LACC starts gently. The first tee, along with the 9th and 18th greens, all occupy the flat land immediately behind the clubhouse. The first hole is a straightaway par-5 with four bunkers staggered -- right then left then right then left -- along the side of the hole. A straight ball is always fine, but for the preferred angle of approach into the green, the golfer must challenge the final fairway bunker:
The second is a long and very difficult par-4 where the tilted fairway will help to funnel balls to the preferred angle of approach on the left:
Hopefully by the time you hit your approach to the 2nd you have found your swing, as an all-carry approach with a long iron is required to find the green:
One of several blind tee shots at LACC is found at the world class par-4 3rd. The rolling land to the right is the safe route, requiring the shorter carry from the tee to crest the hill, but it leaves a potentially awkward stance and the longer length approach:
A tooth! Or a boomerang. Call it what you want, but the shape of this green is certainly a Thomas template...
The 4th is a downhill par-3 of some 200 yards. While the initial fear is a miss short/right, the slope of the green means a miss long or left is worst:
Up and over (for some) at the 480 yard par-4 5th. It takes a drive of 280 yards from the championship markers to crest the hill, but the slope of the land short of and around the green allow a thinking golfer to find the putting surface with a running approach that need not challenge the front bunkers:
Easily the most controversial and discussed hole at LACC is the potentially driveable 320 yard par-4 6th. The tee shot is blind, and the golfer has the option of playing left into a valley to leave a wedge approach to a shallow green, or to play over the hill on the right (a carry of about 250 yards) to leave a pitch up the length of the green:
As seen from 70 yards from the green in the valley, the approach from this angle is hardly a birdie opportunity:
Even from the right, though, the pitch is a difficult one to a back pin as the green tilts hard to the left:
From behind we get a better idea of the narrowness of the green:
The 7th is another difficult one-shotter -- a long iron or wood is likely required as the hole stretches to 240 yards. The land to the left can be used to funnel the ball onto the green, but the green subtly counterslopes, so shots played on the left will not reach right pins.
Draw, Fade, straight. Can you hit all the shots at the double-dogleg 8th? A demanding and genius hole that maximally uses the wash that runs the length of the hole.
The 9th is not as visually striking as most of the front-nine, but the wildest green on the course will keep the golfer honest. The uphill par-3 will play as a mid-iron for most, and the uphill nature of the hole hides the severe back-to-front tilt of the green. If you hit it above the hole, your caddy will hand you your putter and may just bring along your wedge too!
