COASTAL CLIMB Uphill from the start on this Par 4. Tee shot from upper boxes should be right of bunker. For long hitters, going left of the bunker off the tee is high risk and reward to land near the green. From lower box, aim to carry the bunker or play it to the right. Green slopes severely from front to back here. Don t go long on your approach shot; OB is tight on the left and back side of green. Safe play is going for the right half of the green on your approach. Don t come up short and catch the bunker protecting the front of the green. Stick your approach close to the pin for a chance at a birdie on this one.

FOREST FALL Dogleg right down a hill on this Par 5. Tee shot should be left of the cart path in the fairway. Long hitters can hug the tre e line or carry over the woods for the advantage of getting to the green in two, but don t get caught up in the pine forest on the right. Downhill green is protected by a huge tree, fronted by a deep, yawning bunker and backed abruptly by a stealth water hazard. OB is left of fairway and green on this approach. To avoid getting caught up in hazards guarding the green, the wise choice is to lay up down the hill in front of the bunker, leaving a chip and a putt. This massive green surface slopes drastically from front to back and offers plenty of break.

LONE PINE This short Par 4 adds a little challenge with water running along the left side. Long hitters can reach the green but they mu st be very, very accurate. The safe play is laying it over the big rock with a mid-iron or fairway wood leaving a short iron to the green. Try to keep it closer to the left side of the fairway to avoid an approach shot blocked by the lone pine tree. Look out for the wide bunker guarding the green and the lateral hazard along the left of it. This deep green surface slopes drastically from back right to front left. Beware of the quick break on any downhill putts here.

WINDS LEAP This signature hole at Beau Rivage is a 200 yard stress-test over water onto a downhill sloping peninsula green. The card says it's the No. 3 handicap hole on the course, but we all know that's a lie. The drive from the third green to the fourth tee through the trees gives you plenty of time to mull over a tee ball that requires a full carry over water to a green with no bailout areas. Oh, and it's most likely into the area's most prevalent southern winds. Clear over the water and try to land short of the pin as any downhill putts on this green have a tendency to get you into trouble.

GATOR ALLEY Back to back Par 3 s on the front nine where water comes into play again. Again, check the wind carefully to determine club selection as the direction may have shifted from the last hole. Don t come up short and land in the sand but also don t to go too long as there isn t much space between the peninsula green and water surrounding it. Front-left pin placement is sure to provide a memorable tee-shot over the two neighboring bunkers. This massive, boomerang shaped green also slopes downhill drastically on the left side. Even if your tee shot lands on the back-right side of the green, you still have an extremely difficult shot for birdie. Watch out for gators!

MEAN GREEN Ready to let the big dog eat following back-to-back Par 3 s? Well don t get too excited about hitting driver as this tee shot is very tight and riddled with multiple bunkers. Tee shot must stay left of cart path otherwise you re OB. Keep right of the fairway bunkers on the left side or carry them altogether for a clear approach to the green. Avoid the bunkers protecting the green on both sides but keep in mind that this green slopes drastically from back to front. Try to keep the ball below the pin as downhill putts here will certainly run you into trouble. This green has a reputation for making two foot putts look difficult, rated with the toughest slope rating for a reason.

CRYSTAL CORNER This dogleg left Par 4 features a very narrow fairway requiring an accurate tee shot. Long hitters can hug the left side or c arry over the tree line to reach near the green. The safe play is leaving driver in the bag and hitting a low iron to the right of the fairway tree, leaving a short or mid -iron approach to the green. Anything right of the cart path is OB. Beware of the small green heavily guarded by two bunkers, but don t go long either as this green is very wide but lacks depth. Hitting too much club on your approach may roll off the back of the green, jump down the hill behind it and run into OB. Make your par and prepare for two more difficult holes to close out the front.

CRAZY EIGHT This is the longest Par 4 on the golf course and No. 1 HCP for men and women. Slight dogleg right that requires a very accurate tee shot to a fairway (which may appear wide from the tee but is pinched by sand bunker and rough and is actually only 17 paces wide). OB is right of cart path. Stay close to the middle or left side of the fairway so your second shot isn t blocked by the trees. Accuracy is a must on your approach shot as well, with bunkers and trees guar ding each side. You may want to play this one safe and lay up short of the hazards, leaving a chip and a putt for par. Green slopes back to front with slight undulations. Par is always a great score on this hole.

