Explore the course
See what the Oubaai course has to offer
Hole 1 - 390 yards - Par 4
The 1st hole at Oubaai, a medium-length par-4, is a relaxing start. The fairway has two bunkers on both sides; the one on the left serves as a good line off the tee, helping you find the widest part of the fairway.
Ordinarily, the approach leaves you with a mid-iron into the green, which is guarded by a bunker to the left and a swale on the right.
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Hole 2 - 329 yards - Par 4
The 2nd hole is a stroke 18 and plays a mere 308m from the club tee. Using the bunker on the right as a guide, you will reach the safest part of the fairway when taking a 3-wood or rescue club off the tee.
Positioned diagonally to the fairway, the green is best approached from the right side; it gives you the best angle to avoid the bunker in front of it.
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Hole 3 - 167 Yards - Par 3
The 3rd hole is a medium-length par-3 that plays slightly uphill to a green that has bunkers in front and left and a bail out area on its right side.
Because of the green's elevation, you may perceive it to be smaller than what it actually is. Consequently, it is a hole that plays a club more than what most golfers expect. Fortunately the green has a smooth and gentle slope from back to front, which makes putting a pleasure.
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Hole 4 - 516 Yards - Par 5
The first of three par-5s on the front nine, the 4th mostly plays into the prevailing easterly wind, which adds some length to it.
Using the fairway bunker on the left as a marker is the best line to take off the tee, as it is located in the biggest part of the fairway.
The preferred line for the second shot is one towards the second set of bunkers, which will leave you a distance of approximately 100m to the front of the green.
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Hole 5 - 413 yards - Par 4
The 5th is one of the more difficult holes at Oubaai and will test all levels of golfers. It plays as a dogleg to the right, with out-of-bounds on the left and the Gwaing gorge on the right. There is a big slope to the left that runs towards the fairway; it helps keep the ball in play. A lone bunker on the left side of the fairway is always a good line to take off the tee.
With two greenside bunkers that serve as a divider between the gorge and green, your next shot will be challenging. The green is protected by bunkers on the right and features a slope from left to right, as well as front to back. You will be walking off it with a lot of respect for the visionary who designed it.
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Hole 6 - 193 yards - Par 3
For men, this is a demanding hole with a stunning view of the Outeniqua Mountains and the Gwaing River down below. A 120 metre drive is required to cross the gorge to reach the fairway.
Ladies have a different approach to this hole. They don't have to deal with the gorge, but still face a testing tee shot of between 85m and 120m.
There is a dominating slope from left to right and three bunkers around this green that will test every player's short game ability.
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Hole 7 - 526 yards - Par 5
The 7th hole is the longest on the course. A demanding par-5, it has the gorge on the right side; using the fairway bunker on the left as a marker will be the best line off the tee. There is a slope on the left side of the fairway that will help the ball feed down to the fairway.
After the tee shot you have an uphill approach with a split fairway. This offers the choice of a longer second shot, which leaves you with an approach shot from above the green, or the option of a shorter, easier shot followed by a third - hitting uphill.
A pot bunker on the left and a long, deep one on the right guard the green. It slopes off the back towards the gorge.
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Hole 8 - 339 yards - Par 4
After a couple of testing holes, this seems easier. The fairway is split, with the widest part to the right. If you take the higher risk off the tee towards the left, you will be left with a shot that is higher than the green to create an easier approach shot.
The green has two deep bunkers on the left and right side, with the biggest part of it behind them. However short and tempting the shot may seem to the front pin placement, the best option it to go for the big part of the green.
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Hole 9 - 506 yards - Par 5
This is another well thought-out hole where the fairway flows around and between the perfectly placed bunkers. From the tee it would be the best option to go for the fattest part of the fairway; keep to the left of the fairway bunkers on the right.
With the second shot, avoid the bunkers on the right. Having accomplished this, you will face approximately 100 to 120m towards a green that is protected by bunkers front-left and -right, as well as back-right.
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Hole 10 - 367 yards - Par 4
It will be tempting to take out the driver on this tricky par-4, which has a narrow landing area that slopes from right to left towards bunkers on both sides of the fairway.
Defiantly risk-and-reward by design, the 10th is treacherous because a more conservative approach off the tee leaves you with a longer shot into a green that may have no greenside bunkers, but is protected by hollows on both sides of the green.
This is one of those holes that looks easy, yet will make many a pro look like a beginner.
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Hole 11 - 184 yards - Par 3
The 11th hole is a terrific medium-length par-3 with the kidney-shaped green guarded by two bunkers on both sides. The ideal shot would be middle-left on the green, leaving you with an opportunity to make a par.
Enjoy this challenging par-3 and hopefully you will be able to jot down a three on the card.
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Hole 12 - 509 yards - Par 5
Bunkers on the left and right sides protect the fairway of the par-5 12th hole. It is recommended to aim for the widest part of the fairway, which is to the right off the tee.
This is the only hole where a water hazard really comes into play at Oubaai. On the second shot, the fairway doglegs to the left, and the water is also on the left. The interesting thing about this hole is that the longer player has the opportunity to go for the green after a good drive, but has the water to negotiate.
The lay-up area is at its widest short of the second fairway bunker on the right. And the slope on the right of the fairway helps to keep the ball in play. It continues to the right of the green and feeds the ball onto it. This approach makes it easier to avoid the bunkers and water to the left of the green.
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Hole 13 - 375 yards - Par 4
The 13th hole is a short par-4 with a beautiful view of the Indian Ocean on the right and the mountains on the left. The tee is elevated, which gives you a good indication of the line to take off the tee.
The best play here would be to aim at the left of the fairway bunkers. This will help you to stay clear of the fairway bunker and find the widest part of the fairway.
Because it is such a short hole, it features a challenging green, kidney-shaped around a bunker and sloping from back to front. In summary, the hole is a terrific par-4 where one easily gets distracted by the view.
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Hole 14 - 208 yards - Par 3
This is the only other hole on the course where there are no bunkers around the green. Even so, what the 14th lacks in bunkers it makes up in distance.
The green lies diagonally and is closer on the left side from the tee, which often makes the middle of the green the best line to take off the tee. It is hole where you need to take an extra club.
Be alert, because a big swale in the middle of the green separates its front and back portions.
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Hole 15 - 429 Yards - Par 4
This hole is rated as a stroke 1 for both ladies and men. The best way to play it is by hitting the driver off the tee and aiming towards the right fairway bunker, which is located in the widest part of the fairway.
Having chosen this tactic, it leaves you with a mid- to long-iron to the green. It slopes from right to left and is protected by bunkers short-right and middle-left. The biggest part of the green is at the back and would be the best option to aim for when you hit the approach shot.
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Hole 16 - 422 yards - Par 4
The 16th fairway is a narrow one with a single fairway bunker that serves as a perfect line off the tee. Laying up before the bunker will leave you with approximately 130 metres to the middle of the green.
The green undulates from right to left and, with a bunker on the left, it demands a precise approach shot because getting up and down from the sides is quite difficult.
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Hole 17 - 144 yards - Par 3
Oubaai's signature hole is a par-3 with an elevated tee and a breathtaking view of the Indian Ocean. Even though it is very short, the wind can change this into a tough little hole; it has bunkers on both sides of the green, as well behind.
Undulating from right to left, the green creates difficulty if you miss it with your tee shot. The recommended tee shot is one to the middle-right; this gives you a chance to make par.
Without fear of exaggeration, the 17th is guaranteed to leave a tremendous impression on even the most well travelled golfer.
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Hole 18 - 499 Yards - Par 5
Ah, the home stretch. The 18th is a brilliantly designed par-5 that will keep you coming back for more. To get to the widest landing area in the fairway, seek the bunker on its right to show you the line.
A fairway metal is the best option off the tee, because the landing area of the fairway gets progressively narrower the farther the ball flies.
The second shot ought to be aimed to the right of the fairway bunkers on the other side of the gorge; a long-iron or fairway metal is the best way to find the fairway on the lay-up.
Long, yet narrow, the green has bunkers on both sides, which lend it an hourglass shape; the biggest part of the green is at the back.
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