Adelaide, SA | 5 nights, 4 games

The green is visible from the tee, as are the range of options the golfer has to choose from depending on mood and confidence.An iron from the tee to the more generous landing area leaves a short to mid iron to a slightly elevated green protected by two pot bunkers on the right. The more courageous will have to thread their driver between mounds and grasses on the left, and water on the right to leave themselves a short pitch to the green.Either way, this hole is best played from the left half of the fairway, and provides a wonderful introduction to the features you will experience during your round at Glenelg.

At the outside of the dog-leg, a pot bunker is in range for the longer hitter who fails to shape the drive from right to left, but out of reach for the average golfer.A small bunker sited short left of the green and the right greenside bunker define the approach to this subtle green. The bunkering style used, with its sod revetted faces, is a feature of the course, which harks back to the traditional British links.

The siting brings the interesting linear complex of pine covered sand ridges located between the 2nd and 3rd holes as a hazard along the right side of the long par 3. The green is large and undulating, but has been kept open at the left half to allow a running approach access to the green. This long par 3 is part of the demanding starting holes at Glenelg and one which will prove a challenging hole to all golfers. A rear tee, adding some 20 metres to the length of this hole increases the challenge during tournament play.

A small bunker has been placed in the fairway, some 20-25 metres short of the fairway bunker on the left side. This calls for precision in the layup shot, but as the fairway to the left widens out there are plenty of options short of, over or around this bunker, which is a traditional British links element.The green complex is bunkered on both sides with a deep pot bunker front right. The front right pot bunker allows for a tight championship pin.

This is achieved by providing distinct landing zones for each calibre of golfer with hazard positioning to impact more on the better player. A wetland is sited right of the fairway around an island of original native vegetation. Bunkering on the left catches a shot that leaks off the line of play, and a group of cross bunkers just short of the green requires careful placement for the layup. The green is receptive to a well played approach, but its undulations place a premium on positioning and putting. The green is guarded by two pot bunkers set into the ridge at the left and by a large bunker front right.

When downwind, the corner can be taken on at your own peril as a cluster of small bunkers awaits through the dogleg, as well as a notorious hidden pot on the left of the fairway. Reaching the green from these bunkers is usually out of the question, with the greedy often paying a heavy price for trying to advance the ball too far. If fairway is found, a very accurate mid to long iron is required to the slightly elevated, long narrow green heavily bunkered on both sides. The green is quite subtle, but can become very fast downhill on the front half of the green which is quite exposed to the wind.

The prevailing south westerly will see drives having to negotiate fairway bunkering left and right to allow a mid to short iron downwind to the green. Into a northerly, a well struck drive to the left half of the fairway will be required to get a full view of the green and the long iron shot ahead. The green setting is spectacular, with enormous drama to the sides and rear in the form of mounds and grasses that form an amphitheatre around the green. Two small pot bunkers guard the approach to the green, but once on the surface, putting should not be overly complicated on a relatively flat surface. Due reward for having got there in the first place.

An imposing tee shot confronts all golfers. Water and sand hills have to be negotiated by the drive, with the safer left line leaving two more shots to the green for the shorter hitter. The longer drive has to avoid a bunker left of the fairway, as well as the wetland waiting for a drive not shaped from left to right.The elevated green setting has been magnificently utilized with a sprawling bunker left ready to swallow an errant approach shot, and hollows and mounds to the right making chipping a challenge. The green itself is large and very receptive to shots from the right half of the fairway with a good old fashioned bump and run certain to come into play from just short of the green.

A small pot bunker sited 230 metres from the back tee needs to be negotiated by the longer hitters seeking the preferred line of approach into the green. The green is long and narrow with a significant ridge extending into the green from the right greenside bunker. This bunker impacts on the line of approach into the green encouraging the preferred approach from the left half of the fairway. Left of the green, a distinct grassy hollow captures shots that roll down from the left bank and to provide a particular degree of difficulty for recovery shots.

