Bali Hai's first two holes are a somewhat innocuous beginning to what will turn out to be a serious challenge for handicaps of all levels. But the hole plays short enough that most players will be able to hit their approaches with a fairly lofted club and take the bunker somewhat out of play. Bali Hai's second hole is a reachable par-5 that measures 531 yards. A bunker on each side of the fairway will catch errant drives and a swale cutting across the fairway might present a problem for some players, but for most it will not be in play. A large bunker guards the entire left side of the green and could catch approaches pulled in that direction.
Water runs down the entire right side, just waiting to catch the right-handed player's slice.
The fourth is a shortish par-4 at 337 yards. But it's uphill and water again meanders down the entire right side with bunkers left, so positioning is key on this hole. The undulating green is guarded by a bunker on its left side and rear. Walters' philosophy, and thus that of his golf course designers, is that greens on short holes should be more undulated than the longer holes that require long irons for approach shots. This holds true throughout Bali Hai and other Walters Golf courses.