Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland (Sports Network) - HOLE ONE - Par 4 - 447 yards: This is arguably the toughest opening hole at any of the Scottish courses on The Open Championship rota and this year will be even harder with the addition of a new bunker situated 300 yard out on the left-hand side of the fairway. The ideal tee shot should be hit left of centre as this leaves a clear view up the narrow green. A new shallow depression has been built into the left side of the green.

HOLE TWO - Par 4 - 364 yards: This is the shortest par-4 on the course but is a deceptively difficult test with an out-of-bounds wall running down the left- hand side and several bunkers positioned in the landing area and to the right of the green. Two of the greenside bunkers have been removed since the 2002 Open but the others are now tighter to the putting surface. Competitors will play from a new tee during this year's Championship.

HOLE THREE - Par 4 - 377 yards: A lot of competitors will hit iron from the tee on the 2nd and that is also the sensible strategy on the 3rd where the fairway narrow 290 yards out and is protected by a couple of bunkers. The view to the 40-yard long green is partially blocked by a dune on the right and the bunkers on that side have been moved closer to the green. The safest shot is to the back of a green but the shot will need to be more accurate than in previous Championships because three new hollows have been added to the back right edge.

HOLE FOUR - Par 3 - 226 yards: This testing short hole was lengthened by 33 yards in time for the 2002 Open and is now to be played from a new Championship tee which has added a further 13-yards to its length. The tee shot is played to a plateau green that is 40-yards deep and protected by bunkers and hollows on both sides. It is important to hit enough club because anything that lands short will run down the slope and into one of the traps.

HOLE FIVE - Par 5 - 559 yards: The first of Muirfield's long holes features one of the most testing tee shots on the course. Competitors have to carry a large expanse of rough ground to reach the fairway but if they get too greedy they will fall off the fairway into a bunker and if they play too safe they can run out of fairway and into more sand on the other side. Down the prevailing wind the green is reachable in two but it is protected by a cluster of bunkers on both sides.

HOLE SIX - Par 4 - 461 yards: This might well be the most demanding hole on the course. The tee shot almost always has to be played across the wind to a hidden fairway and the second then struck towards a green that is protected by three bunkers and has Archerfield Wood as its backdrop. New hollows have been introduced short and left of the green and the right-hand greenside bunker moved slightly to the left.

HOLE SEVEN - Par 3 - 184 yards: The second of Muirfield's short holes is played uphill and into the prevailing wind. The contouring on the green itself is probably not as severe as at the 4th but it still requires an accurate shot to avoid the three bunkers down the slope on the left and the sole trap on the other side. The green itself is 37 yards long so correct clubbing is crucial if you want to give yourself a realistic birdie putt.

HOLE EIGHT - Par 4 441 yards: The 8th gives a perfect illustration of how the bunkering at Muirfield is often used to lengthen a hole. It requires a carry of over 280 yards to clear the cluster of bunkers set into the dog-leg so many competitors will opt for a 3-wood or long iron to the left and then a longer shot over cross bunkers to a green that drops away at the back and left. The old bunker short and right of the green has been replaced by a new trap closer to the putting surface.