Sandpiper Golf Club is made up of three nine-hole layouts - the Oaks, the Palms and the Lakes. The 27-hole facility initially opened in 1968 as an 18-hole course and was designed by Mark Mahannah, Sr. Ron Garl, who designed neighboring Falcon Watch, added the third nine in 1985. All three nines are par 36 and play from four sets of tees ranging from 2,717 to 3,258-yards.

Many people consider the Oaks the friendliest of the three layouts at Sandpiper, with accessible green sites that generally have narrow openings at the front of every green for bump-and-run shots. No. 8 on the Oaks tops out at 212 yards. The best hole for birdie is probably No. 9 on the Oaks, a 488-yard par-5 with a welcoming landing area and a green that is accessible for those going for it in two.

The Palms, the original nine at Sandpiper, is noted for having small, mostly elevated greens. No. 2 on the Palms is a terrific par-3. It’s solid at 187 yards and features an elevated green, with water on the right side and bunkers on both sides.

The Lakes features a winding and hilly routing that plays into a valley and out. It’s certainly the most challenging off the tee, requiring golfers to shape their shots and hit fairways. It also has the most spacious greens, but that’s not always a good thing. No. 3 on the Lakes jumps to the front of the line as a 389-yard par 4. There’s water off the tee and a narrow landing area, followed by an uphill, blind second shot into the green.

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