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Title: Els Course

The theme of the Els Course is to create a lush look of dense trees, wide swaths of manicured turf to evoke a feel of maintained gardens a unique flavour of his South Africa homeland.

Measuring over 7,000 yards, the Els Course follows a unique core layout, as opposed to corridors. Invigorating is the 4th tee, sitting atop the highest point of the course, with commanding panoramic views of Mission Hills and the outlying properties.

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Subtitle: Ernie Els

Photo: Ernie ElsComing from South Africa, Ernie Els is a professional golf player full of energy and passion for winning. His intrinsic drive to excel earns him the nickname, "the Model Student". In his professional career, Ernie Els is one of the few players who has managed to remain in the top three in world rankings for a long period of time.

Photo: Course Photo 1
Photo: Course Photo 2
Photo: Course Photo 2

Subtitle: Els Course Guide

Subtitle: To view each individual hole click on the hole number below:

Link: Hole Number 1Link: Hole Number 2Link: Hole Number 3Link: Hole Number 4Link: Hole Number 5Link: Hole Number 6Link: Hole Number 7Link: Hole Number 8Link: Hole Number 9Link: Hole Number 10Link: Hole Number 11Link: Hole Number 12Link: Hole Number 13Link: Hole Number 14Link: Hole Number 15Link: Hole Number 16Link: Hole Number 17Link: Hole Number 18

Tab Link: View Score Card & Course Layout
Tab Link: View Score Card & Course Layout
Subtitle: Course Layout
Photo: Els Course Layout
Subtitle: Score Card
Hole Black Gold Blue White Red Par
1 494 446 398 359 294 4
2 405 379 355 329 296 4
3 178 156 140 124 107 3
4 582 559 544 533 508 5
5 181 164 147 130 114 3
6 517 494 468 447 425 5
7 468 451 430 398 356 4
8 369 339 311 283 254 4
9 440 421 396 350 299 4
Out 3634 3409 3189 2953 2653 36
10 331 305 279 254 227 4
11 539 519 502 484 437 5
12 411 382 370 318 262 4
13 524 506 486 465 407 5
14 364 317 291 271 252 4
15 165 162 144 106 90 3
16 420 382 357 324 305 4
17 223 189 165 142 121 3
18 438 398 381 363 321 4
In 3415 3160 2975 2727 2422 36
Total 7049 6569 6164 5680 5075 72
Hole #1 - 480 Yards Par 4

A long opening hole that has been redesigned with a bunker complex both right of the landing area and left of the green. A strong showing of trees down the left side makes for a demanding tee shot. Play near the right bunkers for the best angle on a long second shot to a green sloping from right-to-left. Balls hit right should feed toward the pin. A good, solid opening hole.

Hole #2 - 405 Yards Par 4

Medium in length but slightly uphill, this demanding hole begins with a tight, tree-lined tee shot leaving an uphill second to a multi-tiered green. Although bunkerless at the front, anything short of this green will leave a difficult hanging lie or a severely uphill pitch from a fairway cut flat. Behind the green is an old bomb shelter unearthed during construction giving a unique backdrop and foreshadowing the next six holes where slope & elevation dictate how a golfer either attacks or plays safe.

Hole #3 - 178 Yards Par 3

A medium-length Par 3 playing slightly uphill to a multi-tiered green with a strong false front and two deep bunkers left. With the dramatic backdrop of a towering slope of native vegetation, this hole demands plenty of club; anything short or left leaves very difficult recovery. Make every effort to get near the proper shelf.

Hole #4 - 582 Yards Par 5

(Signature Hole)

This hole begins high atop a mountain peak providing commanding views of the entire course and much of the Mission Hills property. Rock walls support a series of tees that stand some 40 meters above the first landing area, giving the golfer a strong urge to let it fly! The landing area is initially wide but quickly necks down with a stream to the left and native vegetation to the right leaving little room for error for those adventurous enough to pull out driver.

Hole #5 - 181 Yards Par 3

A medium-length Par 3 playing slightly uphill to a well-guarded greensite. From the tee, this hole looks somewhat benign and receptive but balls on the short-right side of the green will be subject to a strong slope pulling to the fairway cut. Play long and left to be safe.

Hole #6 - 517 Yards Par 5

This hole would seem to play short but with an uphill elevation of almost 30 meters, only the longest of players will find it reachable. A left-to-right tee shot sets up decision time for the second where a very deep cross bunker, 50 yards short of the green, demands an aggressive play yielding a shorter, less elevated third shot. Playing short of the bunker leaves a strong uphill shot with limited visibility of the flagstick. The green is wildly contoured with dramatic fall-off fronts that pull back any shots slightly short of the level green areas. A very demanding 3-short hole.

Hole #7 - 468 Yards Par 4

Long but downhill, this hole demands an accurate tee shot placed within a well-bunkered landing area. Big tee shots will gain distance off the slope but will leave a slightly awkward downhill stance. Balls hit short and right will feed into the green so beware of playing too much club as the slope behind the green is severe.

