metre bunker shot that awaits those who leak the long second shot too far right.

This hole plays downhill to a long, narrow green which is surrounded by bunkers. Players may have difficulty choosing their club as the length changes greatly depending on the wind and whether the pin is placed at the front or the back of the green.

This par 4 plays downhill from the tee then turns to the left and goes up to the green at the high point of the hill. Trees line both sides of the narrow fairway and the green is heavily guarded by one of the deepest bunkers in the country.

Drive the ball to the left side of the fairway on this par 4 as players will find that the fairway opens up the preferred line of approach unless the pin is tucked back in the left corner of the green, behind the deep fronting bunker.

This is the shortest par 3 on the course with possibly one of the biggest greens; one with several demanding and dangerous pin positions. With a short iron in hand it is tempting to aim at the flag, however if your shot finds the bunker it will take a brilliant escape shot to get close.

This long par 5 plays along the southern boundary of the course and is one where the ideal shot is a long draw (or fade for left-handers) that catches the down-slope over the hill and earns an extra few metres that many times will be critical if you are to hit the green in two shots. The bunker on the left looks to be right up against the edge of the green, however between the bunker and the putting surface is a deep swale that catches a few off-guard and leaves a difficult short chip.

This short, uphill par 4 is one of the highlights of the course. It forces players to make a decision on the tee as some players will be able to drive far enough to reach the putting surface. Actually hitting the green in one is another matter and the pitch from 80 metres (after an iron shot from the tee) is often easier than a bunker shot or short chip from around this brilliantly protected and elevated green.

This final hole of the front nine is one where the tee shot is best played to the right to avoid the tall pine trees on the left that block a clear view of the pitch to the green. This long and narrow green is best played from the right of the fairway as it can be easily missed with a short iron shot.

The back nine begins with this medium length par 4. The drive off the tee will need to avoid a fairway bunker to the right and a small stream which runs through the left rough. The green sits to advantage a drive played down the left and the second shot is usually of medium to short length.

This long, difficult par 4 challenges players with a narrow green that is guarded by bunkers on the right and a deep swale on the left which demands a very well played iron shot following a drive that steers clear of the fairway bunkers down the right edge of the fairway.

Any drive played close to the right edge of this par 4 fairway will leave players with a blocked view of the flagstick. The only clear view of the entire green is from the left of the dogleg. Under the right conditions, long hitters may land close to the green if they are prepared to play a risky shot from the tee.

A new tee built in 2006 increased the length of this hole by 30 metres, making this formerly simple hole into a more difficult proposition. Downwind this green is easily reached in two shots, however when the wind is from the south this can be a difficult hole.

This par 3 demands an accurate iron shot to a long green which is guarded by bunkers on both sides. The hole is not a complicated one, but miss the green and players will soon find that saving par is never simple

The fairway on this par 4 is one of the narrowest on the course. Few holes in the country are as straight or as narrow as this one. The ideal line into this thin, small green is (as you would expect) from the middle of the fairway.

This final par 5 follows in the same direction as the previous two holes and is reachable in two shots with a favourable wind. Players are confronted with a series of well-placed fairway bunkers that must be avoided. Provided you are able to achieve this, what is left is a short pitch shot onto a relatively simple green.

The green on this par 3 is the most difficult to hit on the entire course, especially in a strong wind. Misjudge your shot and you could find yourself buried in the bunker at the rear of the green.

This final hole is a swinging dogleg to the left where the ideal drive hugs the left side of the fairway making it just past the trees, opening up the best line into an undulating green, surrounded by bunkers and set below the famous Clubhouse