A medium length par 4, teeing from an elevated position across a valley to an elevated landing area. Fairway bunkers on the left must be avoided, there is plenty of space to the right but long hitters may run out of fairway. A 3 metal from the tee may be a better option for big hitters.

A mid to short iron approach shot for most players to a lovely green set snugly atop a gentle knoll, bunkers left and right must be avoided. Not a complicated hole but very pleasant, an ideal hole to get the field moving nicely.

For most players this is a genuine 3 shot par 5 playing up a valley floor, which is bisected by a menacing creek. This creek poses some serious questions, which must be addressed. Average players will be best served if they treat this hole as a par 6 laying-up short of the two forced creek crossings. Better players will be challenged to carry the creek crossings, and for some, even reaching the green in 2 shots is a possibility. This is a genuine risk and reward hole and should be treated with great respect. It offers the chance of birdies and perhaps eagles but could easily produce triples and worse if not managed properly.

This hole sits beautifully in a natural amphitheatre and is framed on the left by some remnant rainforest. There is a lovely pond to the right and short of the green but for the most part has aesthetic value only and not really in play.

At around 190 metres from the back tee this par 3 is quite long but a large receptive green awaits to reward well struck tee shots. This is sure to be a hole which will be enjoyed by the vast majority of players.

The passage from the 3rd green via a road underpass (tunnel) downplays what lies ahead. Many golfers will gasp on arrival at the 4th tee, the tee shot is one of the more visually challenging on the course. From the elevated tees each player will need to choose carefully their line of attack across an obliquely positioned lake, beautifully framed on the right by remnant rainforest.

Very long hitters will be tempted to make the full carry and try to reach the putting surface with an almighty tee shot. On the other hand, average players will be equally challenged with choosing their own line of attack.

It is not a long par 4 and most competent players will be disappointed if par or better is not achieved.

This is a fairly strong par 4, particularly so, if the fairway bunkers are not challenged from the tee and a lay-up opted for. Good players will be challenged to take some degree of risk from the tee in order to make their approach shots much easier.

Water, which lurks on the left all the way from the tees to the green, must be flirted with if par is to be genuinely challenged.

The first of two fairway bunkers sits almost in the centre of the fairway, and it is this bunker which will tease golfers the most. The best line (but the riskiest) is left of this bunker or over the left edge but this brings the water on the left most definitely into play. The alternative is a soft lay-up short or right of this bunker but then the next shot to the green, which is also guarded on the left by the very same lake, is so much more difficult. For most players a 5 on this hole will be most gratifying.

The tee shot on this beautiful par 5 is framed on both sides by remnant rainforest which focuses the attention needed to play the tee shot which must avoid water on the right and well placed fairway bunkers in the landing area.

For medium to average players a par is very feasible on this hole as it is not so long. There is ample width and with good management the results should be gratifying more often than not.

Good players, however, will be looking to overpower this hole and make birdies and the odd eagle. All this is very achievable but large bunkers protecting the approach to the green must be avoided otherwise par becomes difficult. Another risk and reward hole, which is bound to be very popular.

Hole 7 is bound to become the number one index on the front nine. At around 400 metres from the back tee a very good tee shot, which avoids the strategically placed fairway bunkers, will be needed if par or better is to be achieved. Most players should treat this hole as a short par 5.

Good players after a good tee shot will be faced with an uphill approach shot to a well protected raised green, club selection will be the key to good scoring.

This par 3 is truly heroic! It seriously provokes the brave hearts to pump their chests and go for it. It has maximum exposure to the adjacent highway, an ideal situation to “show-off”. There are some of us who simply can’t resist this type of opportunity to demonstrate our prowess.

But beware, this could be very much a foolhardy strategy because unless the hero’s shot is perfectly struck a watery grave (or worse) is almost guaranteed.

For some, a more conservative approach will be the order of the day, four’s will be a simple matter if the water on the left is taken out of play. But even the most conservative of players at times will be duped into “going for it”. This is destined to be one of the signature holes at Horizon Hills.

This, the final hole of nine holes of golf so diverse in character and challenge, is no less so than the preceding 8 holes.

The tee shot plays uphill to a perched landing area guarded on the right by two very deep fairway bunkers. There is another fairway bunker on the left which only the long hitters will notice but must be avoided if par or better is to be scored.

The green sits beautifully on a knoll adjacent to the magnificent clubhouse and is majestically framed by 3 devious bunkers at the front of the green and another at the rear to collect over-clubbed shots.

This is the type of hole where scoring par will feel like quite an achievement and give a good deal of satisfaction. An admirable completion to a truly great nine holes of golf, but there is more to come, buckle up and get ready for the second nine after a well-earned break at the golfer’s terrace.

Another fine opening hole, very visual, all is there to behold from the beautifully elevated tees. Average players should favour the left side of the fairway staying well clear of the lake on the right. After a good tee shot, a mid to short iron approach to a receptive green will reward many players with pars. Better players will be challenged to take more risk from the tee bringing into play bunkers and water on the right. Big hitters will be looking for birdies on this hole.

Not an overly long par 4 but a hole requiring much thought from the tee. For good players the decision on this tee will be to lay-up or go for a big high draw avoiding bunkers on the right and a grove of oil palms on the left. A successful big hit from the tee will reduce the second shot to nothing more than a sand iron. A conservative lay-up will put more emphasis on the second shot to a perched green which has a terraced putting surface. Putting from long range will be difficult, again placing a premium on the quality of the approach shot. This is very much a “thinking man’s” hole.

