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Hole #1
Par 5
Handicap: 15
The first hole provides an excellent opportunity to start your round off right. The hole gives up an occasional eagle for longer hitters who find the narrow entry to the right front of the green, but a birdie is possible for many golfers.
Be careful with gambling though, because the generous bunkers can turn your dream start into a bogey. When the green is not reachable, place your second shot at an ideal wedge location to take the large protective bunker out of play.
Hole #2
Par 4
Handicap: 3
This challenging par 4 calls for two well-played shots. Shorter drivers should strive for the flat pad just short and right of the prominent bunker in line with the flagstick. Longer drivers who succeed in finding the “sweet spot” downslope right and beyond the bunker will be rewarded with a short iron or wedge into the well-bunkered green, which slopes back to front.
Don’t be deceived by the width of the fairway. Too far right and the palms can block your path to the flag. Get greedy left and you may end up with a difficult lie.
Hole #3
Par 3
Handicap: 17
One of the most picturesque holes on the course, this 185 yard par 3 features a mean-dering stream and is set against a backdrop of palms and cragged desert peaks. The two-level green has a prominent hump on the right side, taking many approach shots into the pin location.
Stay away from the left side to avoid the risk of short siding your-self on left pins. Short hitters may consider a layup and chip from the front right to sal-vage par.
Hole #4
Par 4
Handicap: 1
As the number one handicap hole, this 423 yard par 4 places a premium on a well-struck drive. You will be very happy to hit your best drive of the day here. A large tree blocks low approach shots from the right side of the fairway, but the strategically placed left bunker can catch anything pulled solidly left of center. Attacking a back or center pin position may result in dumping one in the left green-side bunker.
Many mid-handicappers lower their risk by hitting to the slope in front of the green to guarantee a net par.
Hole #5
Par 4
Handicap: 9
The fifth hole is one of the better birdie opportunities if your tee shot finds a flat lie. The hole has two prominent “vees” created by angled palms. The best path to par is be-tween the two “vees”, but do not leave the palms in your path or you risk hitting the ob-struction on your second shot. Put your drive a bit too far right and you may have a sidehill lie. A large, deep bunker sits directly in front of the elevated green which plays a bit longer than the yardage indicates.
Two more bunkers guard the narrow back part of the green, making green center an ideal place for your second shot and birdie putt.
Hole #6
Par 5
Handicap: 5
From the back tees, shape your drive through the gap between the trees to end up on the center of the right-to-left sloping fairway. Anything off the fairway can make par a challenge. Choose the right club to lay up for a wedge or short iron approach over the first of seven lake crossings you will face during your round.
Long shots into a back pin position can find the “surprise” bunker back right. A prominent right ridge on this sizable green comes into play on many approaches and putts.
Hole #7
Par 4
Handicap: 7
Take time to size up this hole before you tee off. Look to the green and you will see three palms that block anything coming in from the right and a left sloping rise that takes any running approaches to the left.
Fairway center is the preferred shot, but if you are great from bunkers you might find the left fairway bunker (in line with the hole) a reasonable alternative. Don’t be too far right.
Hole #8
Par 4
Handicap: 13
Left center will provide an ideal approach into this elevated, well-bunkered green. Like so many of Ted Robinson’s holes, this one puts a real premium on accuracy for pitch and run golfers. Hope for a favorable pin position to help you to a birdie, but expect the more tricky reads and speeds on your putt.
Hole #9
Par 3
Handicap: 11
Hole 9 is one of the desert’s most beautiful and challenging par 3’s. From the champi-onship tees, all but a few of its 206 yards carry over the lake to the green that is framed by a fountain and gorgeous flower beds. The best shot is straight or a slight fade into the three-tiered diagonal green.
Find the right level and avoid the slopes to give yourself a great ending to the front nine. Many golfers leave with the memory of an unforgettable hole that got the best of them.
Hole #10
Par 4
Handicap: 18
This short par 4 is guarded off the tee by a large bunker right center and an even larger bunker left which captures pulled drives. Keep your driver in the bag and you will have a good approach from anywhere on the fairway.