Great importance is placed on the length and accuracy of the tee shot, as the crest of the hill needs to be reached to gain a view of the green set below. A cavernous bunker on the right side of the fairway awaits the longer hitter who fails to work the ball to the left. The green has three levels placing an emphasis on precision with the iron shot to the green. Once on the correct level, the golfer is rewarded with relatively flat putts. The green is well bunkered left, right, and long, with successful recovery requiring a delicate bunker shot. The bunkers provide a stunning frame for the green, as do the native grasses and pines, creating an amphitheatre style setting.

The large bunker right of the green has two distinct sections, with the more heavily used first section somewhat shallower than the back section, making recovery for most golfers a little less daunting. The putting surface has a strong fall from back to front, but the front left corner of the green is slightly raised to retain more tee shots and recovery shots from the right hand bunker.Miss the green the left, and a par is difficult to achieve as two deep hollows require a delicate chip to get close to the hole.

The drive is best placed in the right half of the fairway to gain a view of the green, but must avoid two sighter bunkers through the fairway that eliminate any thought of reaching the greens in two. The green is situated in a dell and has a distinct slope away from the approach shot. A ridge runs along the left side of the green, with a small grassy knob sticking into the right side of the green. A spectacular setting for a green that will test even the best putters.

A new green was constructed in a totally new location and is set at the base of the course?s major sand dune, Pine Hill, which is being re-vegetated and will provide a stunning backdrop once matured. Once at the dogleg, the golfer is faced with a mid to short iron, usually back into the prevailing breeze, to a green protected by water on the left and small bunkers to the right and rear of the green. The putting surface is not overly large, but two putts from above the hole can prove tricky when the greens are quick.

Often played down breeze, the tee shot needs to be well struck to hold the gently undulating green, as the steep drop over the back makes recovery very difficult. A running approach shaped from left to right is possible but made difficult by an approach bunker some 20 metres short of the green, which also makes club selection from the tee deceiving. This hole is beautifully framed by native vegetation and water, and is indicative of the character of the course throughout.

Hitting north, the drive on the 15th must negotiate a number of carefully placed bunkers, protecting not only the long drive, but also making players think very carefully about where they lay up with iron. There is no easy tee shot here. Two deep traps protecting the left side of the fairway can be trouble. Similarly, if you try to take on the slight dogleg and bunker carry, you could find yourself needing your bathers as sand and water could come into play. Once the tee shot has been negotiated, a small undulating green is the next target, set on a plateau with deep rough either side catching a wayward second shot. And you?re not guaranteed a birdie if you hit it close either, because both the subtle and obvious undulations of the green could catch you out if the concentration is not quite there.

From the championship tee position, the hole plays a deceptive 144 metres in length, generally straight into the prevailing south-westerly. From here, players are offered an excellent view of the green, situated amongst the wetlands, with water short, right and long. An alternative tee location forward and right of the championship tee makes the hole play around 125 metres in length, but greatly changes the angle into the green, and requires a full water-carry tee shot. The green setting is nothing short of spectacular, with the wetlands framing the front, right and back of the green, and an area recently re-vegetated with native plants framing the left hand side.

At the inside corner of the dog-leg, an existing hollow has been converted into a fearsome pot bunker with a sandy waste area located beyond. Typically out of reach of the average member, longer hitters wishing to cut the dog-leg must carry this bunker at a considerable risk, as it is virtually impossible to reach the green with a recovery shot. Although a wide green, the strong front left bunker guards the shallower left portion, whilst the deeper, right portion is trapped at the right rear. Grassy hollows back and left make recovery difficult for shots slightly off target.

The tee shot must find fairway between water and sand, whilst the shorter shot is afforded a more generous landing area. But it is the second half of the hole where most decisions must be made. From a long drive, the green is reachable in two, but cross bunkers must be negotiated by shaping the ball left to right or by carrying them. The shorter hitter can choose whether to advance the ball as far as possible and risk finding a cross bunker, or lay up sufficiently short and accept a more difficult shot to the green. The green is protected by bunkers to the right and front left, and the ever present lake along the left side. The green itself is large with a great variety of pin positions, and some significant contouring that can test one?s putting skill at the end of the round.

