CANYON COURSE

The Canyon Course was designed with minimal disruption to the natural landscape. This feature, along with the use of existing canyons and rubber plantations helped create the masterpiece that the Canyon Course is renowned today.
The Canyon Course has an intriguing mix of narrow tree-lined fairways requiring accurate tee shots. A number of dog legs demand precise shot making, and there is a selection of testing Par 3's. These features, along with numerous water hazards, long carries the and beautifully manicured fairways, all lend themselves to one of Asia's most sought after golfing destinations.

Hole#1
A relatively gentle opening – until you reach the green! A well executed tee shot of about 220 yards (from the blue tee) will avoid the large traps on the left and palm trees beyond the fairway. Uphill approach to the green should be kept short and right of the hole as putts from the back left can be extremely fast.

Hole#2
A demanding Par 3. A water hazard runs the length of the hole on the left, with large sand traps surrounding the green. Many players come up short or fail to judge the direction of crosswinds – look at the tops of the trees and the water surface! Again, extremely fast from the middle of the green to the front. A lofted wood will generally be more forgiving than a long iron for most golfers.

Hole#3
The fairway is narrow, tree lined and uphill all the way on this longest Par 4 on the course. The giant Calabash tree dictates play. Accurate drivers will select a right or left route up the fairway as second shots from the centre will require shaping round the tree. The length of the green makes checking the pin position essential in club selection.

Hole#4
The tee shot must carry the mounds (over 200 yards from the blue tee) to avoid a blind shot to well bunkered green. Longer hitters should favour the right side. Except at the front of the green, this is one of the few holes where putts break less than you think!

Hole#5
Accuracy from the tee is vital. OB runs from tee to green on the left. The fairway slopes towards a deep hollow on the right so a right-to–left tee shot is ideal. Approach shots to the front to back sloping, two-level green, tend to bounce forward and right. Downhill putts to or on the lower level are some of the fastest on the course.

Hole#6
For long hitters, reaching the green is only possible if the drive is struck perfectly over the Flame tree to the right side of the fairway and the second shot is right-to-left around the dogleg. For others, drive between the Flame tree and the towering coconut palms on the left, then hit over the water, taking careful note of the distance to and over the bunkers. The two-level green is normally very fast from back to front.

Hole#7
There is a blind bunker guarding the green on the front left and another deep bunker at front right. The green slopes steeply from the left to right so getting up and down from the left side is almost impossible! From the front, putts will be fast with more break than you think. If you miss the green, better to miss it long!

Hole#8
Only a long and well placed drive favouring the right side will give a clear view of this well guarded three-level green. Do not attempt to carry the trap on the left from the tee – there is another lurking behind it! Check the pin position and yardage carefully to land your approach on the correct level to give yourself a birdie chance!

Hole#9
Take care with the tee shot. There are two more traps behind the one you can see on the right of the fairway. Conservative play produces many pars and some birdies. Only try to carry the water if you are sure you can hit the target. The green is very undulating and fast from back to front.

Hole#10
A look from the higher back tee will give a clear picture of the hole and superb views of Phang Nga Bay. A drive down the right is safest. If bunkered from the tee, make sure the next shot is from grass, or this easy looking hole could turn nasty! The second shot to the green is more downhill than it first appears – consider one less club.

Hole#11
The water crossing the fairway is reachable for the longer hitter on this slightly downhill tee shot. The ideal position is as close to the water as possible favouring the right side. This opens up the second shot landing area, well guarded by bunkers on the left and by palm trees over the fairway. Club selection and accuracy are critical on the approach to the long narrow green, with sand and then water on both sides. Check yardages carefully for all shots on this demanding Par 5.

Hole#12
OB right may be a factor for the short hitter. Longer drives erring right will run out of fairway or even reach the water. A well struck drive down the “fast lane” on the left will gain extra roll. If laying up short of water with your second shot, keep left as the landing area slopes towards the lake on the right. If the hole is cut at the front of the green, a conservative approach shot beyond the flag will leave a very fast downhill putt. Attacking the pin could be the best policy!

Hole#13
From the tee, check the yardage very carefully. Select a tee shot line within your capabilities! For the big hitter, the line is just left of the far right bunker over the canyon. For others, aim at the bunker to the left of the trees at the corner of the canyon. For extra carry, tee the ball up and follow through to a long, high finish. Easy to miss this shallow green long, which then makes the up and down almost impossible. Putts from above the hole are extremely fast and break more than you expect toward the fairway.

Hole#14
Correct club selection is critical! Use points A at the front of the green or B over the water to the widest part of the green (safest target area!), together with the pin position, to assess the yardage. Take one and a half clubs less, or even two from the black tee, to account for the drop to the green. You may not feel the crosswinds so look at the flag and the surface of the water to determine strength and direction.

Mental tip: don’t get distracted from your normal routine. Visualize the perfect ball flight, focus on one key swing thought and enjoy one of the most spectacular shots in golf!

Hole#15
A double dogleg, left then right. The tee shot needs to avoid the bunker on the left and OB on the right. If the drive is short, it may be better to lay up to the water hazard that crosses the fairway. If attempting the carry, unseen traps on the right must also be avoided. In both cases, slightly left of the tallest tree beyond the fairway will be the best line. The green, guarded on the left by a large wood-faced bunker, slopes mainly from left to right.

Hole#16
A good drive up the right side and a well executed short to medium iron will allow a putt for birdie. However, the approach shot over the front bunker must be soft landing, as putts level with or above the hole can be very awkward.

Pro tip: to hit this shot, feet closer together, ball position slightly more forward, brush the grass and finish high.

Hole# 17 (“Top 500 holes in the world”)
Described by Fred Couples as “one of the best Par 3’s anywhere in the world”, this exacting hole favours a left to right shot. Although it may not appear so, the hole is downhill and the green slopes from front to back, so select one club less than normal. Around the green getting up and down from anywhere else but long and left can be very difficult. The best option may be to aim there and chip close for a well-earned par.

Hole#18
From the black tee, a 260 yard drive is required to carry the lake on the line over the flowers! Even from the forward tees, most players opt for the sound strategy of keeping left. Flirt with the water only if the hole is cut left and you need and birdie! Just the way our architect, Mr. Kato, planned it! Do not attack the flag too hard. Bogey or worse is almost certain from behind the green. Allow for more slope from every angle on this green.

Pro tip: tee up your ball as near as possible to the water to give the safest angle to the fairway.

Course : Canyon Course | Lakes Course | Golf School