1) I went in with an open mind, expecting a high slope course which would fit in nicely between the the two polarities. With my game of a 190 carry driver, 9 wood 155 I feel comfortable at about 6200 without having to press myself. I was going to play whites, but the starter told me about the holes having forced carries and they were threshold achievable, so I went up to the blues.
2) The wind was out of the southwest, so there was a tailwind on 10, against on 8-9, 14-18.
3) If had gone back one set I would not have finished. If had had gone foreward one set #1 would be reachabe, #2 would not have been driver, #3, #4, #5, # 6 unchanged, #7 less club, # 8 with the cross wind would still be wet, #9 easier, #10 my driver bounced through the rocks, so easier, #11 big change (iron?), #12 reachable, #13 no change in strategy, #14 was a career par barely reaching the fairway when the wind nearly dies, I'd have to move up two tees to make a difference, #15 okay, #16 helpful to move up, #17 and 18 wind so strongI did move up to no avail bad drive on 18).
4) After the round I talked with the pro for about 15 minutes about the course and the wind and it said it quite often blows down from St George, so there isn't a prevaiing wind per se.
5) Perhaps I wasn't quite clear enough, I meant under the conditions I played, which was in winds 20+ and gusting. On the forced carry holes pointed out before the round I was able to reach the fairway with near perfect shots. Certainly it would have been easier from the whites, I would have been quite comfortable there.
On 14 I was able to barely reach the fairway. My playing partners ball were lost. On #16 I had to aim between the red tees and the start of the fairway, a very small area I was unable to hit. #17 we hit 9 tee shots.
Regarding my "lack of width" comment, that was also predicated on the windy conditions. When you are hitting from elevated tees in high winds, the shot dispersal possibilies are enormous. #8 specifically comes to mind., and the 90 degree dogleg on 13.
6) I did hit driver on 8. The correct aiming point for me would have been close to the waterfall on 18. The is very little width for successful shots, and I disagree with the yardage book claim that there is adequate bailout room on the right. At 155 it might have been doable, certainly an easier shot, but the odds are the score would have been 4 or 5 from either set of tees.
7) For a 190-200 carry player the carry area over the creek is quite small but I was able to hit it. I guess you can lay up short and play a true 3 shotter, but I really didn't look at the area short of the creek and the reslultant shot. The creek is small and only a 1 shot penalty and the hole still parable.
I would not say stay away. I would not say you have to go play this course. If it was a high handicapper I would suggest an early tee time. I have not played enough desert golf to make a comparison. It is visually stimulating. The natural areas are no-go zones, play as lateral hazards taking out recoverability options.
If they monitor this, if the players are made aware of wind forecasts, it would be of help to the golfer.