The Norman Course welcomes golfers to the course with a big wide tempting fairway on the Par 4 first hole.

From elevated tees the tee shot over a deep valley of rough is best aimed up the left of the fairway to set up the best position for the second shot into the green. A lower fairway to the right and bunkering both on the right and one long left ensure this strategy. The green is guarded with a deep bunker on the left whilst the land behind falls away quickly taking any over hit approach shot with it.

At 354 yards this is the shortest of the Par 4's, but for what it doesn't have in length it makes up for in rewarding precise shot making. From elevated tees the golfer is presented with the entire hole all the way to the smallish green, which is guarded by one very deep bunker on the front right. The best angle to the green is from the left side of the fairway. The decision presented at the tee with a big carry over long rough to the well-bunkered fairway is how much danger to take on to get the reward. At the same time a bunker on the left of the hole demands an accurate long drive up the left. The green sitting high on the hill is elongated left to right and falls away steeply behind rewarding a shot of accurate distance.

A longish Par 4 from the back. This hole follows the base of a hillside on the right to a green elevated on a ridge high above a lake. The backdrop of the surrounding Lychee plantation and lake is a powerful setting to a demanding hole. Bunkers on the right are to be flaunted with on the tee shot with the right side of the hole giving the best angle to the ridge top green. The mid sized green is well-guarded front left with a deep cavernous bunker and there is another bunker back right, adds to the danger of a rear pin position. A hog's back shape in the fairway leading into the green has the potential to deflect any shots coming up short.

Forested hillsides behind in the distance and a lake out to the left of the hole create a superb setting for the shortest hole on the course. From the tees high on the top of the steep hillside this short hole is across a deep valley to a bunkerless long and skinny green which is nestled into the side slopes of a knoll. Precipitous slopes both left and behind the green mean that any shot must be very accurate and a shot left or too long means re load. To miss right is to contend with a grassy links type hill of short to long rough. Once on the green a variety of pin placements from front to back mean that long putting will come in to play for birdie opportunities.

From the championship tee this very open and high ridge top hole presents an extremely wide fairway which adds some unusual deception. In a direct line from tee to green is danger in terms of bunkers and two deep hazardous valleys. Whilst the hole tends to tempt players left the best way into the long green is from the right part of the fairway. A short tee shot mid to left of the hole will certainly mean several bunkers will have to be negotiated on the way to the green in two shots. The tight green surrounds fall away quickly right and left of the putting surface whilst bunkering front left and back right put a premium on an accurate second shot.

A long and down hill par 3. From elevated tees the golfer looks down on the green set in a bowl/ amphitheatre type of setting with the landform surrounding 3 sides of the green. 3 large bunkers guard the green at the front left and right whilst rolling landform surrounding the green will provide interesting ball roll and chipping. The large green is well undulated, putting an emphasis on sound putting.

The first of two Par 5s. The elevated tees command a full view thorough to the distant green ahead. The wide landing area is receptive but for the long hitters the best line is to flirt with the tee bunker on the right to set up a potentially reachable shot to the green. Cross-bunkers must be cleared on the 2nd shot to reach the modest sized green which is guarded by one deep bunker on the left. For those who can't make it in 2 shots the fairway opens out to the left but this means a tough uphill short iron shot and over bunkers up to the green.

Playing in the opposite direction to the 7th hole, this hole has its green tucked around behind a well-bunkered hill with only the top of the pin to announce the target. The tee shot across a deep wide carry is to an expansive fairway with bunkers left and right. Effectively if the pin is front left of the green then down the right of the fairway is the likely way to go. Pin right front or back and a tee shot down the left will leave the best line in. The uphill second shot towards the green involves carrying another deep valley and plenty of danger along the way with carefully positioned bunkers on the left and greenside to catch short shots. For those less courageous the wide second landing area sets up well for a third shot at the green which is guarded on three corners with small bunkers.

The longest Par 4 on the front nine holes. With the well-bunkered green high on the ridge in the distance, the downhill tee shot needs to be well placed depending on pin location. A valley crosses the middle of the hole at a reachable distance for the big hitters. Better to be well placed and a little short. The uphill second shot to the undulating green needs to account for carrying long rough and the deep bunkers guarding the left approach into the green. Two bunkers on the right of the green put further emphasis on an accurate approach.

