Hole Description.

The 9th at Royal Palm is a dog leg swinging from right to left. The view from the tee allows the player to see any immediate danger. OB sits to the left of the tree line down the left side, two large fairway bunkers, nestled in the rough on the right will catch a ball sent to the right. Another fairway bunker in the distance which is too far out to come into play, acts as a perfect line from the tee. The dog leg turns to the left after the tree line on the left, approximately 240 yards from the tee. The view of the green on the corner of the dog leg shows the flag lying below the level of the fairway with a large bunker on the left of the green, and a hidden bunker 15 yards short right of the green. A lake down the left side of the later part of the fairway can come into play for a ball which is pulled to the left on the approach to the green. The positioning of the approach on the green is all important on this putting surface. A huge mound in the center of the green almost splits the green into two parts. A ball in the opposite section to the flag is definitely in 3 putt territory.

The Pro’s Way:-

The fairway bunker in the distance with a slight draw is the perfect line with a 3 wood or driver. A well executed tee shot will leave a short iron approach of around 130 yards to the ever difficult pin position. To make a par you must position your approach on the same side of the green as the flag.

The Amateur’s Way:-

Aim towards the fairway bunker in the distance with the driver, trying to avoid the two bunkers in the right rough. A good drive of 240 yards will leave you in the perfect position to attack the green. As the green is set below the level of the fairway, the yardage from 160 yards will play slightly shorter than usual. To avoid embarrassment on the putting surface, aim to position your approach on the same level as the flag.