The Ailsa course

A hole-by-hole guide, by PHILIP REID

1st 354 yards, par 4

Once considered a gentle opener, and even drivable for the long hitters if backed by a wind, this has been toughened by the addition of two bunkers at 280 and 300 yards down the left.

2nd 428 yards, par 4

Accuracy, rather than length, is the main criteria off the tee. Players will seek to thread their tee-shots between the fairway bunkers or, alternatively, lay up short of them. The green is deceptively long and guarded by a large bunker on the right.

3rd 489 yards, par 4

A tough hole made tougher by the addition of 27 yards. Two fairway bunkers have been added at 260 and 300 yards, while there is heavy rough down the right. The green is guarded on the right by two deep bunkers.

4th 166 yards, par 3

A classic short hole, with the elevated green positioned on the edge of a sand hill. The penalty for missing the putting surface is a devilishly difficult up-and-down from rough.

5th 474 yards, par 4

An extremely challenging hole, which doglegs right to left. The RA have brought an old tee back into play, adding 33 yards to its length and added two bunkers at 290 and 320 yards.

6th 231 yards, par 3

There is a notorious bunker to the front of the green – and another three guarding the left – which slopes severely from back to front. Players will be faced with a fast and tricky putt if they are above the hole.

7th 538 yards, par 5

A realistic birdie chance, most players will use driver or three-wood off the tee to this dogleg right to left hole, aiming to carry over the thick rough that guards the left-hand side of the fairway. It is imperative to avoid the fairway bunkers.

8th 454 yards, par 4

There are three penal bunkers between 250 and 325 yards down the right of a fairway that slopes from left to right. The approach shot is played uphill to a two-tiered green that is well guarded by bunkers.

9th 449 yards, par 4

Considered the signature hole, the tee is perched on a rocky cliff top with a carry across an inlet to the narrow fairway. The tee shot is a blind one. There are no bunkers on the hole but there is heavy rough alongside the fairways and around the undulating green.

10th 456 yards, par 4

A dramatic new tee has been created on the rocks close to the famous lighthouse.The tee significantly alters the angle of the hole, making it a dogleg right to left, and there are two bunkers in the middle of the fairway.

11th 175 yards, par 3

A wonderful short hole, the tee-box is set above the shore and the hole runs directly along the shoreline to a small green guarded by bunkers right and left.

12th 451 yards, par 4

The challenge off the tee has been increased by the addition of a new bunker at 320 yards down the right. The fairway is lined with heavy rough and three deep pot bunkers guard the front of the green.

13th 410 yards, par 4

There is a new bunker on the left and a series of ridges in the right rough. It will be viewed as a potential birdie opportunity, as the green is one of only two on the course that is not protected by bunkering.

14th 448 yards, par 4

Two bunkers have been added to the right side of the landing area and a collection of new humps and hollows have been constructed on the left.

15th 206 yards, par 3

A tough short hole, with a steep slope which catches any shots veering to the right and three very deep bunkers to the left of the green.

16th 455 yards, par 4

The fairway has been re-routed since the 1994 championship, transforming this hole into a tough left to right dogleg with strategically positioned bunkering.

17th 559 yards, par 5

Players will seek to find the left of the fairway, as anything drifting right will find a sand trap. The hole has been lengthened by 61 yards but is still on in two for long hitters who find the fairway.

18th 461 yards, par 4

Players have the choice of taking on the fairway bunkers off the tee with a driver, or laying up short with an iron. The green is slightly elevated and has some subtle undulations.