THE GOLF COURSE - APHRODITE HILLS GOLF

A tricky opening to the round. An 18th century kiln lies in the centre of the fairway, so the best line for the drive is just down the right side. This is a large green, so make sure you have enough club on your approach to finish pin-high or you could have a tough opening putt.

Use a long iron or fairway wood for position. There are no fairway bunkers but still favour the right side. This leaves an easier approach, usually with a mid-iron, into a green that slopes left to right and back to front.

A tough uphill par 5 with the black tee over the canyon. From the drive, the ball tends to feed into the centre. Long hitters can reach the green in two, but if you can’t, lay up just past the cross bunker, to leave an open pitch into this long green.

The perfect drive at this long but slightly downhill par 4 is from the bunker on the right edge of the fairway, with a touch of draw. Be careful not to hit too far left, as the trees obscure your line into the green. The approach looks shorter than it actually is, so trust the distance.

Aim to get the ball pin-high. If the flag is on the back horseshoe of the green, it is better to take one club more. When the pin is in the bowl at the front, the ball will feed in from both sides, but beware, anything hit to the back of the green, when the flag is forward, leaves a treacherous putt or three.

A birdie chance. Long hitters can hit without restraint over the fairway bunker down the right side, giving the possibility of reaching in two. For others, it is safer to hit a fairway wood into the very tight landing between the bunkers. The landing area for the second shot is very wide and the best line in with your third, is from the left side.

A spectacular par 3. Be aware of the wind direction through the ravine, both the green and tee can be protected and fool your choice of club selection. Aim at the left half of the green , this leaves a bigger margin of error for a wayward tee shot. The green is large, but watch out for the subtle breaks, even on the short putts.

Play with caution, as there is an out of bounds area to the right and a lateral hazard to the left. This hole also has an ancient olive press in the centre of the fairway, not visible from the back tees. Hit a long iron or fairway wood, down towards the fairway bunker on the right. This side is more elevated and gives a much better view of the very long green.

The best line is down the left, towards the fairway bunkers. There is a lot more room down this side than there first appears. This opens up the approach into a green that slopes towards you. Try and keep the ball below the hole on this deceptive green or be faced with a treacherous downhill putt.

For most it is out of reach in two shots. There is ample room off the tees and more emphasis must be placed on the second shot, as the fairway narrows the closer you get to the green. Push for those extra few metres and the water to the left and the bunker to the right, come well into play.

Aim over the right of the three cross-bunkers for safety. The line is over the left bunker and requires a big carry. The approach is uphill into a long green. Take one more club that the yardage suggests, especially when the pin is in the back half of the green.

The prevailing wind nearly always helps. Select a club to pitch short of the hole, from the slightly elevated tees, as the ball usually releases forward, on this very long and well-bunkered green. Don’t go too big as there is a sharp drop-off behind and to the right of the green.

Avoid the ravine to the right, and aim towards the bottom of the hills, on the left. The ball will feed down to the centre of the fairway and leave a short to mid-iron approach. The green slopes from left to right. Keep the ball below the hole for an easier uphill putt.

Avoid taking too much off the dogleg, as there is a lot of hidden trouble on the right side. Hit a long iron or fairway wood towards the right edge of the bunkers. For the approach, all trouble is short of the green. Hit one or two clubs more into the prevailing wind. From the back of the green it is possible to save par.

Playing into the prevailing wind from these elevated tees requires more club than you first think. Aim towards the right half of the green to be safe, anything too far left can lead to trouble and a high score. From the right you can save par, but a 4 is still a good score on this long par 3.

Possibly the most demanding par 4. The drive must be kept down the left half of the fairway. Once past the bunker, to the left side, the green opens up for the approach. The long second shot will often roll down towards the front of the green. The green itself is fairly flat – reaching it is the difficulty!

This medium length par 3 has a large front portion of green that will not pose any difficulty. When the pin is in the back right portion, a high fade is required to hold the ball on the green. Opt for the heart of the green and face an awkward breaking putt over a small rise.

Hit your tee shot towards the right side of the mounded fairway bunker. A big drive will run past the bunker, and an extra roll down the hill could leave the temptation to go for it. There is plenty of room to lay up into the sculptured areas to the left of the water. The further towards the green, the more water you will take out of play for your approach leading to a possible closing birdie.