61 heroic direct route over a sandy waste area to the green on higher ground. Come up short and you’ll have a difficult sand shot and to a shallow surface. Circumnavigating the waste area provides a much better angle to the green, for a short iron approach. The sixteenth is 331 yards from the black tees (which total 7,138 yards), and 274 yards from the whites (which total 6,062 yards). It plays to a long Biarritz green, set right against the edge of a lake. There’s plenty of space to the right, and it’s worth playing that way just to experience the resulting approach shot, which will tumble down the hill but must avoid gathering too much momentum in order to stay dry. Putting might be the best option, even from as far as fifty yards away. There is a strong quartet of par threes. Maxing out at 141 yards, the third hole is easily the shortest, but has the capability to perplex. Davis was apparently inspired by the fifteenth at LACC North, and has created a wicked green complex comprising several smaller target areas. Like at LA, a front right pin, protected by a bunker, may be the most challenging location. The hole that will gain the most attention is the uphill par-four thirteenth. The design team kept adding, and adding, earth until they were satisfied that the green was perched high enough on the skyline. The land rises in steps, with massive bunkers – two on the left and three on the right – set into ridges and narrowing the approach area as you climb closer to the plateau green. A long and straight drive still leaves a sharp uphill approach shot. Fazio is a big Led Zeppelin fan, and the thirteenth quickly became known as ‘Stairway to Heaven’. Word has it that there’s a Zeppelin-themed scorecard, with each hole named after a track, in circulation too, but don’t expect to find it in the box on the first tee. At many clubs with multiple courses, one emerges as the strong favourite. That can become an issue: members feel short-changed if they can’t get on it, and the club ideally would want to spread play evenly. So far, it feels like Apogee will avoid this problem. The two completed courses may be visually worlds apart, but they do share the design elements the owners laid out in their brief – width, strategy, large greens with open entrances, no forced carries. Tastes differ. A leaning towards extroversion may drive a preference. But both courses are a pleasure to play. The upcoming Kyle Phillips layout will provide another contrasting experience. Expect this to be more in the direction of naturalism, and to round out a very special three-course collection. “ The two completed courses may be visually worlds apart, but they do share the design elements the owners laid out in their brief” APOGEE SOUTH Photo: Stephen Szurlej The par-four eighteenth, pictured from green-to tee, hugs one of the site’s lakes
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