Stepping onto the first tee at Albany, you immediately know you’re not in for a typical round of Bahamas resort golf. This is a different animal - an Ernie Els-designed marvel that pits a Scottish links feel against a stark, beautiful desert-scape. This guide is your on-course coach, giving you practical, actionable advice to navigate this demanding championship layout and play your best round.
First, let’s get on the same page about what this course is. As the host of the PGA Tour's Hero World Challenge, Albany is built to test the best players in the world. It’s not meant to be a cakewalk. Ernie Els has created a strategic and mentally demanding course that rewards intelligent play over brute force. Don't let its location fool you, this is a serious golfer's track.
Expect three consistent defining features:
Before we even talk about specific holes, we have to talk about the wind. It will be your constant companion, and how you manage it will define your score. Forget fighting it, you have to learn to use it and work with it.
The most common mistake amateur golfers make in the wind is swinging harder. They feel the resistance and try to power through it, but this just adds spin, makes the ball balloon up into the gusts, and magnifies any directional miss. The correct approach is the opposite.
The Pro-Tip: Take at least one extra club (sometimes two!) and make a smooth, controlled swing. A 75% 6-iron will fly lower and be more stable in the wind than a 100% 7-iron. Repeat this mantra to yourself all day: "Swing it with ease."
That beautiful, high-arcing iron shot you love on your home course will get eaten alive here. Learning to hit a lower, more piercing ball flight is a game-changer at Albany. Here’s a simple way to think about it for your iron shots:
Mastering this simple-knockdown shot into the wind will save you countless strokes.
Playing a course like Albany isn’t about just hitting shots, it’s about piecing together a strategy. Let’s break the course down into three acts to give you a coherent game plan.
The first few holes at Albany present a mix of opportunities and potential pitfalls. The goal here is simple: get through without a big number on your card.
The very first thing you’ll notice is the visual intimidation. Wide fairways often look narrower due to the framing of waste areas and clever bunkering. Your job on the tee is to pick a smart, conservative target and commit to it. Don’t get greedy early.
Hole 2, a stunning par-3 over water, is your first big test of nerve. The green is large, so there's really more room than it appears. The key is to take enough club to get to the middle of the green, make a confident swing, and ignore the pin if it’s tucked near an edge. A par is a great score here, walk away happy.
Holes 3 and 5 are both par-5s that give you a choice. They are technically reachable for very long hitters, but an errant tee shot brings the massive waste areas into play. For most players, playing them as true three-shot holes is the smart move. Focus on two well-placed shots to leave yourself a comfortable wedge into the green. Starting with two pars on the par-5s builds fantastic momentum.
As you move deeper into the course, the desert theme becomes more pronounced. This stretch demands precision from the tee and a good understanding of how to play from different lies.
Hole 9 is a classic example of risk-reward. A drivable par-4 for the pros, it’s a tempting target for all of us. But a miss can easily lead to a bogey or worse. The smart play? Take an iron or a hybrid, aim for the fattest part of the fairway, and leave yourself a 100-yard wedge shot. A perfectly executed iron-wedge combination gives you a great look at birdie without bringing a double bogey into the picture.
You’ll likely find yourself in one of Albany's signature waste areas at some point. Don't panic. Playing from them is different than a fluffy greenside bunker.
Championship courses are known for their strong finishes, and Albany is no exception. This final stretch requires your full attention and your best shots of the day.
Hole 14, another iconic par-3, plays uphill to a green that is surrounded by dunes. Club selection is everything, as shots that come up short can roll back down significantly. Trust your number, factor in the wind, and aim for the center of the putting surface.
The last real birdie opportunity for many comes at the par-5 15th, but it's guarded by water down the entire right side of the green. If you can’t get your tee shot in a perfect position, lay up to a comfortable yardage and trust your wedge game.
That brings you to hole 18, a brutally long par-4 that often plays back into the prevailing wind. Water runs all the way down the left side. Again, the hero shot is not the play here. Any tee shot that finds the fairway is a massive win. From there, your approach is about avoiding the water at all costs. An approach that ends up on the right side of the green or just short is much better than a pulled shot that drowns. Finishing this hole with a par feels like a birdie and is a perfect way to end your round.
Your work isn’t done once you’re on the green. Far from it. Ernie Els’s greens are large, complex, and fast. The number one priority is three-putt avoidance.
On your first several holes, focus exclusively on getting the speed right. Lag putting is the name of the game. On long putts, your goal is to die the ball into a three-foot circle around the hole and leave yourself a tap-in. Don't worry about trying to hole everything from 40 feet. That kind of thinking leads to aggressive putts that run six feet by.
Pay close attention to the tiers and ridges. Standing behind your ball, try to visualize the putt in two or three sections. Identify where a ridge will impact your line and speed. Being on the wrong tier from the pin can mean an almost impossible two-putt. That's why distance control on your approach shots is so important - it's not just about getting on the green, but about getting a playable distance from the hole on the correct level.
Succeeding at Albany Golf Course comes down to an intelligent game plan. It’s a test of strategy, not just power. Mastering your ball flight in the wind, making smart decisions from the tee, navigating the sprawling waste areas, and developing a soft touch on the tricky greens are the ingredients for a memorable and successful round.
Tackling a complex course like Albany requires confident decision-making on every shot. We've developed Caddie AI to serve as that expert caddie in your pocket. From getting a smart, simple strategy for how to play the hole you're standing on, to getting instant feedback by taking a photo of your ball in a tricky lie, our goal is to help you play smarter. It’s about removing the guesswork, so you have the confidence to commit to every swing and enjoy the challenge.
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