The Bay Hill Golf Course

The Bay Hill Invitational has been a PGA Tour event since 1979 when Bob Byman won that first tournament two decades ago. The course, which was built in 1961 by Dick Wilson, continues to be one of the top stops on the PGA Tour today.
Past champions of the event reads like a who's who of golf - Ernie Els (1998), Phil Mickelson (1997), Ben Crenshaw ('93), Fred Couples ('92), Tom Kite ('89), Payne Stewart ('87) and Fuzzy Zoeller ('85) to name a few. Golf Digest tagged the course as No. 97 on its list of "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses" in 1997, which rewards it as No. 14 among the country's best public courses, and No. 6 among the state's best. Golf Magazine ranked it No. 2 among Silver Medal Resorts in 1996 and No. 15 on the "Top 100 Golf Courses You Can Play in the U.S." in 1996.
The first hole on the Challenger nine, a 414-yard dogleg left, is the third hardest hole on the course. Four sand traps on the right of the fairway and four more around the green will gobble up any off-target attempt. The third hole is a magnificent sight, a 372-yard dogleg left that bends around a huge pond. If you're too conscious of the water, two bunkers and a crowd of trees off to the right will bother any second shot. A skinny, hidden creek creeps up the entire right side of the fourth hole, a 495-yard par 5. Another forest of trees and two left bunkers call for a straight tee shot. Five bunkers with slight mounding surround the green. After a seven-bunker challenge on No. 5, a 364-yard par 4, No. 6 might be the most intimidating, yet prettiest, hole at Bay Hill. From tee to green in a straight line is probably only about 450 yards, but the hole plays 500 yards, drastically bending left around a large pond. Several alligators said to live in the pond will make you think twice about cutting it too close to the shoreline, and a tree line will catch any shots that slice right. It seems any flag is a sucker pin on this green, which slopes toward the water.
Some consider No. 7, a simple 167-yard par-3, a chance to sink a hole-in-one, although six bunkers tell of a different story. No. 8, a 393-yard dogleg right, features trouble near the green with a pond short left and three bunkers right. The ninth hole, the longest par 4 at 436 yards, is also the No. 1 handicap, although it is fairly wide open. After No. 10, a 370-yard dogleg right, the course cranks the challenge up a notch, with water on seven of the final eight holes. No. 11 is similar to No. 3 and No. 6. It bends to the left with a pond coming into play at the 180-yard mark. The 12th hole is the course's longest, a 525-yard par 5. It requires a blind tee shot that should clear three fairway bunkers. Reaching in two is nearly impossible for amateurs, though, with seven greenside bunkers and mounding. No. 13 could be a birdie or double-bogey. It's short at 342 yards, but the approach must carry a pond, which also flows around the green's right side.

The final three holes have often decided the winner of the Bay Hill Invitational. No. 16 is a relatively short par 5 at 489 yards, but trees and five fairway bunkers make it a tight driving hole. Two ponds, which are linked by a smaller stream of water, guard the front of the green, as do some majestic houses and four bunkers in back. No. 17, a 182-yard par 3, is all carry over a pond that also runs along the green's right side. Palmer himself transformed what was considered a weak par-5 into a long, stout par 4 (414 yards) with a hook-shaped green that doglegs around the edge of a pond, nicknamed Devil's Bathtub. This 18th hole has been recreated at a golf course in South Carolina, which copies mimics of the world's best golf holes.

Course Specifications:

The 18-hole "Championship" course at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge facility in Orlando, Florida features 7, 205 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 75.1 and it has a slope rating of 139 on Bermuda grass. Designed by Dick Wilson/Arnold Palmer, the Championship golf course opened in 1963.

Hole 1  Par 4 Yards 441

On this tough starting hole, large bunkers right and out of bounds left await the first shot of the day. Favour the left center of the fairway for the best angle to the green. Avoid the greenside bunkers for an opportunity to make par.

Hole 2 Par 3 Yards 218

This par 3 is traditionally one of the most difficult on the PGA TOUR. A mid- to long iron is required to handle a hole with a green that slopes severely from right to left. Par here is a great score.

Hole 3 Par 4 Yards 395

With water left and bunkers right, accuracy is a premium on this dogleg left. After safely negotiating the tee shot, you face a short to mid-iron approach to a green that is well-protected by water and bunkers.

Hole 4 Par 4 Yards 558

On this, the first of Bay Hill's four par 5's, avoid the creek that meanders up the right side. Big hitters will be enticed to go for this green in two. Check your yardages and avoid the bunkers that squeeze both sides of the approach to this two-tiered green.

