My favorite hole at Cordillera Ranch is the often misunderstood #12. For longer hitters, this par 5 is very gettable in two and for shorter hitters, it’s a three-shot hole. I’m fascinated with it because you can play it three different ways depending on your situation.

The tee shot plays from 30 feet above the fairway and is typically downwind. The fairway is deceptively wide — it’s actually 65-yards wide between the native on the left and the cart path on the right. Long hitters will find themselves 250 yards or less to the green while shorter hitters will be around the 300-yard mark. This is where decisions have to be made — you’ve got two lay-up options or you can play aggressively towards the green. The first layup area is a pinch point that goes from 28-yards in the widest spot to a mere 18-yards at the tightest point. This layup is the most conservative option and will leave you about 160-yards to the green. 

I see most players going for the second layup area, past the pinch point, which is actually a pretty difficult shot because it’s a forced carry to a part of the fairway that plays firm. Precision is the key here — you have to fly the ball the right yardage and make sure it doesn’t run out too far. This landing area is roughly 45 yards wide and will leave you around 100 yards to the green. 

The final option, which is my personal favorite, is going for the green. If you’re considering this option, shoot the big rock outcropping in the native area with your laser — if you can clear that number comfortably, you should go for it. Distance is the key for this shot — you have to clear the rocks but you don’t have to be as accurate because you have 60 yards between the native on the left and native on the right in this area. A well-played shot will leave you next to the green because everything feeds that direction. Approaching the green is fairly straightforward as there are three key areas — front left, back left and middle right. Figure out where the pin is and play a shot to that area.

See you on the course!

Corey Roberson is the Director of Golf at The Clubs of Cordillera ranch. He can be reached at croberson@cordilleraranch.com or 830.336.4653.