Hole-by-Hole description for the 1st Nine of the Westin Resort, Ta Shee.
1st Hole – 406 yards Par 4:
A slightly uphill dogleg left par 4, you will need to pay close attention to the flag position while on the tee for your best approach angle at the green. Bunkers on the right and large specimen trees on the left guard the fairway. Play to the opposite side of the fairway from where the flag is located on the green for the lowest risk approach to the green. Successfully making these two shots will get you off to a great start.
2nd Hole – 370 yards Par 4:
Playing down hill, this par 4 will require an accurate tee shot to score well. A large bunker runs along the right of the fairway and two cross-bunkers run in from the left. Play over the right side of the fairway bunker and have the easier approach shot to the green. Playing down the left side of the fairway will require your approach shot to carry the bunkers that guard the left side of the approach and the green.
3rd Hole – 535 yards Par 5:
Multiple hazards guard both hitting areas of this long and winding par 5 fairway. Two well-executed shots down the right side of this fairway will leave a short chip to the green for a possible birdie. Should you want to go for the green in two remember to play toward the side of the green the flag is located on. A large mound separates this green in half and should you be on the wrong half you could have a possible three putt for par instead of a one putt for eagle.
4th Hole – 423 yards Par 4:
A straightaway slightly uphill par 4 that is sure to challenge your golfing skills, play your tee shot down the left side of the fairway avoiding the lake on the right side of the landing area. Do not let the left side carry over the bunker distract you from making the correct shot. If you chose to play down the right side avoiding the bunker your second shot will need to be quite accurate to reach the green. Guarded by bunkers on both the front right and left, both a bunker and a grassy hollow await you in back of the green to give you a testing chip on to the green should you hit over the green.
5th Hole – 190 yards Par 3:
With both the green surface and the tees at the same elevation this par 3 will play longer than it looks. Two bunkers guard the left side of the green and the right side is framed on two sides by grassy hollows. Missing the green on your tee shot will require steady nerves to get down in two for par. Landing your first shot on to this green will be a prerequisite for as good score.
6th Hole – 541 yards Par 5:
This long downhill dogleg left par 5 can either bring you much joy or create much sadness in missed opportunities. With an uneven fairway you will want to play your tee shot long and straight past the left side fairway bunker to gain an extra 30 to 40 yards in distance. This extra distance will be crucial should you want to attempt making it to the green in two shots. Not gaining the extra distance you will have either to play your second shot short of the right side fairway bunkers in the distance or risk shooting over the left side bunker in the hillside to reach the green.
7th Hole – 182 yards Par 3:
A downhill par three, you will need to carry two different hazards to safely make the green. The first is a large pond that is just off the tees. The second is a group of three bunkers that guard the entire front of the green. With the undulations on this green though you can’t be totally occupied with the hazards facing you. Making a shot to the proper side of the green will be necessary for good scoring.
8th Hole – 358 yards Par 4:
A long water hazard flanks the final third of the fairway and guards the entire front of the green on this straightaway par 4. With the large bunker in the middle of the fairway you will need to choose your route of play from the tee. Down the narrower left side of the fairway will reward you with an easy shot to the green missing the worst of the water. Play to the wider more inviting right side and you will be facing a full carry over the water to the green. One missed shot on this hole and your score will be sunk.
9th Hole – 396 yards Par 4:
A large grassy swell that cuts diagonally across this straightaway par 4 defines the fairway into two separate hitting areas. There are two large bunkers down the right side of the hole with one guarding the front of the right fairway area and the second lying along the right side of the left fairway area. While the left portion of the fairway is the easier play, your second shot will need to carry two large bunkers to safely reach the green. To reach the right side of the fairway and then give yourself an easier shot to the green will require a long and accurate drive from the tee. Either way you play, good shot making will be required to end up with a satisfactory score.
