AT&T Oaks Holes 1-3Diversity and challenge will definitely be the calling card for the opening three holes on the Oaks Course.  No two holes on the opening three are the same par, going 4-5-3. 

Hole 1 opens out of small chute of oak trees to a average width fairway.  The hole flows slightly downhill but is definitely a challenge at 455 yards from the TOUR tees, particularly based on the width of the hole and the fact that it's the first swing of the day. 

The approach shot on 1 will be to a very guarded green, with a nearly vertical faced bunker back left of the green.  The backside of the bunker exposes some beautiful limestone rock outcropping preserved from the cut around the green to create and island-like feeling.  Here is an image from Greg Norman's last visit complete with notes on the green surround.

AT&T Oaks #1 Green Ultimately, in my opinion this might be one of the top 3 most challenging holes on the course largely due to the length and precision required off both the tee and for the approach shot.  Four here will be a great score...

The second hole offers a little reprieve after a tough opener, most because it's a pretty straightforward three-shot par 5.   At 600+ yards from the TOUR tees it will only be reachable from the very longest of players and candidly, the risk might not be equivalent to the reward even for those players, particularly to the cluster of fairway bunkers on both sides of the fairway off the tee.  However, two sensible shots should offer a short iron into a small to medium sized green and set up a great putt at birdie.

An artist's rendering just doesn't do the third hole justice as it's a magnificent Par 3 over water to a multi-tiered green complex.   It's relatively short (or at least medium length) for PGA TOUR standards at only 191 yards and gets as short as 112 yards from the forward tee.  What I think is interesting on this hole is that the farther back the tees are, the more they wrap around the lake and in effect, narrow the green for the tee shot.  Distance control for the players playing the hole will be paramount.  If you choose to play the hole from a more forward set of tees, the hole really opens up and the approach lines become significantly easier and the hole locations more accessible.  

What's memorable about the Third Hole is the rock wall the fronts the green and beautiful multi-tiered green.  Here's a shot of the green under construction...

AT&T Oaks, Hole #3 The first three holes at the AT&T Oaks course will really set the tone for scoring for the day.  Sneak off one with a par and throw in a birdie on #2 or #3 and you are off to a great round.  Next week I'll focus on a trio of par fours, the horseshoe loop of 4 to 6.