Hole 1 Par 4
429 | 406 | 379 | 351 yards
I think the opening left dogleg typifies the kind of golf you will face during your round. Rio Secco offers generous landing zones off the tees but also tempers those with areas you do not want to go. This is also true of approaches into greens, and also the greens themselves.
On the first hole this means avoiding the long bunker that runs down the left side of the fairway. Down the right side, the hole is much more inviting, with sloping mounds that can keep wayward shots from getting into too much trouble.
The hole is framed on either side by a gravely desert border with nicely tended flora, common to most of the holes here.
In the distance you will get a great view of the mountains that rise up off the desert floor. These will be your common background for a lot of the round. Rio Secco is elevated above Las Vegas proper, and playing here offers some great vistas of Vegas and the strip in the distance.
The fairway rises as it wraps around the bunkers sitting on the corner of the dogleg. Hitting down into this bunker or onto one of the steep banks can lead to a very difficult to reach shot to the green on your next hit.
I was able to fly those bunkers with a well stuck tee, even so there is a stip of rough with mounding that separates the main fairway on the right, with another small section of fairway that is hidden behind the bunker.
The approach into the green must avoid the trouble that lurks down the right side. The green falls off on that side into a pair of bunkers that wrap around the front and entire right side of the green. Missing left on your approach is much less penal. This green slopes back to front and has 3 small levels. Hitting to the correct portion of the green is important today in order to avoid having some nasty putts.
Hole 2 Par 4
489 | 460 | 436 | 407 yards
If the first hole led you to believe you might ease into your round, the second hole comes along to change that. This is the number one handicap on the course. Impressive landscaping awaits as you walk up to the tee.
From the tees you are faced with a long but straight away hole. Hills slope in on either side of the hole. At the base of these hills sit a trio of large bunkers on either side of the fairway. I suspect this trouble off the tee leads to a lot of this hole's difficulty.
I got lucky and hit my tee ball right down the center of the hole, avoiding the sand.
The second shot does not let up for you. While playing slightly downhill it is still a longer approach in. I had 175 yards in after my tee shot. Aside from the length, The green is surrounded on both sides by large deep bunkers.
At least the font of the green is open, allowing those who need to run it up be able to do so.
A view from the cart path shows the large bunkers that protect the second green.
A pretty view looking back down the hole. I was happy to have gotten through these first 2 holes even.
Hole 3 Par 3
180 | 166 | 139 | 110 yards
Maybe one of the more famous holes on the course is the first par 3 of the day. A forced carry over a ravine is required here.
Take a moment to look at the views behind the tee here.
The green is some 30+ yards wide but is fairly shallow. This shot taken from behind and to the right (as you look from the tee) shows its size. You can also see that narrow bunker sitting between the green and the canyon.
I didn't hit the best tee shot here, or maybe misclubbed. I cleared the canyon, but just barely. Luckily I missed the bunker, landing in the rough shown in the far left on this photo.
Rio Secco Golf Club Introduction
Rio Secco Golf Club Holes 4-6
Rio Secco Golf Club Holes 7-9
Rio Secco Golf Club Holes 10-12
Rio Secco Golf Club Holes 13-15
Rio Secco Golf Club Holes 16-18
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