Sierra de la Ventana

The course at Sierra de la Ventana Golf Club dates back to 1936 when professional Don Pedro Churio laid out nine holes. Fifteen years later, Luther Koontz, an engineer and Alister MacKenzie disciple, added a second nine and it’s this 6,672-yard layout that’s in play today.

The Arroyo San Diego surrounds the property on three sides and this meandering water course is directly brought into play three times when tee shots are played from the other side of the gully: first of all at the par three 3rd on the front nine then at the par four 16th and 17th on the way home.

Stretching to just over 6,000 yards from the back tees and playing to a par off 72, the course is configured with three par fives and three par threes and laid out as two non-returning nines, each of which begins with a par five hole.

Highlight holes include the right doglegging par four 6th (rated stroke index 1); the only par three on the inward half at the heavily sand-protected 14th; and the left veering short par four 18th which offers a reasonable chance of ending the round with a birdie.