In stark contrast to its two sister courses (The Old Course and Pinhal), Laguna is without pines and, as the name suggests, incorporates water lakes in its fairly flat layout.
It used to have three nine-hole loops. The former east and South loops now form the 18-hole Laguna course. The former North loop was renovated for combining with a new nine to form the Millennium Course opened in June.
The first hole here is an impressive par 5. Golf players need a good drive and second shot, and have to carry an impressive array of bunkers to find the stepped green. And that’s the least of the worries, because the green slope to its front, creating huge borrows, with the step to complicate the line.
The par 4 fifth strikes terror for even the staunchest player. Yes, the tee is nicely elevated, but the overhanging trees on your left narrow the line of the drive that has a lake to carry: it’s about 160 metres. If the player is lucky enough to strike the ball well, then there are waiting bunkers beyond the landing area. |