The opening hole is a short par five easily reached in two shots by the longer hitters but the green is set to reward the player who has driven down the right side of the wide fairway and close to the sandy waste ground that dominates the edge of the hole. Those playing the hole as a three-shotter will find a significantly easier pitch from the right edge of the fairway and the shot over the front right bunker from the left half of the fairway is one perhaps best avoided so early in the round.

This is a short par four with the tee on the edge of the big sandy wasteland that forms a big part of this hole as well as the one to follow. A bunker in the centre of the fairway must be considered for those capable of driving 260 metres from the back tees. The pitch into the long green is best played from the right half of the hole and for those who have driven left the left hand greenside bunkers are something to play over.

The 3rd hole was changed quite dramatically by removing trees and opening up the spectacular sandy wasteland that was formerly used as a site for mining sand. A long bunker is cut along the right side of the driving area but there is a wide fairway stretching far to the left for the less adventurous to play into with safety. A deep bunker on the left side of the green gives those who have played close to the fairway bunker a clearer approach.

Prior to the changes to the course there were three medium length par three's (the 4th, 12th and 14th holes) and it was decided to add the extra dimension of a long one shotter. This was the logical place to incorporate such a hole and from the back tee to a pin cut as the back of the green the golfer is asked to play a shot of over 200 metres. The long green allows for the hole to be played at varying distances and from the back of the old tee to the difficult pin behind the bunker in the front left the shot is only 135 metres. Generally however from the back tee this hole is a demanding long iron shot.

The second of the two opening nine par fives is much longer than the first hole and this one takes two mighty shots to reach in two. A fairway bunker replaced the pine trees that used to line the right of the hole and block the view of the green from the left third of the fairway and that makes for a much superior hole.

Here is the second longest par four on the course although the 17th is probably more difficult. The drive plays to the top of the hill or just over and the downhill second is to a green guarded by bunkers left and right but nonetheless one that favours a drive played to the left half of the fairway.

Formerly this was a longer par four but the suggestion was to shorten the hole and incorporate a hole where players had a number of choices from the tee. With the green 285 metres from the tee, some have a chance to reach it if the wind is behind but the threat is the dreaded forty metre bunkers shot from left of the green if the drive is misplayed. For those playing with a shorter club from the tee a fairway bunker a couple of hundred metres from the tee suggests the ideal line into the most difficult pin position in the back left corner of the green.

There is always much to be said for short holes where a good player can make a four with one bad swing and the highest markers can make a two with one good one. This is achievable on only the shortest of holes and they must be protected by hazards that induce a little fear and make a three unlikely if the green is missed.

The front nine finishes with a hole turning to the left and whilst there is little undulation to add to its challenge the best drive hugs the left side of the fairway and from there the green opens up to an approach that the scratch player would play with a middle to short iron depending on the wind.

The par five tenth is a relatively straight hole but a bunker thirty metres short of the green on the right and a green protected by a deep bunker cutting right up into the left edge of the putting surface dictates that there are many options from back on the fairway. The ideal shot is a long high draw (for a right hander) that carries the short bunker and runs onto the green. For those laying back clearly the option is to play short of the right bunker to open up the left half of the green. Those straying to the left of the sand face one of the more difficult pitch shots on the course.

The 11th is a medium length par four turning left and the fairway bunker embedded into the top of the rise 230 metres from the tee is the single hazard to be avoided but the closer one plays to the sand the better the line into the green. The bunker carry is 245 metres and whilst achievable for the longer hitters only the most desperate would take that challenge and the perfect tee shot finds the rise opposite the end of the bunker and the shot down to the green from there is only a short iron.

The first of a pair of medium length par threes on the back nine plays to a quite long but narrow green with bunkers on both sides. The more intimidating bunker runs all the way along the left side of the green and this short hole is simply asking for a good shot. It is not particularly difficult unless the wind is up but saving a par if the green is missed is not easy.

The tee shot at this par five must negotiate a central fairway bunker 245 metres from the championship tee and the option is to play over, left or right of the sand. The left is perhaps the better line into the green because of a fairway bunker further along on the right that influences the second shot. Certainly the easiest pitch into the small green is from the left.

