Hole-by-Hole Guide

This is a formidable par 4 opening hole due to the topography and out of bounds along the right hand side. It is approximately 220 yards to the foot of the slope with a further 200 yards to the green. The abrupt rise, coupled with a blind shot to the green that is well protected by two shallow bunkers, forces the player to contemplate alternatives to a long iron shot. A par is well earned here.

White	431 yards	Par 4
Yellow	412 yards	Par 4  SI 5
Red	395 yards	Par 5  SI 4

As with the first, a long straight drive is required, but fear not, the prevailing wind is there to help push your ball along. Out of bounds again flanks the right side of the hole for your drive and as you play your long second shot the out of bounds tapers towards the green on both the left and right. Danger also lurks with another shallow bunker protecting the green, which has numerous undulations making putting a challenge.

White	435 yards	Par 4
Yellow	427 yards	Par 4  SI 1
Red	412 yards	Par 5  SI 2

The shortest of the par 4s offers an excellent birdie chance, but requires an accurate uphill tee shot to a severely sloping green. Master the tee shot and a birdie awaits but go too far and an out of bounds will swallow anything hit long or right. This hole takes the player to the highest point on the course with magnificent views of West Wales.

White	235 yards	Par 4
Yellow	239 yards	Par 4  SI 17
Red	234 yards	Par 4  SI 17

Take a moment to look back for the most spectacular views with the whole of Cardigan Bay on display from the highest tee on the course. Back to the golf and a demanding tee shot to a sloping fairway will bring you back to earth! Take care as long hitters can easily reach the ditch with a driver when conditions are dry. Your second is then a true feel shot to an uphill, back to front sloping green with deep bunkers left and right and an out of bounds behind. A par is well earned here.

White	350 yards	Par 4
Yellow	346 yards	Par 4  SI 13
Red	301 yards	Par 4  SI 6

A long straight tee shot is required on this dog leg par four. The longer your tee shot the better the view you will have for your downhill second shot. Accuracy is once again essential as this fairly flat green is protected by a cavernous bunker short and left and a steep bank will consume any miss-hit approaches to the left. Once again the out of bounds awaits anything hit too strongly.

White	417 yards	Par 4
Yellow	407 yards	Par 4  SI 7
Red	365 yards	Par 4  SI 9

This is one of the toughest par 4s on the course and runs parallel to the fifth hole. A long straight tee shot is required towards a sharply sloping left to right fairway. Your second shot will need to be long and straight to the green which appears to float on the horizon high above you. A tricky green with a large sloping surface will continue to challenge until you have your ball safely in your pocket!

White	420 yards	Par 4
Yellow	402 yards	Par 4  SI 3
Red	356 yards	Par 4  SI 7

Again, take a moment to survey the stunning views on display from this elevated tee towards a green some 50 feet below you. A deep breath and a pure strike are required if you are to reach this green in one. To the right, a series of grassy hollows awaits the misdirected tee shot. To the left there is a mix of rough, laced with ditches, ponds, bunkers and young trees. Feel proud if you walk away from this one with a par, the first par three on the course.

White	218 yards	Par 3
Yellow	212 yards	Par 3  SI 11
Red	191 yards	Par 3  SI 14

A classic risk reward hole which will entice the long hitters to go for the green with their tee shots. Certainly, when the wind is against, it will put fear into all player's hearts as you hit over an out of bounds towards a green protected by two steep faced bunkers. A policy of safety can still yield a birdie but you will have to contend with a green sloping away from you towards some deep dense rough. A hole where a birdie or double bogey are never far apart.

White	309 yards	Par 4
Yellow	302 yards	Par 4  SI 15
Red	226 yards	Par 4  SI 16

From a sheltered tee, a pure strike is needed to hit the small green in the distance. Extremely well protected by bunkers left and short and a drop off for any shot hit right or long, accuracy is truly at a premium. Invariably, the prevailing wind is against you on this one.

White	185 yards	Par 3
Yellow	170 yards	Par 3  SI 9
Red	145 yards	Par 3  SI 12

The back nine starts with the longest hole on the course, a formidable par 5 which demands precision and length in equal measure. A long drive to a sloping fairway protected by small wispy trees will leave a long blind lay up. Be careful not to go too far as a lake waits short of the green for those too bold. A long green, which is also protected by a left side bunker, can make clubbing difficult as the bottom of the pin is always unsighted.

