The Beginning Place
Chuxí´vonga (Cho-HEE-von-ga)

The Beginning Place is a 520-yard opening hole waiting to be played by all those who are ready to embark on "Journey at Pechanga". With the normally dry Pechanga Creek paralleling the hole's right side, players will want to favor the left portion of the fairway with their drives. A successful second shot avoids a solitary oak on the right and flirts with a pair of strategically-placed bunkers on the left. From the bunker zone, only a wedge is required to carry the arroyo that guards the front and right sides of the moderately contoured green. A birdie is a realistic possibility, but don't become overly confident. The journey has just begun!

Bobcat
Túukut (TWO-koot)

Bobcat is a beast of a par 4 at 483 yards, although the hole is essentially straight, there are decisions to be made along the way. A double fairway off the tee seems spacious enough. However, the bunkers along the central diagonal face are menacing. Choose the fairway on the right to set up an unobstructed approach angle, but beware of the property boundary. A safe drive to the elevated fairway on the left means carrying the bunkers and avoiding the oak grove if the putting surface is to be reached in two. The long green welcomes long straight approach shots with a gentle invitation for a hard-earned par.

Dogbane
Wíicha (WEE-chah)

Arrow Shaft is a par 3 and is set alongside the Pechanga Creek. A line of beautiful oaks frames the right side of the green while a pair of bunkers catches wayward attempts to the left on this 179-yard test. Be sure to measure the length carefully off the tee and have the flat stick well honed for the challenging putting surface.

Willow
$axát (Shaw-HOT)

The main goal of this 440-yard par 4 is to keep the ball in play between the two groves of oaks that flank the fairway. However, the greatest reward will come from favoring the left side so that an open approach to the green remains. Drives to the right side bring two smaller oaks and two greenside bunkers into play on the second shot. Two solid shots will create birdie opportunities, but an errant drive can leave the player scrambling for a bogey.

Tule House
Pivéesatal Kíicha (Pea-VAY-saw-tall-KEY-cha)

Bulrushes ("Tule") now provide the perfect setting for a short par 4 as we start to leave the Pechanga Creek and work our way up the mountainside. The strategy is simple on this 364-yard picture postcard, the more water that is carried off the tee, the shorter the distance to the green. A convoluted putting surface provides no guarantee of par unless the approach shot has the proper zip code. The remains of an old house made from tule can be seen as players begin the trek up to the sixth tee.

View Place
Húulilash (WHO-lee-losh)

There’s no explanation needed for the name of this stunning, 435-yard par 4. The landing area is larger than it looks, so don’t be afraid to pull out the driver and start counting the hang time on the 175-foot drop. A bump and run down the broad approach through generates the most fun and excitement if a par meets one’s goals. The best results come from working it high and hard into the right side slope. A modern, aerial attack is more risky, but may also make a short birdie try more likely.

Arroyo
Wolíwuna (Whoa-LEE-woo-nah)

A dose of target golf is offered up on this short dogleg left. Getting the ball airborne is no problem from the tee on the high ridge above the ravine. The challenge comes in finding the proper approach location on the broad fairway. Long and right will avoid the fairway oak and leave a favorable angle into the smallish green complex on the 330-yard par 4.

Eagle
‘Á$wut (OSH-woot)

A true "eagle" on this 220-yard par 3 requires the shot of a lifetime and a healthy credit line to buy the drinks after the hole-in-one. However, the easiest way to experience an eagle here is to look to the distinctive rock formation high up on the mountain. To keep from stumbling, use less club than normal and favor the right side on the deceptive, downhill challenge.

Bear
Húnwut (HOON-woot)

If you have found the eagle, then you’ll have no trouble spotting the bear on the mountain on this hole. However, once you turn your back on the beast, the real challenge is in front of you. The well protected green is visible from the elevated tees. Be sure to stay left of the stonewall on your drive on this 578-yard par 5. Two routes are available to the green from the first landing area, but the relationship to the big oak usually makes the decision an easy one. Most will prefer a left side approach because the large bunker right of the green becomes less of a factor, but everyone will need a deft putting stroke if a birdie is to be recorded on the roly-poly contours of the putting surface.

