Par Four: Long, difficult par four. Long hitters can favor the left side off the tee, but shorter hitter must play to the right to be able to see the green on the second shot. Uphill second shot to an elevated two-level green will add a club to your approach.

Par Three: You'll only move a few clubs down in your bag for the first par three on the course. Playing from 150 yards to almost 200, par is always a great score on this long slightly uphill test of accuracy with your long irons through driver. A miss short or right is much better than long or left and don't let the false front on the green fool you. Bunkers on the right protect the green from a high right to left hitter that's pin seeking so just hit it straight and aim for the middle of the green!
 

Par Five: This hole is a long double-dogleg, par five. First it doglegs to the left, then to the right to an elevated green. Smart golf would have you play to the safe landing zones. Those who try to cut this dogleg may go for big numbers.
 

Par Four: Play your tee shot to the "saddle" of the fairway at the bend in this dogleg, par four hole. This will assure that you have a level lie for your approach. Take plenty of club on your second shot -it is better to be long than short on this hole.
 

Par Five: This par five can be very friendly when approached from the right side, especially on the third shot. Sand that guards the left side of the green is invisible from the fairway. The front right side of the green slopes sharply away to the right.
 

Par Three: Straightaway par three hole form elevated tees. Sand and hill to the right requires focus on the center of the green.
 

Par Four: Very tight driving hole. Best angle of approach to a well trapped green is from the left side of the fairway. Fairway slopes right and balls hit to the right side may roll into trouble. Use plenty of club on approach to avoid a very punishing sand bunker known to members as "Big Bertha" on right, front of green.
 

Par Four: The right side of this fairway will give you a more level approach to this green. The left side will give the long hitters more roll because of its slope to the green. Stay away from the sand bunker that protects the right side of the green.

Members will recognize the 10th hole until they reach the green. To help accommodate the new chipping green area the tees were shifted slightly left and lowered to the deck. The dog-leg remains strong with the bunkers on the inside, but they have been pushed farther out from the tees and now require a slightly longer carry to cut the corner off this mid length par 4. This also resulted in removing the portion of the bunkers short right where many shorter players had been finding the sand on their drive. The old severely sloped punchbowl green has been replaced with a new design that incorporates elements of the classic punchbowl set on a slight angle to the line of play. The front was lifted to reduce overall slope and for a better transition up onto the surface without being abrupt. The previous right front greenside bunker was relocated to the back left to better compliment the fairway bunkering and dogleg. Playability is improved now for many players that come up short and right. Others will find good use of the punchbowl slopes on the edges of the green area to help run shots onto the surface and avoid the bunker.

Playing tips– Drives that flirt with the fairway bunkers will result in a better line into the green for the approach. Learn how to use the mounds and slope on the right edge of the green to work the ball onto the surface to stay away from the low and bunker on the left. Short right is not a bad play.

Nice improvements were made at the tees to provide as much teeing area as possible with all at the same level.  The steep slope down from the path was drawn out and should make for an easier walk.   A new tee was added ahead of the path on the right for green marker use.  More tee shots from those players should now reach the surface.  While the hole presents itself similarly, the green surface was altered to be more receptive of the tee shot.  The green now slopes to the front right corner and the previous small shelf in the back has been enlarged.  A small drop divides the back portion into left and right with the right being a little lower.  The hillside along the right was improved and playability should be improved there with better deflections down onto the green.  The fairway approach area was shortened to reduce the number of balls rolling all the way down that come up short off the tee.

Playing tips– Don’t be afraid to use the right hillside to stay away from the danger left.  Moreso than before, long is also a safe play.  Just avoid that back left edge fall off.

