The Arnold Palmer Invitational is the perfect way to honor one of the PGA Tour’s greatest players of all time. A successor to the Florida Citrus Open Invitational, this event is special to players and fans alike. Of course, the Arnold Palmer Invitational takes place at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Florida, a private resort.
Originally designed by Dick Wilson, Palmer took ownership of the venue in 1975.
Since then, golf in Bay Hill changed. In 1979, Palmer had convinced them to hold a PGA Tour event. Later, in 2009, the Arnold Palmer Design Company took up its renovation. “Playability and Aesthetics which included the reworking of all the bunkering and major changes in four holes that altered the yardage from 7,103 to 7,196 and from par 71 to par 72,” the site read.
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Though the renovations added a new touch, the essence of the place has been retained. In addition to the course, the resort offers a plethora of amenities which include tennis, fishing, spa, and luxurious dining.
What challenges can one face at the Bay Hill Club?
Overall, the course is meant to be played with dedication and some smart thinking. Though some holes are particularly challenging, one only needs to be sure of how they are going to go ahead. Bunkers are expertly placed, and demand accuracy from players. Though a par or better is usually achievable, a slight misread can result in a score that’s much worse.
Rory playing an early 9 at Bay Hill
Setup
Backswing
Transition
Downswing pic.twitter.com/9KYC5esNzE— LKD (@LukeKerrDineen) March 1, 2022
Particularly demanding holes while playing?
To start off, the par-4, 461 yard first is a good challenge. Par can be good on this hole, but a warmup is necessary. Hole 4, while good enough, needs some precision and accuracy for par or better. The bunker on the left can be an issue, while the green can be shallow.
Additionally, Hole 8 is particularly challenging. The tee shot needs to be long and accurate, especially if one wants to avoid the bunker. The slope, while putting, causes an issue, and can lead to a bogey if misread.
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Hole 18, though a good way to end the round, can be tricky if one is too aggressive.
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Here’s a look at the complete yardage of the club.
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Complete yardage of the Bay Hill Club; the host of 2022 Arnold Palmer Invitational
HOLE | PAR | YARDS |
1 | 4 | 461 |
2 | 3 | 231 |
3 | 4 | 434 |
4 | 5 | 561 |
5 | 4 | 390 |
6 | 5 | 555 |
7 | 3 | 199 |
8 | 4 | 460 |
9 | 4 | 474 |
10 | 4 | 400 |
11 | 4 | 438 |
12 | 5 | 574 |
13 | 4 | 370 |
14 | 3 | 215 |
15 | 4 | 429 |
16 | 5 | 511 |
17 | 3 | 211 |
18 | 4 | 458 |