Ramsay’s pick is certainly justified. There are plenty, however, who would plump for the 12th as being the pick of the bunch – I among them. Eschewing the flat-out risk/reward philosophy of the previous hole, the 446-yard beauty possesses more epic qualities than its predecessor. The elevated tee boxes high on a bluff reveal a fairway that plays downhill to a green nestled right on the beach itself, with another verdant bluff framing the entire tableau at right. The risk/reward element is not completely absent here as a creek crosses the fairway at 300 yards, complicating decision-making off the tee.
A treacherous Pebble Beach-style short hole towards the ocean rounds off the "Amen Corner" of Anvaya Cove. However, as Ramsay says, the course is not lacking in overall quality aside from its most eye-catching stretch of holes.
What’s more with a state-of-the-art clubhouse, a well-stocked professional’s shop, luxurious locker rooms and extensive accommodations on site, the new course appears to have all the elements in place in order to host a prestigious amateur or professional event.
"Given the quality of some of the holes, the dramatic scenery and the early reviews, I think there is every possibility that Anvaya Cove could be considered as a venue for major events here in Asia,” says Ramsay. “I also think it has every chance to be ranked as one of the Top 100 Courses in the World, but we’ll have to see what happens over the next few years.
"For now I’m just happy that the course is open and golfers are walking off smiling.”
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