The safe play is down the left to avoid the out of bounds on the right. A drive that catches the bunker on the left hand side of the fairway will almost ensure you having to lay up short of the green with your second shot. There is water on the left side of the fairway to catch a hooked or pulled second shot and the green is protected by bunkers left and right and out of bounds at the back.

• Stroke Index: Men 6, Ladies 8

• Distance: Championship 380m, Club 375m, Seniors 321m, Ladies 321m

• Depth of Green: 36 metres

The shortest par three on the course with the biggest tee box offering a wide variety of tee options, this hole can be played with anything from a wedge to a four iron depending on the wind. The subtle green which slopes gently from right to left is surrounded by 5 bunkers, thick rough on the left and out of bounds on the right.

• Stroke Index: Men 18, Ladies 16

• Distance: Championship 140m, Club 136m, Seniors 136m, Ladies 111m

• Depth of Green: 30 metres

A tough driving hole into a narrow landing area is followed by an equally tough mid to long iron shot into a difficult two tiered green. Like the 1th and 2nd there is out of bounds down the right and a large bunker on the left for the pulled tee shot. This is a green the tournament committee can have fun with so play your approach shots to the middle and ask your caddie for the line from there. A mound with thick fluffy grass behind the green and bunkers front left, on the right and next to the mound stand guard.

• Stroke Index: Men 8, Ladies 10

• Distance: Championship 392m, Club 386m, Seniors 369m, Ladies 312m

• Depth of Green: 25 metres

A good par four, like the 1st and 3rd holes your tee shot is played over the canal. Out of bounds stretches down the right and behind the green and there is dam on the left for the pulled or hooked tee shot. A bunker 10 metres short of the green on the left and a bunker left of the green are well placed to catch the more conservative approach shots.

• Stroke Index: Men 2, Ladies 2

• Distance: Championship 377m, Club 375m, Seniors 359m, Ladies 320m

• Depth of Green: 32 metres

A good drive over a stream to the corner of the dog leg will set you up for a crack at the green in good golfing conditions but beware danger lurks. Dams left and right and a bunker on the right hand corner of the dog leg will catch a wayward drive and your approach to the green, be it your second or third, is played over the canal. A bunker half way up the green on the right makes it difficult to get close to a back right pin and pot bunker guards the left side of the green.

• Stroke Index: Men 12, Ladies 4

• Distance: Championship 490m, Club 450m, Seniors 433m, Ladies 378m

• Depth of Green: 37 metres

The second Par 3 on the course and depending on conditions anything from an 8 iron to a hybrid can be used. The two tiered green is protected by a pot bunker front right and two bunkers on the left. It is advisable to go for the middle of the green and to keep your tee shot below the flag.

• Stroke Index: Men 10, Ladies 18

• Distance: Championship 173m, Club 149m, Seniors 141m, Ladies 107m

• Depth of Green: 30 metres

Running in the opposite direction to the 15th hole, the tee shot is played over the canal to the narrowest landing area on the course. Out of bounds and tall palm trees down the right and trees down the left place a premium on two accurate shots into arguably the toughest green on the course guarded buy a long bunker on the left and a smaller bunker front right. Statistics tell us this is the most three putted green on the course.

• Stroke Index: Men 16, Ladies 12

• Distance: Championship 440m, Club 417m, Seniors 368m, Ladies 373m

• Depth of Green: 32 metres

Have a careful look at this tee box, you could hit your tee shot onto the race course. With the southerly wind behind you, a three wood and a 9 iron can get you home otherwise it’s a driver and a medium iron. A tricky green which sits at an angle to the fairway and slopes from back to front, is well guarded by bunkers left and right and water at the back.

• Stroke Index: Men 4, Ladies 6

• Distance: Championship 371m, Club 364m, Seniors 308m, Ladies 303m

• Depth of Green: 35 metres

A short but tough hole to end the first 9. On a calm day or with the southerly wind the green is in range with a driver but beware the out of bounds down the right. Fairway bunkers 30 metres short of the green left and right catch wayward tee shots and the deep but narrow green is well protected by two bunkers on the left and a long deep bunker on the right. A hybrid or long iron is the safe option off the tee.

• Stroke Index: Men 14, Ladies 14

• Distance: Championship 279m, Club 255m, Seniors 249m, Ladies 249m

• Depth of Green: 34 metres

A good hole after half way that requires three accurate shots to a green well protected by two bunkers on the right, rough close on the left and behind. On the tee you need to be aware of the dam on the left and the thick rough and a few strategically placed shrubs on the right. The big hitters may take on the fairway bunker 60 metres short of the green but for the rest a lay up to your favourite distance is the way to go.

