I am waiting on the steps of the newly built clubhouse and looking out over what looks like a very modern day links course – imagine Dundonald links, Castle Stuart golf links, Kingsbarns and you get the picture – Mizuno JPX EZ driver in hand waiting for the superintendent to pick me up. A mini tracker/pick-up type truck pulls up and I am introduced to a decidedly grumpy Neil Cleverly who is the superintendent and turns out be from just down the road from me in Docklands, London and Antonio Carlos Miranda who is project manager of Progolf who is from Argentina.
Neil takes one look at the golf club in my hand and says abruptly “What’s that for” I explain just in case I am allowed to hit a couple of drives, “well you can leave that here, you wont be needing that” was his retort.
I later find out that his ire is with the grass that has been laid round the clubhouse without any irrigation having been put in place because the sports minister was turning up and someone wanted it to look nice, a day after one of Rio’s legendary downpours I could understand Neil’s annoyance, it certainly didn’t look nice anymore and he was the one who was going to have to dig it all up and start again.
As we make our why down the 1st Neil is explaining to me that it will be a par 5 and I later find out the 10th is also a par 5 which should help get players off to a good start, well until you see how tricky the greens are. The 1st holes green is very small so anyone going for that in two will need to come in very high to try and get it to stop or the ball will be hitting one of the many run off areas and collected into some very deep bunking. The 10th especially as the green is only 10-yards deep but 40/50-yards wide – players maybe better off laying up before the lake and taking a longer shot into the green so they have more to aim at.
The 4th is the first par 3 on the course and at around 190-yards – there are several teeing options that will be used throughout the Olympic tournament – it seems relatively benign until you get to the green that is, with its three tiers and more twist and turns than a rollercoaster throw in some very deep bunkers to negotiate and it suddenly doesn’t seem so benign after all.
My favourite holes turns out to be the 13th and 15th with the later starting a truly great run of finishing holes that contain the driveable 16th another tricky green for the par 3 17th and then the tough 18th and when you look at that hole from the back bottom tee, it really is a scary drive. To be fair it is a bit of an optical illusion as the fairways here are wide and generous and if the wind is down there will be some low scores. But being only 200-yards away from the sea the wind will be a big factor here and coming down that stretch and especially that tough long 18th with the wind in your face making par will be difficult indeed.
But the good news is the course is ready to play now and was in perfect condition when Neil and Antonio showed me round, the guys have done a tremendous job and hats off to Gill Haas it certainly is a great design and has a wonderful natural feel to it. Maybe when the opening shot of the 2016 Olympic Golf Tournament is struck, we may see a smile on Neil’s face, ok maybe not!!
Top: The 3rd green with its deep bunkers and water. Above Green complexes on the 4th green
   
Stunning view from the 5th tee13th tee My favourite hole Par 3, 17th green
All photos taken on the day of play © James mason planetgolfreview
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