The first of many risk-reward holes golfers will find in the round, the par 5 second hole plays around a dramatic sand quarry that will protect the inside of the dogleg. The daring golfer can play over the quarry in hopes of reaching the green complex in two, but this line of play is fraught with risk. The safer play is around the quarry as a true three shot hole. Regardless of the route taken, the distinctly contoured green will require a very precise short iron for those looking to score.

The third hole offers another risk reward opportunity, this time as a short par 4.  Playing around the same sand quarry as the previous hole, the tee shot offers a myriad of options with its width and strategically placed hazards. A pocket of bunkers crosses the centerline that will prompt players to decide whether to lay up or try to carry the ball closer to the green.  The narrow green which is angled left-to-right will lead many to feel the smartest play is to position the ball to the left side of the fairway, but it will be very tempting to throw caution to the wind and take the direct line towards the demanding green.

The fourth hole is a long and challenging par 4 that features a large green site perched just above the deepest quarry on the site. Golfers are in for a treat with this very dramatic golf hole featuring bunkers framing the landing area to the left and the quarry framing the approach on the right.  In many ways this hole is all brawn, but still requires skillful shot execution. Longer hitters will have a green light to really advance the ball down the hole with its vast fairway that is guarded by the quarry to the right and two fairway bunkers to the left. Crafty shorter hitters may look to aim short of the fairway bunkering to utilize contouring on the left to catapult the ball further down the fairway.  Regardless of positioning from the tee, this hole is all about the second shot into the well-protected green.  Par will be a good score here. 

The first and longest par 3, this is yet another hole that is going emphasize shotmaking and precision. Playing over a large, exposed sand area from tee to green, the fifth hole is visually stunning but also deceptive. Golfers will have more of a target than might be perceived.  Running shots will be able to find the green surface as the green flares up in the rear to contain many lower trajectory shots. Nestled into a former mining area, the hole has a sense of privacy more so than the previous four holes. Once again, par will be a good score here.

The par 4 sixth hole is a sharp dogleg left that places an emphasis on strategy from tee to green. The line chosen by golfers off the tee will be important as its capes around an exposed sand area. Golfers that successfully take a more aggressive line will be rewarded, while those playing more conservatively will face a longer approach shot. The green is positioned in an interesting setting that is framed with landform remnants from mining operations on the left and long as well as by wetlands on the right and long.

When approaching the seventh hole, golfers will be looking to score on one of the round’s shorter par fives. While the fairway offers width off the tee, the hole begins to show its teeth leading into the green site. Set on an old quarry pond, the green will need to be approached cautiously as bunkering is strategically placed at the right rear while sandy waste area and water guard the front, left, and rear portions. Bailing out to the right, away from the pond, will not leave an easy recovery for golfers as the green slopes back towards the pond.

The eighth hole is sure to be one of the most dramatic and formidable holes of the round, playing across the quarry pond to a green that is nearly surrounded by sandy waste areas and water. With many teeing locations, the hole can be set up in a variety of ways, but golfers will always be cognizant of finding the green surface with their tee shot. Once they find the green, the putting surface itself is bisected by a ridge so playing to the proper side of the green will be crucial. This par 3 is sure to see its fair share of great scores as well as disconcerting higher numbers.

The front nine concludes with a fun, short, and quirky par 4. Golfers will face a strategic decision off the tee – the conservative option plays to a more visible fairway off to the left that sets up a short approach to a narrow green from that angle. Alternatively, golfers can opt to challenge the blind section of fairway to the right, playing over a ridge that is protected by sand scape and bunkers to gain best angle into the green. The green itself is protected by a prominent lion’s mouth bunker that will underline the importance of a precise approach regardless of the route taken.

