No. 18
"The Ultimate"
Par-4, 410 yards
Fanling's 18th has arguably seen more drama in recent years than any other hole in Asian golf [see "A Decade to Remember"]. Colin Montgomerie, the 2005 champion, described it as the hardest short par 4 he's ever played – and it's easy to see why. With trees and bunkers lining the narrow landing area, the drive is crucial. But because the fairway slopes downhill, even a straight tee shot runs the risk of ending up in an awkward lie. Judging the second shot is also far from simple. While the ornate pond fronting the green doesn't tend to see much action, the front greenside bunker has gobbled up plenty of undercooked pitches in championships past. The percentage play is to knock a long iron or hybrid club to the flat part of the fairway at the top of the hill, which leaves anything from a 7- to 9-iron for the approach. Aggressive golfers may gamble and take driver, which if hit straight enough will leave a simple enough flick with a wedge. Last year's statistics tell a good story: 66 birdies were recorded compared with 76 bogeys, but the telling figure is the number of double bogeys or worse – 17, which was more than any other on the course.
