St Andrews 2000 Golf Club

St Andrews 2000 Golf Club: Your "pre-round information" may give some clues as to the fiercely challenging nature of St Andrews 2000. The recommended handicap limit for players is 18 and below, the heavy rough can be played as a lateral water hazard, and carts are strongly recommended.

Whatever natural or artificial features you've seen on golf courses around the world, you will probably find most of them here. The impressive list includes: several holes with major elevation changes (both uphill and down); some Scottish links-style holes and others more in tune with Arizona's desert environment; numerous water hazards hugging and crossing fairways; pudding bowl greens; split level fairways; expansive sandy waste areas; deep trench-like bunkering and, on one occasion, 15 bunkers guarding the front of a short par-4. Trees and rocky outcrops can be found in the middle of some fairways, while two short but very narrow par-4s will test your straight hitting right from the off. This you may think is quite sufficient to keep you on your toes. But think again!

On the front-nine there's a 700-yard par-6 hole, with water continually in play up the rightside. Not long enough for you? Okay, on the back-nine, the 13th (unlucky for most), is a 910-yard par-6. If played from the back-tees you'll need to hit a 300-yard drive just to get level with the women's tees; then its water all the way down the right for another 600 yards to the two-tier green.

With rural countryside and jungle-clad hills in view from most parts of the course, this is a golf adventure that low to mid-handicappers should experience at least once - and then, as often happens, you might just want to try it again!

Stay & Play at St Andrews 2000: onsite accommodation available, see Where2Stay section below.