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Hole-by-Hole at Monarch Dunes' Old CourseMonday, January 09, 2006 Hole 1: 423 Yard / Par 4 This dogleg left hole is played by a long drive to the right center of the fairway. The lake is protecting the left side, so don't borrow too much or you will be wet. The second shot is played into a prevailing right to left breeze from 150 to 180 yards. Aim at the mounding on the right side of the green and let the banking of the slope send your ball into the middle of the green. Hole 2: 357 Yard / Par 4 This slightly uphill hole is played by aiming your drive down the middle of the fairway at the natural saddle that is created by the slopes from the right and left. The second shot should be an aggressive shot at the pin from 120 to the center of the green. Watch out for the false front on the left side that could pull your ball back off the green and into the collection area. Hole 3: 115 Yard / Par 3 Do not take this hole lightly, the green has a left and right table top with a depression in the front center of the green that will catch all mis-hit short irons. The dunes that surround the green will make a 3 into a 5 in a hurry. Hole 4: 530 Yard / Par 5 This is a true three-shot hole playing into a prevailing wind that will make it play longer than the scorecard distance. All shots should be played to the left side of the fairway. The third shot is a force carry over water and a slope that runs to the lake. Hole 5: 125 Yard / Par 3 A true tribute to Scottish Links design, this hole will transport you to another place and time. The dunes on the left are closely held to the side of the green and a collection area is waiting for you on the right. A very accurate mid iron is required. Hole 6: 550 Yard / Par 5 This hole was designed to make it risky to reach the green in two shots. It has a small, two-level, green with significant trouble around it. The tee shot has to clear the crest of the hill and be down by the lake to give the player any thought of going for the green. A safer play is to get to the base of the hill in two and then play a precise short iron to the green. Hole 7: 337 Yard / Par 4 A dramatic down hill tee shot to a fairway that is bordered left by dunes and to the right by a lake. If your tee shot comes off correctly you will be rewarded with a short iron uphill to the green. Beware of the false front when playing to the green, short is not the place you want to be. Hole 8: 177 Yard / Par 3 This hole is over water with a right to left prevailing wind you must make it or pay the price. The green has two distinct levels with backboard effects designed into it to help repel the ball back into the center of the green. Hole 9: 432 Yard / Par 4 This hole is best played with a 3 metal off the tee down hill, the water is lurking left. The fairway is wider than it appears from the tee, the second shot should be a mid to long iron or mid rescue club depending on the length of your drive to an uphill green with bunkers right and left. Hole 10: 407 Yard / Par 4 A dramatic risk and reward hole with a split fairway, the dunes create a natural separation between the high road and the low road. The left is narrower than the right but approximately 35 yards shorter to the hole. The right offers a safer play but a long iron to fairway metal approach shot to an uphill green is required. To gamble or not, that is the question. Hole 11: 180 Yard / Par 3 The first ocean view appears during your round, as you look out over the Oso Flaco wetlands to the ocean beyond. The wind hits you in the face and calls for a lower trajectory mid to long iron to a reverse tiered green that runs away from you from front to back. A crisply struck and well shaped knock down shot is required for this hole. Hole 12: 550 Yard / Par 5 The tee shot is slightly uphill to a plateau that is framed by two tall eucalyptus trees, one right and one left. If you strike your drive well then you are looking at a dramatic downhill second shot that is framed by large dunes on you left and uneven terrain on your right. The third shot will be a short to mid iron uphill to a green that is very large from front to back and from side to side. The wind comes from left to right and is stronger at the green than it usually feels from the fairway below. Hole 13: 377 Yard / Par 4 This hole is best played by a 3 metal from off the tee to a downhill fairway that runs away from you to the right. It is wider than it appears from the tee. This hole is heavily weighted on your second shot. The fairway is split by the hillside at the end of the fairway and drops some 20 feet down to another level with a large dune set in the middle approximately 40 yards from the front of the green to gobble up any poorly struck short to mid iron. This could be considered one of our signature holes on the course. We will let you decide that for your self. Hole 14: 370 Yard / Par 4 Aim for the two leftside fairway bunkers in the distance that will get you to the center of the fairway. Then it is a mid to short iron over the dunes and wild grasses to a green that has more room left than right. Hole 15: 199 Yard / Par 3 This demanding hole has little room for error, with a fall off to water on your right and a large ridge of dunes to your left by the green that places a premium on a well struck fairway metal or long iron. The green is very large and accepting of a well struck shot but beware of the wayward slice or hook. Hole 16: 350 Yard / Par 4 This is another course signature links golf hole, this dramatically sweeping uphill slight dogleg right hole has plenty of room to the left off of the tee, a missed shot right will land you in a lateral hazard or uneven side hill lie. The second shot is a mid to short iron uphill to a long narrow green that is at least three clubs in difference from front to back. There is a large collection area to the right of the green that will take any mis-hit shot. Hole 17: 480 Yard / Par 5 The drive is framed by a lake to the right and eucalyptus trees to the left and a second lake comes into play for the long hitter on the left. The second shot is to a fairway that rises steeply in elevation to the green. This is the largest green on the golf course for your third shot, but don't let it lull you into a false sense of security because accuracy is crucial. The green sports more than 12,000 square feet and has a number of sprinkler heads inside the confines of the green to keep it watered correctly. A large false front will propel your ball backward down the hill into the fairway if you come up short. Birdies and bogeys will be abundant on this hole. Hole 18 : 387 Yard / Par 4 A true birdie hole to end your round with a well-placed drive, with a second shot with a short iron the wind is at your back and the shot is downhill. Be sure not to go long or left or a possible birdie could become a double bogey very quickly. Hole-by-hole analysis courtesy of Matt Kalbak, PGA professional |
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