National Golf Club hosts the European Challenge Tour for the first time this week and the players have taken to Twitter to declare it one of the best and most challenging courses they will play all season. Here, a few of our stars talk you through the key holes…
| The best hole - Pelle Edberg | |
“The 14th hole, for me. It’s a really tight tee shot and there is ground under repair all along the left side so if you end up out there you will have to drop somewhere and it will be a really tough shot. There is water surrounding the green then. “I think I am going to hit a three iron off the tee, because it’s so tight, with trees to the left and the right. That will leave me maybe a nine iron into an island green and the green is quite narrow. “It is intimidating hitting the tee shot even if you’ve got a three iron in your hand and the shot into the green is also intimidating. That is one of the nicest holes out here.” |
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| Pelle Edberg |
| The most picturesque hole - Matt Ford | |
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“The par five fourth is pretty picturesque. There’s water down the left and it looks really nice. The course in general is beautiful. It’s got to be one of the tightest holes we’ll play this year, I’d imagine. “Most of the courses out here are suited to bombers but here accuracy is a premium. I'm not one of the longest but you would probably take 250 off every tee as long as it’s straight. “The 18th is beautiful too, with the clubhouse at the back, so it would be nice to be coming up there in a good position on the last day.” |
| Matt Ford | |
| The toughest hole - Lasse Jensen | |
“The third hole is a really good hole and really tight. You can be on the right side of the fairway and then you’re limited with your second shot. “You basically need to place your ball on a helmet on the fairway. Then your second shot is not the longest in the world but it is very demanding because the green has a false front and at the back it also feeds away. If you’re short it’s going to roll back and if you’re long it’s going to feed away from you. “It’s just a really good par four where you need to hit good golf shots. There are small tiers on the green. I think I'm going to hit a long iron or three wood from the tee and then when that job is done you need to hit another really good shot. I would say this will be a key hole.” |
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| Lasse Jensen |
| The 18th as a final hole - Niccolo Quintarelli | |
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“I think it’s going to be a really interesting final hole, especially on the final day if you are maybe one shot back and chasing a birdie. Then you really have to go for it but there is a lot of danger, especially the water on the left. I think on the final day they will surely put the pin way over on the left too. “It’s a difficult tee shot because you don’t feel the wind so you just have to trust your shot. It is not a long hole but it won’t be easy either." |
| Niccolo Quintarelli | |
| The toughest hole - Lasse Jensen | |
| “The third hole is a really good hole and really tight. You can be on the right side of the fairway and then you’re limited with your second shot. “You basically need to place your ball on a helmet on the fairway. Then your second shot is not the longest in the world but it is very demanding because the green has a false front and at the back it also feeds away. If you’re short it’s going to roll back and if you’re long it’s going to feed away from you. “It’s just a really good par four where you need to hit good golf shots. There are small tiers on the green. I think I'm going to hit a long iron or three wood from the tee and then when that job is done you need to hit another really good shot. I would say this will be a key hole.” |
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| Lasse Jensen |
