TPC Las Colinas - Texas - USA

How things change. When I first played Las Colinas I thought it was the bomb. Of course, that was in the early 90s and it was one of my first big corporate outings. I still proudly wear my white Las Colinas jacket between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Ok, my wife will only allow me to wear it then.

The first hole is a welcoming dogleg right. There is a fairway bunker on the inside elbow and greenside bunkers left and right. The 2nd is the longest of the par threes with the requisite bunkering. The 3rd is a long par four that lens right and is deservedly the number one handicap hole. There is a water hazard pretty much down the entire right side and two fairway bunkers left that are at least 250 yards out. Greenside bunkers right and left. The 4th is a long par four but it will seem like a walk in the park after the 3rd at least from a length perspective. The water carry ends about 230 yards out but the water hazard extends all the way down the left side. The fairway is only about 35 yards wide and there are several sequential bunkers on the right side starting about 170 yards from the green that has two front right bunkers. The fifth is the shortest hole, a Florida par 3 with bunkers left and right. The 6th is a forgettable par four that bends left with a front right bunker. The first par five bends left but is pretty tight. Often the ball runs and runs and runs in Texas, so it is possible to reach this one but you will really have to shape your shots. The left fairway bunker is about 260 out and the right about 230. The fairway is only about 30 yards wide with scattering of trees on both sides. There are also two additional fairway bunkers and greenside front left and back right. The 8th leans right and the left fairway bunker is about 180 out to a green with a bunker right. The 9th is straightaway with a water hazard down the right side with a fairway bunker also on the right about 180 yards out. There are three greenside bunkers.

The back starts with a visually intimidating par four, water carry and water all the way down the left side. It is actually one of the wider fairways and the left fairway bunker is about 150 yards out and the green has front right and back left bunkers. The 11th is the shortest par four with water all the way down the left. The 10th and 11th are not hooker friendly. There is a right fairway bunker that really should not come into play. There are three greenside bunkers and the green does extend out into the hazard, so a back left pin position can cause sphincter puckering, but overall a good birdie oppty. The 12th is a long par four that bends right. Favor the left side to avoid the right fairway bunker and the green has bunkers right and left. The 13th is a mid-length ho-hum par with right and left front bunkers. The 14th is a good par four. The fairway runs into a water hazard about 100 yards out and the green is perched right behind the water hazard. When the pin is up don’t go for the hero shot. The 15th is a long par four that leans left. Distance is its only real teeth although there are bunkers front left and back right. The 16th is a thinking man’s uphill par five. Off the tee you will contend with three staggered cross bunkers in the landing area. Pay attention to the yardage as this will dictate, left, right or over. The second and possibly the third will also have to deal with cross bunkers as there are three stacked sequentially in the middle of the fairway just inside 125 yards. Bunkers front right and left. The 17th is a fun downhill par three. Fun, unless you end up in the water hazard right. The finishing leans left and wraps around a water hazard. The hazard starts about 170 yards out and there is plenty of room left of it and the green has a bunker front right.

I appreciate Las Colinas but I would not pay to play it again.