Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course: Hole-by-Hole Walkthrough

The Butterfield Bermuda Championship is set to challenge golfers at the picturesque Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda. This coastal course, renowned for its stunning ocean views and strategic design, features 18 holes with a par of 71. With wind speeds expected to average over 20 mph, players will need to navigate each hole with precision. Here's a hole-by-hole walkthrough of the course:

Hole 1: Par 4, 438 yards

Average Score: 3.97

The opening hole is a dogleg right with a downhill tee shot. Players have to avoid the shit on both sides, with a pond waiting to eat-up overzealous drives. The green is well-protected by water and sand, making accuracy on approach necessary.

Hole 2: Par 5, 567 yards

Average Score: 4.52

This par 5 requires three well-placed, consecutive shots. Water hazards off the tee lead to a left-to-right sweeping dogleg, with trees, bunkers and a mess of trouble flanking the fairway. An elevated green is surrounded by deep bunkers.

Hole 3: Par 3, 148 yards

Average Score: 2.84

A picturesque par 3, with a lake covering the majority of tee to green. The large green has subtle breaks and is defended by large bunkers.

Hole 4: Par 4, 458 yards

Average Score: 4.08

This dogleg par 4 requires a nutted tee shot to the corner, avoiding the bunkers on the right like the plague. The second shot is to another elevated green, guarded by bunkers, with a surface split into 3 sections.

Hole 5: Par 4, 380 yards

Average Score: 3.78

A right-to-left dogleg with bunkers on both sides, requiring a tee shot right up the pipe. Second shot is to a large green and any misjudged approach shots result in staring down a more than comfortable 3-putt chance.

Hole 6: Par 4, 370 yards

Average Score: 3.90

A straightaway hole where big-hitter risk/reward will tempt longer players to push up as close to the green as possible. Bunkers are strategically placed short to catch aggressive drives. The second shot is to a raised green surrounded by run-offs and bunkers.

Hole 7: Par 5, 517 yards

Average Score: 4.43

A scoring dogleg where risk and reward dictates the attack strategy. Bunkers await off-line tee shots, and the elevated green is large and undulating, exposed to the elements. Players who navigate this hole successfully tee-to-green will be looking at a real scoring opportunity.

Hole 8: Par 3, 213 yards

Average Score: 3.12

A par 3 with a large green perched right on the ocean's edge. Bunkers surround the target area, and the drink waits long for errant shots. 

Hole 9: Par 4, 383 yards

Average Score: 3.97

An uphill tee shot splitting well-positioned traps yields a long second shot to an elevated green. Pot bunkers and a contoured green add to approach difficulty.

Hole 10: Par 4, 350 yards

Average Score: 3.86

A short par 4, dogleg left. A well-positioned tee shot is needed, with the fairway lined with bunkers to catch the aggressive tee shots. 

Hole 11: Par 4, 443 yards

Average Score: 3.93

Another uphill tee shot, being careful of the fairway traps positioned on the right side. The green is pretty well-bunkered, and you will need precision to get the ball close here. Landing the approach shot too close to the green's edges can result in run-offs so stick towards center-mass of the green complex.

Hole 12: Par 4, 383 yards

Average Score: 3.88

A very demanding par 3 downhill to a kidney-shaped green. Some punishing run-offs and well-placed bunkers require a good, solid, straight shot. This is the start of a spectacular run home.

Hole 13: Par 3, 235 yards

Average Score: 3.17

A very demanding par 3 downhill to a kidney-shaped green. Some serious run-offs and well-placed bunkers add to the difficulty of this big-boy par 3. This is the start of a spectacular series of closing holes.

Hole 14: Par 4, 393 yards

Average Score: 4.09

A well-struck, drive on tearget is needed to keep the ball in play. The elevated tee leads down to a dogleg left, to a large fairway lined with bunkers on the left and a trap on the right that will collect the blocked/pushed tee shot. A tough second shot takes you to a large, raised green that will not be visible for a player who is out of position off the tee. Be careful of the runoffs along the right side of the green complex.

Hole 15: Par 4, 412 yards

Average Score: 4.01

Dogleg right, with the ocean on the left and a significant run-off to the right will be the first challenges the golfer faces from the tee box. Two traps on the left of the fairway must be avoided, so play target golf off the tee is the smart play. Risk/reward is available with a well drive off the screws down the right side of the fairway, leaving a short-iron shot into a undulated green.

Hole 16: Par 4, 408 yards 

Average Score: 4.18

Par 4 with panoramic views of the coastline. Accuracy off the tee is paramount, with fairway bunkers waiting to eat up pulled drives on the left. The approach shot plays into a small, well-protected green that slopes towards the ocean. Proximity to coastline creates windy conditions here and with winds expected to average around 20mph, accurate club selection and adjustment will be needed this weekend. 

Hole 17: Par 3, 235 yards 

Average Score: 3.27

This big-boy par 3 is visually stunning, playing subtly downhill with the ocean in the background. Wind plays a major factor, and with bunkers surrounding the green, even slight miscalculations can lead to certain bogey. The green’s undulations make it challenging to two-putt, especially under windy conditions. The above par scoring average displays this.

Hole 18: Par 4, 410 yards 

Average Score: 4.12

The closing hole is a memorable finish to Port Royal. A slight dogleg left and an elevated tee shot with the ocean running the length of the left side of the hole. The fairway narrows as it approaches a small green lined with bunkers on either side. 

This coastal course provides golfers with a thrilling test, as Port Royal’s wind-swept layout and challenging greens create a scoring average across the field of approximately 69.19, or nearly 1.81 strokes under par. This course walkthrough highlights just how strategic and tough each hole can be, particularly in the final stretch.

Good luck to the players navigating this stunning yet testing course at this week’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship!