A fellow on another board (4gea.com) just posted this recap of his play on 11 and 16 from yesterday....
Hole 11 (391 yards uphill to a broad fairway with lateral hazard down the left side; second shot way uphill to a small green with a "you'll never find your ball in THAT" barranca along the right side. Plays to 430 yard equivalent, handicap #3 hole).
Back flag position visible from tee; layup strategy imposed. Hit a good (safe) drive to right center; good 5 wood across the ravine, great gap wedge to 6 feet, BUT was above the hole. First putt took a look and ran 5 feet below the hole, comebaker caught downhill lip and hooked around to settle 3 inches above the cup.
DOUBLE BOGIE
Hole 16 (396 yards with a blind tee shot uphill to a crest that runs steeply to the left into a hazard. Past the crest the fairway slopes down to a water hazard. Mediocre drive leaves >200 yards to a three tiered huge green that is slightly uphill across the water hazard. Good drive leaves 150 yard shot from a downhill lie to a now significantly uphill green. Plays to 420 yard equivalent, handicap #1 hole. Diabolical second shot!)
Hit my best drive of the day to the left center; SkyCaddie says 150 yards to the back of the green. Shot is from a downhill, slightly sidehill (ball above my feet) lie, into a cool, damp seabreeze with fading light. Take my 170 yard club (4 iron) and aim for the fat of the green, 1 tier (and about 10 yards) below the back left, upper tier pin. Trying to not hit it fat, I hit it thin off the toe and the ball slices viciously into the water hazard about 100 yards away. My worst shot of the day. Drop along the line to the pin and hit a 9 iron pin high but pulled into the left rough (about 8 feet from the road and 8 feet from the fringe!). Chip slightly downhill to 3 feet and make the putt.
DOUBLE BOGIE
Boy would I like another crack at these two holes!
Which I think is the nature of a great course -- it's tough but you feel like on a good day, you could get it done and shoot your handicap.
