Rio Secco Golf Club Holes 7-9

Hole 7 Par 3

208 | 199 | 166 | 147 yards

The 7th is the most famous hole on the course for its hosting of the "Million Dollar Challenge".  For an entry fee of at least $20 (you can gamble on more) you are eligible to win $1 million.  All that is required to win is to get a hole in one - twice.  Once gets you entered to come back and compete with others who also got one.  If you can do it a second time- whamo!

I don't know if anyone has ever won, but at least you get the money you gambled back in the clubhouse for food and beverages after your round.

The hole itself is a tough challenge, never mind the hole in one.  A forced carry over water nearly the entire way to the green is required.  There is maybe a 15 yard landing area short of the green but even that does slope down to the water.

Surrounding the green is a trio of bunkers, seen here from the right side of the hole.  Good luck on your tee shot on this one!

Hole 8 Par 5

566 | 559 | 536 | 489 yards

A long dogleg left hole.  From the back tees the tee shot must carry a pond that sits adjacent to the more forward tees.

Danger of the tees is in the shape of 2 large bunkers sitting down the left side of the fairway.  Other than that the main concern is keeping it on the grass.

On the second shot you have a decision to make, as a gully crosses the hole short of the green at around 130 yards out.  With a long enough drive it is possible to go for this green.  Most people will likely lay back for a short shot into the green.

There is a bunker down the right side about 160 yards from the green.  Otherwise the lay up area is large and unguarded.

The green is situated on a small elevated island raised up from the rest of the desert.  Other than the desert, the only greenside hazards are two pot bunkers, one located short fo the green, and one located behind the green.

This green is quite a large oval.  Hitting to the correct portion is a good strategy to avoid a long putt and a real chance at 3 putts.

Hole 9 Par 4

472 | 450 | 408 | 373 yards

The final hole on the front is a long par 4 that plays straight away.  Another large bunker sits in the landing area off the tee down the left side of the hole.

A massive hill frames the right side of the hole.   Once again, focus on getting onto the grass here as anything that misses will find a precarious lie in the desert.

As you can see here, the right side of the hole has some mounding to catch and funnel balls hit down this side back onto the fairway (hopefully).

As you appraoch the green water comes in near the left side of the green. That is not likely to come into play as there is a large bunker sitting between the green and the water.  That bunker is a place you don't want to be, as it is a deep escape to get out of there.

The right side of the green also presents more danger with another large, but much more shallow, bunker that wraps around the entire right side.

As you can see the green is fairly flat but slopes back to front.  Missing long is not good with a steep slope running away from you into the desert beyond.

Rio Secco Golf Club Introduction
Rio Secco Golf Club Holes 1-3
Rio Secco Golf Club Holes 4-6
Rio Secco Golf Club Holes 10-12
Rio Secco Golf Club Holes 13-15
Rio Secco Golf Club Holes 16-18