Opening the back nine is a tricky short Par 4. The wide fairway deep in the valley below is flanked by forested hills either side. A deep creek edges on the fairway on the right side and 2 bunkers on the left of the fairway are in direct line to the green. The creek is an important strategic feature of the hole as it crosses the fairway in front of the large green. The right side of the fairway sets up the best short iron shot into the green which is bunkered front left. Creative play may use the slopes to the right of the green for rolling the ball towards the pin.

A short to mid Par 3 and the first with a large lake to be carried. An elevated green set amongst the backdrop of steep and dramatic hillsides is guarded by the deepest bunker on the course. Another bunker on the left will trap a pulled shot. In the meantime a shot too long will result in having to chip back up high to get on the gently undulating surface.

The strongest Par 4 on the course at 480 plus yards is set in its own valley. The tee shot across a small pond is to a very wide fairway, which tightens up for the long hitters with natural creek on the left coming into play. A large hill to the left of the creek also has to be negotiated by anyone short and on the left side of the fairway. A drive over the two bunkers on the right and the fairway opens out here safely.

The wood or long iron second shot is uphill to the green which is partially obscured by a small ridge at 55 yards short of the bunkerless green. One gnarled bunker in this ridge spells danger whilst the green itself sits right on the edge of the creek which means trouble for any shots left of the target. The green setting is spectacular in the forested valley and banana plants and bamboo creating a special place.

After a winding journey up the hill from the 12th hole, the 13th tees open up a view to the distant green and a new valley beyond. The green sits out high on a point with the distant hillside creating a powerful backdrop.

A centre bunker provides two options off the tee. Down the left and having the best approach shot in the mid and right sides of the green. Threading one down the right and the best angle is given for a front left pin position which is guarded by a bunker on the front left. The mid sized green has gentle rolls leading into it, a wide apron at the front, and gentle undulations makes for an interesting short game and putting options.

Possibly the most demanding hole at Mission Hills, this Par 5 uphill hole is a long 628 yards off the championship tee up to the end of a valley where the green sits naturally. The key with this hole is to hit long and very straight. A thick forest edge either side will be a real penalty for any stray shots. For those not so long the fairway widens out in key areas, and if wisely played, this will set up a long but achievable shot into the large green which is bunkered on the right side. A series of natural ridges and slopes lead into the fairway and these have been used for some strategic bunkering that challenges both long second shots and third shots at the green.

From high up on the tees the golfer can see all the way down this short Par 4 hole to the green, which sits at the base of a spectacular hillside and ridges beyond.

The landing area is generous but stray too for left and the left hillside comes into play. Too far right and deep bunkers leading right up to the green are to be contended with. For the long hitters flirting with the left bunkers will see the ball roll towards the middle of the fairway and the best shot up to the wide and not so deep green.

This long but down hill Par 3 is well guarded with 6 bunkers front, front left and behind. The green nestled in the bottom of a valley against the right hill is easily viewed from the tees high across the valley. A lake and bunkers must be carried from the championship tee to reach the green which is mid sized but with interesting pinable area that will mean bunkers and steep hollows will make for challenging short game if the tee shot misses the green

A bunkerless drive presents this deep valley fairway on the very long downhill Par 4. The fairway may seem reasonably tame but as it gets narrow at 300 plus yards out a deep gorge on the left spells big trouble. From here the gorge flanks the left side of the fairway so straight hitting is the key. From the landing area high above the green it's a long iron down to a large and raised green guarded by one big bunker on the right. The best approach may reward a shot that lands short and rolls up to the large putting surface with plenty of subtle undulation to reward good putting.

This Par 5 finish is tight and tricky. Off the tees the drive appears tight but the landing area widens to the right. The left side is the way to drive as this gets the best view of the green. Too long and left and 3 bunkers mean trouble. From the landing area the next shot must carry the meandering creek twice to reach the small green in 2 shots. For the shorter hitters the second landing area is wide but the best place to be is left. The green is guarded by 2 bunkers on the right and one short left. Creative shot making rewards a shot that hits the slope above the green and rolls down to the pin.