With more than 25 years of experience working on professional golf tournaments around the world Andrew Langford-Jones knows a quality golf course when he sees one and he is impressed by what he sees at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course.

Having just returned from a site inspection ahead of the
Fiji International, Langford-Jones who is the Director of Tournaments for the
PGA of Australia is confident that the course is ready to host some of the best
golfers from around the world in a month.

 "We went over there
just to make sure of the course conditioning and to see how it has come on from
the previous year," said Langford-Jones.

"We were pleasantly surprised to find that at the same stage
that we were holding the tournament last year, the course this year had really
developed and the course conditioning had improved."

"Really we could have played the tournament the week I was
there but having another month or so will make sure the course is presented in
first class condition."

While the later date has allowed the course more time to
develop it also presents other challenges for the Fiji International.

"From a course point of view, the course will obviously have
had a little bit of extra sun light and time to come out of the winter months
so the course conditioning will be a lot better," added Langford-Jones.

"However the closer we go to December is the closer we get
to the wet season, luckily we are early enough not to be too concerned about
this being too much of a factor this year."

"The Course Superintendant Steve Lalor is an expert in being
able to produce tournament golf courses so the course will be just perfect."

With 2015 being the second staging of the world-class Fiji
International, Langford-Jones and his team had some key learnings from last
year and implemented some changes for this year’s tournament.

"There were a lot of things we learnt. We learnt where the
most challenging hole locations are, we learnt which pin positions were a
little bit over the top and unfair," added Langford-Jones.

"As a result when setting up the course this year I think it
will be a much better test of golf and from that point of view we are all
excited to see how it pans out."

"Most of the course changes we have employed are on the
front 9 holes to help improve the playability of the course but also enhancing
the experience of spectators," added Langford-Jones.

"At the 8^th hole we have brought the tee forward
there by about 15 metres to enable the players to get a better line at the
fairway with their drive. Last year we felt the direction of the tee shot was
too across the fairway rather than along the fairway."

"The hole that played in the hardest three holes last year
was the 9^th hole. It’s a very demanding tee shot into a cross
breeze, this year we have come forward one tee which like the 8^th
hole, will provide a better line from the teeing ground for the players when
playing their tee shots."

"I am expecting that 9^th green will be a great
viewing area as well with the natural amphitheatre behind the green and people
sitting up on the bank can watch the players come through there."

During a tournament, Langford-Jones spends his day out on
the golf course monitoring the flow of play and assisting players with rulings,
making him one of the most qualified people to know the best vantage points on
a golf course. For Natadola Bay he can’t go past the 4^th hole.

"There are not many holes in the world that are better than
the 4^th hole at Natadola. It’s a beautiful little par-3 down by the
beach with the wonderful views out over the ocean and the challenging golf
which is going to be played there makes it a perfect viewing area," added
Langford-Jones.

"The other area I would suggest is at the top of the hill behind
the 6^th hole, from there spectators can also watch players play into
the 8^th green and their tee shots on the 9^th which is all
great viewing if you are a golf fanatic."

If you are a golf fanatic like Langford-Jones you may have
already made your own predictions on winning score for the 2015 Fiji
International but for his thinking last year’s winning total is hard to go
past.

"I am sure with the depth of the field, the scoring will be
better but the winning score that Steve Jeffress had last year was extremely
impressive in those conditions and I doubt if anyone will be able to beat that
this year," said Langford-Jones.

"I think a score of around 12 to 13-under will win the
tournament, if you were a player you would take it now and be happy to sit in
the clubhouse and see if anyone can beat that."

Related Links

Article / Fiji Rugby and Golf join forces for Fiji International – 9 September 2015
Article / Jeffress confident ahead of Fiji title defence – 7 September 2015
Article / Aussie Mates set their sights on Fiji – 31 August 2015
Tickets / Fiji International