HOLE 1 PAR 4 (333m)
Playing from elevated tees, this short par four demands accuracy as the landing area is actually much tighter than it appears and often into prevailing wind. The ideal line is to the left side of the fairway near the creek, taking the large tree on the right and a greenside bunker out of play. Depending on the pin position, this can be a difficult green to read.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 3.98 (Rank 6)
HOLE 2 PAR 3 (157m)
While it involves an intimidating tee shot over a deep ravine, this hole is not as difficult as it appears. There is room short of the green and a sliver of fairway to the left, but don’t hit it to the right. Club selection will be important.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 2.98 (Rank 6)
HOLE 3 PAR 5 (482m)
Avoiding the heavily vegetated hillside on the left, a strong drive down the right side can put a player in a position to reach in two. Although playing along the left side will shorten the hole slightly, this may result in a blind second shot from a low fairway valley. For the average player, the second shot must be accurate to avoid fairway bunkers and allow for the best angle into the green.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 4.38 (Rank 17)
HOLE 4 PAR 4 (444m) *new tee box
A long hole playing over and adjacent to the wetlands with a densely wooded hill beyond the green. This slight dog-leg left requires little strategy, but precise execution. A long tee shot that avoids the left side bunker is required so that the player can have the shortest possible club onto the small green, with the wetland hazard stretching along the entire left side.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 4.03 (Rank 4)
HOLE 5 PAR 4 (421m)
Like the fourth, this hole also plays along and through the open wetland area. The fairway is wide and the player can hit his drive to the left away from the water, but this will leave a tough approach over greenside bunkers and – if you stray too far left – a small cluster of palm trees. The ideal tee shot will be near the wetland hazard on the right, allowing the player to hit a slight draw onto the green.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 3.93 (Rank 10)
HOLE 6 PAR 4 (339m)
A short par four with spectacular views from an elevated tee, with the fairway tapering and getting narrower the closer you get to the green. The golfer must thus decide which club to use from the tee. The green is extremely small with severe trouble surrounding its perimeter, so the approach has to be precise.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 3.84 (Rank 13)
HOLE 7 PAR 3 (175m)
Located in a self-contained valley with heavy vegetation all around, this hole plays from an elevated tee area into a large bowl area. The green is long but narrow, with a deep pot bunker on the left side. Accuracy will be the key here, and if the wind blows, club selection will be difficult. The green has some strong undulations which require good chipping and putting.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 2.98 (Rank 6)
HOLE 8 PAR 4 (376m)
This tough par four climbs uphill and doglegs to the right, often into the prevailing wind. The fairway is wide, but shots leaked to the right will find a deep swale leaving a blind shot to the green. The large mound in the front right corner of the large green creates a very difficult right side pin position.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 3.81 (Rank 14)
HOLE 9 PAR 4 (412m)
The view is spectacular from the hillside tees but the drive is intimidating as the steep quarry cliff on the left blocks the left half of the fairway. There’s room on the right but a tee shot hit too far right will leave the golfer with a blind shot with trees and bunkers to negotiate. A tee shot directly at the fairway bunker is the best line for all but the longest hitters. The green has subtle contours that allow for many interesting pin positions.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 4.01 (Rank 5)
HOLE 10 PAR 4 (415m)
The opening hole of the back nine plays adjacent to the main lake on the left, starting with a downhill tee shot to a generous landing area – but take note of any wind coming in from left to right. Long hitters must avoid the deep pot bunkers on the right centre of the fairway. The approach is uphill to a split level green.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 4.04 (Rank 3)
HOLE 11 PAR 5 (509m)
This is a dramatic hole which demands a confident drive over a portion of the lake on the left, carrying a sharp cliff on the far side. The shorter hitter can play safely to the right to minimize the carry, but this adds considerable distance to the hole. From the elevated landing area, the golfer can view the green set tightly against the lake. Reachable in two but the second shot must be perfect.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 4.81 (Rank 14)
HOLE 12 PAR 4 (441m)
The longest par four on the course played as the toughest hole in the 2010 with an average of 4.23. The elevated tees provide a view of the entire hole, and the wide driving area allows for a full rip with the driver. Fairway bunkers require the very long hitter to be more accurate, but a well struck shot into this area will reward the player with a middle iron onto the green.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 4.23 (Rank 1)
HOLE 13 PAR 4 (386m)
This is a demanding hole that requires accuracy from tee to green. A confidently-controlled drive will be required to reach the landing area, flanked by a wetland to the right and trees on the left. More wetlands on the left of the well-contoured green threaten the approach, which requires conviction and nerve.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 3.94 (Rank 9)
HOLE 14 PAR 3 (177m)
This pretty par three offers several challenges including club selection. Tees are plentiful and placed to offer a variety of lengths and shot-making angles, over the narrow lake neck to reach the green. There is generous room on either side of the green.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 3.11 (Rank 2)
HOLE 15 PAR 4 (267m)
This is the shortest par four on the course and presents several options from the tee. A bold player can attempt to hit driver and get the ball close to the green, but such a shot requires a long carry over water onto a small landing area. The safe option is a hybrid over the fairway bunker leaving a short pitch to the green, guarded by water on the right and bunkers on the left.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 3.45 (Rank 16)
HOLE 16 PAR 3 (169m)
Certainly the most dramatic and intimidating par three on the course. A long carry over the large lake is required, with the safe route to a neck of fairway on the left but that will result in a difficult chip to the green. A par here will be a great score.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 2.91 (Rank 12)
HOLE 17 PAR 5 (478m)
The shortest par five on the course is reachable in two by skilled players, provided the tee shot finds the right half of the elevated plateau fairway. Drives that stray too far right could result in a lost ball or unplayable lie on the steep downslope. To reach the small green in two, the shot must carry all the way to the green and stop quickly before running into the deep, blind pot bunker beyond.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 4.29 (Rank 18)
HOLE 18 PAR 4 (409m)
The closing hole is terraced into a sidehill lined by trees on both sides. The ideal tee shot will be along the right side of the fairway to open up the optimum angle of approach to the green. The back portion of the undulating green has some tricky slopes.
Average score during the 2010 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic: 3.93 (Rank 11)