• Stroke Index: Men 5, Ladies 3

• Distance: Championship 483m, Club 476m, Seniors 476m, Ladies 443m

• Depth of Green: 30 metres

Don’t underestimate this drivable dog leg par 4. Most golfers will be able to hit their drive through the dog leg which will leave a short pitch into a steeply sloping green guarded by two bunkers on the left and one on the right. For the shorter hitter, a drive to the corner of the dog leg will leave an approach of 90 metres to the front of the green. Like most of Royals greens, the flag can be difficult to find so you need to hit the fairway with your drive to have a chance of making par.

Like all Royals par 3’s you need to hit the green to ensure a par. There is water both sides to catch that errant tee shot and three bunkers protecting a flat but subtle green. On a calm day a mid to long iron is required but when the wind is from the south you will be reaching for a hybrid and maybe even a three wood.

• Stroke Index: Men 11, Ladies 17

• Distance: Championship 174m, Club 164m, Seniors 141m, Ladies 135m

• Depth of Green: 29 metres

Some respite after the tough par 3 12th hole but don’t get too complacent. The tee shot is played over the canal and three well placed bunkers and a dam down the right are waiting for that wayward drive. The ideal drive is left of centre which will open up the green and on a calm day and with the northerly wind behind you a mid to long iron over a stream will find the green and give you the chance for an eagle. For those of you who stray with your second shots there is water down the right, a fairway bunker 40 metres short of the green and green side bunkers left and right.

• Stroke Index: Men 17, Ladies 9

• Distance: Championship 440m, Club 436m, Seniors 381m, Ladies 381m

• Depth of Green: 38 metres

A great par three with out of bounds down the right, water and three well placed bunkers on the left and a large bunker on the right of the green. Some members say the best way to play this hole is to play it like a short par 4. There are many who have scoffed at this idea only to take the short walk to the 15th tee wishing they had listened.

• Stroke Index: Men 9, Ladies 15

• Distance: Championship 161m, Club 145m, Seniors 133m, Ladies 126m

• Depth of Green: 31 metres

A long par 4 with out of bounds down the right, two fairway bunkers on the left and the canal in range for the big hitters. When the wind is from the south the big hitters use a three wood to stay short of the canal. Bunkers left and right protect the large green which slopes upwards from front to back and it is advisable to hit your approach shot short of the pin to leave yourself with an uphill putt.

• Stroke Index: Men 1, Ladies 1

• Distance: Championship 409m, Club 389m, Seniors 382m, Ladies 353

• Depth of Green: 39 metres

A straight par four with water on the right and a mound with thick rough down the left. When the wind is from the north it is advisable to take an iron or hybrid off the tee. The ideal tee shot is left of centre which will open up the green which sits at a slight angle to the fairway. Two bunkers on the left and a pot bunker on the front right of this deep green provides protection.

• Stroke Index:Men 7, Ladies 14

• Distance: Championship 381m, Club 341m, Seniors 341m, Ladies 268m

• Depth of Green:38 metres

Members often debate whether the 17th is harder than the 15th which is stroke 1. A slight dogleg from left to right, only the biggest hitters will take it on. Three trees and a fairway bunker guard the shortcut and if you are really off line you could find the water near the 16th tee box. For the more conservative tee shot up the left a mound with thick rough waits for the shot off line. Into the northerly wind a long iron or hybrid is required into a narrow green, well protected by a mound on the left and three bunkers including a pot bunker front right.

• Stroke Index: Men 3, Ladies 5

• Distance: Championship 396m, Club 383m, Seniors 312m, Ladies 312m

• Depth of Green: 34 metres

A lovely hole to finish your round before relaxing in the bar of KZN’s most popular and one of South Africa’s top 10 most popular golf courses. The ideal tee shot, played over a dam, is up the left hand side of the fairway which takes the canal and fig tree out of play. A bunker on the left of the fairway will catch an errant tee shot and fairway bunkers 60 metres short of the green, left and right wait for poor second shots. Two bunkers on the left, a bunker front right and out of bounds at the back guard a difficult green.

• Stroke Index: Men 15, Ladies 7

• Distance: Championship 442m, Club 436m, Seniors 394m, Ladies 378m

• Depth of Green: 33 metres