Grandview (Mark O'Meara)

The course at Grandview Golf Club is a new millennium layout designed by Mark O’Meara and Brit Stenson, the IMG Director of Design, and it first opened for play in 2001. Set out in two returning nines, in a figure of eight around the clubhouse, the course features substantial elevation changes throughout the round, affording wonderful views of nearby Fairy Lake.

Grandview is a renowned tough track that winds its way over and around the many rocky outcrops that adorn this part of the landscape and, with many forced carries off the tee, it’s vitally important that golfers don’t overextend themselves by playing from the back markers when they don’t need to.

The intimidating 420-yard right doglegged opening hole sets the tone for the round. A wide gully of native vegetation separates the tee box from the start of the fairway and the carry to the safety of the cut grass might appear to be more than 200 yards for golfers playing here for the first time. In actual fact, it’s no more than 140 yards over the valley, proving that looks can be deceptive.

The par five holes define the main challenge, beginning at the left doglegged 2nd, known as “Rollercoaster”. The test of golf on the three-shotters continues through the 505-yard 5th and 595-yard 12th, concluding with the closing hole, an uphill 557-yard beast which starts with a forced carry over a cedar swamp and ends with an approach to an extremely elevated home green.

O'Meara Design commented as follows:

“The 152-yard par three 7th is just plain fun to play. It’s easy to reach with an accurate tee shot, but golfers who overpower it can find the bunker off the back right of the green a bit too inviting. A dramatic but fair green makes for a rewarding par.

I like the 303-yard par four 17th because it’s got a little bit of everything: trees, water, boulders – natural hazards that reflect the uniqueness of the landscape. Driveable from the tips, it can be an ego boost towards the end of a round if played right.”