Mountain View
Qawíish-Tuwíilash (kah-WEESH-two-WEE-losh)

This is a fun little drivable par 4 where the "Journey" returns to the banks of Pechanga. Let one fly right over the oaks if the green is your target, but be prepared for a recovery from the dry creek bed if you get a little too quick with the wrists. The safe play is out to the right, but the approach shot over the bunker complex to a shallow green leaves no guarantee of par. Be careful on this one so that you can fully enjoy the "Mountain View".

Oak
Wi’áa$al (we-AWE-shawl)

Take in the majestic beauty of the specimen oak trees as you work your way around the bend of the river on this 533-yard par 5. Accuracy is more important than length as golfers chart their routes down the well framed corridor. The best approach angles come from flirting with the river. Anything to the left has to deal with either the oaks or the deep greenside bunker.

Creek Crossing
Chapállilash (Cha-PAWL-leh-losh)

There are no fairway bunkers to worry about on this 390-yard, dogleg left par 4 that crosses the main creek. Longer drives avoid the oaks on the left, but bring the bunker right of the green into play. The best approach angle is from the corner beside the last oak on the left. The tiered putting surface makes proper club selection a must if one is to have any reasonable chance for a birdie.

Sycamore
$ivéela (She-VAY-law)

This is a beautiful par 5 with a fairly demanding tee shot over the corner of Little Pechanga. A drive to the left provides a better angle around the sycamore and into the second landing area. The cascading stream becomes more of a factor the closer one gets to the putting surface on the 590-yard hole. Playing close to the stream allows a better view and safer angle into the moderately contoured green.

Bedrock Mortar
‘Éelapal (AY-la-pall)

Be sure to get everything out of your driver on this downhill 493-yard par 4. The further that you hit the ball, the better that you can see the green complex on the sharp dogleg left that has a splattering of bunkers at its corner. A deep gaping bunker on the right provides all the protection that is necessary to defend the elevated putting surface that is laced with subtle and deceptive grades throughout.

Basket Weaver
Tóonavkat (TOW-nov-kot)

This 205-yard treat, complete with waterfalls, is the only par 3 on the golf course where water comes into play. There’s plenty of room to miss on the right, but be prepared to regroup with a tricky pitch shot over a pair of menacing bunkers. A large collection area behind the green provides various recovery options for those who choose too much club. The green has its share of intriguing cupping areas, each with its own distinct challenge.

Lake
Qwóoyaqat (QUO-yah-kot)

Nice, long, controlled draw will serve players well on this strong par 4 that swings around the long lake. A central fairway bunker will give pause to many on the tee. It is best to play left of the bunker or else one faces a really long and difficult hole even though it only measures 416 yards from the back tees. The green is nestled between a great oak and a sand bunker at the end of the lake. Miss short and right or else go long to avoid a big number. Par is a very good score here.

Cedar House
‘Éesatal Kíicha (AY-sah-tall-KEY-chah)

One final ascent on the "Journey" leads to a breath taking view from the tees on the 200-yard par 3 seventeenth. Even though the green is relatively large, proper club selection is imperative if par is to remain a possibility. A collection of saving bunkers ring the green to keep slightly errant shots from plummeting into oblivion.

Eagle´s Nest
‘Á$wut Potée’i (OSH-woot-poe-TAY-ee)

As on hole 17 the "Eagle Nest" tee, complex on the finishing hole, provides a feeling of being on top of the world. Turning back to reality, the player better be on top of his game to walk away with a respectable score on this 442-yard, dogleg left par 4. An accurate drive is critical, stay right of the large outcrop at the edge of the chasm to remain safe off the tee. A target bunker way down the fairway provides further direction. Once safely on the flat land again, a mid-iron approach to an elevated, multi-tiered green, guarded by a formidable bunker on the left provides the final challenge. As on most holes, a good drive followed by an accurate second makes for distinct birdie opportunities.