The final par three is a medium length uphill hole with a tier cutting through the middle of the small target. A deep bunker on the right makes the pins cut on the right of the green the most intimidating to access.

The beginning of the run home, the 15th, a medium length hole, is the first of a quartet of par fours of varying length and challenge. A pair of fairway bunkers, one short down the left and another further down on the right determine the club and line from the tee and the green is best approached from the right half of the fairway especially when the pin is cut up into the back left corner of the green.

Longer than the previous hole and running in the opposite direction the shape of the hole favours a tee shot moving from right to left. The fairway bunker sitting into the left corner of the driving area protects the ideal line into the green.

This is the best hole on the course and whilst it is probably also the most demanding its difficulty is only one determinate of its quality. The fairway is lined with pines making this a beautiful looking hole and the natural movement of the ground makes for exhilarating golf. A drive down the right half of the fairway opens a clear view of the green but a small dune further blocks the view of the green for those who have driven left. A deep bunker lines the right side of the green and this par four asks for a pair of perfectly played strokes.

The finisher is a drive and pitch affair not unlike the closers nearby at Kooyonga and Royal Adelaide but it cannot be taken for granted. The pitch from the right side of the fairway looks and plays quite differently than the shot from the left and when the pin is in the most difficult place in the back right corner the drive down the left is truly advantaged because of the bunker cut right up into the right half of the green. The undulating green tests nervous putters at the end of the round and it prove - as does the ultimate drive and pitch finisher at St Andrews - that short fours are well capable of extracting mental and physical mistakes from the unwary.

A gentle dog leg right welcomes the player. A good drive left of centre to avoid fairway bunkering along the right hand side will give longer hitters an opportunity to go for the green in two or lay up with a long iron. The shot to the raised green is hard to judge and, if to the left or long, can leave a difficult up-and-down.

A shortish par 5 where a solid drive will make this hole reachable in 2 shots. A tight line for the second shot to the area between the two bunkers guarding the green offers a definite birdie chance.

A tough par 3 surrounded by bunkers on both sides and two grassy hollows over the back. Club selection is difficult because the tee is protected from the southerly winds that can blow very strongly.

This hole has a blind drive to a narrow fairway with an out of bounds on the left. You can use anything from a long iron to driver to get over the hill. The challenging mid to short iron second shot is to a small green well guarded by bunkers with a dangerous swale on the left side.

A shortish par 4 with two big bunkers down the right hand side. Most players lay up at the neck of the fairway which leaves a short iron into a two tier green divided by a diagonal ridge. Bunkers guard the left side of the green.

Fairway bunkers on the left side catch the long tee shot while the tall gums guarding the right hand side require an accurately placed drive. The blind second shot normally played upwind needs careful club selection. Deep bunkers are positioned front left and right of the green.

A short hole with a green that has three levels. Any shot miss-hit or under-clubbed will end up in the front left bunker or down a deep slope front right of the green. An essential and satisfying green to hit but beware the long putt from the back to the lower level.

The fairway which dog legs left, slopes severely to the right making it hard to hit. You are faced with a blind second shot with a mid to long iron depending on the wind. The green is very small, raised and has two well placed bunkers short left and right.

Longer hitters will land their drives between the left fairway bunkers and the right hand side trees and burn. This will give you the opportunity to go for the green in two. The green is protected by a deep bunker front and a shallow bunker back left.

This is the first of four demanding par 4 holes, and is the hardest hole on the back 9. A well hit accurate drive is needed with trees on both sides of the fairway. A long iron upwind is usually required with bunkers surrounding both sides of the green.

A short par 4 with the tiger tee set up into a sand hill. A driver or three-wood will leave a short to mid iron into the green. One of the flatter greens on the course with a steep slope at the rear and bunkers guarding both sides.

A slight dog leg left where a good tee shot is essential. A precision second shot is required to the elevated green which is small, undulating, and provides many difficult pin positions. Better to err on the short side with the shot, rather than be over the back!

The most straight forward hole on the course and one where a long drive over a rise is well recommended. One of the few greens not built up but watch club selection as there is fairway short of the green you can't see. A bunker short right and grassy hollow over the bunker will catch any wayward shot to the right.

