Ballantine’s Championship: A mental and physical test for the players – Golf News
The Ballantine’s Championship at the Blackstone Golf Club near Seoul, South Korea, is approaching at the end of this month, bringing a test for the players participating in the event.
This will be the second staging of the event, as the inaugural event was played last year when Lee Westwood came out of the field as victorious.
The Blackstone Golf Club was developed in 2010, and it is known for its length and the accuracy requirements that a player needs to keep in mind while playing.
Last year, Westwood finished the tournament at 12-under par to take the one-stroke victory over Miguel Angel Jiménez.
This year, the course management has made it further difficult for the players by increasing the length of different holes.
The changes have been made on the tees of the 4th and the 17th hole by changing their positions on the course.
According to the new stats, the 17th hole is now stretched to 40-feet extra than its previous length.
Moreover, the changes on the fourth hole have not made any difference to the length but it has increased the difficulty level by changing the angle.
Last year, the fourth hole was considered as the most beautiful hole available on the course because of the amazing slope from tee to pin.
“On the fourth hole we now have the option of moving the tee forward and making it drivable”. Tournament Director David Williams said. “It’s a stunning hole and makes for very exciting golf. It’s also very scenic with fantastic views, creeks, lakes and
forest glens”.
While looking at the design of the course, one can easily judge the difficulty to be offered to the players coming to participate in the tournament.
According to Williams, the game will not be only about hitting long drives and getting the lengths. In fact, it will test the mental strengths of the players contending against each other from April 26 to 29, 2012.
“There are a couple of excellent par threes which are long and over water – the seventh and the 12th holes,” Williams said. “It’s a young course as it only opened a couple of years ago, and every year it will mature and get even better”.
Moreover, the course is built in the hilly area. Therefore, it will also challenge the players to show their physical strength on the course. Otherwise, the exhaustion can easily take the player out of the game.
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