Course Review: Corde Valle Resort & Oceanico Victoria Golf Course

The PGA Tour stays out West for the Fry's.com Open at the highly regarded CordeValle Resort in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, midway between San Francisco and the golfing Mecca of California's Monterey peninsula.

The golf course was designed by iconic architect Robert Trent Jones Jr to complement a resort that was conceived as being one of the most prestigious in the USA. Open for play in 1999, CordeValle boasts stunning vistas over canyons and rolling meadows, and features dramatic contours and elevation changes.

For tournament play the round begins with a mix of six par 4's and two par 3's on this 6600m par 72 layout. The stretch of holes from 9 to 15 incorporates three reachable par 5's that present ample risk and reward opportunities for players needing to chase a score. The 17th is a 320m par 4 that can be set up to tempt all but the fainthearted to go for the green. The 18th requires a decision on the tee of this 390m 9ar 4. The safer and smarter option is playing left of the split fairway, but the riskier play to the right brings a better angle and shorter shot for the approach.

The European Tour moves from Scotland to the warmth of the Algarve for the Portugal Masters hosted for the fifth time at the Oceanico Victoria golf course. This 2004 Arnold Palmer design is 6609m from the tips and plays to a par of 72. The layout features wide undulating fairways, extensive water hazards and shrewdly positioned sand traps, with typical regional vegetation of carob, olive and almond trees framing the holes.

Two par 5's and a short par 4 gives the chance for a fast start to the round. The par 4 7th requires a drive of 230 to carry the lake, with four bunkers lying in wait for a bail-out to the right. Victoria Corner – 11, 12 and 13 – is a beautiful but difficult stretch with water a constant threat. The 538m par 5 17th with water to the right is a masterpiece and the course's signature hole, whilst the 18th is a great finish that's a pure work of art.

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