Ryder Course

This opening hole is a medium length par 4 framed by bunkers both left and right of the generous fairway. The bunkers on the right have been enlarged and deepened, creating a challenging recovery. The green, which slopes from back to front, has been lowered approximately 3 feet and should receive approach shots much more consistently. One of the bunkers fronting the left portion of the green has been removed, leaving a relatively tame target for players opening their round. Players who miss the green will be left with delicate pitches to an elevated surface.

This dogleg right par 4 is protected on the right side by a large bunker in the landing zone. Players must hit their tee shots down the left side to leave the best approach to a green which has been shifted slightly to the right. The left front greenside bunker has been removed, but a larger, deeper front right bunker must be carried to the proper level of a smaller putting surface, which is divided by two distinct contours darting inward from each side. A back right hole location will be difficult to get close to, and shots missed long will require a deft touch to make par.

One of the most distinctive changes players will see on the Ryder Course begins with a tee shot framed by a massive bunker stretching the entire length of the right side landing area. Fazio's artistry can bee seen in the 'fingers' and 'noses' running into this hazard, as well as the deep faced bunkers on the left of the fairway. Tee shots must be played down the right side to leave players with an open view of the green. The tri-level green has been lowered significantly in the front and a bunker added back right to produce a very challenging and deceptive front right hole location. Players will see a dramatic visual improvement in the green’s receptiveness to their short irons, yet they will still be faced with extremely quick putts on approach shots hit to the wrong level.

This dogleg right par-5 plays around a huge pond to one of the largest greens on the course. Long hitters may choose to bite off much of the corner, but must carry a series of bunkers and contend with a fairway sloping away from their tee shots. An elevated landing area will give players an opportunity to go for the green in two, but approaches must avoid a middle left greenside bunker tucked into the side of the green. The large green, with a ridge dividing the front half from the back is also protected front and middle right by the pond and a bunker framed by pines respectively. Two tough hole locations will be back left and front right.

The first par-3 is the shortest hole on the course and provides an excellent opportunity for birdie. The green has site has been moved slightly to the right, the left greenside bunker cut in half and moved closer to the putting surface, and the pitch of the surface softened. The approach was lowered significantly, yet new back right and front left hole locations will challenge the most precise irons to get close. Shots hit short or right will not be difficult to get up and down.

A long par 5 with an up hill tee shot that must carry to the top and left side of the landing area to provide an open view of the lay up area and green site. The fairway bunkers on the right will catch any loose drives, leaving players little option but to pitch out with a wedge or short iron. A left side fairway bunker has shrunk considerably, and should not pose difficultly. The green itself has been modified to accept quality shots, with the entire back portion of the surface enlarged. The most challenging hole location may be middle back as missing the green long will leave a tough recovery. Two mammoth bunkers guard the front leaving a small alley approach for run up shots. The sixth will require four quality shots to make birdie.

This long, difficult par 3 has seen its green moved closer to the pond and lowered slightly. The putting surface is smaller and pitched from back right to front left, creating a very difficult back right hole location from the back tees, as players must avoid the water and a bunker running down the right side slope. The large bunker behind the green to the right has been replaced by a steep, landscaped contour. Significant landscaping has been added to 'frame' this hole. Many players will choose to bail left and short of the green and take their chances with the short game.

This mid length par 4 dog leg left is much kinder off the tee this year. Native vegetation has been removed on the right side, opening the view to a long bunker which is smaller and has been re-contoured. The left side fairway bunker is smaller, yet still must be avoided off the tee. Tee shots positioned down the right side leave an open view to a green which has been moved back 30 yards. A bunker added behind the green provides depth perception assistance to the players who may see their share of birdies as the green is much less contoured and pitched back right to front left. Although a much smaller target, this green has very subtle breaks highlighted by a ridge down the right center.

This difficult up hill par-4 plays into the prevailing wind. The hole may appear very similar to players off the tee, but new coquina and landscaped bunkers will provide a challenge off the tee for balls leaking right. The green has been lowered significantly and ridges on the left side have been softened to allow players who miss approach shots a chance to see the putting surface. A deep bunker guards the right and front of the subtle, multi-level green. Any front or back right hole locations will be the most challenging, and shots finishing over the green will be very quick coming back.

