The Dream 18

An intimidating starting hole. A lake makes up the right side of the entire par-5 hole, and the fairway is very narrow in spots thanks to trees down the left side. Most players will elect to lay up, but if you go for it, remember there's water to the left of the green as well.

#2: The 1st hole at Twin Isles

This is one of the most difficult starting holes in the area. There's water down the left side and past the dogleg. Fairway bunkers at the right elbow make the landing area for drives very narrow. A good drive will leave an approach to an elevated green that has bunkers front and back.

#3: The 7th hole at Punta Gorda Country Club

A short par-3 hole that doesn't look difficult from the tee until you hit your tee shot. Come up short, and you could be in the water or on the rocks. Go long and you can find yourself in a bunker trying to blast onto a green that slopes toward the water in front.

#4: The 15th hole at Kingsway

This par-5 hole is the No. 2 handicap hole on the course. Long hitters can get there with two accurate shots. Water guards the left side of the fairway for the tee shot, while water guards the right side of the fairway and green for the second shot or approach shot. Your work isn't done, either, when you reach the two-tiered green.

#5: The 8th hole at Port Charlotte Golf Club

Another dogleg left around water with a narrow landing area for the tee shot. Bunkers protect both sides of the green, so short-iron accuracy is important. The third most difficult hole on the course that many area pros consider a tough layout.

#6: The 8th hole at Riverwood

A real tough nut. A good drive to the center or right center of the fairway leaves the best approach to the green, which is guarded to its left by water. If your tee shot sails right, there's out of bounds and water with which to contend. Miss the green right and you're chipping back toward the water.

#7: The 6th hole at Coral Creek

A gem of a hole from Tom Fazio. The tee shot is often played into the wind and it must carry over several areas of wetlands to a three-tiered green which is sloped back to front. Two bunkers at the front right swallow their share of golf balls.

#8: The 17th hole at Rotonda Palms

Just because there are no bunkers doesn't make this an easy hole. The lake surrounding the green makes it difficult. The green is elevated but slopes from back to front. Out of bounds is right of the fairway. If you drive it too far, your second shot comes from a downhill lie.

#9: The 8th hole at Rotonda Hills

A pretty straight forward hole that requires a good drive. Hit it right off the tee and you're flirting with water and out of bounds. The approach must carry two fronting bunkers left and right of the green.

#10: The 15th hole at Lemon Bay Golf Club

This par-5 hole really gets difficult as you move from tee to green. A good drive will leave you with the option of going for the green in two, but you must carry a marsh area. If you elect to lay up, you must make sure you keep it short of the marsh.

#11: The 16th hole at Boca Royale

The tee shot must carry a pond and fronting bunkers to reach a two-tiered green. The prevailing wind is often in the golfer's face, making the club selection difficult. You'll be happy walking away with a par; making a birdie will seem like larceny.

#12: The 18th hole at Plantation Panther

The finishing hole on the Panther golf course requires a big drive if you want to make birdie. But be careful because there is a lake to the right of the fairway on your approach. Plus there's a long bunker guarding the approach on the right. Mounds down the left side of the hole can make the approach difficult as well.

#13: The 9th hole at Bobcat Trail

The course's signature hole. The drive must carry a lake and avoid a very large oak that guards the left side of the fairway. There is a bunker off the landing area on the right side of the fairway. Bunkers front left and behind guard the Bob Tway-designed green.

#14: The 13th hole at Sabal Trace

The longest par-3 hole playing at 204 yards. The tee shot usually is played into the wind. Bunkers guard the front of this relatively flat green. Reach the green and you have a chance for birdie.

#15: The 6th hole at Heron Creek

The gem of the new Creek 9 designed by Arthur Hills. There's water from tee to green on the right side of this par-5 monster, and mounds and bunkers guard the left side, making the fairway very tight. The green is guarded by four bunkers.

#16: The 10th hole at Venice Golf & Country Club

Another dogleg left hole around water. A big drive can carry the lake and reach the green. If you miss left, you're on the beach or in the water. Playing the hole conventionally isn't easy, either, with bunker at the elbow and a huge mound in the middle of the fairway.

#17: The 9th hole at Pelican Pointe

A very strong par-4 hole with multiple tees. Hit your drive right and it can be swallowed by bunkers or a lake. The green is guard to the left by a bunker.

#18: The 17th hole at Lake Venice

There is plenty of risk-reward to the hole, which doglegs 90 degrees left for those who want to play away from trouble. A big hitter can drive the green or to cut the dogleg but must carry a huge lake. And the neck of the hole narrows, so you could drive it through the fairway into the water on the right of the hole.