Course Setting

Truly a delight to see the bannana shot curve right to left for a 150 yarder which a decent 7 Iron should do. Dangerously guarded by four bunkers in the front and a monster at the back, it is a wide enough Green even if you drift right or left but your distance has to be tight. Take a few paces to the right of the Tee to give a fair depth perception. The Green slopes sharply from mid half upwards so the putt has to be firm going up but gentle on the way down. Bend It Like Beckham offers a great prelude to an enjoyable tourney on the 9 Aces.

'Easy does it' on this hole. A five Iron or 7 Wood should take you short of the electric poles. You are well placed then to pitch a 50 yarder to the pin for a birdie. Remember if you hook your drive a plunge in the water is assured whereas a fade is pretty much safe. An easy PAR for all golfers!

A well hit 9 Iron or an easy 8 will take you through the corridor and pitch it for the centre of the Green. Again like the first hole, the Green is sufficiently wide but not deep. Must read the breeze correct. A potentially scoring hole again.

As the name suggests, one has to exercise restraint here. A 5 wood or 4 Iron should position you adjacent to the 2nd Green. A well struck 7 Iron should take you home keeping slightly to the right. The borrow on the Green is treacherous right to left as you face the Green. Can't be very bold here. A bogey should be a decent score.

The safest drive would start in the middle and fade gradually to position you in the middle of the fairway. For the approach, a solid divoted shot with 7 or 8 Iron will give you a good backspin to stay on the Green. A flat table top Green should not be a problem to putt. A good golfing hole. PAR should not be very difficult.

A great hole by any standard - Heroic or Safe demands a well hit 3 Wood or a Driver for a 185 yard carry over the water staying slightly right of the bisection to catch the far edge early. For the approach 7 Iron will suffice keeping slightly to the right. A mild draw here may work well if you plan not to go for the Green. A hook will surely give you pain as twin Bunkers on the left and water await you eagerly. Putting needs skill of reading the Green well. Not a friendly camber at all. I would be thrilled with a PAR here.

Make sure your drive with a 3 Wood or Driver carries you out of the woods. A well struck 5 or 6 Iron will see you home for your next shot. Better to stay right so that for your short chip of say 20 yards, you have large Green to work with. Putting is easy on this Green except its a quick surface and easily a TeePeeZee - Three Putt Zone !? So pace to and fro for an invariably long putt as strength is most important on this Green. I would be happy with a bogey on this hole.

Keep your Drive to the right with a 3 Wood which should be safe and sufficient to leave you with an 80 yard Pitch shot. A sure PAR for a player of average handicap say 18, although the Green is not very big , so you need to execute a very accurate approach shot. Even if you miss the Green an up and down is highly doable. Easy Putting surface.

The signature hole of the course ! Excitingly picturesque but equally intimidating ! Just stare at the Green and go for the centre meat of the Green. A well struck Sand Wedge or an easy Pitching Wedge will take you on. Putting is a cake walk here.