Tom Kite, Roy Bechtol, and Randy Russell were engaged to create the original eighteen holes. Kite worked his way down the valley starting at the high point, thus the name The Valley was established. The course has beautiful contours, and a number of live oak trees, including Old Gnarly on Hole #5 that is over 100 years old. This course directs the player north toward the front of the community, makes a u-shaped bend and heads back uphill toward the southwest.
Bunkering has been matched on all twenty-seven holes. Nothing is forced with the natural topography, so it has a natural look. The Valley course shows unique character with its original rock sheep barn located on the #5 green, with restrooms and a cart path through its center. The initial five holes typically play downwind, and then you begin playing into the wind as you turn south. The holes lay into the hillside and provide natural bunkering to give you a great eye off the tee to land your ball. The fairway mounds are subtly contoured and do not require an awkward stance. The finishing hole, #9, is arguably the best of the three nines. It is a solid, par 4 up the hill with great bunkering throughout and a slight elevation shot into the wind – definitely the most demanding of the finishing holes. Birdies are hard to come by here!
