The 15th hole is the final par three of the course and one that presents a multitude of problems. The tees measure 216 yards from the back to 152 yards from the forward tees and each tee offers a different angle to the green with the championship and back tees presenting the toughest angles.

The hole slopes downhill and from the players’ left to right with double trouble protecting the right side of the green so any shots hit to the left have a great chance to find the green. The biggest trouble is a small lake that collects any shots sprayed wide right while two deep bunker complexes sandwiched between the lake and the green collect any near misses. The entire left side is now mature so shots that used to bounce onto the playing surface will now catch up in the hill side providing the player with a very tough chip. The alternative to the tough chip is a clump of cedar trees that seem to catch any shot that is not hit into the hillside on the left. This clump is bounded by deep grass and many a round has been ruined here. A shelf about 2/3rds of the way down the slope also seems to also hold up short shots rolling towards the green. When the greens are at summer speeds this chip from a downhill lie to a short pin position usually will leave the player with the putt from Hades.

The green is sloped from back to front and left to right and divided in half by a rough semi-circle or half moon shaped ridge from the front to back. The right side of the green is about six feet below the left side and presents multiple problems by forcing you to take into account the slope and angle into the slope when putting from one to another. If you have a putt from the front middle to the back right rear portion you will need a great amount of skill and a greater amount of luck. From this position three putts are very common for even good putters.

If this is not enough, the ridge running through the middle of the green is also crowned and putts from front of the green and to the left of the ridge will seem to break into the hillside defying all known putting laws not to mention gravity.

I recall losing a Senior New Mexico Open on this hole after finding the Cedars and chipping long into the three putt area. I do love to play this hole as it is very receptive for good shots. This hole has also yielded the most hole is ones on the course.

My advice is really pretty straight forward. Pick the right club, hit the correct shot, have the correct distance. Hit the putt at the right speed and line only if you are below the hole. If you are above the hole and we are at summer speeds just take the three putts and move on. What a test for a par three, but no rest here.