Blue Canyon Country Club

PAR: 72.
From the back tees: 7179 yards.

Hole 1
BLACK 390 BLUE 380 WHITE 364 RED 326

A straightforward par four to start. From an elevated tee, the line of attack boomerangs left to a tight green. Bunkers span the apex of the dogleg to trap players who try to cut the corner. As with many Canyon greens, bunkers also protect three sides. A tiara of hibiscus bushes around the back of the green adds color and perfume.

Hole 2
BLACK 218 BLUE 204 WHITE 182 RED 123

Relatively short, this par three has plenty of attitude. A shot across the water in the valley is required, with water in-play on the left, and bunkers front-left and back-right of a green that slopes up to hold well-flighted tee shots.

Hole 3
BLACK 449 BLUE 400 WHITE 382 RED 368

Longest of the par fours, this is rated the second-hardest hole on the course. One huge tree sprouts in the center of the fairway. The Calabash becomes an obstacle for second shots to an away-sloping green that is tucked right and guarded by bunkers and rubber trees left and right.

Hole 4
BLACK 407 BLUE 354 WHITE 341 RED 326

A dogleg right, and a tee shot over a hillock, with out-of-bounds to the left, add some grit to the par four rated the easiest hole on the course. But first, there's a gully with a hedge to be negotiated. A good drive that veers left may leave a blind shot to the pin with a ring of bunkers accommodating less than perfect approaches.

Hole 5
BLACK 398 BLUE 374 WHITE 354 RED 336

Straight but narrow, this par four stretches downwardwards with out-of-bounds all the way along the left. Two long and large pots on either side guard the approach, with a third at the rear.

Hole 6
BLACK 556 BLUE 540 WHITE 520 RED 499

The first par five calls for caution. A tactical drive is required to avoid water on the right. While the hole doglegs to the left, the hazard makes an open shot to the green impossible. Big bunkers guard the second dogleg and both sides of the green, with a bunker over the back as well.

Hole 7
BLACK 205 BLUE 188 WHITE 172 RED 153

Water in a gully across the fairway makes this par three picturesque and tricky.The putting surface is protected left and right by bunkers. Deceptive and dangerous, the green slopes from left to right.

Hole 8
BLACK 412 BLUE 395 WHITE 380 RED 372

Getting to the green is half the battle on a par four that doglegs left, with fairway bunkers tucked in beside the bend and more out of sight left of the pin. The green is guarded by five bunkers and rolls strongly uphill in tiers away from the tee.

Hole 9
BLACK 561 BLUE 526 WHITE 490 RED 464

Water cuts the fairway twice on a par five that calls for tight placement. Water lies to the left from tee to green. A fairway bunker on the right is visible, backed by a couple of palm trees. what can't be seen are the other bunkers behind the palm trees. A sharp dogleg right opens up a green guarded by trees on the right and bunkers on the left.

Hole 10
BLACK 392 BLUE 357 WHITE 345 RED 333

Elevated tees provide a sweeping vista as this par four takes a severe dogleg left. Rubber trees line both sides of the fairway and a bevy of six bunkers mark the bend and stretch to the green. More bunkers guard the right and the rear of the green.

Hole 11
BLACK 600 BLUE 570 WHITE 544 RED 524

A par five, the longest and most difficult hole on the course. Water cuts the fairway to catch long drives and washes left and right of the green, behind a ring of bunkers. The long, narrow putting surface makes a hard-to-hit target.

Hole 12
BLACK 440 BLUE 392 WHITE 354 RED 330

Respite at last from sand, with not a single pot to be seen on this par four. Ah, but the water on the right eventually cuts the fairway in front of the green, calling for a choice between a long, accurate second shot or laying up safely in front.

Hole 13
BLACK 390 BLUE 373 WHITE 365 RED 356

An awesome prospect from the tee, with the yawning canyon occupying most of the vista. A well-struck ball will carry the chasm. But beware: bunkers run along the far rim and beyond, trapping those whose ambitions exceed their ability. Any ball veering left is in trees. Rolling mounds make some fairway shots awkward and the green has a reputation for cussedness.

Hole 14
BLACK 194 BLUE 169 WHITE 143 RED 128

A splendid scenic shot from an elevated tee to an island green par three. No bunkers, but who needs them? Guageing the distance and allowing for the drop by using one or even two clubs less is the key. A drop zone lies close to the island for those who miscalculate.

Hole 15
BLACK 586 BLUE 567 WHITE 554 RED 521

This par five twists first right, then left: two doglegs for the price of one. Water runs along the right then cuts the fairway. Fairway bunkers left and right also reduce the options. A sloping green is guarded by bunkers left, right and rear.

Hole 16
BLACK 357 BLUE 323 WHITE 316 RED 303

A gentle banana curve to the left with an undulating fairway and bunkers on the bend makes the right of the fairway an ideal destination on this par four. The green is small and well-guarded by bunkers.

Hole 17
BLACK 221 BLUE 212 WHITE 197 RED 178

A pretty downhill par three that poses a challenge because water intrudes where the fairway should be along the right, all the way to the green. The putting surface is long, narrow and diagonal. Bunkers will trap any ball the water fails to snare. A memorable sight.

Hole 18
BLACK 403 BLUE 340 WHITE 327 RED 303

Water dominates the right of the fairway again on the scenic par four back to the clubhouse. A large bunker to the right of the green again forces players to stay left. The green is long and narrow and slopes towards the water, leaving anyone who overshoots facing a severe test.