Mickey Piersall’s Hole by Hole Tour
Hole 1 – Par 4 – 390 yards. With trees bordering both sides the drive needs to be placed in the fairway to get the round off to a good start. Mounds on the right provide some help to holding the fairway. The approach in is to a deep but narrow green, which slopes off the sides into collection areas. Don’t go long.
Hole 2 – Par 5 – 510 yards. Driver is optional here for the long hitter on this reachable par 5. To reach the green it is a must to hit the fairway guarded with a creek and out of bounds to the left and a pond to the right. Two bunkers guard the front and left of the green creating a challenging shot for those going for the green in two. Favor the left side of the fairway if you are laying up for the best shot into the green.
Hole 3 – Par 3 – 196 yards. Las Colinas immediately catches your eye on this dramatic 200 yard uphill par 3. There is a creek and deep bunker to the left of the green so missing here will most likely set up a bogey or worse. Proper club selection on this hole is a must; par is a good score here.
Hole 4 – Par 4 – 372 yards. The 4th is a short strategic tree lined hole with a lake on the right challenging the long hitters. It is a birdie opportunity with a well placed drive and accurate short iron into the to the smallest green on the front nine.
Hole 5 – Par 4 – 451 yards. The longest par 4 on the course measuring 452 yards from the Championship tees demands the golfer to hit the widest fairway on the course. From here it calls for a long iron or hybrid into a green guarded with several collection areas.
Hole 6 – Par 4 401 yards. This moderate length par 4 usually playing downwind or slightly from the left side has ample fairway short of the fairway bunker. Long hitters who challenge the bunker must carry their drive 275 yards from the Championship tee, if successful they will be rewarded with a wedge into the green. Laying up short of the bunker will leave approximately 150 yards to and elevated green.
Hole 7 – Par 4 – 384 yards. Not a long hole by yardage but it plays in to the prevailing south wind. A large lake borders the right side of the hole coming very close to the right side of the green. The conservative play is down the left side to the left middle of a large fairway. Hit plenty of club if approaching the green with the pin right of the center. Short shots will end up in the lake.
Hole 8 – Par 3 – 180 yards. The picturesque 8th plays over a lake into a green guarded by two bunkers in front. The green is divided in two by a subtle ridge. Both distance and direction put a premium on putting on this hole.
Hole 9 – Par 5 530 yards. This par 5 plays downwind and offers a great chance to finish off the front nine with a birdie. Water borders the right side of the hole on the tee shot and approaching the green is a spacious fairway with a bunker on the right about 50 yards short of the green. A bunker on the front left of the green guards the hole for those trying to go for the green in two.
Hole 10 – Par 4 – 344 yards. Long hitters might try to drive this green but a well placed layup will provide a short iron to the smallest green on the course. The approach to this elevated green with deep collection areas requires a precise short iron.
Hole 11 – Par 5 – 501 yards. A great drive through a tree lined chute gives the long hitter an opportunity for a birdie. Water guards the right side of the green and will capture a ball which drifts to the right side. Laying up short of the fairway bunker on the left side provides a short shot into the green.
Hole 12 – Par 4 – 370 yards. This straight away medium length par 4 with trees on the right also has water along the left side the last 150 yards. The green is protected by a bunker and the lake on the left. With a good drive this hole provides a good scoring opportunity.
Hole 13 – Par 3 – 177 yards. The largest green on the course creates the importance of hitting the shot into the same area where the hole is located. If the hole is behind the bunker, choose your club carefully, there isn’t much room.
Hole 14 – Par 4 402 yards. The road home begins with the narrow tree lined 407 yard, par 4 fourteenth, the start of the demanding closing stretch at Luna Vista. The prevailing wind is usually into your face making the hole play even longer than the yardage. Take plenty of club into the green which is guarded by water on the left.
Hole 15 – Par 3 – 204 yards. The longest par 3 from the Championship tee has a bunker guarding the left side of the elevated green. Proper club selection will be important to getting the par.
Hole 16 – Par 4 – 439 yards. A long, demanding hole, thru a chute of trees to a small green guarded by a green side bunker on the left. Keep you tee shot right of the mounds on the left side of the fairway to have the optimum approach. Over the green will be a tough up and down to save your score.
Hole 17 – Par 5 – 570 yards. This is a 3 shot par 5 with trees on both sides of the fairway and water on the left side thru the driving area. Water is on the left and right side of the fairway approximately 300 yards from the tee. The second largest green on the course is guarded by a small pot bunker just in front center of the green.
Hole 18 – Par 4 – 426 yards. Two fairway bunkers frame the right side of the fairway that slopes from right to left. The hole requires a precision drive to be in position for the best approach shot. A tee shot left, near the bunkers will have the best angle into an elevated green which is bunkered on the left side.