Old Mac · Hole 5
Blue
448
White
373
Gold
308
Red
208
The Sahara hole — the most visually dramatic hole on the front nine and one of the most famous at the resort. A massive cross bunker inspired by the Sahara hole at Royal St. George's stretches across the fairway at 240 yards, demanding a carry on the tee shot or a forced layup from short of the bunker. The decision from the tee defines the entire hole.
Shot-by-Shot Strategy
Tee Shot
The carry over the Sahara cross bunker requires approximately 240 yards — a meaningful carry for most players. The options are: carry it with driver (recommended for most players), or lay up short of it with a long iron or hybrid (leaves 200+ yards to the green). If you carry it, aim left-center beyond the bunker where the fairway widens. If you lay up, accept that you'll be playing your approach from 200+ yards.
Approach
From beyond the Sahara bunker, a mid-iron approach to a wide green. The green opens from the front and accepts running approaches — take advantage. From a short-of-the-bunker layup, a long iron or hybrid approach requires precise carry. The green is large enough to be forgiving with correct distance control.
Putting
The wide Sahara green is the most generous putting surface on the front nine. Multiple internal slopes create different conditions in different quadrants, but most putts are readable and rollable. From the center of the green, the main read is gently left-to-right with a front-to-back slope.
⚠Gotchas — What Kills Your Score
- •The Sahara bunker is the most famous single hazard at Old Macdonald. Do not take it lightly — being in the sand from the tee means a 200+ yard approach over additional bunkers from a sandy lie. Carry it.
- •A pulled tee shot over the bunker can end up in rough or a secondary bunker left of the fairway — aim right-center when attempting the carry.
- •The generous green tempts players into aggressive approaches — but missing right of this green has the most difficult recovery chips on the front nine.
Wind Intelligence
The 5th hole plays into the prevailing southwest headwind, making the Sahara carry more demanding. In a stiff headwind, the 240-yard carry can require a driver swung near maximum effort — know your carry distance precisely before committing. In a downwind condition, shorter hitters can carry the bunker with a three-wood or even a long iron.
Hazard Map
- ▲Sahara cross bunker at 240 yards requiring tee shot carry
- ▲Secondary bunkers left of fairway
- ▲Rough right of green with difficult recovery