Hole seven is a 556 yard par 5. Behold the beautiful view down the valley from this tee. Golfers have now turned the corner and are headed for Snow Canyon. A few obstacles lay ahead starting with the low, well-bunkered left side of the fairway. Clear the second set of bunkers and you may reach the par-five in two. If deciding to lay up, the right side of the fairway is extremely forgiving. The green slopes back and to the left so a “bump and run” shot may be needed.

The eighth hole is your second consecutive birdie hole 347 yards and par four. Play two smart shots and you are certain to have a good putt at three. A three iron or five wood may be the correct choice in leaving your tee ball on the left side of the fairway. Greedy golfers beware, or you may have a lonely walk to the ninth tee.

Customarily, as you get closer to the clubhouse, water comes into play. Hole nine is no exception with 398 yards and par four. Two well-struck, straight shots are required to finish the front nine with a par. If you miss the green, choose the small bunker on the right versus the lake on the left.

If the back nine is going to be challenging, then let’s not delay the challenge. A par-three, playing 210 yards, should take care of all doubters. Teeing off with the driver is a possibility, but a straight 3-wood may be the smart play. The green slopes from back to front helping to catch the long running shots.

At 511 yards, playing up the slope requires length and accuracy. Playing two safe shots away from the fairway bunkers will leave a short iron to the raised green. The center of the green is generally the safer play to keep the spirits bright. It makes no sense to ruin the views of the canyon because you just made a careless bogie from the bunkers on the left or the low grass depression on the right.

After taking in the views from the 147 yard twelfth tee, remember the task at hand. It is much better to hit the ball on the green than hitting it into the canyon. Use the slope on the left side of the green to work the ball towards the hole. This line of play gives the most room for error.

Hole 13 is a challenging, but fun, 397 yard par 4. Take the high road! The bunker on the left, holding up the fairway, is to be avoided at all cost. Once on the high side of the fairway, a “bump and run” shot is the preferred play to the narrow green, sloping away.

Hole 14 measures 358 yards. Mother Nature created this green location so that golfers could appreciate Her fine workmanship. Do not over complicate the golf hole or become distracted. Hit two straight shots and enjoy the spectacular sights.

The 297 yard fifteenth hole is the definition of target golf. A three or four iron will be plenty of club for the tee shot. Landing a driver over the left side bunker could be perfect or disaster if going too far. Try to leave the approach on the correct side of the green, depending on the pin location that day. If you make a birdie, you can call yourself a great target golfer!

A long par 5, the 16th hole measures 535 yards. A tee shot from off the rock cliff should land just to the right of the rock out-cropping. If your tee shot makes the crest of the hill, go for the green in two. If not, lay your second shot short of the left bunker, and you still have a good chance for a four. The ridge in the middle of the green helps move the ball closer to the pin. Remember to be on the correct side of that ridge.

On the 381 yard seventeenth tee you get the feeling that you’re heading towards home. If your career round is still intact, avoid the low right side. Do not play too safely on the left, or you will have a somewhat blinded shot to the undulating green. It is better to be long on your approach, most of the trouble is in the narrow front.

The 413 yard finishing hole requires well thought-out and well-played shots. Depending on the pin location, the tee shot should favor one side of the fairway. If you forget to check the pin location from hole nine to hole ten, play up the center (usually not a bad idea). A lake guards the left side and a meandering creek is in back. Keep the ball below the pin location on your approach, and a finishing birdie is within range.