Perhaps the signature hole of Kooyonga. This wind blown par 3 has a sheltered tee, and an exposed green, rendering club selection exquisitely difficult. Deep bunkers surround the green with a steep slope over the back.

One of the hardest par 3's you will ever play. The green is elevated with severe slopes off both sides and at the rear. Two bunkers guard the left side while on the right, bunkers extend back from the green a long way. A par is well earned here.

The most difficult par 5 on the course. A good drive that avoids the left hand bunker will give you a chance to go for the green in two. To lay up on the left side with the second shot will reward the accurate golfer with a short shot to a narrow green, well surrounded by bunkers.

A stunning hole with a gentle dog leg to the left over a rolling hill. A good drive will clear the deep bunker positioned on the left side of the fairway. This will leave a short to mid iron shot with water covering the front right part of the green. Anywhere on the green is acceptable.

A short but tight dog leg to the left, where long hitters can take on the corner bunkers. The reward is a short pitch to a flat green with bunkers left and right. Laying up will leave you with a blind shot with a short or mid iron.

The fairway of this quite short opening hole curves between some gentle mounds on each side. In the mounds on the right side are two bunkers clearly visible from the tee. The long hitting player will need to avoid the quite long grass on either side of this fairway and to take care not to go into a tongue of rough extending across the fairway 280 metres from the tee. The green lies obliquely to the line of play and is guarded by a bunker on its front left side. As a south westerly wind is often assisting this hole, players may have difficulty, even with a short iron, placing their second shots close to the flag.

The fairway bunker on the left of the fairway is 270 metres from the tee. The hole has a very attractive large greenside bunker on the right 30 metres short of the green and two smaller bunkers on the left adjacent to the green. It is the direction and strength of the wind which will determine whether a birdie four is a realistic expectation. The railway line which extends down the left side of this hole is an integral part of the course. An errant shot coming to rest among the sleepers must be played as it lies or a penalty taken.

Often regarded as one of the best holes at Seaton, this is the only hole which remains faithful to the original design of Dr Alister Mackenzie. It has a green which can be described as being "leg of mutton" in shape. It has an oblique ridge on the left, while on the right is a knoll on the side of the green. Always surrounded by dense grass and rushes, it offers the possibility of an eagle 2 to the brave but with the possibility of a quite disastrous score. Norman Von Nida once took a nine while more recently in 1989 Colin Montgomerie required eight.

The crater which lies in front of the club tees presents little challenge to the Championship players. A new tee has been formed some 40 metres back. From this the player has a blind shot to an undulating fairway. Pine trees guard both sides of the crater and 240 metres from the tee on the left are two quite deep bunkers. To deter the adventurous there is another pot bunker a further 30 metres on. The right side of the fairway is heavily grassed and the fairway narrows sharply 280 metres from the tee. The green is relatively flat with a bunker on the left but there are some deceptive mounds on the right from which an accurate chip can be difficult.

A new tee 40 metres behind its predecessor brings the two existing right side bunkers into play as they are now 250 and 286 metres from the tee. The left side of this hole has been narrowed firstly by some quite deep grass and by increased mounding between this and the neighbouring sixth fairway. In these mounds are four bunkers which are quite invisible from the tee. The furthest of these is placed 290 metres from the tee and it narrows the neck of the fairway. The bold player with an assisting wind may attempt to play through this neck and be left with a wedge to the green. Prudence may dictate playing short of the bunkers. This presents a longer shot to the green which has a deep bunker in its right front edge.

This has always been a formidable hole from the members tee particularly when played into the generally prevailing wind. A new tee has added some additional teeth to the hole as the required tee shot from this championship tee will require a carry in excess of 230 metres. To the right are further mounds and some testing grass and rushes and another bunker 281 metres from the tee. The green is generous in size. There is a deceptive slope from the back of the green. Care is required with any putt from above the hole. Two bunkers on each side of the green complete a very fine hole.

The green is surrounded by small bunkers in the front and on each side while at the back are deep grassy hollows. This green was laid down when the course was first developed. It was then approached from a different direction, but the tee was later placed behind the sixth green from which members still play. A new tee has been made extending this hole to 167 metres . A head wind will add an additional challenge to a hole which is an icon at Seaton.

