LOCH PALM GOLF CLUB

The front 9


      • Hole 1 – The first hole requires a water carry on the right off the tee. If you over-compensate for the water you can easily find yourself in the big bunker on the left side of the fairway. Large bunkers also stand to the right and left of the triangular green. A hill and palm trees form a backstop behind the green of this par 4.
      • Hole 2 – Hole number two is a par-5 dogleg right with a deep bunker and the lake impinging on the green from the right. With a long drive you can go for the green in two, or lay up and try to use an easy approach to get the ball close and below the pin.
      • Hole 3 -The third hole is a short par 4 dogleg right. Focus on well placed tee shot to the left center of the fairway, which will open up the hole to a relatively simple approach shot
      • Hole 4 – Hole four is a par three that requires a carry over water even from the closest tee. From the back tee a carry over the length of the lake is necessary to reach the green, which has bunkers set on either side of its “jaw”.
      • Hole 5 – The par 5 fifth is the longest hole on the course and one of the longest holes in Thailand. The most likely landing area for tee shots has a cluster of bunkers to its right and a lake on the left. More water off to the left down the fairway provides further distraction. This hole requires an almost perfect shot off the tee, an almost perfect fairway wood and an almost perfect approach iron to the green.
      • >Hole 6 – As you stand on the tee box of the sixth hole, a par four, and look for the green what you see is the lake, trees and a waterfall. The scenic beauty alone is enough to distract you from your purpose. The hole is a sharp dogleg right, with water all along the right and is heavily bunkered around the green.
      • Hole 7 – The seventh hole, a short par 4, features water along the right side of the fairway from tee to green. Trees are on the left, but the wide fairway is all downhill and it is an enjoyable hole if you can stay out of the bunkers that guard the left, right and front of the green.
      • Hole 8 – Hole eight is a par three that plays to an obliquely set green that has tough bunkers on the left and at the back. Look out for the tree!
      • Hole 9 – The ninth hole, a dogleg par 4, requires a long drive if you are going to get on in regulation. Housing along the right may prove a distraction. The green is very large and challenging and has two bunkers at the front.

The back 9


      • Hole 10 – The dogleg par 4 tenth hole plays downhill from an elevated tee box that has the look and feel of a gunnery position. The target is to the right of the fairway bunker. If you go too far right though, on this difficult fairway, you may find yourself with a very hard shot into the green. The green has contours that are as beautiful as they are dangerous
      • Hole 11 – There is a risk and reward for all levels of players on this par 5 eleventh hole. Log hitters may reach in two but need to thread a drive between the bunkers on the left and a creek on the right. The decision to cross the creek with the second shot will determined by the drive. An elevated green with contours makes the final approach critical.
      • Hole 12 – Left to right players find this par four to their liking. Avoiding the bunker though is still important and there is a temptation to cut the corner over the water hazard. Stay on the fairway though and a birdie is possible.
      • Hole 13 – The longest par 4 on the course suited to big hitters and right to left players. Bunkers dot the fairway but a friendly green can assist the score if the approach is imaginative
      • Hole 14 – A stunning par 3 with a large undulating green guarded by water all the way around and a long beach bunker in front, 60 feet below the tee. Wind and elevation play havoc with the club selection. Strategy is important here as merely hitting the green will not guarantee a par.
      • Hole 15 – A good drive is the key to this testing par 4. The raised landing area is set between a cluster of bunkers. Stay as close to the right as possible to create the best angle of approach over the creek. The green is tightly guarded by sand and water
      • Hole 16 – The sixteenth hole is a straight forward long par 3 with a large bunkers on the right front and side of the green with another one at the back left. The Crystal Lake skirts the right side of the hole. The demand here is placed on putting once you are on this severely contoured green.
      • Hole 17 – The seventeenth is short and straight but all uphill. The emphasis should be on accuracy in approaching the green, as there are lots of bunkers all around it and it has a relatively small putting surface. Stay on the right for an easier approach angle.
      • Hole 18 – The eighteenth is a par 5 dogleg left that points back to the clubhouse and is one of the toughest holes on The course. Featured here is an extremely challenging narrow fairway with mounds and the Crystal Lake all along its right, from the back of the first fairway bunker.