YAS LINKS

“It cannot be inherited, and if you want it you must obtain it by great labour.”

A course that will test professionals, enthral amateurs and excite beginners. A course that honours the traditions of the game, demands respect, yet offers so much. A course that celebrates the best in Links design, utilizes the unique weather conditions and complements its natural surroundings. A course that blends the latest in techniques and technology with the timeless traditions of the game. A course that is ready to be played, enjoyed and discovered by you.

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Hole 1 – Par 4

A welcoming introduction to the rumpled fairways and rugged dunes that are characteristic of Yas Links.  A tee shot down the left side that avoids the large bunker on the right will yield the best angle for an open approach shot. True to links golf, the green sits “on the ground” and is simply an extension of the fairway ground in front of it.

Hole 2 – Par 5

The shortest of the par-fives, this hole often plays into the coastal winds.  Running through a valley in the dunes, there are several natural “blow out” bunkers that frame the fairway. The green is well protected on the right side, but a long low running second shot has a chance of finding the putting surface, which falls away from the line of play.

Hole 3 – Par 4

The first of the eight coastline holes. The fairway bends left around the shoreline to a green tucked just behind a dune. You can either take on the water and the bunkers on the inside of the dogleg with your tee shot, or play it safe to the right. An opening framed by the dune on the right will accept a low running approach shot, but beware of the front right bunker.

Hole 4 – Par 3

The only inland par-three on the course, it plays to a massive green nestled among the dunes. The safe line is to the left side of the green, but to reach the more challenging right side pins, the line of play cuts over the large dune bunker on the right that is actually detached from the front of the green by 20 meters and protected by two “blind” bunkers.

Hole 5 – Par 4

Five plays from an elevated tee with views back towards the coast.  A controlled tee shot to the left side of the fairway is ideal, as a large, slightly detached bunker guards the front right of the green.  The green narrows in the back, falls away towards the sea and is protected by bunkers left, and back right.

Hole 6 – Par 4

A long par four that plays away from the sea. Tee shots must avoid the left side bunker to maintain a chance of reaching the green in two. The green is large and receptive to approach shots, especially up the right side, but beware of the large dune bunker front right and the ‘invisible’ bunkers left of the green.

Hole 8 – Par 3

A seaside par three that plays slightly downhill to the green that sits dangerously close to the water’s edge on the right. When the pin is near the water, the wise shot is to the left side of the green where contours will feed balls back towards the centre of the green.

Hole 9 – Par 4

The longest and arguably the most challenging par-four on the front nine. A classic “Cape” style hole, the drive must carry the water on the right.  Bite off as much as you dare to shorten your approach to the green.  The long bunker on the water’s edge will only be carried by the longest hitters; others must play short or left of it.  Whilst front of the green is void of bunkers, the green falls from front to back making this approach a fun, but very delicate one to execute.

Hole 10 – Par 4

Short dogleg right, par-four, that plays downhill from the clubhouse.  The second dune bunker on the left side of fairway is a good line for long drivers.  A solid drive will leave a short pitch to an elevated green that is protected by large bunkers both front and right.  One of the few holes where an aerial approach shot is favoured.

Hole 11 – Par 5

An inland par five that plays from a high dune ridge down into a narrow valley.  A classic tactical links hole loaded with various hillocks, hollows, and bunkers throughout.  Two solid shots that avoid the trouble should leave a short pitch to the green that sits naturally at the end of the valley and is surrounded by an amphitheatre of large dunes.  The approach is open, but several bunkers surrounding the edges will catch anything slightly offline.

Hole 12 – Par 4

The best line to drive is down the right side into a valley framed by a huge sand dune on the right. From here the hole turns left, to an uphill approach. A ridge in front of the green makes the green appear closer than it is. A long aggressive tee shot that can carry over the bunkers to the plateau on the left will leave a shorter and easier approach. In the spirit of the Old Course at St. Andrews, the green surface is shared with that of #15 so take note of the day’s pin position where you will return shortly.

Hole 13 – Par 3

Nowhere is precision more important than at this “wee” par three. With the coastline wrapping the front, right, and back of this peninsula green and bunkers guarding its left side, there is no place for the faint of heart. Be confident and take direct aim.

Hole 14 – Par 4

When playing downwind, this is a driveable par-four for long hitters, but not an easy decision given the number of hazards. The shoreline runs the length of the hole and the green is protected by a huge obscuring dune. The majority of players should play a drive out left to the generous fairway. The short approach plays to a large undulating green dominated by a roll over ridge in the left front.

Hole 15 – Par 4

The demanding four-hole journey home starts here. Don’t hold back with the driver, the landing area is very generous on this lengthy par 4. Go to the right side bunker. Approach shots that just clear the bunker on the right will feed towards the green, which is boldly contoured and protected by bunkers left and a low hollow on the right.

Hole 16 – Par 4

This hole returns to the sea, for three of the most dramatic finishing holes in golf. With water along the left side, there is ample fairway off the tee on the right. Bail out too far right and the green begins to disappear behind a large dune on the right creating a difficult angle of approach. The infinity edge green narrows significantly in the back, fitting tightly between the dune and the Sea.

Hole 17 – Par 3

A stunning hole! Tees are arranged at various angles playing across an inlet in the coastline that forms a tranquil bay. Tee shots must carry the water to a green that sits far out on a point and is framed by dramatic blow out dune bunkers. A shot played just over the largest of these bunkers on the right will find a patch of fairway that helps to feed shots toward the green. Even though the green is larger than it might first appear, the coastal breezes will make proper club selection vital.

Hole 18 – Par 5

To finish a dramatic “Risk/Reward” par-five! Will you gamble or play it safe? The shoreline down the left creates two pronounced bays that must be negotiated first from the tee and again on the second shot. The fairway landing area on the drive is the widest on the course, but a long central bunker breaks it into two distinctive options. The “Eagle” line is to the left, leaving the shortest distance to the green. The safer option down the right will appeal to par seekers. The green sits out on a point and approaches beg you to bite off as much as you dare. The narrow, undulating green is surrounded by hazards, including water and sand bunkers to the left and tightly mown hollows to the right and off the back.