This downhill Par 4 features a large driving area and plays shorter than you think. After a driver or possibly a fairway wood off the tee, you face a middle-to-short iron shot to a two-tiered green that runs away from you in the back. The green is well protected by the two bunkers and the lake on the right as well as a large, free form bunker which carves around the left-hand side of this challenging putting surface.

The tee shot on this uphill straightaway Par 5 must avoid the lone pine that sits in the middle of the fairway. Should you make a play at the green after your tee shot, it must carry the pot bunker short and left of the green, as well as the large greenside bunker on the right. This large two-tiered green drops off sharply on the left and could offer some very difficult and tricky hole locations.

Hole #3 is a 186 yard, uphill par 3 with a beautiful green site nestled in front of a natural rock outcropping. The medium-sized green has a transition through the middle with the back of the green elevated. The green surround is forgiving as balls hit long will tend to bounce back onto the green but steer clear of the deep bunker in front. There are many pinnable areas on both the upper and lower half of the green but the upper half pin placements will demand an accurate tee shot.

Hole #4 is a short, uphill par 4 made longer by an elevation change of almost 80 feet. Incredible views of Mt. Rose frame the green. Long hitters can carry the deep bunkers on the right side leaving a short approach but the wiser play is a lay-up with a fairway wood or an iron to the left. Deep bunkres protect this very small green short and to the left. This is a fun hole to play that requires careful shot selection and execution.

Hole #5 is a long, downhill par 4 that doglegs to the left. The hole measures 491 yards from the back tees though it won’t play that long due to the elevation change. The key to this hole is a good drive down the middle past the trees on the left corner. The hole looks very narrow but the landing area is larger than it appears. Your approach shot, requiring a middle to long iron, will be quite forgiving as the fairway slopes toward the green and even the green slopes toward the front and the right, holding balls hit slightly long.

This beautiful Par 4 plays from right to left and is the start of the “Bear Trap.” Your tee shot must be played down the right side to take advantage of the sloping fairway. There are no fairway bunkers here so you can pretty much let loose with your driver. Your approach to this sloping green must avoid the left side bunker that is very deep. Any shot played from the right side of the green will slope back to the middle of the green. Players can be very creative here.

This tricky Par 3 is the shortest hole on the course, but club selection here is critical. You’re faced with a long carry over water to a narrow, shallow green that is divided in the middle by a large ridge. You’ve got more room on the right half of this green, but the toughest hole location will be tucked into the left-hand corner, underneath the huge pines. Hopefully, you’ll avoid the pot bunker that protects the left-hand side as well.

The longest and straightest hole at Montrêux, this Par 5 challenges you for its entire 636 yards. Your tee shot must avoid the lake to the left of the fairway. Your second must be played slightly left of the center to avoid the deep, cavernous bunker on the right of the green. It is the largest and the most undulating green on the course and will offer many interesting hole locations. You’ll probably have the wind at your back most of the time, so an eagle three isn’t out of the question.

The Par 4, 9th hole is a great finishing hole for the front side as it provides the ultimate decision situation. If you play a 3-wood off the tee, it must be left toward the small bunker on the hill to avoid the large fairway bunker on the right. If you take a driver, you’ll have to carry that bunker on the right and possibly run off the fairway into the right-hand rough. Once at your tee shot, your second will be to an undulating green separated down the center by a slight ridge. The deep bunkers both front-right and back-left will keep you on your toes.