White	536 yards	Par 5
Yellow	514 yards	Par 5  SI 4
Red	441 yards	Par 5  SI 1

A matching par 5 takes you back in the opposite direction and invariably plays into the prevailing wind. The rough and trees force you left off the tee and a blind second shot towards a left to right sloping fairway will test even the straightest hitters as it throws your ball to the right towards more rough. A controlled pitch to a small green could yield a birdie if your short game is on song.

White	513 yards	Par 5
Yellow	465 yards	Par 5  SI 18
Red	390 yards	Par 5  SI 3

The toughest hole on the course by some margin demands an extremely long tee shot to a fairway which never seems to stop climbing. Even the prevailing wind cannot help this second shot from being a very demanding and very long challenge to a green protected by a large steep slope. Even though there are no bunkers on this hole, do not be deceived, it well earns its number 2 difficulty ranking.

White	457 yards	Par 4
Yellow	407 yards	Par 4  SI 2
Red	359 yards	Par 4  SI 8

Straight into the prevailing wind from an elevated tee, this innocuous looking hole can suddenly bare its teeth with out of bounds no more than two strides to the left of a wide green. Once you have overcome the challenge of the tee shot an upturned saucer of a green awaits, making par a good number.

White	175 yards	Par 3
Yellow	156 yards	Par 3  SI 10
Red	142 yards	Par 3  SI 15

Do not let the shortness of this hole lull you into a false sense of security as the tiny green rises steeply to stand proud at the bottom of the fairway and will only accept the straightest and truest of approaches. Anything other than your best will trickle down the severe slopes all around the green leaving you with a red face and a challenging chip. You have been warned!

White	291 yards	Par 4
Yellow	268 yards	Par 4  SI 14
Red	259 yards	Par 4  SI 13

The third and final par 5 offers the golfer a wonderful opportunity to improve their score card. A straight drive down the generous fairway will lead to a far more demanding second shot. The long hitters can go for the very well protected green, but be wary - out of bounds waits right and long, and four bunkers surrounding the green can wreck any grand ideas of eagles or birdies. For the more conservative player danger still lurks in the multiple fairway bunkers hungrily gobbling up any unfortunate ball which falls into their clutches. A long green with subtle undulations awaits after the previous trials have been met.

White	507 yards	Par 5
Yellow	498 yards	Par 5  SI 12
Red	440 yards	Par 5  SI 5

Climb up the slope behind the clubhouse and come to Aberystwyth's answer to Amen Corner - 'Round the Trees'. The shortest hole on the course promises birdies but often delivers bogeys to the bemused golfer. With no protection from the wind, three bunkers await errant tee shots hit short, right or long with a slope taking the ball off the putting slope if you decide to go left. A subtle and tilting green demands your very best putt, be it for bogey or birdie.

White	131 yards	Par 3
Yellow	116 yards	Par 3  SI 16
Red	114 yards	Par 3  SI 18

This short par 4 might at first glance appear simple, but the devil is in the dangers. The hole extends along a ridge that runs parallel to the coast. Onshore winds promote turbulence as they blow across this exposed surface. The out of bounds on the seaward side includes a quarry, houses and gardens none of which can be seen from the tee. To the left, there is deep rough populated by tigers and lions. Once you have navigated this daunting test a second challenge awaits with a narrow green flanked by bunkers which eat into the green. Only the steeliest of approaches will be successful here.

White	307 yards	Par 4
Yellow	294 yards	Par 4  SI 6
Red	266 yards	Par 4  SI 10

After the heart stopping seventeenth your final challenge awaits with a downhill par 3 to a very well protected green. Take a last longing look over the bay, offer a nod to the golfing gods and launch your final tee shot into the great blue yonder. Discretion may be the better part of valour and aiming away from the flag to the heart of the large green will at least offer a birdie putt. Fail to heed this warning and you may find yourself pencilling a bogey or worse to finish your round.

White	184 yards	Par 3
Yellow	166 yards	Par 3  SI 8
Red	154 yards	Par 3  SI 11