139th BRITISH OPEN: Old Course card

A brief look at the Old Course at St Andrews.

Front nine

1 Burn(376 yards, par 4)

Featuring one of the widest fairways in golf, players will likely hit an iron or hybrid for position off the tee followed by a short iron approach over the Swilcan Burn to the green.

2 Dyke(453 yards, par 4)

There is trouble off the tee down the right – with three hidden bunkers and gorse – and the ideal line is right-centre of the fairway, avoiding the large Cheape’s bunker down the left. The large, undulating double green serves the second and 16th.

3 Cartgate(397 yards, par 4)

With the large, deep Cartgate bunker protecting the green, the best approach is from the right side of the fairway where players must avoid three pot bunkers off the tee.

4 Ginger Beer(480 yards, par 4)

One of the course’s most formidable holes, players must hit an accurate drive between a plateau and a row of bunkers down the right followed by a long approach over a mound to a double green shared with the 14th.

5 Hole O'Cross(568 yards, par 5)

One of just two par fives on the course, this is a genuine birdie opportunity providing players avoid the fairway bunkers down the right off the tee and the large Spectacles bunkers short of the green with the approach.

6 Heathery(412 yards, par 4)

A blind tee shot over gorse bushes to a fairway protected by the Coffin bunkers down the left should leave players with a relatively straightforward short iron to a double green shared with the 12th.

7 High(371 yards, par 4)

With gorse bushes running all the way down the right, the optimum tee shot is down the left avoiding the huge Shell bunker. The green is long and narrow and slopes left to right.

8 Short(175 yards, par 3)

The first of the two par threes on the links, the tee shot must clear a deep bunker to reach a huge double green that it shares with the 10th hole.

9 End(352 yards, par 4)

Players must avoid the two bunkers which separate the ninth and 10th fairways to leave a straightforward short-iron approach in to the flattest green on the course.

Out3,584 yards, par 36

Back nine

10 Bobby Jones(386 yards, par 4)

There is gorse all down the left but the key shot is the approach to a massive green sloping from front to back.

11 High(174 yards, par 3)

A classic par three which has the deep Strath bunker – one of seven sand traps – guarding the green. Players must select enough club to clear Strath but will be wary of over-clubbing or they will have a lightning-quick putt or pitch down a green that slopes severely from the back.

12 Heathery(348 yards, par 4)

If playing downwind, big hitters will be tempted to drive the green. The hole is frequently positioned on a narrow ledge at the rear of the green which can make it difficult for players to hold the putting surface.

13 Hole O'Cross(465 yard, par 4)

The ideal drive is to the left or right of the formidable Coffin bunkers which would set up a near blind approach shot to a green protected by the Lion’s Mouth bunker at the front and the deep Hole O’Cross bunker on the right.

14 Long(618 yards, 5)

The preferred drive should find a patch of fairway known as the Elysian Field – between the Beardies bunker and the out-of-bounds – which will leave a choice of laying-up short of Hell bunker or attempting to land the ball short of the green.

15 Cartgate(455 yards, par 4)

The drive has to be hit between two humps know as Miss Grainger’s Bosoms and the approach must clear Rob’s bunkers to a green protected by a bunker front left.

16Corner of the Dyke(423 yards, par 4)

With out-of-bounds running down the right, players will likely opt for an iron off the tee to avoid the cluster of bunkers known as the Principal’s Nose. The approach is played to a shallow green which falls away to the rear.

17 Road(495 yards, 4 par)

The hole has been lengthened by some 40 yards to restore its reputation as the hardest hole in championship golf. With out-of-bounds right and heavy rough left, an accurate and long drive is needed to set up an approach to a narrow green protected by the Road bunker.

18 Tom Morris(357 yards, par 4)

Longer hitters are likely to try to drive the green with a favourable wind. Most will lay up and play their approach shot over a deep swale known as the Valley of Sin.

In:3,721 yards, par 36