The Hills Hole by Hole Review from Rosalind Barnes May 2006

Hole 1
This is a par 4 hole with a dogleg left. There are several interspersed palms to catch the unwary, but it is otherwise a fairly straightforward hole.

Hole 2
This is a long par 5 hole, with long water traps to the left and right, so accuracy with shot making is essential. There is also a small water trap on the right at the back of the green which can easily catch you out just when you’re feeling happy to have avoided the other two! This is a long and interesting hole.

Hole 3
Another long par 5 hole which needs a good left hand fade from the tee. There is a small water trap on the left quite near the tee and when you reach the green it is best to avoid the bunkers around the front of the green which have steep faces and can be difficult to deal with if your ball is too near the face.

Hole 4
A par 4, reasonably straightforward apart from a small lake on the 3 right and a bunker on the left hand approach to the green. It’s a nice open fairway with little in the way of obstruction.

Hole 5
Another par 4 hole, again with a lake about 230 yards from the green on the right hand side; a widening fairway to a slightly elevated green and a bunker to the right of the green as you approach.

Hole 6
This is a fairly challenging par 4, as there is a long lake all along the left hand side of the fairway and two small water traps on the right – one near the tee and one near the green. Then there are bunkers on either side of the approach to the green. The fairway widens between the ponds and then narrows as you approach the green where the only way between the ponds is across a narrow path. Miss it at your peril! This was a costly hole with two balls in the water and there was a reasonably large alligator inhabiting the lake to the left.

Hole 7
This is a very interesting short par 3 hole, needing great accuracy from the tee, as the green is well elevated with sloping runoffs on all sides. Water almost completely encircles the green, apart from a small area on the left hand side. My ball ran off to the right of the green and was only stopped by a very convenient small clump of palm trees, otherwise that would have certainly been another lost ball. An intriguing short hole and very tricky if you don’t hit the flat top of the green and manage to ground your ball there.

Hole 8
A fairly straightforward par 4, with a lake to the right of the tee and another small water trap on the approach to the green. The fairway narrows as you approach the elevated green, with two largeish trees to the left.

Hole 9
This short par 3 takes you back towards the clubhouse. It’s an easy short hole with bunkers on each side and a sharp drop at the back of the green if you are over enthusiastic with your approach shot.

Hole 10
A straightforward par 3 with a raised, undulating green with sand traps on either side. The left hand one has a steep face and there is a steep dropoff at the back of the green.

Hole 11
Men tee off over a large lake to a wide, open fairway. There is a slight dogleg right to the green, with a nasty vee of water and palm trees on the right at the dogleg and the back of the green is surrounded by water if you overshoot. This is a par 5 hole.

Hole 12
A par 4 with a wide fairway and no major obstructions except a large bunker on the right. Not too difficult.

Hole 13
A par 4 with a wide approach on the fairway to an elevated green with tall trees behind it. From the tee there is a hidden water trap on the left and a bunker to the right of the green.

Hole 14
A par 4 hole, where the men tee off with a water trap just to the left . There is also a large bunker to the left of the elevated green. There is a nasty water trap right across the fairway about 60 yards from the green (it caught me!) and then bunkers awaiting on either side of the approach to the green.

Hole 15
Another par 4 hole with palm trees to the right and left of the mens’ tee and a water trap at about 230 yards on the left which seemed difficult to avoid. This green is also elevated with sharp runoffs at the back.

Hole 16
A par 5 hole where men tee off over a water trap, with another small one to the right. The left hand lake continues up on the left of the fairly wide fairway with trees on either side through a fairly narrow opening to the well elevated green with sharp runoffs to all sides and there are well placed trees along the fairway.

Hole 17
A short par 3 to a smallish raised green. Accuracy is needed with the tee shot or you could be in the trees on the right. There are bunkers to the left and right of the green.

Hole 18
A par 4 hole with a lovely wide fairway but trees to the left and bunkers to the right (2) and left (1) on the approach to the green. If you stay straight this is quite a trouble free hole.