Opened for play in 1984, the Garden Course has undergone a major redevelopment in 2019 by internationally acclaimed golf course designer, Robert Trent Jones II. The garden course has transformed into a beautiful par-71, 18-hole course that speaks of an illustrious heritage amidst a garden paradise, offering a refreshingly different golfing experience today.
Download scorecardThe opening hole features a wide landing area that narrows the further down you hit your drive. This is a strong opening par 4 that will test golfers' skill levels from the very first shot. Approach shots to this elevated green will favour shots hit from left to right. The preferred playing line is to take the front bunker out of play by utilising the left and back contours to shape shots into this large green.
Golfers arrive at the downhill par 3 from one of the highest points on the course. A good panorama of the course can be seen here. This hole appears to be surrounded entirely by sand however there are a few hidden safe bail out areas to the right and front left that will help players negotiate this hole.
A long meandering serpentine par 5 is punctuated by a central "decision” bunker. The best angle into the green will be by taking on this central bunker and approaching the green from the right side of the fairway.
A shorter par 4 that plays to a wide fairway, a slightly tilted left to right sloped fairway should be noted as balls will have a tendency to collect on the right side of the fairway. Players aim toward the left side of fairway which will set up the best angle to approach the elevated green.
This straight away par 4 has two strategic bunkers that can be used as aiming points depending on the intended distance of your tee shot and skill level. The best place to approach this green from is as close to the far-left fairway bunker as possible. Be careful of the front left green contour as it will collect balls away from green.
The only bunker-less par 4 on the course. The strength of this hole lies in the green complex. Best line off the tee is to the safe right side of the fairway and utilize the ground to roll shots into a multifaceted green surrounded in fairway turf and an intruding lake on the left.
This hole is highlighted by a small pot bunker on the left side of the green. A large collection hollow is beyond the green and take an extra club on days when the pin is located at the back-hole location. The first half of this green tilts from back to front and the last half of the green's movement is toward the collection hollow.
A slight dogleg right hole is short but if attention is not paid to proper tee placement it will become a difficult hole quickly. The green is heavily fortified by bunkers on the back right and back left. Members tip- a good place to miss this green is a hidden fairway hollow on the front left of green.
We arrive at the second par 5 of the round, which also concludes the front nine. This straight away long hole requires players to plan their strategy around three indented fairway bunkers. Approach shots into the green should favor the right side of fairway. A deep menacing green side bunker on the left should be avoided. Smart players will use the ground contours on the front right of green to roll shots onto a peninsula shaped green.
We start the front nine with a medium to short length par 4 that plays over a horizon line fairway. The green is sheltered within a low point with the right portion of green protected by a bunker. A fairway hollow to the left side of the green can be used as a good place to miss shots.
This green will gladly accept shots hit from left to right. RTJ II’s recommendation is to take one extra club and shape shots in off the fairway bank on the left side of green. If you negotiate the small greenside bunker on the left, you will take the pond completely out of play.
The shortish par 4 on the course requires skill off the tee, to a green that is mostly open. This half punchbowl green slopes from high left to low right. There is a hidden fairway hollow that will gather shots that are too aggressive for back right hole locations.
A boomerang par 5 plays out of a shoot of existing trees downhill to a tilted fairway. The middle of this hole plays through a valley. Approach shots into this bunker less green will test players nerve as a lake is positioned directly behind the green that awaits mishit shots
This island green, was reimagined from the original design and the large green will requires a dose of precision, nerve, and skill.
This straight away par 4 hole is highlighted by a unique “principles nose” bunker that if not negotiated properly an open view of the green will be partially blocked. The best angle to approach this green is from the left side of principles nose.
This slightly uphill meandering right to left par 4 hole is best approached from the right side of the fairway. The entire back side right of the green is contoured as a forgiving backstop. RTJ II’s advice is to take an extra club and aim toward the uphill slope on the right side of the green to feed balls back onto the green.
The shortest and sweetest hole on the course. This hole plays slightly downhill to a small valley green surrounded by menacing bunkers. The winds swirl in this area of the course, so proper club selection is paramount.
We conclude our round with a short par 5, that will be sure to make players think from tee to green. From the tee players will want to play as close to the fairway bunker on left side of fairway as possible. This will set up the preferred best angle over a ridgeline. Players will be left with a slightly downhill shot to a cape inspired green. The green will gladly accept shots from right to left.