GTee

View Master

Hole 15 (127 yards, par 3)
Positioned just above hole No. 7 with the Pacific Ocean below, this short little bugger can bring you to tears; even a pitching wedge seems too much. From the tee box, clear dense vegetation to the green which has a bunker in front and in the back. It is easy to overshoot this hole; staying on the green requires some finesse.

Hole 18 (545 yards, par 5)
A long par 5, the 18th hole brings you home, but you have to work for it. The hole is fairly straight with a slight twist to the left as you approach the green. Let it rip from the tee box; my only advice: Avoid the bunkers on the left. You’re going to need to bring out your best fairway shot, and you have room to do it. Avoid the left side where there is some dense vegetation and trees venturing out onto the rough. Your approach shot should be simple if you played the last two correctly; the green does have a double bunker on the left and several others surrounding the right side and back.

The West Course

Hole 1 (400 yards, par 4)
This hole will test your skill, as it combines uphill topography with strong prevailing winds, adding as much as 10 to 15 percent more distance to the yardage. Equally challenging is the out-of-bounds which runs the entire length of the hole. A ball I shot from the tee slightly right — which I thought was lost — cleared the slight turn in the hole and was in the rough. The green is relatively easy and flat in front.

Hole 2 (540 yards, par 5)
This long slight dogleg to the left requires accuracy from the tee box to the green. Like the previous hole, the out-of-bounds stakes run the entire right side of the fairway, and the prevailing wind runs left to right across it. Aim for the left side of the large tree that is precariously placed on the right side of your landing area. The green is heavily guarded, with bunkers on the front left and trees on the side.

Hole 3 (189 yards, par 3)
This is not a particularly difficult hole, but it is long and heavily guarded with bunkers. The elevated tee box requires you to choose a club with a little less power as the hole plays about 10 percent shorter. On a clear day you can see beautiful Mount Tapochao. Also note the beetlenut growing near the tee box; locals cut the nut in half, add some chewing tobacco and wrap it in a leaf to chew for “medicinal” purposes.

Hole 8 (439 yards, par 4)
This is the No. 1-handicapped hole on the course due to the water on the right side of the fairway (running the entire length) and the sharp dogleg right. Many a golfer will try to cut as much as possible and end up in the water. The hole plays longer than it looks due to a crosswind over the fairway.

Hole 10 (429 yards, par 4)
This hole plays on the long side, and the fairway runs slightly uphill. Aim your drive slightly left of the right side of the fairway, avoiding the bunker on the right. The right side of this fairway parallels the driving range and is out of bounds. It is difficult to see the green from here as it is very flat, but you can roll your ball up onto it. The one bunker on the left side should not come into play.

Hole 11 (360 yards, par 4)
The day we played this hole the wind was howling in our faces, and we decided to try the new tee box (not yet open for official play) which positioned our drive over a pond to the fairway. Needless to say, none of us made it and we proceeded to the regular tee positions left of the water. A dogleg right, the hole runs along the unevenly shaped pond. Aim for the tree on the other side of the water for your drive. Without the wind we could have made the long shot, leaving only 100 yards to the green, but this day we were left with a midiron. The tree near the left bunker has a habit of catching stray balls.

Hole 15 (399 yards, par 4)
A little longer than you might expect and straight as an arrow, this hole usually plays into a headwind. You need a killer tee shot so you have a controllable iron shot to the green. Lay up if your drive is short, as there is a stronger prevailing wind near the green and you must clear a small pond in front. Two bunkers, one left rear and the other right rear, can wreak havoc with your score.