The player can choose to play short of a tongue of rough extending across the fairway from the right, 237 metres out. This side is reinforced by some steep mounds and a deep bunker. The left side is also mounded with two pot bunkers 240 and 260 metres from the tee. Alternatively the choice is a longer tee shot over the peninsula of rough to a narrow strip of fairway. This would leave a very short pitch to the green which slopes away sharply on the left and behind. The front right is protected by two mounds and a bunker.

A newly constructed bunker is 275 metres from the tee on the left, from which a gentle mound extends across the fairway to thick rough and a small stand of swamp oaks. On the right, the mounding has been increased and regular watering of the rough has encouraged thick growth, all of which enhances the two deep bunkers. Both sides of the approach to this hole are lined with bunkers which lie in wait for any wayward second shot by the player who may hope to get up in two. The green has a quite definite step in it and a putt from almost any direction requires close attention.

The fairway to this quite short par 4 is angled to the right over the hill. A pine tree on the left and long grass and rushes on the right will punish a wayward drive. At the bottom of the hill there is further area of thick rough to hinder a drive of more than 250 metres. A subtle choice of club and line is required to be in a position to play to this green. The green has an inverted saucer shape with some very demanding pin placements. An accurately placed second shot is most desirable.

This hole is regarded by most as Royal Adelaide's signature hole and still plays as Alister Mackenzie designed it in the 1920s. A strong tee shot is required to ensure an easier second shot onto the green set within a sand crater. Three fairway bunkers make this task more difficult. An interesting carry commencing 86 metres from the front of the green and features many native grasses. The green is protected by both a front left and a front right sand bunker and is framed by a stand of pine trees on the rear sand dunes.

This hole is played from an elevated tee. The green has gently undulating, grassed surrounds leading to low-lying swamps. A small bunker is on its front left hand edge. Into the prevailing westerly or southerly wind this is a testing par.

The hole is an acute dog-leg to the left. The left or inner side of the fairway has a heavily grassed verge separating it from low sandhills. The outer side has low mounds which are again well grassed. There is a bunker 30 metres short of the green and a left greenside bunker. The green has a pronounced slope to the right. A long well placed drive is essential to facilitate the playing of this very fine hole.

The new championship tee is situated on the far side of the railway line. This results in a magnificent championship hole where a 248 metre drive will be needed to carry the edge of a cluster of bunkers on the right. The second shot is played through a gap in the pine trees to an elevated green guarded by three bunkers. A deep swale before the green and another on the left side of the green complete a most demanding hole.

The stand of pines on either side present little difficulty to top players. The left side of the fairway is heavily trapped with a succession of bunkers which would require a carry of 270 metres but such a line would also encounter deep grass. Another bunker is also situated on the right with a mound across the fairway. Shorter and to the right there is punishing rough. Although a short par 5, the drive must be well placed. The green is lightly trapped with shallow bunkers.

This rather disarming hole is destined to test even the straightest hitter. The green which has some slight, but treacherous slopes, is complemented by a swale on the right and two bunkers on the left. It is a much admired but deceiving short hole.

More often than not this hole has the assistance of the wind. It is a potential birdie four or eagle three. The bunker on the right requires a carry of 255 metres. A very deep bunker on the left is 7 metres further on. A drive placed between these will be aided by the run you receive via the slope. The fairway here is narrowed by deep couch grass rough. The green is two tiered with a greenside bunker in front and another on the left. Any shot missing the green will most likely find more troublesome couch grass.

This hole will again require an accurate tee shot. The left side has three vicious little pot bunkers requiring a carry of 250 metres while on the right a deep fairway bunker is 230 metres from the tee. The rough on each side is troublesome and the fairway narrow. Nevertheless a long straight drive will be rewarded with a short shot of 80 or so metres to the green. There are two bunkers on the right of the green and a lateral water hazard on the left. This has been deepened and widened and planted with rushes. The slope between the green and the hazard is closely mown. Any shot to the left of the green may be in peril.