A picturesque par 4 with the San Joaquin River running along the left of the fairway and enough length to require a solid tee shot. Hit the fairway and your approach shot is framed by bunkers protecting the green front left and right. This green is wider than it is deep and slopes toward the green. A shot left below the pin is ideal.
The second longest par 4, this hole also features the river as the left border and rewards a good tee shot. Navigate the massive oak tree on the left to leave your tee shot left of the fairway bunker guarding the right side of the fairway. That leaves a short approach shot to a good size green with a bit of slope to the fairway.
The only par 5 on the front nine will rarely be reached in two. Its length and narrow fairways provide plenty of challenge. The front of the oval shaped green is narrow with subtle undulations opening up to a larger green back.
A steeply uphill par 3 where you can see the flagstick but not the putting surface. Anything less than a well struck tee shot will likely end up in the deep front bunkers. The two tiered putting green has many challenging pin positions and reaching the proper tier is a must for a good score.
After a challenging start the course presents a birdie opportunity with the fifth, the shortest par 4. Long hitters can carry the left and right fairway bunkers while most players will need a straight drive to split them. Hit the fairway and a short approach is your reward. Pin locations on the front of the deep but relatively narrow green are tricky with a lot of slope to the fairway while the rear section is more subtle.
Right after one of the easier holes on the course, number six is the most challenging hole at San Joaquin. A long par four with a well-protected green requiring an excellent shot. The approach features water jutting partially in front of the green and around it to the right as well as behind. The left side of the green is bunkered with a huge sculptured trap. Reach the green in regulation and you will find a subtly crowned green with not a lot of break.
A medium short par three with water to carry and large bunkers front and left. Pin positions on the left front of the green are more accessible from the tee than those to the middle or right. The front green is deep and penalizes a short tee shot. This green is subtle except for the front nose section which has a lot of break and can be tricky to judge.
Water comes into play on the drive as it borders the fairway to the right in the landing zone. A wide fairway that gently slopes from the landing area to the green frames an approach shot into a circular green that slopes to the fairway. Front pins bring the front sand traps into play and everything breaks to the fairway.
Large trees line both the left and right sides of the fairway but a solid drive leaves a medium to short approach shot. The green is large and protected front left and right with large but shallow sand traps. It’s smart to stay below the pin as the downhill slope to the fairway makes for very fast putts.
Birdies are rare on ten with a narrow fairway protected by the embankment left and numerous trees to the right. Long hitters will club down to keep from running through the fairway as it curves right to left. Sidehill/uphill approach shots are common and the two tiered green is flanked to the left by OB and sand to the right. You can’t see the putting surface from the fairway and the uphill affects your approach distance. This green tilts toward the river.
Another postcard view from the tee box looking steeply down to the green, but this one accompanies one of the more welcoming holes on the course. The distance plays about a club shorter, but water short left, prevailing wind, and three bunkers protect the large green that breaks toward the front.
This par five’s landing area has water short right as well as long left. Once in the fairway, trees right and water left border the playing surface. The green is relatively small, and sand protects the left and to the front right.
One of the more difficult holes on the course, thirteen features a large water hazard defining the left side of the fairway from the tee through the landing area. The fairway bunker protects on the right side of the landing area. The hole’s length comes into play with a longer approach shot with a large bunker on the left side and another protecting the front of the green. The slope of this green is gentle.
Among the shorter par 4s on the course, bunkers protect fourteen’s fairway to the right of the landing zone; the green breaks sharply to the fairway and protected with sand traps on all sides.
Hole 15, with water defining the fairway on the right, plays tough. Even a good drive has a medium to long approach with five sand traps surrounding the green. This green challenges putters and has some subtle breaks that are not easy to read.
This par 3 features a huge green with bunkers left, right, and long. A good tee shot is rewarded with a gently sloping putt. Reaching this green is no par guarantee as you could be faced with an 80’ putt.
This hole at San Joaquin offers you the choice to lay back or go for a very short approach shot. A narrow fairway with a huge eucalyptus tree right demands a well-placed drive. The undulating green has contours that leave challenging putts all over the surface.
The San Joaquin River borders the entire left side of this dramatic finishing hole. You can cut some distance by challenging the river with a drive in the left of the fairway. The second shot entices players to carry part of the river to cut off distance. The approach into this two tiered green is challenged by the sand left and right. Passive putts break toward the river and the fairway.