LIV Golf UK: Course Insights With JCB Head Pro Dan Bourne

After a thrilling edition last summer, JCB Golf & Country Club Head Professional, Dan Bourne, is expecting more fireworks at this year's LIV Golf UK at the end of July.

The teaching pro watched on in awe as Jon Rahm opened up with a stunning 63, a round that laid the foundations for a first title since the Spaniard's 2023 Masters victory.

If the players ask for his advice this week, he'll tell them to keep out of the fescue. And despite its length, JCB Golf & Country Club is more of a "thinkers course".

In other words, it can't simply be overpowered.

"This is not a paradise for the big hitters such as Bryson DeChambeau and Joaquin Niemann," says Bourne. "It requires a lot of creativity and thought, and it will reward those players who are able to cleverly navigate their way around the course."

Rahm's 63 last year was just one shot off the course record (which belongs to James Kingston, who shot a 62 during The JCB Championship in 2022). It's evidence that low scores are possible and that some holes are very getable.

So, starting with the 'easy' holes, where is Bourne expecting to see plenty of birdies?

THE GETABLE HOLES

Hole 12 is the obvious one. A short par 4, the main danger is the brook short right, although a slope to the left feeds into the green and will offer up chances of an eagle, even for those players hitting fairway woods off the tee.

Hole 11, meanwhile, is another good birdie opportunity, one that has "a bit of Augusta about it" with a creek that skirts around the green.

"The 11th is gorgeous," adds Bourne, who says it's generally a hole where players will be looking to make a three, despite having a lot of bunkers.

"There's a bowl on the green and if the pin is in there, I wouldn't be surprised to see a hole out. The best play is a hybrid or long iron off the tee and then a wedge into a fairly accessible green."

In terms of getable holes, "that's about it," laughs Bourne.

Having played the course four years ago, I can confirm that he's not joking - there are few opportunities to relax, not when the fescue is blowing away in the wind, which serves as a constant reminder that it's unwise to stray off line.

THE SIGNATURE HOLE

Last year, John Catlin made an ace on the par-3 17th, but don't be fooled into thinking this one is a bit of a gift - because it's really not. This is a hole where you simply want to find the green, take your two putts and move on.

With the tee 30 meters above the putting surface and exposed to the wind, choosing the right club is key, which becomes even more difficult given the length of the hole - 220 yards plus.

Bourne watched DeChambeau hit an 8-iron in last year, but he also saw players option for long irons and woods to a green well-protected by water.

There's no denying that the penultimate hole has more than a bit of the 17th at Sawgrass about it, but this 'short' hole is a lot more demanding; in fact, it's one of JCB's most challenging holes - and there are a few of those.

THE TOUGHEST HOLES

The par-4 1st falls into this category, especially with a 200-yard carry over water - which maybe isn't an intimidating factor for professionals, but it's a daunting opening shot for the typical club golfer.

This year, the tee box has been moved out into the water and although it doesn't necessarily make the hole harder, it will improve the viewing experience for spectators.

Up ahead at the green, which is well-defended by bunkers, balls can trickle back down towards the water if players come up short attacking a left-hand pin.

However, it's not the 1st hole or even the par-3 17th that Bourne regards as the toughest - it's actually two of the par 5s.

Extra long par 5s are what the modern tour pros are used to - and they don't usually strike fear into the world's best players. However, holes 10 and 13 are a little different.

"It's a bit of a monster," Bourne says of the 10th. "The players face a relatively blind tee shot and a relatively blind second shot, into an upside down bowl green.

"Then, on 13, which features a new tee box a bit further back, anything flared out to the right will find a watery grave, whilst too far left and the ball will be eaten up by juicy fescue.

"The big hitters will be able to get to the green in two, but it requires two really precise shots, especially when they'll be looking at a 200-yard plus carry over water with their second."

THE GREENS

No course or tournament preview would be complete without talking about the greens - and putting at JCB Golf & Country Club is very much a game within a game.

"There are so many undulations that there are very few flat putts out there," says Bourne.

This is one of the reasons why he says JCB is a "thinkers course". "For shots into the green, I think it requires a lot of creativity in terms of landing spots and how much spin you're going to put on the ball."

What about speed? Fast but not too fast is the answer. With the undulations, a player could end up 30 feet away if they slightly misjudged a 6-footer - and not even the USGA would want to see that!

"We normally get them running at 10-10.5 on the stimpmeter, but come the tournament they'll probably be closer to 11.5," explains Bourne.

The good news for the 54 players teeing it up is that they will be given every opportunity to find the perfect pace before they head out.

Down beside the 18th green, adjacent to the 1st tee, a new putting green has been laid, which starts off flat and then gradually slopes - 1%, 1.5%, 2%... and so on.

No excuses then, guys. Let the fun and games begin...

For tickets and further information about LIV Golf UK by JCB, visit LIVGolf.com.