Olympic Golf – A preview to the Rio Olympics course – Part 2

The custom built Gil Hasse designed course at the Barra da Tijuca is the spectacular golf stage in the Rio Olympics

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Barra da Tijuca Golf Course

Anand Datla

Anirban Lahiri, and SSP Chawrasia will be teeing off this Thursday at the Barra da Tijuca, hunting for some metal. The golf event at the Rio Olympics will be played on a 7128 yard course for men, moderated to 6245 yards for women. The course will play to par at 71 with four par-5 holes – the first, fifth, tenth and the eighteenth. There are five par-3 holes – the third, sixth, eighth, fourteenth and seventeenth.

Gil Hanse designed the course, drawing inspiration from the Castle Stuart in Scotland. The course does not feature any rough or trees. The runoff from the fairway has native grass and sand, which should make it relatively easy for the golfers to deal with. There are 79 bunkers protecting the fairways and greens. There isn’t much water either, with only four holes protected by it.

Here is a quick summary of the course – Hole 7 through Hole 12

Hole 7 – The seventh is 493 yard par-4 that plays straight into the wind. The tee shot needs to play straight or slightly left to avoid the bunkers to the right of the fairway. But there isn’t too much margin to the left, as there is a slope that could leave the ball rolling into a bowl. The visibility to the hole is compromised from this position and the hole plays longer too from here. The far right location on this hole could make this one of the toughest holes on the course, so it is likely they will save it for a final day test.

Hole 8 – This is the third par-3 on the front nine. At just 172 yards, this one plays from an elevated tee, over a valley before the green rises again. A good iron off the tee is non-negotiable, with a draw on it as the hole locations are to the back of the green on the left. The golfers will want to stay clear of the right on the green, as it slopes off into the valley.

Hole 9 – This is a 369 yard par-4 that goes to left to right, bringing the fade into play on the second shot. The hole also features the smallest green on the course. There are bunkers on either side of the fairway, so the golfers will want to keep their tee shot straight and narrow. There are also two well shaven mounds at the front of the green, presenting another nice little challenge for the golfers with their approach, especially considering the smallish green.

Hole 10 – The back nine also starts with a par-5, but getting on the green in two will be key if there is any aspiration of converting this into a good start to the stretch. There is water to the left, but the golfers will be forced to take the risk considering that the lie on the right essentially kills any hope of reaching the green in two. Even after reaching the green the contours present some interesting pin postions, making this a deceptively challenging hole to play.

Hole 11 – The eleventh is a 488 yard dogleg left, a par-4. The hole shares a bunker with the twelfth hole. A fade off the tee might be the best option here, given that the best position to the green is on the right side of the fairway. There is plenty sand around the hole, both to the fairways and the green, so accuracy will be rewarded at this hole.

Hole 12 – This is the longest par-4 on the course at a massive 514 yards. If the eleventh felt difficult, the twelfth has been designed to inflict more pain to the golfers. The left of the fairway offers the best view of the green, but there is plenty of sand protecting it. In case you are right, the view is blocked by mounds and dunes that can easily compromise judgment. The green slopes to the left, making it difficult to attack the pin here.

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