Cordevalle Golf Club

Right when you drive up to the gates of this small golf retreat you feel as though you're in a special place.  This beautiful valley was a hidden gem, even to locals, until it poked it's head out as one of the top resort courses in America.  As a host to a PGA Cup, PGA Tour event, and a collegiate event in the same year, Cordevalle's maintenance staff proves they are an elite crew.  Although this near 7350 yard course is fairly open, they fairways aren't the widest you will see on most resort courses.  Open year round with 46 rooms and villas, this get away is perfect for couples as the spa can distract the ladies as the golf course often distracts the men.  

The opening hole is a fun dog leg right, and you learn off the first tee that the "fingers" in the bunkers are the RTJ II design feature that assists in aiming for the player.  They switch the front and back nines for the Frys.Com Open during the fall series, so you can see the front nine quite a lot.  If you elect to play the black tees get ready for a ride.  The second hole gets your juices flowing as a par 3 that can stretch up to 245 yards makes you get aggressive if you intend on getting close to the pin.  Lateral hazard and bunkers along the right, and grassy hallows on the left make this subtle looking green quite small.  

If the second hole wasn't enough, this 605 yard par 5 will get you thinking.  One stream flows twice through this hole, which nearly takes away a chance to be on in two (It happened twice during the 2010 Frys.Com Open, both of which by the same player).  With trees narrowing your second shot, hitting the fairway is a premium on this hole, as is a good second shot to the fairway as you will need as much control as possible to this wicked green.  Three tiers on the front right, rear, and left sides of this green make attention to the pin location just one more thought on this difficult hole.  

The Par 5 3rd hole.  The fairway is just wider than the gap in the trees, so even hitting the fairway doesn't guarantee an easy second shot.

Now that you're on to the fourth hole, you're only in the middle of the hardest three hole stretch I've played.  Four is, none the less, a fun golf hole.  Bunkers defining the fairway, giving you proper aiming points, and an elevated green with a swail to it's right to catch errant golf balls.  And five is long, near 500 yards for the big boys on tour, with what feels like a narrow landing spot, is just one big visual intimidation.  Favorably, after the fifth hole the course opens up quite nicely.  A par 5 hole with birdie opportunities (Eagle if you're Rocco in 2010) is next on the list.  More aiming bunkers guard the left side of the fairway, as anything right and likely you're grabbing another ball.  The seventh is a kind distance, downhill, but with a difficult green.  And of course the eighth hole is a beautiful, short par 4 with a short greenside lake.  If you are long, and have wind, going for it will be in the back of your head!  If you'd prefer the conservative route like Rocco Mediate, lay up with a hybrid in the fairway, and then hole out from the fairway!  Nothing too it!  

The Par 4 8th holes.  Aim for the green and LET IT RIP!!!

And nine is just as memorable as any of the holes on the course as a downhill par 4 with a stream splitting the fairway.  Now you can breathe at the turn.  All the thinking, the excitement, the stunning views all can take a short break at the turn as you are driven from the ninth green to the Lion's Peak Grill next to the golf shop.  A quick bite and a good drink and you're prepared for the back!

The tee box on 9 sits on top of a hill.  A creek splits the fairways, so the option to go left is plenty safe with a tree slightly guarding the green.  Going right of the stream requires a decent carry, and the more on line with the bunker, the bolder the carry is.

10 is another nice opening hole, and not too strenuous as is the eleventh being a short and sandy hole.  Stepping on to the tee at twelve you get a great view of the course with the ability to see many of the holes from the position.  Now that you take in the view, take in a breathe because this long par 3 is a thoughtful one.  Any pin on the right is tough, but if you play it like you're on a links course, hitting a low running ball up the right side the hill may be able to place it right next to the pin!  More than one way to play this par 3. Thirteen and fourteen are great, and sneaky difficult, par 4s.  Both do make up for it with the views of the resort though, so you can't be too upset.

12 green looks terrifying.  The two right bunkers are 100 yards short of the green, leaving that room to run the ball up the hill on the right and on to the green.

Hole 17, the downhill par 4 offers more challenge than most downhill holes.  The bunkers go from aiming bunkers, to distracting bunkers, and then "please don't go in" bunkers... sometimes all during the same stroke.  

Overall, Cordevalle is a place you have to visit.  Between their youth foundation tournaments and their great stay and play deals, this facility is one that you will want to return to as well.  Whether it's a romantic getaway or a guys weekend away for golf and drinks, Cordevalle won't leave you disappointed.