Serapong Course Description

The opening hole on the Serapong Course is a relatively short par-four dogleg right, where a good tee shot is crucial. Push your tee shot too far right and your approach will be blocked by trees or find a fairway trap. Go left and your ball might kick off the right to left slanting fairway and finish on a road or out of bounds. Find the landing area on the fairway and you face a fairly straight forward approach particularly as the main change to this hole has been the softening of what was a severe step in the green. Enjoy the cascading waterfall behind the hole as you head on.

The skyscrapers of Singapore’s Central Business District first come into view on the tee of the short par-three second. The green drops down well below the tee requiring a delicate shot which will hopefully see your ball drift down onto the target. It is one of the easiest holes on the course although beware of the six bunkers surrounding the putting surface.

The cavalier golfer who has plenty of length to his game will relish playing the par-four dogleg fourth which turns almost 90 degrees left halfway down the fairway. Clear the trees on the left and your ball will kick off the down slope and run towards the green. Changes made to this hole favour those who play safe off the tee. The landing area on the right has been raised to make the hole more clearly defined from the tee. Players do have to be careful of the pot bunker on the corner. The large green has been newly contoured to suit all while the green side bunkers await an errant shot.

This dogleg left par five sweeps around a huge lake and despite the fact that it looks daunting from the tee competitors in the Barclays Singapore Open will view it as a birdie opportunity. A mighty blow off the tee that clears a large part of the lake leaves professionals an excellent opportunity to reach the green in two. The average golfer is best not to flirt with the water and should aim at the landing area further right. In order to make the hole more challenging for professionals a number of bunkers have been placed in the fairway that can catch tees shots. Also a back pin position has been created that will raise the difficultly level.

The Signature Hole on The Serapong Course is also ranked as one of the toughest. This beautiful hole boasts wonderful views of the Singapore skyline, and when you reach the green you are able to look out onto one of the busiest ports in the world. The landing area off the tee is fairly wide although large bunkers guard either side of the fairway. Two strong hits are required to reach the large tricky green.

This will be a hole for spectators to watch in the Barclays Singapore Open. Professionals now have the chance to reach the green with one sweet strike from the tee to set up an eagle putt. From the tee the risk is hitting into the narrow sea channel on the right or getting caught in one of the many bunkers. A nice feature on this hole is the World War II artillery emplacement sitting to the left of the green.

The picturesque seventh features jungle on the left and the sea channel all the way down the right side, where Coastguard boats are moored on the other side. It certainly is a hole where you might need to be rescued as bunkers also lie in wait near the landing area. A good drive is vital and sets you up nicely to find the green safely in three or for the big hitters in two.

After a stretch of difficult holes the par-three eighth allows you something of a breather. The hole has actually been increased in length by 15 metres with the green being moved back. However, the putting surface, which used to be far more undulating, has been leveled out making it easier to hit your tee shot closer to the pin. Three deep bunkers on the left and one on the right will catch errant tee shots and could easily spoil your scorecard.

The first nine is brought to conclusion by a strong par four. Sentosa Golf Club’s splendid Serapong Pavilion can be seen in the distance while during the week of the Barclays Singapore Open the view is awash with hospitality marquees and crowds. The lake on the right is a threat off the tee although this is less of a problem now as the fairway, which used to have a severe left to right slope, has been made flatter. However, countering this are several fairway bunkers.

This short tree lined par four is pleasant on the eye and a definite birdie opportunity. A slight dogleg to the right it has a fairly wide landing area from the tee, although the key thing here is not to drive too far as you will find sand. A fairway trap has also been added to the left side which has slightly increased the difficulty level. Find the fairway and you will have a short iron into the green. Grass hollows around the putting surface can catch poor second shots.

The dogleg right 11th is another chance for birdie, particularly for players in the Barclays Singapore Open. The fairway slopes from left to right feeding your ball into the hole, particularly if you hit your tee shot just right of the left fairway trap. Professionals normally play this hole by hitting a booming drive over the crest of the hill followed by a wedge.

The relatively easy start to the back nine comes to an abrupt end with the tough 12th. The long par four is quite narrow and has plenty of bunkers either side of the hole that can catch your drive or second shot. The green is also a fine test of your putting skills as it is large and undulating.

The design changes made to the course has seen the third hole move ahead of the 13th as the hardest rated hole. However the hole is still a monster. Club selection from the tee is crucial as with water on the right and bunkers left the landing area gets narrower and narrower. If you chose a driver it will have to be hit extremely straight. The safe option is to hit a fairway wood off the tee or long iron – this of course leaves you an even longer second shot.

Flanked by waters of the Singapore port on the left and a large lake wide to the right, this par three plays long and into a testing green that slopes severely away from the port. One of the most interesting and innovative design changes has been implemented on this hole. A soft buggy path has replaced the concrete one that skirts the front of the green. This improves the view of the hole and means the balls will no longer severely bounce off the path. The new path is treated as a waste bunker and therefore you are able to ground your club head.

An intimidating par four and one that enhances Serapong’s reputation as a championship layout. The fairway is very narrow with the sea channel running all the way down the left side. Bunkers on the right have been adjusted slightly so that they come into play for professionals. The green has been rebuilt in the same location but has been designed to be fairer for all levels of players. The bunkers on the left and right of the green have been retained while a new pot bunker has been added over the back.

While the par-four 16th is less demanding than the previous hole it is one that can catch you out if you are not concentrating. The hole turns sharply to the left and runs down into the green and so it is imperative that your tee shot finds the landing area, leaving you a clear shot with a mid-iron to the green. The fairway has been raised to help you do this but bunkers on the left and right are a real threat. Hit into the trees on the left and you simply have to chip out. A picturesque stream about 30 yards short of the green should not come into play and simply help you enjoy the Serapong experience.

The second shortest hole on the course measures 169 metres and is one of the easiest. The black tee has actually been moved back eight metres to make the hole slightly more challenging for the professionals. A large bunker to the right of the green is the main obstacle, although it is quite shallow. Cleverly, the putting surface has been reshaped so that separate, unique pin positions can be set up.

The final hole provides a fitting finish to The Serapong Course and will always lend itself to a dramatic finish in the Barclays Singapore Open. A dogleg left par five with a lake dominating the entire left side it is reachable in two for professionals, although a new bunker on the left side of the fairway has been built to counter that threat. One of the most significant changes to the course has been to the green. It has been pushed back towards the tee but has also lowered and moved closer to the lake. In fact the elegant Swans on the lake can easily brush by the front left half of the putting surface.