Hole 5 Par 4 Yards 384

You may opt to lay up short of the fairway bunkers from the tee on this short par 4. The longer the tee shot, the narrower the landing area. Approach the narrow, crowned green with caution as the greenside bunkers await errant shots.

Hole 6 Par 5 Yards 558

On this beautiful, challenging par 5, you must stay out of the water in order to avoid a big number. Tee shots should be aimed toward the fairway bunkers. Be cautious with your approach as the fairway narrow in the landing area. Many great starts have been ruined by this monster.

Hole 7 Par 3 Yards 197

Bay Hill's easiest par 3 offers a two-tiered green well guarded by bunkers. Check the hole location as well as the wind before selecting your club.

Hole 8 Par 4 Yards 459

This demanding hole requires a long, straight drive that avoids trees right and a large fairway bunker left. Take half a club more on your approach to the shallow, elevated green. It is better to err long than short here.

Hole 9 Par 4 Yards 467

In order to complete a good front nine, you have a battle ahead. This long par 4 requires two solid shots to reach one of the largest greens on the course. The two bunkers fronting the green require an accurate approach, so make sure you take enough club.

Hole 10  Par 4 Yards 400

The back nine starts with this relatively short par 4. Fairway bunkers pose a serious threat to an errant tee shot. Long hitters will be tempted to carry the bunker on the right. Take half a club more as you approach the slightly elevated, two-tiered green.

Hole 11  Par 4 Yards 438

It is critical that your tee shot finds the fairway between the bunkers and the lake. You then face an uphill, forced carry to the green. It is better to be long than short here. Aiming for the center of the green is a smart play.

Hole 12  Par 5 Yards 580

This challenging hole is the longest of the par 5's. Tee shots should favor the left side. Long hitters looking to get home in two should be mindful of a slew of greenside bunkers that are less than forgiving. A birdie is possible, but par is a good score.

Hole 13  Par 4 Yards 364

Bay Hill's shortest par 4 requires a solid tee shot to the center of the fairway. A small pond protects a rather undulating green. Two good shots will be rewarded, but an errant approach shot could be disastrous.

Hole 14  Par 3 Yards 206

This straightforward par 3 has a very undulating green, one of the most difficult on the course. If you avoid the four bunkers, you will have a good opportunity for a par. Check the wind and the yardage, and then take enough club to reach the slightly elevated green.

Hole 15  Par 4 Yards 425

On this difficult par 4, your tee shot will determine your fate. You must avoid the bunkers and magnolias to find the narrow landing area. Play your approach to the center of the green to give you the best chance for a good score. This green is divided into four quadrants.

Hole 16  Par 5 Yards 517

On this great, risk-reward par 5, favour the right side of the fairway from the tee. Long hitters can get home in two, but must avoid the water fronting the green. Miss this green long and right, you do miss it. If you're careless, this birdie opportunity will turn into a big number.

Hole 17  Par 3 Yards 219

One of golf's most famous and difficult par 3's, this tenacious hole requires a well-struck tee shot to a table-top green. Correct club selection is essential, so check the yardages to carry the bunker and hazard that front the shallow green. That hazard also wraps around the green's right and back sides.

Hole 18  Par 4 Yards 441

Tee shots on this great finishing hole must find the fairway to give you a chance to get home in two. From the tee, favor the fairway's left side. Then take enough club to carry the lake. Shots hit over or left of this green will find a bunker or heavy grass. Take deep breath and fire away.

Fixtures:	March 26th – March 29, 2009
Contact:	9000 Bay Hill Blvd Orlando Florida 32819 Phone(407)876-2429 1-888-422-9445 Fax: (407) 876-1035
Directions:	Directions To Bay Hill From the East: Take Exit 74A from I-4, go west on Sand Lake Road (SR482), turn right on Apopka-Vineland Road, proceed to first light and turn left onto Bay Hill Boulevard. The Bay Hill Club is approximately 1/2 mile on the right. From the West: Take Exit 74A from I-4, go west on Sand Lake Road (SR482), turn right on Apopka-Vineland Road, proceed to first light and turn left onto Bay Hill Boulevard. The Bay Hill Club is approximately 1/2 mile on the right. From North and South: From Florida Turnpike, exit onto I-4 West (follow signs for Tampa), take exit 74A, follow directions above. From Orlando International Airport: Beachline Expressway (SR528) west to I-4, go east on I-4 to Exit 74A, follow directions above.
Website:	www.bayhill.com