Hole Highlights
Hole 1, Par 4, 430 Yards
A great opening hole. A well placed fairway bunker creates a very challenging tee shot. The best approach is from the left center of the fairway. Two deep bunkers protect a large two-tiered green.
Hole 2, Par 4, 353 Yards
A short dog-leg right par 4 that requires accuracy from the tee. Longer hitters can drive the ball through the fairway, and should use a fairway wood or long iron for the best placement for the approach. Bunkers left and right demand a precise shot into a green with a subtle slope from back to front.
Hole 3, Par 3, 174 Yards
The photo at left is Hole 3, the first of four scenic and naturally diverse par three holes. The slightly uphill tee shot on this 174-yard hole must carry a wetland area, to a naturally elevated, plateau green.
Hole 5, Par 3, 206 Yards
This par 3 leaves little room for error. A large bunker sits short and right of the green, waiting to catch any mis-hit shot. A small but deep bunker left of the green leaves a nearly impossible up and in for par on the torturous three-tiered green.
Hole 6, Par 5, 515 Yards
This hole was conceived to incorporate the existing lake and create a true, risk/reward, par five hole. A long, accurate drive affords the opportunity to carry the lake and reach the green in two shots. Anything miss-hit short or to the left will land in the water. A less heroic strategy requires a precise second shot that avoids the sand bunkers framing the outside of the dogleg. If successful with the second shot, the reward is a third shot approach to the green that does not have to carry the lake or the sprawling bunker lining the right of the fairway.
Hole 8, Par 4, 392 Yards
This hole requires the golfer to have courage. The shortest route to the green is to challenge the water on the right side, and the safe route is to play away from the water and aim left. The green sits atop a plateau, and missing on any side results in an awkward third shot. Three deep bunkers lurk short left and right of the dramatic two-tiered green.
Hole 10, Par 5, 518 Yards
Like Hole 6, Hole 10 is an excellent risk/reward par 5. A tee shot that lands slightly left of the fairway bunker is ideal. The water hazard short and left of the green creates the risk/reward factor. Longer hitters may attempt with a fairway wood or long iron. A more conservative approach will leave a short iron for the third shot to a very large putting surface.
Hole 13, Par 4, 454 Yards
On this great driving hole, grip it and rip it from the elevated tee into a large landing area. Bunkers frame the left side. The second shot requires a long iron or fairway wood into an elevated green protected on the left by a mammoth bunker. Par is an excellent score on this, the longest par 4 on the golf course.
Hole 14, Par 3, 235 Yards
Rees Jones "found" the Sahara hole in a natural sandpit. It stretches 185 yards along the right side, but in keeping with Jones' goal of designing a challenging course and yet one also enjoyable for the average golfer, there are nine tees, from 145 yards to 235 yards. And, left and short of the green, a mowed "ramp" leads to the putting surface. No matter which tee you choose, take a look from the back right markers.
Hole 15, Par 4, 375 Yards
The tee shot must carry the natural ravine on this short par 4. The ideal drive is left of center; a right side drive sets up a second shot blocked by a large overhanging tree. The elevated green drops severely into a ravine left and in back. The bentgrass area right of the green offers many chipping options. The bunker left of the green is so deep the flagstick cannot be seen when standing in the bottom.
Hole 16, Par 4, 422 Yards
The downhill tee shot must avoid a series of sand bunkers on the inside of this dogleg right hole. An approach ramp provides an unobstructed route into the left side of the green. A deep sand bunker on the right of the ramp awaits any approach left short or to the right. A natural slope, providing an old style "punchbowl" appearance, frames the rear of the putting surface.
Hole 17, Par 3, 182 Yards
A short but dangerous par 3. From the elevated tee, you are hitting from above the hole into a long, narrow, three-tiered green. Trouble surrounds this green: a big bunker and wetlands loom in front; a bent grass bunker behind; bordered by woods and wetlands.
Hole 18, Par 5, 562 Yards
This par 5 is all uphill. Aim for the right side, but avoid the large bunker that spands the landing area. getting home in two is a far stretch on this monster. On the second shot, play to the left side, avoiding the bunkers. The green has many soft undulations, so place your approach near the pin to give you a shot at birdie.
