Hole-By-Hole Analysis
Posted: Monday December 07, 1998 10:54 AM
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- A hole-by-hole look at the 6,981-yard, par-72 Royal Melbourne Golf Club, site of the Presidents Cup:
No. 1, 354 yards, par 4 Club selection off the tee on this dogleg left will depend on the wind. Short iron for an approach to a green that slopes away from left to right.
No. 2, 498 yards, par 5 Blind, uphill tee shot must carry large fairway bunkers. The second shot will be from a downhill lie. The green can be reached in two, but the approach must clear large, deep bunkers in the front right.
No. 3, 176 yards, par 3 Mid-iron to an elevated green with a severe slope from back to front. Deep bunkers surround the green. Wind conditions determine the severity of this par 3.
No. 4, 450 yards, par 4 This dogleg right requires players to carry a series of bunkers down the right side of the fairway to make the hole play shorter. Approach is sharply uphill to the most difficult green on the course. Ball must be kept below the pin.
No. 5, 332 yards, par 4 Could prove to be the most exciting hole of the matches because the long hitters can reach this from the tee. The safe play is down the left side of the fairway, which provides the best access to a small, tricky green.
No. 6, 439 yards, par 4 Plays even longer because it is uphill. Right center of the fairway is the best position off the tee. The green is two-tiered and difficult to judge. Players cannot see the entire putting surface from the fairway, and an extra club may be in order because of the severity of the uphill approach.
No. 7, 382 yards, par 4 Tricky, downhill dogleg right. Most players will use a fairway wood or iron off the tee to keep the ball short of the rough and a large Eucalyptus on the left side of the fairway. Approach is usually from a hanging lie to an undulated green surrounded by bunkers.
No. 8, 201 yards, par 3 Uphill with deep bunkers on the left side of the green. Serious problems could result if players don't have enough club.
No. 9, 557 yards, par 5 Downhill and reachable in two. The dangers are the cross bunkers short left and the deep bunkers to the right side of the fairway in front of the green.
OUT, 3,389 yards, par 36
No. 10, 483 yards, par 5 Another birdie opportunity since most players can easily reach this in two. The green slopes severely back to front and right to left, making it one of the most difficult to putt.
No. 11, 147 yards, par 3 Uphill to a green surrounded by deep bunkers. Wind will have a big impact on this hole. Any ball in the back left bunker will make for an extremely tough up-and-down.
No. 12, 304 yards, par 4 Another short par-4 that can be reached from the tee, but severe penalties await a stray drive. Most players will take an iron off the tee for a wedge into a small, very fast green.
No. 13, 454 yards, par 4 The first of six long and difficult par 4s. A sweeping right-to-left dogleg that plays to one of the more difficult greens on the course. Approach is slightly uphill.
No. 14, 464 yards, par 4 Converted from a par-5, this hole could prove to be pivotal in the matches. Cross bunkers must be carried off the tee to have a mid-iron into the green. A poor tee shot brings thick rough short of the green into play.
No. 15, 438 yards, par 4 A deceptive tee shot. The hole requires a right-to-left shot, but two fairway bunkers on the left must be avoided. Approach is off a slightly downhill lie to an elevated green with deep bunkers on the right.
No. 16, 432 yards, par 4 Severe left-to-right dogleg that requires a fade to avoid running out of fairway down the left side. Approach will be from a downhill lie.
No. 17, 428 yards, par 4 A very open driving hole to a large, deceptive green that slopes away and to the right. Short iron into the green, but it's difficult to get the ball close to the hole.
No. 18, 442 yards, par 4 Difficult right-to-left dogleg that requires a draw off the tee, setting up a 5- to 7-iron into a two-tiered green.
IN, 3,592 yards, par 36
TOTAL, 6,981 yards, par 72
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