The 10th at The Ryder is a challenging par 3 as it is uphill and has a cavernous bunker guarding then left. It is a medium to lengthy par 3, at its longest it is 215 yards long. The green is 30 yards long and flows from right to left. The toughest hole placements are on the front and right of the green. When the hole is cut in the back left a nice draw is the preferred shot shape. A par is a great score on this hole.

The dogleg right par 4 plays over a series of bunkers lining the right side of the fairway. These bunkers are some of the most dramatic on the course, with long noses running down into them from the contoured fairway. A drive hit down the left center of the hole will leave players with the best view of the green, guarded by bunkers on the left front and middle right, as well as a pond on the left side. The new green is highlighted by a ridge running from the middle left to the back right, which divides it in half, creating long undulating putts for those errant shots right or left.

A long, slightly downhill, par-3 played over a pond, which can deceive players off the tee. The four bunkers surrounding the putting surface have been restored and enlarged slightly, with the back bunker seemingly closer to the green than it actually is. Players who trust the yardage and find the green off the tee will be faced with much kinder sloping putts than in past years. Recovery shots from behind the green may be played with a variety of clubs and the back right hole location remains as the most difficult to get close to as the green slopes ever so slightly away from the player.

This par-5 will take on a new look this year as the bunkers down the left side off the tee have all been re-shaped, with one bunker being eliminated entirely. A generous fairway awaits players and provides an opportunity to allow long hitters to consider chasing a fairway wood up near the green. The bunkers down the right side of the hole remain intact, but the green has been moved back and to the left, closer to the pond, creating a treacherous back left hole location. The green has been slightly reduced in size and the grass hollow front left has been transformed into a bunker. A bail out area right and to the rear of the green has been created and players missing the green here will be faced with a relatively simple pitch shot. The hole should provide an excellent chance at birdie.

This short, dogleg left par-4 can also yield birdies if players can find the right side of the fairway off the tee, opening up the proper angle to the green. New bunkers guard both the right side of the landing area, as well as the left middle. Although reduced in size, the green is accessible and gently sloped from back to front. Approaching the back left hole location with a wedge or short iron, players must be careful to avoid missing left or long.

One of the most challenging holes on the course, the 15th features bunkers which guard the left side of the fairway and demands a tee shot down the right which brings the native foliage into play off the tee. A large knob in the front left of the green has been removed and bunkers on the left have been moved closer to the surface, creating a more challenging carry to a back left hole location. Although the green itself appears relatively tame, players must negotiate a subtle swale running through the middle, which divides the surface in half, placing a premium on approach shots.

A beautiful and challenging downhill par-3 to a peninsula green fronted by a bunker. The green has been completely re-shaped with all of the existing contours softened, including a large ridge in the right center. With one of the largest greens on the course to accept hybrid clubs or even fairway wood tee shots, players may be faced with extremely long putts, which perhaps must negotiate two hogbacks at the rear of the putting surface. The back left hole location will challenge the best of players, but bail out shots hit short and right will allow the player a good opportunity for an up and down.

This long par 5 plays slightly uphill off the tee and players must avoid a large bunker on the right to prevent lengthening the hole. A series of deceptive bunkers juts into the middle rig ht of the fairway creating a challenge for those choosing to lay up. One bunker near the right of the green has been eliminated, and the green has been shifted clockwise to accept approach shots from the 100-130 yard area. The surface slopes from back right to front left, with a large hogback protecting the rear of the green. Balls hit long or right will find large swales and players will be faced with uphill chips to a very quick green.

The finishing hole is a very challenging par 4 with an uphill tee shot and a downhill approach. The deep bunkers lining the fairway on the right must be avoided, but balls hit too far left off the tee will flirt with the rough cutting in on the left. From the elevated fairway, players will see a relatively friendly putting surface, slightly perched and surrounded by five bunkers. The green itself has been pushed to the right and lowered by 2 feet, and the bunkers guarding the entire right side combined with a swale behind the green will make a back right hole location very difficult.