The Tribune

THE Ocean Club course, Paradise Island, was redesigned in 2000 by Tom Weiskopf, twice a major champion who lengthened and opened the layout to the scenic ocean views while infusing the course with tougher strategic features.

The original design of the Ocean Club, which opened in 1954, was the work of Dick Wilson.

1. 362 yards, par 4

Slightly uphill into the wind and through a grove of ficus trees. A large bunker protects the left-hand side of the fairway. Three bunkers protect the green area, which is nestled in some of the course’s largest stands of trees.

1. 374 yards, par 4

A medium-length hole that plays slightly downhill. The second shot is uphill to a small contoured green. The little pot bunker to the left of the green will capture a few balls.

1. 167 yards, par 3

The longest par three on the course has wetlands surrounding the front and back of the greens. From the tee, you have a view of the course and waters of The Bahamas.

1. 535 yards, par 5

This long par five is very reachable for the big hitters because it plays predominately downwind. The tee shot is demanding and narrow with two bunkers on the left and one on the right in the landing area. Bunkers on both sides protect the green.

1. 183 yards, par 3

A long, slightly uphill short hole. The undulating and demanding green is protected in front by deep bunkers on both sides and a deep bunker in the rear.

1. 370 yards, par 4

The tee shot on this short par four is dictated by a huge bunker down the entire right-hand side and palm trees on the left. The green, the smallest on the course, is hidden by a hillside and protected by two small bunkers on the left.

1. 480 yards, par 5

This shortish par five has a narrow driving area protected on the left by water and on the right by a large bunker. Two bunkers, 30 yards short of the hidden green, control the second shot. The conservative approach is to lay up short of the bunkers, allowing for an easy pitch. The risk/reward challenge is to play between or over the bunkers, trying to reach in two.

1. 310 yards, par 4

The shortest par four on the course but with the largest green. The hole plays along the ocean and the beach. It usually plays into the wind, but under the right conditions it can be driven by the longest of hitters. The green is large, well-contoured and well-bunkered.

1. 385 yards, par 4

Water down the left for both the tee shot and second shot. A small bunker protects the front right portion of the green.

OUT 3,166 yards, par 36

1. 388 yards, par 4

This medium-length hole begins from an elevated tee and usually plays downwind to a fairway protected by bunkers on both sides of the landing area. One bunker on the left protects the green.

1. 542 yards, par 5

A long, slightly downhill par five played slightly into the prevailing winds with a slight dogleg to the right. Protecting the fairway are a wetland area to the right and large trees and a bunker to the left. The third shot plays to a small green surrounded by ocean to the right and behind with bunkers to the left.

1. 170 yards, par 3

The tee shot is into the prevailing wind to a slightly elevated medium-size green surrounded by an array of bunkers.

1. 378 yards, par 4

A long and demanding hole played into a strong prevailing wind. A bunker on the right side of the fairway gives the line but the second shot is extremely demanding, requiring accuracy. It plays slightly downhill to a green protected by ocean to the right and behind and with a bunker front left.

1. 412 yards, par 4

A long hole with a directional bunker on the left, giving the line from the tee. The second shot plays uphill to a small, well-bunkered green.

1. 530 yards, par 5

There are two choices from the tee. The best visibility and position is up the right half of the fairway. The conservative approach is to play the lower fairway up the left-hand side, but this puts demands on the third shot into a well-bunkered, small green.

1. 397 yards, par 4

The start of the exciting stretch of finishing holes. Visually intimidating with water down the right off the tee, this hole is made even more difficult by the prevailing left-to-right winds. The second shot into a green protected by water on three sides is very demanding.

1. 176 yards, par 3

Pinpoint accuracy is a must as a deep bunker and swale in the front and a bunker on the right protect this green.

1. 485 yards, par 5

A reachable finishing hole starts with a demanding drive, with water down the right and a large fairway bunker to the left protecting the landing area of this dogleg-right hole. Going for it in two requires a second shot played slightly uphill to a three-tiered green which is protected in the front by deep bunkers on both sides.

IN 3,478 yards, par 37

TOTAL 6,644 yards, par 73

FIVE PLAYERS TO FOLLOW

LYDIA KO

A 17-year-old South Korean who grew up in New Zealand Lydia Ko has been setting records in a short and meteoric career so far. Before turning professsional in October 2013 she had already become the youngest player to win on the US LPGA and women’s European Tour and this week became the youngest player - man or woman - to be ranked No1 in the world. She has already won over $2m in prize money and has three USLPGA titles to her name. At 5ft 5in she is renowned as a straight hitter.

STACY LEWIS

Another rising force in women’s golf, the top-ranked American was the USLPGA player of the year in 2014 and had a glittering amateur career. Lewis, who turns 30 next week, is 5ft 5in and has two major titles to her name. World ranked 3 and in good early season form she challenged strongly at last year’s Pure Silk Bahamas Classic and finished runner up to Jessica Korda. Career earnings of $8.6m.

MICHELLE WIE

With career earnings of almost $5m Michelle Wie, 25, has lived with the expectation of great things since qualifying for the US Open at the age of 10. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, ‘The Big Wiesy’ turned professional in 2005 but tournament wins proved elusive for the 6ft 1in American. However she won her first major last year (the US Open) and added a third USLPGA Tour victory so has risen to sixth in the world rankings.

SUZANN

PETTERSEN

The top ranked European player in the field this week, the 33-year-old Norwegian is a veteran on the women’s golf scene and a multi-event winner. With 14 USLPGA titles to her credit the 5ft 7in Pettersen has career earnings of almost $13m and is world ranked fifth. Twice a major winner, she has represented Europe seven times in Solheim Cup matches against the United States. Described by friends as funny and laid back.

INBEE PARK

The player with the most major titles to her name (five) in the field for the Ocean Club. The 26-year-old South Korean has spent most of the past 18 months as the world’s top ranked player after winning three successive majors in 2013. Based in California, she won the first of her two US Opens in 2008. At 5ft 6in will be looking to find her form on Paradise Island after a slow start in Florida last week.