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Costa de Cachagua
sits high on a hillside that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
The course opened nine holes in 2000, and we are expected
to return in 2001 to make final the plans for the next nine holes.
Residential sales have been tremendous in an otherwise down
market.
The beauty of a
short par four early in the round is the opportunity it provides
for a good score and a much needed good start to set the tone for
the rest of the round. At
the 2nd hole the player will certainly receive this
impression upon looking at the scorecard prior to playing.
However, this hole can also trip the careless and overly
aggressive player. A
fairway bunker smack in the middle of the landing area can
abruptly end hopes for a good score, and the smallish green,
protected along its entire front by deep bunkers will not give way
easily.
From tees
situated high above the fairway, the 5th hole, depicted
in the picture, can be entirely surveyed before a shot is hit.
The tremendous drop from tee to fairway adds approximately
thirty per cent to the length of the tee shot.
Three bunkers guard the fairway, and a creek winds away
from the right side of the fairway to cross between the landing
area and the green. The
green is well bunkered. An
opening right of center will allow a grounder in, but a ridge
starting in the fairway and running through the green keeps these
shots to the right half of the putting surface.
The final two
holes share a part of the land that is a sweeping panorama of bold
hills and valleys. This
terrain on which the 8th hole was laid out was
particularly strong from the tee to the first turn point.
After the turn point the land opens up to reveal many more
charming natural landforms. The
green, depicted in the picture, is almost entirely surrounded by
three bunkers. Just
about every pin position will have a sand bunker behind it
requiring a precisely played pitch shot.
The farther left the bridge shot is played the more likely
the approach shot will also require a carry over the front left
green side bunker. To
be in any of the bunkers could be disastrous since most every
possible recovery shot from a bunker will be toward another bunker
that is close in back of the shot on this small green. |
