We-Ko-Pa concludes with a phenomenal hole

We-Ko-Pa Cholla opens simply enough with a dog-leg left par-four from an elevated tee over a large waste area bunker, then to a wide landing area. A fairway metal will leave you with a simple wedge to the second-smallest green on the front nine, although it is 33 yards deep. It's a definite birdie possibility, unless the pin is back right.

No. 3 is the first of four outstanding par threes on the course. Not overly long at 178 yards, the tee shot must carry over desert land to a green protected right and front by sand and left by a large hill that serves as the fourth tee. Toss in a fairly impressive undulating green with a ridge in the center and you'll be ecstatic just making par.

The seventh is certainly a "Fun and Gun" type hole. Just 350 yards from the tips, the hole bends to the right and features cactus, scrub and rock in the center of the fairway. From the gold TaylorMade RocketBallZ Driver buttons, a drive of 262 yards is needed to fly the mess; however, there is room right and left. Only a sand wedge is left to an elevated green that is the second-longest on the front side. Back and left is a difficult pin position as three bunkers play guardian to the two-tiered putting surface.

The longest par-three on the course, the 11th, is a personal favorite. There's mountain views behind the green, three deep and menacing bunkers, front and left, and a 38-yard-long putting surface. If each hole had a name, this one would likely be "Beauty and the Beast." Take some time to draw a breath as you reach what is possibly the easiest part of the course.

The 13th is a straightaway par-four with an enormous fairway. Miss this landing area and you might want to shoot yourself, so just to be on the safe side, load up with blanks. The only trouble off the tee is a daunting tree in the right center of the fairway. The green is narrow at just 24 yards wide and elevated, but par should not be a problem.

The 16th is a massive, dogleg left par-four - target golf at its best. Stretching 472 yards from the tips, the tee shot must carry 250 yards past a deep, daunting bunker on the left corner. Cutting TaylorMade RocketBallZ fairway wood the corner is not an option, as desert and scrub await, so don't be cute. You'll be left with a long approach over a large waste area to an elevated green with an invisible putting surface. The green is relatively flat, with a slight slope from back to front. Once again, no shame in making bogey.

We-Ko-Pa concludes with a phenomenal hole featuring water, desert, sand and, of course, danger. From the tee the downhill 18th provides the player with a pair of options - go straight with a three-metal and dissect the two trees in the fairway, leaving a 150-yard second shot ... or, go left with the Big Dog, clearing sand and desert, resulting in just a simple wedge. The one catch with going left is water. A huge lake sits to the right of the left fairway and at the end of the right section of the split fairway. While the right side is quite wide, the left area is quite narrow. The sensible player (yours truly), played smart and had an eight-iron left to a long, slender green. The approach shot must clear the lake as well as sand to be successful. The putting surface is very tricky, especially with a back-right flag. You can now breath!

The par-four third is a sweeping dogleg left, one of six par-fours over 400 yards in length. Try not to cut too much of the corner, as you may end up with the cactus. There's more room to err on the right and although you'll have a longer approach, it sure beats picking needles out of your hands. The putting surface is undulating, so make sure your approach is controlled or you'll be looking at a three-putt.

Another rugged par-four, the sixth reaches 442 yards and sweeps from right to left, as it plays uphill from the tee. Avoid the long fairway bunker down the left and you'll be home free. That is, until you reach for a medium-to-long iron in an effort to get on in discount golf clubs regulation. The green is devoid of sand. That's the good news. The bad, is that it's long and narrow, so regulation might be an issue.

A very reachable par-five, the eighth can be had ... with a good tee shot. The landing area is comfortable, but the farther down the fairway you go, the tighter it gets. That's the real challenge. Having said that, the landing area and the green are open to attack, so play a sweeping draw and roll one up close for an eagle. Worst-case scenario, the greenside bunker on the left makes for an easy up-and-down for birdie. Although it's rated as the third- most difficult on the course, this hole will give up plenty of birdies. Don't get lost in the beautiful scenery in the distance. Stay focused and make a four.