Premium Golf at Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club
The centerpiece of the Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club are the two Robert Trent Jones Jr. championship golf courses. Both courses are set up in a "9 holes out, 9 holes in" layout along the creek that runs through the center of the Coto valley. The farthest points on the course from the clubhouse are the green on number 8 North, and the tees on number 11 South. There are four sets of tees for men and 2 sets of ladies tees on each course.
North Course
The North Course is considered to be among the most difficult in Orange County. 7,162 yards long from the Black Tees, the North has a rating of 75.5 and a slope of 147. Most mid-to-high handicappers will be more than satisfied with the challenge of the Blue Tees. Many tee shots feature a forced carry over a lake or other natural hazard. The fairways are wide, and the greens are very large, but this is a mixed blessing. The stream and mature oak trees around which the course is built serve as a natural hazard that runs the length of almost every hole, and there are multiple fairway bunkers on most holes which will penalize an errant or overly agressive shot. The greens are typically elevated and protected by deep bunkers, and are so large that most have two, or even three, separate tiers. An approach shot that lands on the wrong tier often leads to a three-put.
South Course
The South Course, although built along the same stream and oak groves as the North, has a completely different character. Slightly shorter at 6,950 yards from the Black Tees, with a 74.3 course rating and 140 slope, it's also more narrow. There's only a small margin of rough between fairway and hazard on most holes, placing a large premium on accuracy off the tee. The greens are also smaller, with more subtle breaks. The South has a peacful feeling, with very few places on the course where players can see any hole other than the one they are playing.
Want a closer look? Try Paul's walking tour of the courses hole by hole.
