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LPGA Tour opener hosted on course with replicas of golf's greatest holes

The 2015 LPGA Tour season kicks off this week with the inaugural Coates Golf Championship at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala, Fla.

While the tournament and venue are new for the LPGA, at times, the host course might feel rather familiar. That's because Golden Ocala sports eight holes that are replicas of the some of the most famous in the world.

Here's a look at the replicas, which were pulled from five courses and largely leaned on the Open Championship rotation.

1. The par-3 fourth hole is a replica of No. 8 at Royal Troon, also known as "The Postage Stamp", complete with bunkering and a very small green. It's target golf at its best.

2. Muirfield's par-5 ninth inspired Golden Ocala's fifth hole. The driving area is pinched with a bunker guarding and blocking the left side of the fairway. A slew of bunkers up the right-hand side can capture a wayward, aggressive second shot

3. The par-3 sixth attempts to copy the par-3 16th at Augusta National. With a long carry over water and three bunkers to catch balls short left and right, as well long, the best place to put the ball is on the lower left-hand portion of the putting surface.

4. Golden Ocala's 11th hole is a replica of the par-3 12th at Augusta National. The original is probably the best short hole on the planet, with a carry over Rae's Creek to a wide-but-narrow green guarded front and back by bunkers.

5. What kind of tribute course would Golden Ocala be if the next hole, the 12th, wasn't modeled after the par-5 13th at the home of the Masters? That's right. The big dogleg left is in play, and there's a replica bridge to give that Augusta National feel leaving the tee box.

6. The 13th hole at Golden Ocala starts the jump to the Home of Golf, with the first of two back-to-back St. Andrews replicas. This hole is an homage to the Road Hole 17th at the Old Course. Though there's no Old Course Hotel, pretty much every other detail was nailed in building this hole, including the stone walls, road behind the green and the infamous Road Hole bunker.

7. The next hole is modeled after No. 1 at the Old Course, which is a straightforward par 4 whose putting surface is guarded by a stream. The green is deceptively large.

8. The final replica hole is at the 15th. Shaped after the par-3 fourth at Baltusrol's Lower Course, this long par 3 is guarded by water in front and four large bunkers on the other sides. The putting surface is large, but club selection is still an important factor.


Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.