Golf Courses at River Strand
Hole #1 – Long Water
Don’t let the lack of bunkers fool you as this par 4 offers its challenges but sand is not one of them. The irregular shaped mounding that frames the left side of the hole bleeds into the fairway in several spots and may provide some interesting lies for the approach shot to the green. A strong face that runs perpendicular to the pond sets up the strategic angle that the green rests within. The large mound back right ties into the green seamlessly and can be used to help guide a ball to a back left pin.
Hole #2 – Way Out
A strong par 5 that is set against a beautiful backdrop of mature trees. The first landing area is deceivingly wide across the back of the fairway target bunkers. From there, the fairway scissors around a group of bunkers to the front right of the second landing area, and then pinches down to about 40 feet between the mammoth cross bunker at the back of the second landing area. The kidney-shaped green is closely guarded by a pond to the left. Playing smart will yield a par at this classic!
Hole #3 – No Name
The lateral bunker in the left center of the landing area of this par 4 creates an ominous presence for all players. If this bunker is not challenged, the next shot must go over water to the elevated green. The green slopes hard right toward the water so a shot to the green below the pin is ideal.
Hole #4 – Big Shot
The two bunkers that front the green on this par 3 look wonderful to the eye but their only function is to create distraction and confusion. There’s plenty of room to run the ball onto the sprawling green with a large open fairway between the fore bunkers and the front of the green. Don’t miss it left! A watery grave awaits a wayward approach shot.
Hole #5 – To the River
This very tricky par 4 may have players of all skill levels shaking their heads. The pond along the right sets up the fairway’s angle but the ideal tee shot will need to shoulder up to the large bunker on the left side of the fairway. Keeping the driver in the bag may be the choice, as a wetland on the right and a series of moguls and hollows on the left will swallow up most shots that are slightly offline. Two bunkers protect the front side of the small green and trees and wetlands guard the right and left sides. This is certainly one of the shortest par 4’s but the birdie will need to be earned.
Hole #6 – Into the Woods
Two deceptive target bunkers should be avoided on this par 4 to have a realistic shot of reaching the putting surface and creating a birdie opportunity. This hole sits within the most natural setting of the property. A beautiful collection of hardwoods and pines frames the left side of the hole and the green complex. A large greenside bunker on the left and a swale that bisects the green from the back right to front left add additional challenges to this hole.
Hole #7 – Sanctuary Place
This par 3 lays on the land like a glove on a hand. A large bunker guards the right side of the hole from tee to green. However, there is plenty of room at the front of the green to carry the large bunker and run the ball onto the putting surface. The deep bunkers short left and behind the green are strategically placed to catch errant shots.
Hole #8 – Up Stream
This is another memorable par 4. The fairway bunkers are an extension of the swale that cuts through the back center of the fairway. The fairway plateau on the right is enticing but it requires a long carry over the corner of the pond that runs down the right side of the fairway. Bailing out left will leave a longer approach shot over the bunkers that block the foreground of the green.
Hole #9 – Back Home
Homeward bound! A birdie or even an eagle would end the round on a great note on this short par 5. The fairway meanders around the wooded tributary on the left and a pond on the right. A strategically placed bunker between the first and second landing areas will certainly come into play after a poor tee shot. The long, linear green is closely guarded with a trench bunker to the left and two bunkers on the right.
Hole #1 – Peninsula
This par 4 may prove more difficult than it appears. There are no fairway bunkers to worry about but a good drive will set up the more important approach shot to the green. The green is elongated and narrow, protected by wetlands to the left and behind and two greenside bunkers collecting approach shots that bail out to the right.
Hole #2 – Big Oak
Simply put, a solid par-3! Depending on your tee box you can see wetlands in front of you and left of the fairway plus deep, treacherous bunkers left and right. It’s not overly long but a large green with a tier that bisects the front portion of the green from the back can make this hole a challenge.
Hole #3 – Two Soldiers
This is a long hole but par or better can be achieved. The fairway is huge and a drive that nestles between the steep-walled bunkers on the right and the old oak tree on the left is where you want to be! Options await the second shot with a pond lurking on the right and bunkers on the fairway left. The green sits ominously close to this same pond and another large bunker runs up the left side of the green makes your third shot to the green of utmost importance.
Hole #4 – River’s Edge
This par 4 may test some nerves. The fairway runs adjacent to a pond along the left side of the landing area. The sea of sand at the back of the landing area makes the green appear to be floating on an island. Bailing out from the pond forces the player to carry more of the bunker than a drive that challenges the water. Par is a great score.
Hole #5 – Serpentine
This par 3 is the longest on the course. The large green is saddled with a deep “coffin” style bunker on the right and a back left bunker that is hidden. The green is open in front to allow a long iron or wood to run onto the green surface. There is a wetland that meanders to the front and left of the green, but there is plenty of room to miss the green and still save par.