Perhaps the most challenging hole on the course, the tenth hole features a plethora of hazards testing second shots into a well-protected green. From the tee, players will look to position themselves in the generous fairway to set up their approach shot that contains all the theatre on this hole. An ample bailout area exists to the right of the green but a heroic carry over a naturalized pond, wetlands, and native sand area will be the play for any well-struck and well-placed tee shot. The green is guarded by the expansive and tiered sandy waste area at the front and low-cut green surrounds will have any wayward shots bound away from the putting surface.

A fun, yet formidable short par 3, the eleventh hole plays to a highly contoured green engulfed by a vast sandy quarry site. For a short hole, measuring 119 yards, the hole will appear to be very exacting from the tee – because it is. Players will need to find the green’s surface on their tee shot and look to avoid lengthy putts here to score well.

Another very dramatic risk-reward par 5, the twelfth hole is going to be fun and scorable for players executing their shots. From the tee, the hole plays over the same deep quarry that golfers first experienced at hole four. Players wishing to go for the green in two will want to play over the right side of the quarry where they will face a longer carry but look to find a speed slot that awaits to gain additional yardage and ideal positioning. A more conservative route is to the left but will certainly make the hole play longer.  A large river of sandscape crosses the fairway near the green but does so at an angle further emphasizing the importance of the line of play for both the layup and the attempt to reach in two. The green is angled from right-to-left and protected by bunkering short and long underscoring the importance of accuracy into the putting surface.

The thirteenth hole is a rather straightforward par 4 that will test players looking to score from tee-to-green. Playing downhill, the hole forces players to challenge the bank of fairway bunkers on the right in order to gain the best angle of approach in the green. Those playing to the left side of the fairway will be left with a daring approach shot over the large greenside bunker fronting and cutting into the significantly undulating putting surface. While the hole allows for runup shots onto the right side of the green complex, any shots that are even slightly offline may find the undulating low-cut green surrounds projecting balls away from the green.

The fourteenth hole plays dramatically downhill where players must navigate over and avoid the quarried sandy area on the left. The 405-yard hole is all about the tee shot. Those taking driver can turn this into a shortish and scorable hole by playing aggressively down the left side, but accuracy will be required as the right- side bunker really narrows the space for a successful drive. Those playing conservatively can lay up short of the landing area bunker and be rewarded with a good angle into the right-to-left green but have a much lengthier shot than those playing aggressively. A great match play hole where thinking and execution can be rewarded, a true risk-reward par 4.

The fifteenth hole plays back up the hill and is guarded by the sandy waste area on the left as well as bunkers on the right located in the spoils of the quarrying operation. Two quality shots will be required to reach the green though pin position will ultimately dictate difficulty as the green is subtly contoured yet with enough undulation to really separate pin locations.

Reminiscent of the fourteenth, the sixteenth hole is another great match play hole that possesses a similar risk-reward nature. The right-to-left green is perched out over the sandy waste area and contains a strong internal contour bisecting the green. The internal spine will result in challenging left pins while right pins will be more approachable. With lots of play space to the right, anyone bailing out from the left side will be required to execute a difficult "up and over" recovery while those playing aggressively have the opportunity to score - or find big trouble.

Perhaps the most challenging hole of the second nine, the penultimate hole plays through sandy waste areas before climbing to a green perched above the landing area, hanging out over a dramatic quarry area. A strong contour to the right of the green can be used to redirect a second shot toward the green but most everyone will be happy with a par on this brute of a golf hole.

The finishing hole encapsulates the strategic and risk-reward nature of Trout National – The Reserve with an exciting par 5 conclusion to the round. The longest hole on the course, the eighteenth will present players with a final risk-reward hole traversing over sandy waste areas to an expansive and undulating fairway. From the tee, players that may look to go for the green in two will look to challenge the left fairway bunker for the best angle of approach over the pond and onto the green. Whether looking to take advantage of the scoring opportunity or not, the strength of the closing hole comes on the second shot. Those taking a more conservative route will find their second shots must contend with a bank of bunkers protecting the outside of the dogleg on the approach. The well-protected green demands shotmaking and precision as the putting surface features multiple tiers and drastic contouring.