The fifth is the only par 3 of the first nine, the shape of the fairway and the green’s angle suggests to aim to the green bunker on the left. The green is very long and the characteristics of this hole may change substantially with the condition of the wind and the pin’s placement.

The sixth is the first of four par 4 in a row that the architect placed between the dunes. The fairway bunker tempt the player to carry it. The reward is very high, due to the angle of the green and the bunker on the right of it, this hole is an excellent example of using short grass as an hazard near the green, the front right of it have steep mowed banks, so slightly inaccurate shots will roll down the slope with a difficult recovery shot.

The seventh is the longest par 4 of the course and like the forth, there is not much strategy implied. Golfers need two long straight shots to get to the pin but missing the target on the left or on the right will put them in a lot of trouble Placing the tee shot in the short grass area is fundamental to get to the green, a large dune 50 yards before the green and bunkers force an eventual lay up at 85 yards before the target. The green has a strange shape with a tip on the back right of it, making this pin placement very challenging.

The eighth is another example of camouflage, from the tee, the best way to get to the pin is playing on the left avoiding the right side that has a bunker on the fairway and one near the green, the angle of the green make the approach from the left easier too.

The ninth presents two holes in one, due to the presence of two distinct greens The one on the right has an higher elevation and it is protected by bunkers on the left and on the right sides, it is anyway better to play on the high side of the fairway to avoid to have an approach with bunkers on the front of the green. A better strategy, when then pin is on the lower green, could be to play near the ridge of the fairway that runs parallel to the line of play, the ball will roll in a perfect position for the approach, living the bunker on the front left of the green out of play.

The tenth is the first of two par three in a row, it is the maximum expression of the minimalist philosophy that we can find at Pacific Dunes, the hole just lays on the ground, without any hazard and it seems like a path that brings the visitor to the sea

The eleventh is a short par 3 playing in the wind during the summer the small green is surrounded by bunkers but those in front appear further away from the green than they are. They are very bold and it makes them more in play as they really are.

The twelfth is the second par 5 of the round, it plays into the prevailing wind and it is very difficult to reach the green in two The shortest way to get to the hole is cutting the dogleg on the left, but the angle of the green and the large bunker in front of it make this shot almost impossible, the bunker in the middle of the fairway influences more short-average hitters, because it comes in play on their second.

The thirteenth is the first of just two par 4 of the second nine, as all the long par 4 of the course, it does not give much chance to strategy, it is played into the prevailing wind and, when it blows, two long straight shots between the dunes on the right and the cliff on the left are the only option left to the player.