Photographing two of the most celebrated golf courses anywhere is not unlike playing the courses themselves. You strive to put yourself into an ideal position, gauge the elements, adjust your stance, take aim, and... BANG! The perfect shot. 

Of course, these fairways are no strangers to being photographed. The Arthur Hills-designed Mountains Course, and the Tom Fazio-designed Canyons Course have both appeared extensively in televised events, such as The Skins Games, the Battles at BIGHORN, and the LPGA’s Samsung World Championships. Legends of the game, including Palmer, Nicklaus, Stewart, Woods, Trevino, Sorenstam and Pak have thrilled viewers worldwide along these dramatic fairways.

From the Mountains’ breathtaking topography and elevation changes, to the Canyons’ expert bunkering complexes and dramatic water features, each course astutely matches beauty with brawn. A patient assessment of angle, lie, landscape, and the day’s conditions all play a role in the perfect shot.

Over water, across rocky outcroppings, through the sand and on the greens, BIGHORN’s most iconic challenges are portrayed across the following pages, securing their reputations among the world’s best.

17^th HOLE

MOUNTAINS

This gorgeous hole, with its expansive mountain views and reflecting lake, presents an exacting challenge, rewarding precision and punishing the cavalier.

The player must be calculated in his approach, for once he clears the water feature, he is presented with a three-tiered green. The front, middle, and back all

reside at different elevations, so pin placement will dictate club selection.

11^th HOLE

MOUNTAINS

A dramatic 40-foot drop in elevation defines this stunning par-3, set against a backdrop of sweeping valley views. 

Your tee shot is all carry across the rock strewn base of BIGHORN Mountain and over a dry sand wash to a trio of front-side bunkers guarding the massive green structure. Proper club selection, taking into account any wind speed and direction, is critical. Going long carries its own risks, with undulating grass mounds defining the back of the putting surface.

2^nd HOLE 

CANYONS

BIGHORN’s biggest star on the Canyons is both beauty and beast.

At over 430 yards, the generous landing area sports peripheral hazards along the right side of the fairway. A fine drive is nonetheless followed by a demanding, elevated approach shot guarded by water before the green. Players seeking bailout will find little reprieve, as a muscular bunkering complex guards the left of the putting surface, and chipping from short and right, asks for measured spin control to a green presenting severe slope.

4^th HOLE

CANYONS

A BIGHORN signature play, the 30-foot downhill drop from tee-to-green makes for an inspired view, and a par-3 shot, which is all carry over water.

The hazard to the left combines with sizeable, strategically placed, pot bunkers dotting the bailout area. These protective bunkers flank a tough two-tiered green where the most challenging pin placement is on the back, lower level.

5^th HOLE 

CANYONS

An aggressive tee shot should cover the deep fairway bunker to the right-middle of the fairway. The next shot is no cakewalk since the best of lies faces an uphill approach to a blind cup with only the pin visible as a guide on the multi-leveled green.

A dramatic waterfall to the left of the green feeds a rushing stream that runs along the entire left hand side of the hole. At the base of the waterfall along the stream is a large, protective, greenside bunker whose face of white sand is as intimidating as it is stunning and whose sand uniquely creates the shoreline of the stream.

11^th HOLE 

CANYONS

This is one of the most beautiful holes at BIGHORN. At the tee a drift of African daisies explodes with color. In front of the tee around one of BIGHORN’s largest lakes, groves of palms abound, and framing this expansive par four to the sky are the San Jacinto Mountains. 

Unfortunately, all this breathtaking majesty won’t help you cover the hazards. Finding the sloped fairway doesn’t guarantee you safety, because the slightest mishit or errant tee shot can trickle backwards into the lake, find the right or left fairway bunkers or, worse yet, end up in the stream that runs the length of the right hand side of the hole. Of course, your problems are just beginning once you clear the water and bunkers as you must now negotiate a difficult green complex. Take solace in the beauty that surrounds you.

18^th hole 

MOUNTAINS/CLUBHOUSE

The final approach on the Mountains Course is nothing short of magnificent.

The Clubhouse rises majestically above the green with BIGHORN members serving as gallery. Players must contend with a precise approach shot to a putting surface sloping from right to left toward a lake hugging the entire left side of the green. 

Players aiming right to avoid the hazard find little relief, as large, protecting bunkers flank the right side of the green and will make your third shot downhill toward the lake challenging.