For average players the tee shot is relatively straightforward, get as close as possible to the fairway bunkers without going into them. From here a decent average player has a good chance of placing his approach shot on the putting surface. For players of lesser skill, simply play it as a short par 5, 3 shots to get on followed by 2 putts, simple enough.

As players walk onto the green they will be struck by the other “watery” par 3, the 17th with it’s island green. Immediately the mind games and intimidation of ultimately having to play the 17th will kick-in.

But back to the 12th hole which in itself is a very good par 3. At 185 metres from the back tee it is no push-over. Even very good players will be faced with a 5 iron or more. Average players will be able to bounce their tee shot onto the green but it must be accurate, it must carry the grassy hollow in front and avoid the approach bunker to the left, a lot of fun when successfully executed.

Players of all standards will be very mindful, however, not to overhit or miss to the right as a steep bank will likely propel their golf balls into the adjacent lake. Once on the green putting is relatively straightforward as the contours are gentle.

This is a possible two shot par 5 for big hitters but the tee shot will need to be perfectly struck and perfectly flighted. The landing area appears from the tee to be full of bunkers and although deceptive these bunkers are very strategic offering a range of options from the tee.

Average players should favour the left half of the fairway where the fairway is generous provided they stay short of the left side bunker. Follow this up with a good second shot with a rescue club then a mid iron approach shot and most players will have a good chance for a par.

But for better players, bunkers on the second shot will come into play again, posing a range of options. Where to lay-up or full on attack must be thought through and then delivered with full commitment. The green will receive quality shots played from the correct positions but putting will be tricky from long range on this  undulating green. A very sporting par 5 which is sure to tease.

Quite simply this is a hole which plays over a hill. If the tee shot is too short then the second shot will be blind. If the tee shot is accurate and long enough then extra run on the down slope will ensure a much easier approach shot. At 400 metres plus from the back tee this hole has the potential to play long, bringing the creek crossing short of the green into calculation.

Most average players will find this hole very pleasant if treated as a short par 5. A steady drive followed by a conservative second shot lay-up and then a short pitch to a large receptive green will result in easy 5’s and sometimes 4’s. On the other hand, good players will be looking to attack this hole and with good management from the tee may only need a short nine iron or wedge approach shot.

All approach shots must avoid the creek in front, and again, left of the green where any slightly pulled shot is sure to be greeted with a watery grave. Another contest follows on the putting surface where the undulations are both subtle and pronounced. On balance a strong par 4 where much can happen.

A medium length par 4 traversing a relatively level section of the course but incorporating many undulations and dead ground. With two bunkers seemingly in the middle of the fairway, one in the landing area and the other 30 to 40 metres short of the green this hole has a certain Scottish links feel about it.

This is not a hole which reveals its all on a single play; it will require local knowledge and a trust in the actual yardage as visually it can be quite deceptive from various angles including the tees. However, it should be a fun hole for players of all standards.

Trust, selection and execution are the keys to good scoring on this hole. Firstly, the fairway bunkers are to be avoided and water does come into play right of the green. The green is a good size and receptive, rewarding good iron play. But simply being on the green is not the end of the challenge, the green has a significant step toward the rear and several other undulations are certain to make putting very interesting requiring good imagination.

At 280 metres this short par 4 is sure to entice long hitters to “have-a-go”. Birdies and eagles are on offer here but with a good deal of risk with deep bunkers on the left side approach and a watery grave to the right. Regardless, in tournament conditions it is a very real opportunity to make-up a shot or two on the field.

Average players will be more concerned about whether to lay-up with a rescue club or take a driver and try to carry the central fairway bunker at about 200 metres. The pin location must also be considered when toying with options from the tee; the green is not so large and very undulating. Some pin locations are only accessible from certain positions on the fairway.

This is very much a risk and reward hole where players of all standards can potentially score both birdies and triple bogies and anything in between.

Well the moment of truth has arrived, have we got what it takes, do we have the nerve to commit fully to this “do-or-die” shot.

It’s not long at 135 metres and the green is large, a seemingly easy target but with variable winds wafting up and down the valley and surrounded by water it is sure to be many players' undoing.

Of course, to merely hit the green may not be enough when pin locations are close to the surrounding water as the green is anything but flat; a central raised section of the putting surface will impact on most long range putts. To score a 3 on this hole will be a great relief.

An unbelievable array of play options with the alternative island fairway coming into calculation in many. This par 5 can be played as a genuine three shotter by laying-up from the tee, followed by a fairway metal to the main second landing area and then a mid to short iron approach across the corner of the lake which guards the green. This seems simple enough but anything offline will require a strategy re-think with water continuous on the right from tee through to the green and several strategically placed fairway bunkers along the way.

Long hitters have the option to take-on the island fairway from the tee. This is a carry of 250 metres plus and the tee shot must also be very accurate.

Once on the island golfers will then be faced with another daunting shot over water to a green surrounded by water on three sides. This is surely a hole where some very memorable heroics will take place.

As a finishing hole in tournament golf this is destined to be a global talking point where risk and reward golf is so gloriously exemplified.