A USGA Public Links qualifying site, Black Mountain offers many options: 18 holes of traditional golf and nine holes of true desert golf. The Founders nine, opened in 1957, is tighter and more tree-lined than the Horizon nine (1963). Both nines feature well-bunkered bentgrass greens that are as receptive and smooth as any in the valley, plush Bermuda grass from tee to green, and hundreds of mature cypress, pine, ash and olive trees. The Desert nine, opened in 2002, gives players a true desert golf experience.

Trees frame many teeing areas and line virtually every fairway of the original 18 holes. Besides adding challenge, they also proffer merciful shade in summer. Water is in play on just two holes, and there are only two fairway bunkers, both on Horizon's 413-yard, par-4, ninth hole. Overall, the original 18 may appear easy on the scorecard at just 6,550 yards, but the old-fashioned greens are small and generally crowned, and the mature Bermuda grows thick around the fringes.

The 391-yard, par-4 first hole on the Founders nine plays uphill through a tight tree-lined fairway to a green fronted by bunkers. The par-3, 188-yard third hole is rated the course's toughest; bunkers guard both front sides of the long, triangle-shaped green that narrows sharply in front. Two par 5's, the 502-yard 13th and the 480-yard 18th, offer generous fairways for birdie possibilities.

The Desert nine features holes lined by desert, along with a pleasing amount of fairway bunkering. The greens are bigger and more severely sloped than those on the original 18. Some forced carries are demanded, but none more than 100 yards. No. 2 is a 156-yard par 3 over water to a green half surrounded by bunkers right and in back. The fourth hole is a tight dogleg left, 380-yard par 4; the tee shot must avoid desert left and OB right. The ninth hole is a 530-yard par 5. It was named "One of the 1,001 Golf Holes You Must Play Before You Die" by Quintet Publishing. The tee ball must carry 100 yards of desert to reach a fairway framed by a huge bunker right and an arroyo left. The narrow green is essentially surrounded by water and bunkers.

Course statistics: