Sand Hollow Resort Championship Course Detail
This writeup is from the White tees, which are 6462 yards. The back tees stretch all the way out to 7315 yards, but frankly, I'm not good enough to bite that off -- too many forced carries and narrow fairways...
The first hole is a bit of a stretch lengthwise, at 414 yards. On the other hand, it's also wide open, so you have a bit of room for error.
The second hole is a longish par 5, playing 545 yards. The fairway is plenty wide, so there's no need to try cutting any corners or flirting with any sand traps. Pay close attention to pin placement because these greens are huge. Just getting on the green is no guarantee of a two-putt, or even a three-putt!
#3 is a classic what-you-see-is-what-you-get par three. At 182 yards, it's on the long side. On the other hand, it's straightaway. If you can't reach it, lay up.
#4 is a long par 4, playing 429 yards. There are bunkers on the left, so you might want to favor the right side of the fairway on your tee shot.
#5 is a short par 4, at only 306 yards. Since it's so short, you can safely tee off with a hybrid or long iron to set up a short iron or wedge for your approach.
#6 is on the long side again, playing 442 yards. This is handicapped as the hardest hole on the course, so bogey is a good score here. There's miles of room out to the right of that bunker on the corner -- use it! Do not crowd the left side! There's more trouble once you're past the bunker, so you probably want to lay up on your second shot, and just play this like a par 5.
The view off the tee on #7 is a little bit confusing because you can also see the #8 green stretching out behind it. This is a 537 yard par 5, so you'll need three pretty good shots to get home. Bear in mind that they often tuck the pin way back left behind the bunker in front of the green. Don't get fooled by the pin you can see on #8!
#8 is a 141 yard par 3. Beware of the false front if the pin is up.
The ninth hole plays 374 yards, but it's all up hill, so take plenty of extra club on your approach shot. Great look at the clubhouse!
The tenth hole has plenty of trouble in reach. I opted for the desert on the right, while my playing partner chose the trap on the left. On the other hand, there actually is plenty of room in the middle to hit it in the fairway! This is a 513 yard par 5 up hill, so use plenty of club.
#11 is a straightforward par 3, playing 154 yards. Trouble right, so bail out left.
#12 starts a stretch of incredibly scenic holes, following a interesting drive of switchbacks down the face of the mesa. #12 has a wall of intimidating rocks on the right, and a cliff that falls off to infinity on the left. Both are optical distractions which mask the fact that this fairway is plenty wide, and you probably need to hit your driver to have any hope of getting home in two, especially since the hole plays uphill. Gorgeous views!
#13 is a very short (261 yards) par 4 which doglegs left around a chasm. For some people, this is reachable with a driver (but can you hit it straight???). For others, a sensible two-shot strategy with a mid or long iron might be a better strategy.
#14 is a long (411 yards) par 4. It is downhill, so you get some help from gravity.
#15 is a tasty par 3, playing 158 yards, with trouble everywhere you look. There's a little bit of room to bail out right, but you get a real adrenaline rush of satisfaction if you can land your tee shot on the green!
#16 is almost a letdown, after the holes on the edge of the mesa. It's a 345 yard par 4. plenty of room to hit driver. Settle back into your normal frame of mind, and you'll do fine.
#17 is a short par 5, at 466 yards. The first thing you have to do is pick apart the hole in your mind. You'll eventually figure out that you need to lay up in front of the waste area, and then pick a line through the bunkers for your second shot. It's not that hard, just don't let it psych you out.
The home hole is 412 yards, up hill. You need to miss the fairway bunker on your tee shot, and then stay out of the bunkers on the right on your approach.
This is a great course. I did't lose too many balls here, which basically means that there is plenty of room for stray shots without being overly penal. Yet, the course presents challenges, regardless of which tees you choose. Have fun, and enjoy the views!
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