Sheep Ranch · Hole 2
Blue
432
White
357
Gold
292
Red
192
A strong par 4 with the cliff dropping away on the right side of the fairway. The cliff is not in the direct line of play from the tee, but the proximity is unmistakable and creates the dominant visual and strategic reality. The approach to a green with the Pacific as its backdrop is one of the most striking shots at the resort.
Shot-by-Shot Strategy
Tee Shot
Driver aimed firmly at the left-center of the fairway. The cliff right means any miss in that direction is irretrievable — even without formal out-of-bounds, a ball near the cliff edge is unplayable. Draw the ball from right to left and keep it well away from the right edge. The left fescue rough, while not ideal, is survivable; the cliff rough is not.
Approach
Mid-iron approach with the Pacific Ocean directly behind the green in the background — one of the most beautiful approach shots in golf. Take at least one extra club for the prevailing headwind and aim at the center of the green. The approach is slightly uphill, adding to the effective yardage. Never miss right on this approach.
Putting
The cliff-edge green slopes from left to right toward the ocean. Putts from the left break significantly right; from above the hole, the rightward-flowing surface creates very fast conditions. Leave the ball below the hole at all costs — above-hole putts on this green run away from you toward the right edge.
⚠Gotchas — What Kills Your Score
- •The cliff right is the most dangerous feature of the entire opening sequence — never miss right from the tee or on the approach.
- •The dramatic ocean backdrop on the approach makes it difficult to judge distance. Trust your yardage, not your eye.
- •Uphill approach adds one to two clubs to the effective distance — first-time players almost universally under-club here.
Wind Intelligence
Running parallel to the cliff edge, the southwest wind hits this hole as a full left-to-right crosswind pushing the ball toward the cliff. This is the most dangerous wind direction at Sheep Ranch — the crosswind targets every shot toward the most unplayable terrain on the right side. Aim aggressively left on both tee shot and approach and let the wind bring the ball back to center.
Hazard Map
- ▲Pacific Ocean cliff edge right throughout
- ▲Fescue rough left of fairway
- ▲Ocean-backed green with rightward putting slope