
Course Design
Tour The
Rio Secco Course
The par-72 test measures 6,921 yards from the back Blue Tees, compared to a manageable 6,081 yards from the two-up gold Tees, and can tip-out at a remarkable 7,400 yards. Several holes, especially the par 3s, require carries over native desert canyons, though thoughtfully placed forward tee boxes soften the carries in the spirit of playability and fun.
The front nine is highlighted by several holes routed through the club’s namesake, which means “Dry River” in Portuguese, flanked by steep canyon walls. The back nine begins with a climb to a plateau, featuring commanding views of The Strip and the entire Las Vegas valley below. The finishing holes amble up, down and along a series rocky desert ridges, for a dramatic close to the round.
Course Tour
Par 4 | Handicap 15
With majestic views of mountain ranges in the distance, this is a good risk-reward hole to start your round at Rio Secco. If you can make it home then go for the green, but if not pull something less than driver and stay short of the deep bunker fronting the green. Start your round off with a birdie here.
- Blue: 371
- White: 346
- Gold: 332
- Red: 293
Par 4 | Handicap 1
Rio Secco’s toughest and yet most scenic drive on the course. Commit to your line and fire away, but don’t bite off too much of this dogleg right. Start your approach at the left edge of the green, and use the left to right sloped green to feed the ball down to the hole.
- Blue: 452
- White: 432
- Gold: 356
- Red: 265
Par 3 | Handicap 9
Featuring a postcard desert canyon view from the teebox, take notice of the pin on this par-3, because for the best birdie chance you’ll want to be on the correct tier of this split-level green. The hill on the right will help funnel balls down towards the pin.
- Blue: 185
- White: 159
- Gold: 152
- Red: 140
Par 4 | Handicap 13
A stunning mountain range lines the right side of this risk-reward hole. With high risk and little margin for error when going for the green off the tee, a safer tee ball with less than driver leaves just a wedge into a wide but shallow green. Play to the center of green, making sure to clear the deep greenside bunker, and an excellent birdie chance can be yours.
- Blue: 325
- White: 306
- Gold: 275
- Red: 216
Par 4 | Handicap 7
Rio Secco’s signature hole, with breathtaking mountain views and shots into the canyon gorge, requires a straight tee ball and rewards with a wedge or short iron to a gently back-to-front sloped green. Approaches from the right side of the fairway offer the best angle to the pin.
- Blue: 365
- White: 344
- Gold: 326
- Red: 265
Par 5 | Handicap 5
With a sprawling view of the Vegas Strip in the distance, you can let it rip off the tee to a generous landing area, but only the biggest hitters will reach the dance floor in two on this long par 5. Amazingly, Tiger Woods had just 6-iron in for this second shot during his then course record-setting 64.
- Blue: 589
- White: 562
- Gold: 516
- Red: 451
Par 4 | Handicap 14
Immense desert - esque views from the tee are featured on the 10th hole. Be careful how much you take off this dogleg left, as a fairway bunker left and deep depression beyond await the less than solidly struck tee shot. On approach, play to the left side of green and avoid the deep greenside bunker right.
- Blue: 423
- White: 403
- Gold: 391
- Red: 349
Par 4 | Handicap 2
Desert meets city with a stark contrast of sandy rockside features at the tee, and views of the strip to the distance. Hitting the fairway off the tee is crucial on this long par-4, leaving a long iron or fairway wood to an open green that slopes gently back-to-front.
- Blue: 473
- White: 447
- Gold: 418
- Red: 341
Par 4 | Handicap 18
Sprawling homeside views and a reachable green await. Long hitters can try and reach the green off the tee but deep bunkers left and right are the risk for offline shots. A layup off the tee leaves just a wedge into this large peninsula green that slopes back-to-front. Easiest scoring hole on the course, so get your birdie here!
- Blue: 395
- White: 372
- Gold: 345
- Red: 328
Par 5 | Handicap 4
The landing area is wider than you may see standing on the tee, but strike it well as a demanding second shot awaits. Choose your layup yardage well and leave your favorite yardage coming in, as danger lurks long and left of this green.
- Blue: 564
- White: 533
- Gold: 500
- Red: 467
Par 5 | Handicap 10
Long hitters can get home in two on this demanding par-5, but everyone else must lay up short of the desert front and right of the green. A sizeable shelf splits this green left and right, so hit to the correct side for the best birdie chance.
- Blue: 548
- White: 518
- Gold: 474
- Red: 422
Par 4 | Handicap 6
What a view! Now focus – this long par-4 demands a long straight drive, and excellent distance control and accuracy on the approach. Missing the green left makes for a more difficult up and down. Par or better here makes post-round drinks in Janelas Restaurant & Bar even better.
- Blue: 448
- White: 400
- Gold: 370
- Red: 286