WHILE golf experiences a surge in interest amid the pandemic, travel restrictions and health concerns remain major obstacles.
And as players are stuck at the planning stage of their post-pandemic golf trips, the Asian Tour came up with a concept course that, while tantalizing for some, could be too intimidating for others.
The Asian Tour Monster is a tough 7,430-yard par-70 course, with the front nine featuring holes from two courses that host the Philippines' major events, including own national open.

The Monster’s No. 4 is The Country Club’s 406-yard dubbed “merciless” by the Asian Tour.
A par-4 so tough one can easily end up drawing a snowman on the scorecard, and according to the Asian Tour, a couple of 9s from pros on a tough week during the Solaire Open.
“It is a narrow hole with a wind blowing normally, making it a real test. As the wind always blows right to left you have to start the ball at the ravine on the right otherwise you are in danger of going OB left,” says former Singapore national player and touring pro Koh Dengshan.
“The fairway is only about 25 meters wide and with the wind and distance it plays quite long, so you need a driver and a mid to long iron to get to the putting surface.”

The principal men's professional golf tour in Asia also included Wack Wack Golf in Mandaluyong, the 191-year par-3 that presents one of the most nerve-racking tee shots.
“When I won the Philippine Open in 2008, that hole was played as the 17th hole,” said Angelo Que, thrice a winner on the Asian Tour.
“And it is funny because having played Wack Wack so many times, amongst friends we have always talked about what you would do if you go into that hole with a one-shot lead. And funny enough, it happened to me – I had a one shot lead in the Philippine Open in 2008. If you have played it long enough, and as much as you want to hit the green, you know you must miss it to the right.
Back then it was only an eight or nine iron but after I won they lengthened it from the back tees, it’s like a six iron now. So what I did was I made sure I aimed a bit more right and tried to hit a good shot, fortunately it landed on the green and just rolled off and ended up in the right bunker. The guy I was up against, Gavin Flint, also did the same thing, and we ended up making bogies but a par was good enough for me to win on the last.”

The Asian Tour Monster front nine starts with the par-4 Hole 1 at Santiburi Samui Country Club in Thailand, followed by the 493-year par 4 at the Palm Course of Saujana Golf & Country Club in Malaysia and the 448-yard par 4 No. 3 at Kurmitola Golf Club in Bangladesh.
Hole 5 is the 486-yard par-4 at The Serapong, Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, followed by the 227-year par-3 Hole 6 at Thai Country Club in Bangkok.
The only par 5 is No. 7 at Serapong, Sentosa Golf Club at 587 yards, and No. 9 is a 445-year par-4 at Delhi Golf Club.
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