A hole-by-hole look at the Twenty Ten Course at Celtic Manor Resort, site of the 38th Ryder Cup matches to be played Oct. 1-3:
No. 1, 465 yards, par 4: The opening tee shot is a dogleg left, and while players can make the hole shorter with a drive down the left, there are three deep bunkers on that side where the hole turns. The green is guarded by two bunkers, with runoff areas to the right and behind the green.
No. 2, 610 yards, par 5: The drive should not only be long but straight, as this is a narrow fairway with deep bunkers dotting both sides. As many birdies can be made laying up as going for the green because of the contours and the steep runoffs, especially to the right of the green, which can send a ball some 50 feet away and well below the green. Paul Lawrie eight-putted for an 11 at the Wales Open this year.
No. 3, 189 yards, par 3: Water is short and left of the green, with a bunker on the right that also should be avoided. The back of the green features another steep runoff.
No. 4, 461 yards, par 4: This turns back toward the clubhouse into the prevailing wind. The choice is to drive short of the bunkers, although it becomes harder to hold the green. With the contours of this green, it doesn't take much for the slightest miss to roll off the edges of the putting surface.
No. 5, 433 yards, par 4: A dogleg right with a stream running down the right side and then in front of the green. Missing the fairway makes it extremely difficult to hold the green, which has several runoff areas.
No. 6, 422 yards, par 4: Another hole that bends to the right with the lake down the entire right side of this medium-length hole. Bunkers could catch a tee shot that runs through the fairway. Two bunkers guard the left and front of the green, with a deep bunker to the back. The toughest hole location is to the right, where a slight miss can send the ball into the water.
No. 7, 213 yards, par 3: A fairly straightforward par 3 with a bunker guarding the left side of the green and a smaller bunker to the right that has been deepened and moved closer to the green.
No. 8, 439 yards, par 4: Fairway bunkers to the left and right, including one at about 300 yards that sticks out into the fairway. Two bunkers to the right of the green, which is heavily contoured. A steep slope has been added to the right of the green, which will send the ball well below the green and leave a difficult chip back up the slope.
No. 9, 580 yards, par 5: The hole can measure some 665 yards, although it is expected to play from a forward tee to make the green accessible in two shots. Tee shot must avoid two bunkers on the right for players wanting to reach the green. The second shot must avoid a big bunker to the right and a deep pot bunker on the left.
No. 10, 210 yards, par 3: One of the smallest greens on the course, it slopes from back to front and from right to left, and is surrounded by bunkers. It is tough to gauge the wind on this hole.
No. 11, 562 yards, par 5: The shortest par 5 at Celtic Manor, and similar to the ninth with water down the entire left side of the hole. Tee shot must avoid a bunker to the right for any shot at reaching the green in two. Bunkers at staggered distances protect the front and right of the green, with a slope behind the bunker on the right that leads toward the water.
No. 12, 458 yards, par 4: This starts perhaps the most compelling stretch at Celtic Manor. It goes the opposite direction of No. 11, again with water down the left side, with more water to the right on the second shot. The approach is slightly uphill, and the ball is unlikely to travel as far in cooler temperatures.
No. 13, 189 yards, par 3: The tee shot must clear water, although two bunkers to the back are no bargain. Playing from the back bunker brings the water short of the green into play for the second time, as the green slopes toward the lake.
No. 14, 485 yards, par 4: A new tee makes it tough to go over the water, meaning the tee shot must be aimed to the left and creates a tougher angle at the green, which is guarded by water down the left side.
No. 15, 377 yards, par 4: This could be the most exciting hole at Celtic Manor, with a green that can be reached from the tee, provided players can go over a ridge of trees to an elevated putting surface. Anything left of the green could go into a creek, while right leaves a difficult chip and putt. The green is guarded by two bunkers, one on the left so deep that it's tough to see the pin.
No. 16, 499 yards, par 4: The longest par 4 on the course and likely into a prevailing wind. The fairway is narrow, with a bunker on the left side that only the big hitters can carry. A tee shot to the right is likely to catch another bunker. The green is tucked into a hill and guarded by three bunkers.
No. 17, 211 yards, par 3: The longest green on the course, with a severe slope from right to left. The green has one bunker on the left, and five bunkers short and right.
No. 18, 575 yards, par 5: The forward tee is being used to make the green reachable in two. The elevated green is just beyond the water, with large bunkers on either side. The bunker on the left side makes for a tough up-and-down when the hole location is front right. Should provide plenty of birdies, while a par most likely will not be good enough.
