Every golf course needs to have a short par 4 to provide variety and a risk and reward challenge for golfers.
At El Paraiso Golf Club it is especially important since Gary Player designed the course with an abundance of long and difficult par fours. The short hole is the 12th , at just over 300 metres for the men and 270 metres for the ladies. The challenges are provided by the steep slope which greets the drive, fairway bunkers to catch the big hitters and the proximity of a large lake at the side and behind the green.
In 2017 the hole is receiving a rejuvenating facelift! As part of the Club’s programme of renovation of the greens, the opportunity has been taken to create a real feature green. In finalising the design the Club benefited from suggestions from the Gary Player design team. The old green did not make full use of its position near the lake. The new green now sits right at the edge of the water at the back and right side. To enable this to be possible, a dramatic rock wall has been constructed around the side of the lake to provide the support for the green.
The aim has been to make the new hole more scenically attractive and more exciting to play, without making it more difficult. Accordingly, the new green is much larger than the old one, presenting a much bigger target; further, a large “beach bunker” now sits at the front approach on the right side to catch balls otherwise destined for a swim! Suggestions that a deckchair and umbrella should be provided are being considered!
A substantial area of fairway leading up to the green has also been reshaped and renewed. When thenew green comes into play at the end of August, initially it will be played as a very attractive par 3. This will enable the remainder of the entire fairway to be dug up, sandcapped and provided with new Bermuda turf. In November, the 12th will be restored as a stunning, revitalised short par 4 hole, sitting between the two challenging long par 4 holes of 11 and 13.
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