Hole #6 – Divided Ridge
There’s plenty of room for your driver on this medium-long par-4, but be careful of the large oak tree that directs the tee shot to the left or right side of the hole. The options from the tee make this a wonderful golf hole. A pinpoint iron is required to find the small, oval-shaped green guarded by a wetland on the right and bunkers on the left. The fairway landing area is probably the largest on the course, but anything up the left side will be blocked out by the cascading ridge that bisects the second half of the hole.
Hole #7 – To the Left
The large landing area is broken up with two sets of “eyeballs” looking back at you. Avoiding these randomly placed bunkers is crucial to carrying the sliver of wetland on the approach shot to the green. The swales, on the left and right, highlight the pedestal green framed by a beautiful backdrop of mature pines, oaks, and palms. Estuary 7 is one of the most beautiful and challenging par 4’s in River Strand!
Hole #8 – Estuary Bluff
No time for a breath. This par 4 is certainly no pushover and although the yardage indicates it’s shorter than its two predecessors, it’s typically into the wind, so hit it hard! A big drive needs to hover near the pond, beyond the long bunker that is located on the left between the pond and fairway landing area. Bunkers protect the green on the left and right and from a distance make the green appear closer than it truly is. This small green has several strategic cupping areas that require precision in the approach shot to achieve par. Bogey is a good score if the wind is blowing.
Hole #9 – Rectangle
Don’t be right! The largest of all the ponds on the course runs the entire length of the hole. The 150-foot wide fairway bottlenecks beyond the landing area between a large cross bunker and the pond. Carrying the cross bunker will afford the player a perfect view down into the uniquely shaped, rectangular green. An “L” shaped rectangular bunker fits harmoniously into the front left corner of the green. The cup is still a circle, so birdie is definitely possible on this par 5!
Hole #1 – Out to Work
A short opening par 4 eases the golfer into the round. “Hugging” the large bunker on the left will provide the best angle to approach the green guarded on the right by a big, sprawling bunker. A collection area to the left of the green provides multiple options to get up and down for par.
Hole #2 – Serenity
This very attractive par 3 will test your middle iron play early in the round. The hole is perfectly framed by mounding to the right and rear of the hole. The green is set on an angle with a small pond guarding the tricky front left cupping area. A small pot bunker on the left may gather a missed shot before plunging into the water.
Hole#3 – Heading East
This relatively short par 5 is not short of drama! A large pond down the left side sets up the right to left angle of the fairway from the tees. Several randomly placed bunkers break up the vastness of the area between the first and second landing areas. The green is guarded by a pond on the right and accented with bunkers left, right, and long.
Hole #4 – Multiple Way
All great golf courses include a few, wonderful short par 4’s. This course is no exception! A bevy of options await the player at the tee box. The driver can bring water right and a long fairway bunker left into play. The safe play is to hit an iron off the tee leaving a wedge into this well guarded small green that slopes toward the pond.
Hole #5 – Biarritz
A tough putt may await you on this unique and memorable par 3. This “Biarritz” green is bisected by a large trough through the middle. Distance control is the key for a mid to long iron to find the correct section of the green and avoid a possible three-putt. The entry to the green is also guarded by deep bunkers to the left and right.
Hole #6 – Right View
This par 4 is relatively straight but the fairway climbs up, and left, and then down, and right before entering the green. The ideal tee shot should be placed near the dogleg bunkers to open up a view to the green. Anything left will leave a shot over an expansive bunker gauged into a large ridge that blocks the front left side of the green. A subtle swale short and left of the green will collect many shots, especially with a demanding approach into the prevailing wind.
Hole #7 – Across the Creek
Another short par 4 but a forced carry over the wetland to the green provides a challenge that demands proper club selection. A good drive down the right side of the fairway, over two small bunkers, will set up a short iron approach to the small green. Trees to the front left of the green will obscure an approach from the left. The raised, plateau green will kick all errant shots away from the putting surface. A definite birdie opportunity!
Hole #8 – Lake View
This will most definitely take three shots to the green, except for the longest of hitters. A 120 yard serpent-like bunker sets up the right side of the first landing area. The second shot requires a precise long iron or fairway wood to an area guarded by a pond on the right, and a random single bunker that’s located 60 yards short of the green. A golfer can be aggressive and challenge the pond and bunker or lay back, leaving a longer shot to the green. The green is nestled amongst bunkers to the front and back of the green. Accuracy is imperative for a par 5!
Hole #9 – Tributary Connect
A classic risk/reward par 4 that rewards players that can work the ball in both directions, especially to a back left pin. A left to right drive that comes to rest near the pond will be rewarded with a view of the putting surface. From the left side of the fairway, the shallow green is partially hidden behind the deep greenside bunkers at the front left of the green.