Ireland Course
# 1 / Anticipation
Par: 4
Yardage by Tee:
VARDON 436
GOLD 403
TOMMY ARMOUR 352
WILLIE 352
VARE 309
Pro Tips
Keep tee shot just inside of the right bunkers. The green is bunkered, front left and middle right. If you do not find the putting surface with your approach, miss short left or long right, where the short grass lets you chip on to save your par.
# 2 / Hartman’s Gulch
Par: 4
Yardage by Tee:
VARDON 411
GOLD 373
TOMMY ARMOUR 373
WILLIE 339
VARE 301
Pro Tips
Avoid bunkers on the left, rough, mounds and water on the right of the tee. Your second shot needs to carry the “gulch” that fronts the green and avoid the two bunkers on the right of the green.
# 3 / Far & Away
Par: 4
Yardage by Tee:
VARDON 462
GOLD 446
TOMMY ARMOUR 407
WILLIE 407
VARE 279
Pro Tips
Requires a good solid drive across the “burn”, avoiding the bunker short right and two target bunkers on the left. Your second shot will either be a long iron or fairway metal, which should be aimed at the left front of the green in order to take the three bunkers on the front right out of play. Take a two-putt par and move on!
# 4 / Tom’s Triumph
Par: 3
Yardage by Tee:
VARDON 188
GOLD 160
TOMMY ARMOUR 160
WILLIE 142
VARE 121
Pro Tips
This gorgeous gem can be just as sinister as it is attractive. The front bunker and back right are illusionary, but the two guarding the green are very real and deep. This green has three distinct levels, so make sure your tee ball finds the right one for that birdie putt.
# 5 / Across the Burn
Par: 4
Yardage by Tee:
VARDON 429
GOLD 399
TOMMY ARMOUR 399
WILLIE 370
VARE 335
Pro Tips
Requires an accurate tee and approach shot. Anything left of the small pot bunker or short of the bridge may find the water. Your approach must avoid the deep pot bunker guarding the front of the green, and the two “cribbed” bunkers short left. Use a fairway metal to be safe.
# 6 / Brave Heart
Par: 5
Yardage by Tee:
VARDON 585
GOLD 554
TOMMY ARMOUR 518
WILLIE 518
VARE 479
Pro Tips
This long hole is reachable in two, as it plays predominantly downwind. Avoid the bunker to the right of the landing area and the pots on the left of the tee. Though the green may be reachable, the fairway near the green slopes hard right. The smart play may be a long iron toward the left side bunker.
# 7 / Round Table
Par: 3
Yardage by Tee:
VARDON 210
GOLD 189
TOMMY ARMOUR 189
WILLIE 165
VARE 143
Pro Tips
This “one-shotter” fans out from each tee and offers completely different looks at the green. The bump and run will not work here. A high shot with a lot of spin will find the putting surface and offer a birdie.
# 8 / Two Roads
Par: 4
Yardage by Tee:
VARDON 333
GOLD 303
TOMMY ARMOUR 303
WILLIE 267
VARE 247
Pro Tips
Which way to travel is up to the individual. Three Cavernous bunkers guard the high ground with two more soldiers defending the front left of the green. If you take the low road, beware of the large deep bunker with teeth guarding the right side and a back bunker protecting the two-tiered green. Try the high road for a significant reward.
# 9 / Three Shots
Par: 5
Yardage by Tee:
VARDON 626
GOLD 581
TOMMY ARMOUR 539
WILLIE 539
VARE 411
Pro Tips
You may need a drain of Scotch or Irish Whisky after Ireland Nine, but very few if any will get home in two on this hole. Avoid the trouble left, right and center. Play a medium to long iron third to a large green protected by only one deep bunker in the middle.