Hole 1 - Bohereen, Par 4 - 418 Yards

Trees down the right, a lake on the left - and, more than anything, first tee nerves to contend with.

The water also cuts across the fairway, but is really only a consideration if you have driven out of position.

The green is set at a slight angle, but holds no particular terrors.

Hole 2 - The Tunnel, Par 4 - 413 Yards

A bunker down the left narrows the landing area and gives the players something more to think about than just the trees down the right.

The approach plays slightly uphill to a pear-shaped green guarded front left by a deep bunker.

Hole 3 - The Island Beach, Par 3 - 170 Yards

Club selection all-important to carry not only the lake, but also the bunker beyond.

Go too far and there's more sand, while the green is designed in a shallow hour-glass shape and from the back tee presents a formidable challenge.

Hole 4 - Arnold’s Pick, Par 5 - 568 Yards

So-called because it is Palmer's favourite hole on the front nine.

A double dogleg, the fairway curving left and then right with bunkers and trees dictating the type of shot required to a green with the narrowest of entrances.

There is the possibility of eagle, but the potential for trouble as well.

Hole 5 - Square Meadow, Par 4 - 440 Yards

A strong par four uphill and often into the wind.

A drive down the left of the fairway offers the best angle into a green with no bunkers around it, but elevated with some nasty drop-offs.

Hole 6 - The Liffey Stream, Par 4 - 478 Yards

The fairway turns left to right and the further left you go the more you then have to tangle with the water, which comes in by the green and then cuts across the hole.

Anything but a powerful and accurate drive leaves you staring at trouble.

Hole 7 - Michael’s Favourite, Par 4 - 430 Yards

There is a new tee which can add a further 35 yards to this picturesque hole where a good tee shot sets up a birdie opportunity, but if your mind or ball wanders all you see is water - it is right and left, then around the green with the River Liffey in the background.

Hole 8 - Mayfly Corner, Par 3 - 173 Yards

The river comes much more into play here, hugging the right edge of the hole all the way up to the green.

The temptation is to play safe out left, but there is a long and winding bunker lying in wait there.

Any wind and the degree of difficulty is doubled.

Hole 9 - The Eye of the Needle, Par 4 - 461 Yards

A huge oak tree is positioned bang in the middle of the fairway and putting in a new tee brings it much more into play.

There is less trouble right of it, but less fairway that side too.

Easier to attack the green from the left, especially as it slopes to the left.

Hole 10 - Mick Holly, Par 5 - 584 Yards

Named after a founding member of the club.

There is out of bounds left and the fairway between the rows of trees is narrow.

You must find it to have a chance to going for the tiered green in two.

Once again a narrow entrance between gaping bunkers and the big-hitters have a definite advantage.

Hole 11 - Lily Pond, Par 4 - 450 Yards

A fairly sharp dogleg and the first decision is how much of the corner to try to bite off.

It is possible to leave yourself just a little pitch, but the majority play safe to the crest of the hill and then try to judge their approach to a green which slopes towards the water on the left.

Hole 12 - The Domain, Par 3 - 182 Yards

After the original design it was decided to bring the lake on the left more into play and it has certainly claimed its fair share of victims since.

A stone wall is the border between the green and the water and the putting surface is far from straightforward.

Hole 13 - Laurel Haven, Par 4 - 428 Yards

A dogleg left with a thick copse of trees on the inside of the angle.

Anything tugged left off the tee is in danger of finding water, but not as much as anything pushed right when hitting to the green.

Because of that two bunkers on the left tend to see a lot of action.

Hole 14 - Church Fields, Par 3 - 213 Yards

The waterfall back left and the creek running from it ought to be purely decorative, but not so the two deep bunkers front and right of the green at this the last of the four short holes.

Hole 15 - Pheasant Run, Par 4 - 446 Yards

The fairway slopes slightly towards the water down the right, but the green is more open the tighter to the lake you dare to go.

Trees down the left can be a real menace and the second shot is blind, uphill to a green which slopes from front to back and right to left.

Hole 16 - Inish More, Par 5 - 555 Yards

The last three holes should all see some thrills and spills.

Here the contoured green is set across the river and it has been redesigned to make it a larger, more attractive target.

Only a big drive brings it within range, however, and if laying up control of spin then becomes all-important.

Hole 17 - Half Moon, Par 4 - 424 Yards

The hole on which Thomas Bjorn took 11 when joint leader of the European Open last year.

He hit three drives into the River Liffey, which hugs the left-hand side all the way from tee to green in a gentle bend.

Extra trees have been added on the right to make the bail-out drive less attractive.

Hole 18 - The Hooker’s Graveyard, Par 5 - 537 Yards

The long-hitters can cut off some of the corner of this dogleg right, although there is a cluster of bunkers to make them think.

More sand right of the green, but it is the water on the left which gives the closing hole its name and guarantees drama a-plenty - especially when everything is on the line.