At last, golf has returned to the Olympics with Barra da Tijuca playing host to some of the most elite golfers in the world. The Olympic course, tucked away 15 miles outside of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a breeding ground for history as players begin their quest to strike gold for the first time in 112 years.

The par-71 venue stretches 6,245 yards for the women containing a few doses of the Melbourne Sandbelt. The wrinkles of Barra da Tijuca – whether the red or white sand, hard and fast greens or capybaras roaming the fairways – will position players for a series of highs, lows and everything in between over the span of four days. No player in the Olympic field will bask in home course advantage, either, as the 2016 venue was just a raw piece of land nearly four and a half years ago.

The field of 60 players will be rewarded upon hitting fairways and avoiding the 79 bunkers, handful of ponds and native vegetation lining the greens – although wind will undoubtedly play a part in effectively doing so. The newly, modern designed course is destined to pose major challenges on holes 11 through 14 especially, but will present ample eagle and birdie opportunities on the final three holes.

Hole 11

The 420-yard, par-4 11^th hole kicks off the toughest stretch of holes at Barra da Tijuca. Players will be challenged from the get-go with a low-sitting tee box intended to provoke depth perception. If the proper line is played – that being not too far to the right of a massive fairway – the approach shot becomes less difficult. Once on the green, players must be leery of its sloping nature and of the deep bunker on the front right-hand side.

Hole 12

Feeding off the challenging 11^th hole, the 12^th is allegedly the most difficult of them all with or without wind. Stretching across 430 yards, the longest par-4 of the course, birdies may be hard to come by given the tightly protected and sloping green enclosed by native scrub to the right and water to the left.

Hole 13

Containing the tallest tree on site and lined with vegetation on both sides, hole no. 13 is one of the most unique and aesthetically pleasing holes at Barra da Tijuca. Players will have four shots to par and 408 yards to work with among contours, steep fronts, bunkers and the most daunting green of the week. The 13^th hole and three-putts may be a popular combination for even the best golfers in the world.

Hole 14

Rounding out the most demanding run of difficult holes is the 14^th hole. At 190 yards, it is the longest par-3 on course – and probably the sandiest – containing a tricky grouping of bunkers along the right hand side. If the bunkers can be avoided to the right, short grass and yet another bunker on the opposite side could also stir up frustration.

Hole 16

The 16^th hole – the shortest of the par-4’s – is a chance for players to take a deep breath and decide whether to play conservatively or to capitalize on scoring opportunities. The tee shot will be critical, especially with wind, if players hope to position themselves for birdie on this 264-yard hole. Mounds can be found on the front of the green, with a sharp grass drop-off towards the back left and a deep bunker to the right.

Hole 17

Labeled the shortest hole on the course at 120 yards, the 17^th hole is not all it appears to be from the tee box. An unconventionally shaped green, bordered with the most difficult bunkers on site and a dune ridge to the right, could spoil hopes of making birdie. This par-3 hole will flex its muscles with the slightest lapse in judgment, but still prods at competitors to play it aggressively.

Hole 18

Olympians will be given one last shot at birdie or eagle on this mid-length, par-5 18^th hole spanning 509 yards. Players will be tasked with hitting over sand and scrub from the tee into an obscure landing area. Lines and angles will be pivotal when firing the second shot to avoid a sandy area to the left and bunkers to the right. For a chance at birdie, the peaks and valleys of the 18^th green will have to be skillfully finagled.

Course Preview: The Olympic course a Breeding Ground for History

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