COURSE LAYOUT AND ANALYSIS

View the layout of The Montgomerie, Dubai Championship Course

Hole 1
This opening par 4 begins with a tee shot onto a generous landing area lying within rolling mounds, conveying a genuine feel of what is to come. Be careful with your second shot ~ aim to hit the same side of the green as the flag is placed to prevent a challenging putt across this undulating and tricky green.

Hole 2
This dogleg right par 4 has a tendency to make you aim further right than is required. This is the hole�s only real trouble spot. Try to favour the left side of the fairway. The shot to the expansive green looks inviting for your target, however, leaving yourself a long putt on this undulating green can be as tricky as a wedge shot played from off the green.

Hole 3
This hole is tough due to its length and deceptive wind direction. It takes two strong shots to reach the green. The tee shot needs to avoid the well positioned fairway bunker on the right. Faced with a greenside bunker possessing a ridge from left to right and that sits well short of the green, you are left with a deceptive second shot which leaves very little margin for error.

Hole 4
The Snake Hole. This hole takes its name from the bunkering behind the green and the ridge separating the two fairways in play for this hole. The most direct line to the green is the left fairway. Beware, bunkers lurk to catch a miscued second shot and the landing area look generous although slopes severely, testing the approach shot to the flag. The easiest approach is from the right fairway. This snake does bite!

Hole 5
This hole needs some intelligent play if you�re going to be happy with your score. Shorter in length than the previous par 4 holes, it needs a good tee shot to avoid bunkers on both sides of the fairway. The second shot in must be accurate for distance control. A ridge runs across the middle of the green. If you�re on the opposite side to the flag, 3 putts are beckoning!

Hole 6
The par 3 6th is one of the most daunting sights in golf. This savior testing hole has water hazards running short, long and right of this very narrow green. Nothing less than a solid contact with the right club will be good enough.

Hole 7
A dogleg right par 4, the fairway is framed by majestic bunkering on either side with water defending across the short right area. The easiest tee shot is straight off the tee, but the second shot is definitely tougher the further back you play from. For the brave, try to carry the first set of bunkers to reach the fairway, leaving a much easier second shot ~ but bite off too much at your peril with a watery grave.

Hole 8
Standing on the tee at this par 3 is a pleasure to the eye. The hole is defended by a cluster of bunkers running across the front left side. There is one bunker to the short right as well, but the steep drop right of the green is the main defense on that side. The green has a step which will play havoc with any putt that has to roll across it. Into a prevailing wind, a shot played into the heart of this green will leave you with a huge sense of accomplishment.

Hole 9
Long sweeping dogleg left par 5 with water down the left which attracts a lot of errant tee shots. The second shot played from the fairway has water waiting left and right of the fairway so club selection and commitment to your chosen target is essential. The 3rd shot to this 3-tiered green requires good distance control to leave you with any chance of a birdie putt.

Hole 10
On this par 4 you feel that its time to get a shot back from the course. The tee shot requires you to negotiate the staggered bunkers placed on each side of the fairway. The longer tee shots will gain distance as they kick down the slope towards the green, leaving a short iron in. The green itself is raised, sitting diagonally from front right to left, causing players to miss this easy target with bunkers waiting left and behind the green.

Hole 11
This par 4 bends to the left with a bunker waiting for the short tee shots on the left corner and mounds on the right of tee shots that run through the fairway. You require a shot onto the middle of the fairway to leave yourself with a mid-iron in. Green placement is considerably higher than the area around it, with slopes across it and bunkers seemingly everywhere. The only place you want to hit your second shot is from the fairway. A shot off target now will run up a big number on your card on a seemingly straightforward hole.

Hole 12
This par 4, measuring 463 yards off the back pearl tee, plays into a prevailing wind. You require two strong shots to reach this small green and just when you think you have done all the hard work, you will find the green has ridges splitting it into three portions. You will have a tricky 2 putts left if you are not on the same portion.

Hole 13
Created in the shape of the U.A.E and boasting a 360 degree teeing area, this island fairway and green allows for a completely different golf hole to be played every time. The wind swirls around this area of the course so a confident tee shot will keep you away from the water and offer you the chance of birdie.

Hole 14
This par 5 requires an accurate drive down the fairway. Players are left with a choice of playing well short to avoid the fairway bunker that stretches 80 yards from the green down the fairway. For the stronger players, go for the green in 2. It is important to hit the same area of green as the flag is placed. Two big swells across the green make putting from one side to the other very difficult.

Hole 15
A short par 4, your tee shot needs to avoid the bunkers that run down the right hand side of this fairway. A driver is not a must but you do need to hit the fairway to give yourself the best possible approach to this green. Your second shot needs to be accurate enough to find the green ~ there are obstacles lurking all around with bunkers, slopes and run off areas.

Hole 16
A par on this hole will leave you feeling elated. The tee shot has a narrow landing area with bunkers to the right and mounds to the left. Faced with such a prospect and knowing you can only reach it if you take a driver sets the stage for this hole. The second shot requires a long iron or wood into a prevailing wind, played to an elevated green with bunkers waiting on both sides. Anything less that perfect will not do. This green holds some subtle breaks that, at first look, may elude you. Do not let your guard down until you walk off the green.

Hole 17
The feature of this hole is the hand shaped bunker guarding the front of the green which makes for some tricky bunker shots if you get caught in the fingers. At only 168 yards from the black pearl tees and a generous green target, take the opportunity to attack!

Hole 18
Standing on the tee looking down this par 5 is quite a daunting sight. This hole has spoilt many stories of a player�s great game of golf. There is no choice off the tee but to hit the fairway you look down on. Water lies short and on each side for over 300yards. The second shot requires another wood which again needs full concentration with water left, right and just short of the green for the longer hitters. The fairway has a lot of undulations leaving it a lottery of what type of sloping lie you will be left with. The wind normally blows to make the shot more confusing, the green is narrow and long with water at the front, so club selection is tough. There is no room for doubt over this shot. The swing needs to be made with full commitment or you will certainly pay the consequences. A ball landing on the green gives you a great opportunity of a birdie on this soft sloping green.