1st

A gentle opening hole before a testing stretch into the prevailing wind. A tee shot right of the fairway bunkers leaves a short iron to the green set behind a bank. Easy to come up short, as there is room behind the approach bunkers. A greenside trap catches any pushed second.

2nd

Dr Frank Stableford perfected his scoring system on this hole. Look for the plaque on the tee. A formidable par four, requiring a good drive tight to the fairway bunker, followed by a long second to a small green. The large bunker in the centre of the fairway shouldn’t give trouble, unless the wind is up.

3rd

A straight drive is essential to this very narrow fairway, although the contours will bring slightly offline shots back to the short grass. Here the problems begin as there are few level lies, and the second must find a raised narrow green with the flag on a small plateau at the back.

4th

The superb view down the coast to North Wales creates only a temporary distraction on this first par-5. The boundary fence is not as close as it appears, and the fairway bunkers will trouble only long hitters. Two good shots should leave a short iron to a small, well-guarded green. Not a difficult hole on a calm day, but calm days are rare on this links.

5th

The first short hole can require anything from a short iron to a driver, depending on the wind direction. The high tee faces out to sea and gives a good view of the task in hand, which is to find the small green between the mound on the left and the bunkered slope on the right.

6th

A chance to draw breath after a tough opening. This short par-4 has been tightened by the creation of new fairway bunkers. Avoiding these means a short approach to a well-protected green. The gully before the green has caused many to come up short.

7th

A long straight par-5, well protected by bunkers throughout. The large green is relatively flat, but three-putts are common here.

8th

A straight drive is needed here to avoid the out-of-bounds on the right. Stay short of the bunkers on the corner of the dogleg, and leave a mid- iron to this tricky green. Don’t overshoot or you will have an impossible chip back.

9th

The elevated tee gives a good view of the angled green on this par-3. Two traps will swallow any under-hit shot, and balls missing long or left will run off to leave a difficult chip. The undulating green means that a two-putt is not a formality. Be happy with a three.

10th

The tee shot must clear the end of the trees on this right-angled par-4. Don’t under-club with the second to the plateau green either, or a tricky chip follows. Try to stay below the hole on the testing putting surface.

11th

Another spectacular hole viewed from tee or green. It is dangerous to under- club with the second, which must find a raised green protected in front by cavernous bunkers. The undulating green requires fine judgement with the approach putt.

12th

A classic short par-3, little changed since the links was created in 1891. A small green surrounded by five bunkers, making a difficult target in a cross-wind. The high tee gives a good view of this attractive hole.

13th

This three-shotter seems innocuous from the tee, with a straightforward drive and only a hint of trouble for the second shot. Trouble surrounds the green, however, with a deep bunker short right and a tricky run-off area left. All is encircled by hillocks featuring deep rough. Some interesting contours on the green complete the test!

14th

Back-to-back par-5’s, but this second is less fearsome. A chance to draw breath before the difficult closing holes, and perhaps repair the card with a birdie.

15th

A classic example of a good par-4 – requiring simply two good shots and a couple of putts. The tee shot should be positioned right of the bunkers, and the second must find the back part of the green where the flag is invariably sited. This will make putting much easier, although fine judgement is needed on this large green.

16th

A beautiful par-3 set on a ledge, with a sentinel dune on the right and a run- off slope to the left. Usually played into the wind, meaning that only a well-struck shot will do.

17th

A very tough par-4 played from a high tee to a fairway which doglegs right. An under-hit drive will leave a blind approach to a marker post, with the line threatened by a large mound. Discretion in the form of a mid-iron to the corner, hoping for a pitch-and- putt par, may sometimes be advisable.

18th

Excellent finishing hole, offering the choice from the tee of a long carry over a hill, or a shorter drive left. The second is a semi-blind shot to a large green with bunkers short and right. Be very satisfied with a four, and make your way to the terrace for some well-earned refreshment.