By using the new property for holes 14 and 15 we were afforded the opportunity to make some nice changes to this short Par 5.  Well designed short Par 5’s most often present the longer players something to carefully consider if they desire to go for the green in 2 while allowing for a safe conservative route for others to take.  This approach has been implemented with a redesign to the top end of the hole.  With the green relocated to the far left and an additional 100’ of Crane Creek opened back up, numerous options have been created for the golfer to consider when setting up their playing strategy for the hole.  A new left fairway bunker is located 40 yards short of the green and defines distinct areas for a lay-up approach on the 2nd shot though those areas are wide and accommodating.  Each provide different looks into the green for the 3rd shot.  A creative green design consists of a smaller green that is divided into a lower left and upper right sides.  Fairway runs up to the right side at the approach and as designed all areas of the green can be reached with a run-up attempt that is properly aligned.  A deep left greenside bunker suggests the need for accuracy when flying a ball into a left pin.  A back left bunker help put a premium on a properly placed lay-up on the right.  The attractive new section of creek, while highly visible, is for the most part out of play except for the overly aggressive poorly executed 2nd shot.

Playing tips-  Know your game and play to it.  Right side of the fairway off the tee opens things up for the 2nd.  Pin position will determine where you want to position yourself for your approach.  Do not hesitate to use a running approach, but be aware of the bump on the front right of the green.  The drop down to the lower portion of the green is not as big as it appears.

As members make the turn to head back down, they will be encounter an entirely new golf hole.  This big and bold par 3 plays downhill 245 yards from the tips.  But not to worry, there are 7 tee boxes that will provide a broad range of yardages down to 130 yards at the front.  The intent of the design is for players to be faced with a different yardage set-up each day.  More than 12’ of fill was imported to the middle of the old 14th fairway to establish the new green as an extension of the ridgeline that runs down from the right.  The fairway extends down into the open approach to the green surface.  The front ½ of the green surface tilts to the line of play, but then transitions and runs away to the back.  A large sprawling bunker flanks the left side suggesting the safer option up the right side.  The forms and slopes in the approach and  right side have been designed to allow the golfer to stay low if preferred and use the ground to feed the ball onto the green with a short running tee shot.  Combined, these elements are borrowed from core traits of a classic Redan.

Playing tips – While better players might have the game to come in high and hold their approach, many might find the better play is to stay low or short into the approach and allow the ball to feed onto the green as it’s designed.  This will make the hole play much shorter than the posted yardage with consideration to the wind of the day.  Err right where balls can deflect off the mound onto the green, but not too far right as recovery shots from down the hill will be treacherous.  Keep in mind the traits of the redan which suggest the best line is not always direct.

The new property has afforded us with the opportunity to introduce two entirely new golf holes.  The first is a mid length par 4 that runs up the east side of the isolated valley.  7 tees extend the hole out to 438 yards from the tips and down to 290 from the front, maximizing playability for all golfers.  An existing creek bed crosses in front of all but the shortest tee as it comes down from the right.  A new creek now extends along the left of the first leg in the rough and create separation from adjacent hole 15.   The hole is generally wide and accommodating throughout, except where pinched by the creek as it turns in and disappears under the fairway at the far end of the first landing area.  The creek reemerges along the right side of the approach and is accented by a native grass and sand bunker below the green.  Set on an angle to the line of play, the green has two distinct levels that are pitched in slightly different directions.  A bunker guards the upper back portion on the right but is complimented by a kicker slope all along the left edge.

Playing tips– Ignore what appears as danger on all sides off the tee as the fairway and rough are plenty wide.  Pin location will dictate proper positioning of the drive and a resulting easier approach angle.  With an open front and kicker mound on the left, there is no reason on the approach to err right where danger lurks.  It’s uphill so club selection is key.

This hole is exactly what the course did not have, a long par 5.  Stretching to 600 yards on any given day, the hole plays considerably downhill, but often into the wind.  For most this will be a true 3 shot par 5.  Black and blue tee players are treated to a dramatic drive from elevated tees but at a more challenging angle.  The large waste bunker below the tees stops well short of being in play and provides a striking  accent and character to the hole.  The wide fairway narrows quickly at the far end with vegetation on the left that is to be avoided.  The hole passes through a deep but grassed valley that crosses at the far end of the first landing area.  This sets up a risk and reward option for the longer player on the drive.   The 2nd shot and approach are played to a wide fairway that’s runs along the deep creek canyon on the right.  The green is also situated along the hazard and nestles below the fairway on a lower bench created by an abrupt drop in the approach (formerly the 16th tees).  The large and undulating surface is open across the front to allow a variety of approach shots.  A back left bunker will catch the over aggressive inbound shot and guard nearby pins.  A right front bunker adds dramatic affect along the canyon edge, but will save many from the fate of the hazard.

Playing tips-     Don’t confuse length with difficulty.  Play off the right side on the drive to catch additional run while staying away from the lower left danger.  Longer players may test their mettle by threading the needle and catching the short cut down the drop at the end of the first landing area on their drive. The 2nd landing area is wide open but those that dare the canyon will like the resulting approach angle away from the canyon.  Learn to use the slopes short of the green to gain those last few yards.

We return to the original routing at the 16th but golfers are faced with a new angle on their drive.  The tees have shifted left to where previous 15 green was situated and the result is a fun and dynamic risk reward tee shot.  Members will have to learn what line to take across the canyon that is safe yet aggressive enough to gain distance down the hole.  An exciting improvement to the hole is the reshaped and “laid back” slope on the right.  The resulting wider fairway on the first leg as well as a more aesthetically pleasing look to the hole overall.  Cart access is also greatly improved.  A new forward tee has been added beyond the low.  A new green design instills the best attributes of the old green with the back portion falling away.  The fronting bunker is removed to allow additional approach options again.  A new “hanging pin” position is created as the green now extends left and closer to the canyon edge.

Playing tips–  It will take golfers a few rounds to figure out their best line off the tee.  Those choosing an overly safe line are going to find the hole playing longer.  A bump and run approach into the green may be a nice option for some.  Be careful of the humpback.

Always a dramatic hole from the tees, improvements were mostly centered on the green on this short par 4.  The tees were expanded and adjusted for better visibility down the hole as well as the addition of new set-up options.  The forward tees were repositioned farther down the slope allowing those players a better chance of carrying the rise in the fairway on their drive.  A portion of the right fairway bunker on the far right was filled in and the floor of the small left fairway bunker was raised slightly.  The new green embraces aspects of the classic “Biarritz” template design concept which incorporates a trough that runs across the surface.  This divides the green into two distinct areas that fairly challenges golfers on the short approach as well as their putting. Each section of the surface pitches back to front with the trough below each.   Again, the green is open across the front allowing a run-up approach and golfers the ability to avoid the flanking bunkers.

Playing tips– The new green design rewards drives to the center of the fairway.  And oh, avoid the bunkers.

Simple improvements were made to the tees and path that allow new daily set-up options and provide a cleaner look to the area.  The pond has been entirely rebuilt deeper and with a cleaner defined edge.  Water can now be kept in the pond throughout the year resulting in a more attractive feature from the clubhouse.  Storm overflow is also now directed away from the tennis building.  The pond shape has changed and water now extends up-stream and a little closer to the tees at the landing area.  It was also shifted left and fairway now extends directly to the green along the right resulting in improved playability for those wanting to avoid a carry over the water on their approach.  The green has also moved left and is perched along the pond edge.  Most of the surface pitches towards the pond and is designed to receive shots played over the pond.  The front right tilts towards the new fairway approach.  A bunker back right will catch the errant deep approach and keep it in play.  A bunker has been cut into the backdrop to provide a dramatic look to the finishing hole but is divided from the green by a shallow swale.

Playing tips– As before, tease the ponds edge for a better lie.   Just make sure you learn where the pond is now and adjust accordingly.  Playing over the pond trust your yardage, there is plenty of open green available.  Something wagered will of course narrow your focus, as well as the look over the water.  Be sure to use that new fairway around the right to another wide open entry.