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Dye believes that the long iron shot is becoming less important because players can hit the ball so far they rarely need more than a mid iron to reach the greens. A number of holes at the Ocean Course are designed to be reached only with a full drive and a full smash with a 2 or 3.

Yet he hasn't gone overboard about the length. From the men's medal tees, the course is 6824yd (6234m), and 5357yd (4894m) from the ladies'. Furthermore, the 13th is barely 400yd (365m) while the opening hole, even from the back tee, is only a gentle 395yd (361m).

There is a surprising amount of elevation on the course, which has been achieved by raising some greens and lowering others.

The greens, planted with a Bermuda grass variety, are likely to mature to be softer and more holding than those on traditional British links courses.

The greens have considerable movement or undulation in them and one or two are so large they wouldn't look out of place on St Andrews' double versions. Land on the wrong part of the 5th green, for example, and you could easily be facing a putt of 30yd (27m).

Though Dye has often copied the pot bunkers that are a feature of links layouts he has on many holes added his own inimitable waste bunkers.