CELTIC MANOR - WENTWORTH HILLS Home of the Wales Open, Wentworth Hills is demanding and very long at nearly seven thousand yards. It is a great course that combines the hills that open and close the round with an American style layout (seen here) that will be expanded for the 2010 Ryder Cup. The whole course was in excellent condition despite the wet November weather and was a great experience well worth the green fee. Do not underestimate the importance of being on the fairway, the combination of rough and undulations makes any recovery shot risky. The large greens were immaculate and fair, quite fast despite the moisture.

To score well on this course you will need to be long and straight off the tee. Being able to draw and fade is an advantage as several holes are long doglegs like the 8th and 13th. The lakeside holes are very open so wind is a major factor. Sorry to say this but the high handicapper shouldn't be on this course. If you can hit it fairly straight try playing off the women's tees so the course plays about 5,700 and avoids a couple of tee shots over valleys. You will still lose a lot of golf balls in the rough.

Holes Of Note:

3rd - good shot selection is needed from this par 4's elevated tee to well bunkered fairway and green.

5th - With water of both sides and trees in front, the tee shot on this long par 5 must be accurate. Even so water left and behind the small green advises laying up.

13th - Marvellous but hard par 4, sharp right dogleg with water and bunkers protecting the sloping green.

16th - Uphill par 4 requiring good position from the tee avoiding bunkers and mounds for a semi-blind approach to the green.

Recommended Handicap 18

Jon says: "Great course but long and hard."	Steve says: "-"