Hole Description.

The green is hidden from view from the tee area due to a slight dog leg to the right. Trees and mounds run up both sides of the fairway forcing the first shot of the day to be an accurate one. If the tee shot is hit to the right then the second shot will almost certainly be blocked out by the trees. A ball hit left will also find the same thick rough, trees and sloping mounds, making the approach shot extremely difficult.
Even with a well execute tee shot to the heart of the fairway, the approach shot to the well guarded green will still test your nerve. Two bunkers to the right of the green will catch anything slightly pushed, while a deep bunker on the left will cause problems to even the best sand players. The long, narrow, contoured green makes chipping and putting very difficult to judge. On in two is really the only chance of making a par at this testing first hole.

The Pro’s Way:-

To give the best sight of the green on your approach, aim slightly up the right side of the fairway with a fairway wood or long iron. The contour of the mounds will bring the ball back into the perfect approach position. A fairway wood or long iron of 240 yards will give the best angle straight up the green by taking the bunkers out of play. The ideal tee shot will leave a wedge shot of 110 yards to the front of the green. Remember to check the flag for the pin position on the green.

The Amateurs Way:-

A high score on this opening hole is likely if your strategy is weak. Leave the driver in the bag and opt for a fairway wood to increase your chances of hitting the fairway. An extreme right shot could flirt with out of bounds over the fence of the driving range. Plan to hit your ball down the left center of the fairway. There is more room down the left as long as you avoid the large tree approximately 150 yards from the tee. A good tee shot will leave a short iron approach to the troubled green. A par at this first hole will be a superb start to a fascinating round of golf at Royal Palm.