GUYTON GULLY Tough long dogleg right Par 5 to close out the Front 9. Keep your tee shot left of water hazard running along the right side of this narrow fairway. Very tough to reach this one in two, so lay it up to be safe. Make sure not to go near the far left side of the fairway as it is riddled with a retention pond, bunker and strategically placed trees. Ideal second shot should land short of the hill and bunker to leave a short mid-iron up to the elevated green complex. Green slopes severely from back to front.

TIGHT FLIGHT This Par 4 to kick off the Back 9 requires accuracy off the tee. Long hitters might consider hitting a long iron or fairway w ood off the tee as you do not want to land in the landscaped beds on either side and block your view to the pin. Place your shot right in between the bunkers near the 150 yard marker for a clear approach. This fairway narrows close to the green surrounded by pines with a bunker on the left. Don t hit too much club as there is little space on the sides and beyond the back of the green.

PITCH POND A tricky Par 4 with plenty of water in play. Keep tee shot over or around the lonely tree on left side of fairway but avoid going too much right as your second shot will be blinded by trees. OB is tight right of cart path. Also beware of hitting your tee shot too far since there is a pond after the fairway ends. Leave yourself with a short or midiron approach over the pond. Don t go too long on your approach shot as there is a bunker right of green and very little room behind it. Green slopes from back to front.

BASIN FALL Standing on the tee on this Par 3 you ll find yourself atop the highest elevation in all of Wilmington. Check the wind speed and direction carefully for the proper club selection. Either go right over the tree in front of the green or avoid it altogether. Don t go too left with on tee shot eit her as there is a long bunker running along that side of the green and OB isn t far from it. Also watch out for the water behind the green that will catch any tee shots that go long. This elevated green complex adds the challenge of landing and staying on top. Doing so is key on this hole. Chipping uphill from around the green doesn t make it any easier to save par.

SOUTH STRETCH Uphill dogleg right short Par 5 which can be reached in two for the long hitters. Trying to hit a blind, undulating fairway t hat bends sharply requires some accuracy. This fairway slopes severely right to left on tee shot so try to sit it at the top of the hill if you can to avoid heading into th e tree area. Proceed with caution with your second shot on this fairway as OB is very tight right of the cart path. Also look out for the bunker on the left side as well as str ategically placed trees on the right side that may hinder your approach to the green. You don t want to go right or long on your approach as there are two bunkers right and very little room for error behind the green.

RIVER RUN This Par 4 features a very narrow fairway leading to a wide plateau green complex. Driver to a long iron is the club of choice but accuracy is key. Watch out for the bunker on the left but avoid going right of this narrow fairway as you ll be close to OB. Approach shot is all about finesse as this shallow green is protected by a wide bunker on the left side. Putting surface is wide but not very deep and features several different undulations. Making par on this hole can be very tricky depending on pin placement.

BUNKER HILL Uphill Par 3 across water which is guarded by two deep bunkers just short of green. Club selection, depending on the wind speed and direction, is always crucial. Hitting up to the elevated green may require taking an extra club even if the wind is calm. OB is tight on the right side of this hol e. Make sure not to go over the green and roll down the hill behind it as it may lead to a second shot blinded from the pin. Make your par and prepare yourself for three more challenging holes to finish your round.

AUDRA CREEK A very long Par 4 with several elevation changes and plenty of water hazards. Avoid the bunker on the right and land your drive on the top center of the hill near the 150 yard marker. Keep in mind that a pond lurks 100 yards from the elevated green which you can t see from the tee boxes. Might want to consider laying up short of water to play this one safe. Stick your uphill approach onto the massive green and leave yourself a chance for par.

CROOKED RIDGE Dogleg left over the ridge. Avoid the two fairway bunkers on the right side and try to land at the top of the hill. Any drive carrying the ridge will roll downhill to the left on the other side. Long hitters can reach the bottom of the hill by hugging the tree line on the left but should consider clubbi ng down off the tee to avoid going too far into the woods. A deep bunker and lonely oak tree guard this boomerang shaped green. Don t use too much club on your approach as trees are right behind the green.

AULTOR BEND Big dogleg right on this lengthy Par 5 to finish the round. A good drive is crucial to avoid tree line on the right blocking your second shot Long hitters may carry their tee shot over the bunker or tree line for an advantage. Fairway slopes right to left after the dogleg. Watch out for waste bunker running along the left side of the fairway or trees along the right side on your second shot. Third shot is to a downhill green which you can t see from the fairway. Watch out for bunkers front left and back of green.