Trump National Doral Golf Club (Blue Monster course)

Trump National Doral Golf Club (Blue Monster course): At first glance, Doral's famed Blue Monster may look a deceptively easy-going flattish resort-style layout. You might even wonder where its "monster" reputation comes from. Once on the course however, you'll realise why this fabulous parkland layout presents such a formidable test to aspiring amateurs and the world's best golfers alike.

The challenge of the Blue Monster, unmerciful when the wind blows, was increased to new levels following Gil Hanse's redesign of the course in 2013. The reachable par-5 opener and short par-4 2nd introduce you to the layout's voracious bunkering. These expansive clusters of white-sand bunkers are an ever-present threat, lining the fairways and surrounding most greens. At the par-4 11th they split the fairway, where (it is said) Democrats favour a shot down the left, while Republicans go right!

The par-4 3rd, surprisingly devoid of bunkering, introduces the Blue Monster's second line of defence, a series of small lakes and ponds that tightly flank many fairways and greens on no less than 14 holes. Deep rough around the nicely elevated greens, combines with firm and fast putting surfaces to ensure your short game is thoroughly tested.

With two of Doral's other courses (the Red Tiger and Golden Palm) flanking most of the Blue, the course enjoys a wonderfully natural parkland feel, with very little housing to be seen. A scattering of ficus, banyan, olive, palm and many other tree varieties pleasantly adorn the layout, although not to restrict the "monster's" essentially open, parkland character. The wonderful par-4 18th encapsulates everything that's gone before; a testing finishing hole where bunkering and water elegantly but dangerously await anything hit too far offline.

Stay&Play at Doral: luxury onsite accommodation is available in the Trump National Doral Resort (see Where2Stay section below).