The Earth Course 1-18

By Compiled by Mark Garrod, Press Association Sport Golf Correspondent Last updated: 20th November 2009

Greg Norman's Earth Course in Dubai will be the second-longest course in European Tour history.

With the shortest of the four par-fives measuring 572 yards, only one par-four under 400 yards and two of the par-threes over 200 yards the lay-out is 7,675 yards in total.

The final four-hole stretch has been described as a "Golden Mile", with Norman commenting: "I expect it will be considered one of the most challenging and exciting miles of golf in terms of risk and reward.

"It comprises a short par-four, a long par-four, a great par-three and a medium-to-long par-five, so a lot of things can happen."

Hole-by-hole guide:

1st, 454yds, par 4: Downhill dogleg right to a sloping fairway and a green which angles away to the right and sits on a ridge.

2nd, 583yds, par 5: Uphill drive through a valley. Shorter hitters face a carry over bunkers to the second landing area, but going for the green in two is made harder by it being perched up.

3rd, 452yds, par 4: Uphill tee shot favours big hitters with extra run down towards the green. Undulating fairway and mounding 40 yards short.

4th, 245yds, par 3: Long downhill hole back into the prevailing wind. Large mound left and small, deep bunkers short and long right.

5th, 407yds, par 4: Dogleg right climbing back up the hill. Best play is up the right side, while any approach short will roll back off the green.

6th, 186yds, par 3: First of the water holes, with bunkers protecting the bail-out area to the right. Short or left is wet, right or long means playing the next shot towards the water.

7th, 572yds, par 5: Uphill all the way, the dogleg right has a creek down the right. Bunkers narrow the driving zone and the creek bends into the fairway short of the green.

8th, 461yds, par 4: Downhill dogleg left, with a creek this time on the left before crossing in front of the green. The fairway slopes from right to left. Two bunkers front the green.

9th, 499yds, par 4: The drive is free of bunkering, but the uphill approach has traps left, right and centre just short of the green. A ridge strengthens the right side.

10th, 437yds, par 4: Downhill to an undulating fairway with bunkers on the left. A massive bunker fronts the green and there are depressions left and short.

11th, 401yds, par 4: Dogleg left where the best play is high on the left side to avoid playing over the waste area. The green sits along a ridge and falls away on both sides.

12th, 476yds, par 4: Slight dogleg left back up the hill. The green sits on top of a rise and is nestled in against the hill, but slopes slightly away left and right.

13th, 204yds, par 3: Uphill to a green heavily surrounded by bunkers. The green is backed by a mound that runs into the putting surface and divides the pin positions.

14th, 626yds, par 5: Downhill dogleg right. Going for the green requires hitting over the bunkers and trying to use the slope. A waste bunker runs alongside the lake on the right.

15th, 371yds, par 4: Slight dogleg left and driveable for the big-hitters. Fairway falls away down the left right up to the green. Safe shot leaves an approach over the depression.

16th, 486yds, par 4: Dogleg right over a creek, with a large lake down the right and a waterfall linking it to another. Really tough hole.

17th, 195yds, par 3: Island green and combination of wind and pin placing will determine just how hard it plays. Vital to get club selection right.

18th, 620yds, par 5: Water right and then a creek splits the fairway. Going right is narrower, but makes for an easier approach to a raised green with the creek to the left.

Compiled by Mark Garrod, Press Association Sport Golf Correspondent