Hole #8 - 369 Yards Par 4

Playing uphill to a somewhat tight, tree-lined landing area, this hole requires a straight tee shot. Anything right can be subject to a deep fall-off downslope. The greensite is well-bunkered right and is steeply contoured leaving quick downhill and sidehill putts. Bail-out left of the green but be prepared for a difficult recovery.

Hole #9 - 440 Yards Par 4

A long, slightly downhill Par 4 featuring a carry bunker off the tee that, when properly negotiated, leaves a considerably shorter approach shot. The well-bunkered green is fairly flat leaving great birdie opportunities for well-hit second shots.

Hole #10 - 331 Yards Par 4

Short but treacherous, this hole has a stream from tee to green and features deep fairway bunkering. A carry bunker at about 180 yards is the perfect target-line for an iron tee shot as the ball will feed quickly toward the stream leaving a level lie to attack the pin. Drivers off the tee must negotiate a series of bunkers but will reward a well-placed tee shot. The green is long and narrow and gets up best from the fairway's left edge. A dramatic backdrop of vegetated hills makes for a visually exciting hole. Expect to see a wide range of scores on this hole.

Hole #11 - 538 Yards Par 4

This medium-length Par 4 demands a second shot carry over a stream to a landing area of options. Play near the right bunker for the best angle into the wild, three-tiered green resting above the stream's edge. The upper left shelf will challenge the best of players with its sharp fall-off slopes. A bunkerless greensite but difficult nonetheless.

Hole #12 - 410 Yards Par 4

Playing slightly left-to-right, the tee shot is best played to the right near the stream's edge leaving the best angle of approach to the green. A long bunker left of the green and grass lows right protect the level greensite that will yield many birdie opportunities.

Hole #13 - 524 Yards Par 5

This tree-lined hole double-doglegs slightly uphill to a plateaued greensite with deep grass lows in the surrounds. The right-to-left tee shot sets up a second shot that must negotiate a series of cross bunkers. Play along and left for the best angle in the green and don't get caught short and right of the green where a deep grass low leaves a difficult up and down. A magnificent backdrop of mature tress makes for a scenic, parkland atmosphere.

Hole #14 - 360 Yards Par 4

A short Par 4 with multiple options off the tee. With water left and short of the green add a deep pot bunker in the middle of the fairway, the golfer has choices. Play short of the bunker leaving the longest second shot over water or; left of the bunker, flirting with the water's edge for a much shorter shot or; carry the bunker with driver to leave an easier angle and distance to the green. The green is perched above the water and protected long by a deep pot bunker. Pin placement may factor heavily in tee shot selection.

Hole #15 - 410 Yards Par 4

A very scenic hole playing along a lake with waterfalls at both the tees and behind the green. The backdrop is a stunning, long view uphill toward the hotel with large swaths of flowering groundcover and dense trees. The green is easily negotiated to the center and right but left pin placements bring water into play both left and long. A spectacular and dangerous Par 3.

Hole #16 - 410 Yards Par 4

Not very long but sharply uphill, this hole demands a long, accurate tee shot to leave a second shot with good visibility to the green. The green is protected short by deep bunkers eliminating any ability to run the ball in. A high, lofted shot to the shallow green is required. A very demanding hole!

Hole #17 - 222 Yards Par 3

Long and treacherous, this Par 3 features water along the right from tee to green and a bunker protecting the left side of the green. The green is fairly level so any putts are certainly more makeable than on most greens but at 200 yards plus, this hole will cause difficulties, especially for those players feeling the heat of the closing holes.

Hole #18 - 438 Yards Par 4

A spectacular series of waterfalls protect the inside turn of this right-to-left hole tempting the player to bite off as much of the edge as he can. Bailing out right off the tee will leave substantially more length into the well-bunkered green set into a dramatic backdrop of dense vegetation. A demanding, beautiful finishing hole that will yield birdies only to two well-played shots!

Photo: Holes
Subtitle: Course Layout
Photo: Els Course Layout
Subtitle: Score Card
Hole Black Gold Blue White Red Par
1 494 446 398 359 294 4
2 405 379 355 329 296 4
3 178 156 140 124 107 3
4 582 559 544 533 508 5
5 181 164 147 130 114 3
6 517 494 468 447 425 5
7 468 451 430 398 356 4
8 369 339 311 283 254 4
9 440 421 396 350 299 4
Out 3634 3409 3189 2953 2653 36
10 331 305 279 254 227 4
11 539 519 502 484 437 5
12 411 382 370 318 262 4
13 524 506 486 465 407 5
14 364 317 291 271 252 4
15 165 162 144 106 90 3
16 420 382 357 324 305 4
17 223 189 165 142 121 3
18 438 398 381 363 321 4
In 3415 3160 2975 2727 2422 36
Total 7049 6569 6164 5680 5075 72