Raven Golf Club at Verrado

John Fought and Tom Lehman collaborated on the Raven course at Verrado Golf Club, a voluptuous design that meanders through the old Caterpillar bulldozer proving grounds. It is up and down for 18 holes, but that does not mean pitch and putt. The course is a good test with chances to score and a handful of memorable and scenic holes.

Where the Raven course will eat you alive is in its bunkers: Some bunkers are hard to carry, while others collect wayward shots. But the fairways are wide enough to avoid trouble, and what appears to be the safe shot off the tee will often bring greenside bunkers more into play. So pick your poison.

While the back nine is far superior to the front, going out still has its fair share of memorable holes. A huge boulder 30-feet tall on the par-4 eighth juts out from the left side around which the fairway shapes itself. A perfect line from the tee box is to take the ball five yards right off its edge, but hitting the boulder is certain death by desert. The boulder was scheduled to crumble via dynamite, but stood up to the TNT and was deemed an immoveable object. Open and playable for all skill levels, the Raven course at Verrado is a sublime experience.