Allow for your elevation above the green by playing your wedge or nine iron 5 yards shorter than the distance indicated. The left bunker and rough on the slope behind the green can be extremely penalizing.
Hole #11
Par 4
Handicap: 2
One of the hardest par 4’s in the desert, this long 418 yard hole plays uphill into the green and the prevailing breeze. Shorter hitters should look for the flat area left of the fairway bunker. Longer hitters may pick up yards by reaching the downhill beyond. Too far, however, and the trees left will block any reasonable shot into the green.
A long, controlled fade is an ideal shot. Unless you have a great lie and a favorite distance, play for the front of the green to keep par within reach. The long green runs back to front and has a backstop that can help you find the pin if it is positioned back and left.
Hole #12
Par 3
Handicap: 12
From an elevated tee, rising above a sunken fairway, you look westward to this deep “target” green that is well-bunkered on all sides. Come in high on this 192 yard par 3 or expect your ball to run deep. Hope for a favorable pin position...some locations don’t give up par easily.
Hole #13
Par 4
Handicap: 16
The large eucalyptus tree just right and forward of the tee boxes can give anyone fits that doesn’t have a cut shot in the bag. This hole tests your shot-making skills, giving up plenty of birdies to those who make to excellent swings. Most golfers hit a long iron, three or five wood to find the fairway.
Approaches hit over the front left bunker usually carry to the back of the green or bunker beyond. Consider hitting to the inviting right side of the dance floor for a solid par and a chance at birdie.
Hole #14
Par 5
Handicap: 4
A strong drive down the middle keeps the right bunkers and left trees out of play, providing multiple options for your second shot. Ignore the colorful views of the planting beds, lake, clubhouse and mountains while you ascertain the pin position.
The green is positioned sideways across the lake. It runs downhill from the back right to the lake. Front pin positions can be reached with a direct layup to your favorite wedge distance. Middle and back right pin positions are best reached playing the hole as a dogleg right, hitting toward the flower bed left of the lake. Beware that long, downwind irons have hard time holding the green.
Hole #15
Par 5
Handicap: 8
Your four finishing holes provide ample opportunity to come from behind or lose a big lead. As you play away from the clubhouse the long, straight fairway and magnificent Mount San Jacinto will reflect in the pond you cross off the tee. If you unleash a big drive to attempt to get home in two on this second consecutive par 5, you had better make sure it is straight or you put bogey into play.
Towering shade trees right and left make accuracy more important than distance. A drivable bunker left further narrows the fairway and makes the ideal line risky. Keep your second shot in the middle to facilitate your task of reaching the right plateau on the four-tiered green.
Hole #16
Par 3
Handicap: 14
Avoid the distractions of flycatchers, raptors and waterfowl that inhabit this part of the course as you turn toward the gorgeous backdrop of sixteen. This 215 yard par 3 caps off four of the most difficult par 3’s in the Coachella Valley.
A deep bunker runs on the entire left side of the green, making the right side more attractive. A prominent knoll on the right brings green-seeking balls to the middle, but anything missing the green will fall off right, making for a challenging up and down. Hit your drive solidly and straight to walk away happy with a par.
Hole #17
Par 4
Handicap: 10
Driver is too much for most golfers on this short, but exciting par 4. Find the flat spot on the left side of the fairway for the best look over the lake at most pin positions on the shallow, diagonal green. Stop your second shot close to the pin for your last great chance at birdie.
Avoid the three bunkers at all costs or you will find yourself staring at bogey or more. A short pin position may be difficult because putts from above the hole run fast on this green.
Hole #18
Par 4
Handicap: 6
The home hole can provide some real excitement for players and spectators. Favor the lake side of the fairway to avoid a long iron into the elevated green. Shorter hitters will be forced to lay up for a third shot across lake. Club selection is at a premium because wind direction can be difficult to detect, a slight downhill lie and an elevated green must all be accounted for.
Shots into short pins may come back off the front, but the steep green loses its slope at the back, resulting in solid hits to back pins that run through to the rear bunker. Nevertheless, a perfectly hit shot into the right side of the green can result in a game-making bird to finish off a memorable round.
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