Above: The stunning sand planes behind the 12th green
After warming up on the wonderful practice facilities that are just outside the clubhouse, I jump in my buggy and head towards the 10th hole. The reason I am starting the course back to front is that there are several groups that have gone out before me and I play pretty quickly and can play, film and video a course in around 2.5 hours with no hold ups. I know the back nine is empty.
The 455-yard, 10th doglegs round to the right with water on the right and has a slightly raised tee, not really elevated but enough to see the fairway. I slightly pull my drive which isn’t a bad thing on this hole, but longer hitters can choose a more bold route which will give you a shorter iron in to the green. There are two deep bunkers protecting the left of the green and that water is still on the right. Oh and it’s the hardest hole on the course!
Left to right: 2nd, 5th and 8th holes
Like all the courses so far on reaching the greens they are in fantastic condition and again roll slower than they actually look. On reaching the 11th tee, I can see a hazy outline of mountains as a backdrop in the distance and there are villas to the right and water to the left and bunkers both right and left of the fairway, plus even more bunkers protecting the green. It’s a really well designed hole.
Reaching the 12th tee I now see what can only be described as desert. But in reality it is the sand plains that are covered by water when the tide comes in and I’m just standing here transfixed by their beauty. It’s at times like this I feel like the luckiest person in the world doing what I do and those mountain backdrops just add to the aura of the place.
Those sand plains run along side the next few holes on the right. The first par 3 arrives at the 14th and is a beast from the back tee, weighing in at 192 yards, played over water to an island green and today it’s at least a three-club wind blowing straight off those sand plains into my face. I play a 3-wood that just makes the front edge of the green.
Island greens are a feature here as the par-3 17th is also played to a semi-island green and weighs in at 190 yards. From the back tee it’s all carry and with this wind my hybrid just makes it over the water. There are also carries over water on the 15th and 16th holes which are all risk and reward.
The 18th is a wonderful par 5 finishing hole doglegging left around water to a green that looks like it’s on a peninsula and it’s another risk and reward on the second shot if you want to go for it. However, it’s a fitting finale to the course.
Left to right: The 10th, 13th and 14th holes
The opening holing hole has a wide fairway, but there isn’t much to it and the par 3, 2nd played over water is a well-designed hole, but walking off the 9th green I have to say the front nine apart from the 5th and 6th holes – which is when you first get a glimpse of those sand plains of the back nine – are not that impressive.
They are nice enough golf holes, but I have been spoilt by that back nine and I do understand the design of the front nine as that is where most of the villas are that have probably funded this development, and playing the course the wrong way round hasn’t helped.
But, this is certainly a must play golf course while you are in Tunisia. Robert Trent Jones Jnr has done a wonderful job here and I think you will appreciate it even more if you play the front nine first!
Above: Bunkering to the right of the 11th fairway
Above: Par 3, 17th green with the 16th in the background
