Hole 1 Par 5 – 492M
A straightforward par 5 giving players an opportunity to get off to a quick start. The ideal line off the tee is to centre right of the fairway, opening up the green which is heavily bunkered on the front left.
Players choosing to lay up will want to get the ball within 80 metres of the green to avoid a severe downhill lie. The green has a tier running back left to middle right, requiring a pinpoint short iron to a back left hole location.
Hole 2 Par 4 – 343M
A short uphill dogleg left par 4. The tee shot is dominated by the large tree on the corner. The left side of the fairway is the place to be, opening up the green that runs from front left to back right and is protected by bunkering short right.
Hole 3 Par 3 – 176M
The longest par 3 on the course. The green is protected by bunkering both sides and slopes predominantly from back to front with a subtle ridge about two thirds of the way on. An opening at the front of the green allows players to run the ball on if desired.
Hole 4 Par 5 – 453M
Shortish par 5 that wanders to the right. Avoid the mounds on the right from the tee and players will have the chance to attack the green with their second shot. The green slopes gently from front left to back right and is protected by bunkering both sides and a stand of trees to the right.
Hole 5 Par 4 – 351M
Finding the fairway on this short dogleg right par 4 is critical. Players finding the rough will struggle to get the ball on the same shelf as the pin on this well bunkered, multi levelled green, bringing a three-putt into the equation.
Hole 6 Par 5 – 428M
A gently sweeping right to left dogleg requires longer hitters to shape the ball right to left to hold the fairway. A downhill second shot towards Lake Burley Griffin to a flat putting surface heavily protected by a swale and bunkers both short and right. Birdie a must.
Hole 7 Par 4 – 297M
A short uphill par 4. Fairway bunkers on the right to be avoided. Ideal line is to the left side of the fairway, opening up this small two tiered green protected by bunkering short and right.
Hole 8 Par 3 – 142M
A short iron on this downhill par 3 framed by Black Mountain in the background. The green has a severe tier running through it, forming a shallow back shelf and is well bunkered on all sides.
Hole 9 Par 4 – 370M
Long dogleg left par 4. Players will want to drive close to the left hand side fairway bunkers to open up the second shot to this elevated green. Only the highest, softest shot will hold the back right section of the green which is guarded by a bunker. Par is a good score.
Hole 10 Par 4 – 349M
Straightaway par 4 with the fairway significantly tilted from right to left. The two fairway bunkers on the left are to be avoided. A tree guards the green from the left so right side from the tee is desirable. An uphill second shot to a two-tiered green with bunkers both left and right.
Hole 11 Par 4 – 341M
Short downhill par 4 with the line from the tee dictated by the pin placement as a large ridge splits the green into distinct left and right sides. Players will want their second shots straight into the correct side of the green rather than
angling across the ridge.
Hole 12 Par 4 – 386M
A strong, slightly uphill par 4 that doglegs to the left. Bunkering short and to the right of the green requires the player to hit two good shots to find the two-tiered putting surface. Par will be a good score.
Hole 13 Par 3 – 141M
A deceptive downhill par 3. A mid to short iron to a two-tiered green. The upper shelf is quite shallow making it difficult to get to a back hole location. Bunkers protect the front hole locations. The wind coming off Lake Burley Griffin makes getting the right club in your hand a task in itself.
Hole 14 Par 4 – 386
The most wind affected hole on the course. Lake Burley Griffin on the right
more of a distraction than a stumbling block but players finding the fairway bunkers on the left will really struggle to get on the green in two. A two-level green, heavily bunkered short and right. Very strong hole.
Hole 15 Par 5 – 428M
Players will be looking for birdies here. The hole sweeps left all the way and
the longer players will be looking to draw the ball around the corner, setting
up a second shot to a green heavily protected short and left. The subtle breaks
putting surface will confound some.
Hole 16 Par 4 – 387M
The longest par 4 on the course. A tee shot to the top of the hill will leave a long to mid iron across a valley to an elevated green. A severe slope at the front forces the players to carry the ball all the way. Possibly the slickest putting surface at Royal Canberra.
Hole 17 Par 3 – 155M
A mid iron to this green. Very deep bunkers both short left and short right are to be avoided at all costs. Front hole locations will be hard to get to, as the front section of the green slopes away from the players. With a difficult green to read, 3 will be an honest score.
Hole 18 Par 5 – 485M
A tournament changing hole, players can make 3 or 7. An uphill par 5 to a three level green. Only the longer hitters will be going for the green in two. The front hole location is more generous, with players able to utilise the large tier in the green as a back board. Players forced to lay up will have to avoid a fairway bunker on the right hand side about 85 metres from the green and control both distance and spin to get to back hole locations.