Hole Description.

The beginning of the back 9 at Royal Palm is as difficult as the finish to the front 9. From the tee players look upon a lush green fairway running through the middle of thick rough and trees. Down the left side of the hole sits OB which can easily catch any ball that comes too close. A large old tree in the distance acts as the turning point for this sharp dog legged fairway 265 yards from the tee. As the dog leg takes its turn the fairway landing area narrows with dense trees on the right and of course OB on the left. At the corner of the dog leg the view of the large green is in sight for the player. A mid to long iron approach requires a solid strike to avoid the bunkers on the right and the hidden lake which is generously fed by the sloping fairway. Once on the green notice the speed of the surface from back to front as a lazy approach to the green can add more shots to an already difficult hole. This hole demands a well hit and accurate tee shot, followed by the same with the second shot.

The Pro’s Way:-

There are two ways to play this hole. The conservative way would be to use a fairway wood off the tee, aiming at the large tree at the corner of the dog leg 265 yards away. From this position the green lies 150 yards away. A mid iron to a generous target will give you the safest option to make a very difficult par. The second option will defiantly require the best drive of the day. A solid shot with the driver, cutting off the corner of the right tree line, will need to carry 270 yards to reach the narrow landing area. The ideal line for this shot is over the 17th tee that can be seen in between the trees. Be warned that a ball slightly left or right of this line will result in OB or being tangled up in the trees. If this risky shot lands safely on the fairway, then a shot of 110 yards will be all that is left. The choice is yours – You have been warned!

The Amateurs Way:-

This is a very difficult hole and caution should be taken all the way. The line from the tee with the driver of fairway wood is the large tree perched on the corner of the dog leg. The yardage to this point from the tee is 265 yards so there is quite a lot of fairway to play with. To avoid being blocked out from the green on your second shot, slightly favor the left side of the fairway to open up the view of the rest of the hole. Plot your way up this hole carefully as a second shot which is slightly leaked to the right will be taken hostage by the hidden lake to the right of the fairway. Pay attention to the speed of this green as the slope from back to front is severe.