Ladera Golf Course, Hole 18

Par 4, blue tees 430 yards; white tees, 405 yards; red tees, 345 yards.

The scenic and very challenging final hole can very well determine your attitude approaching the 19th hole.

It is a dogleg left and faces south. There is a huge, long lake on the left and there’s another “pond” that comes into play off the tee box on the right. Need to birdie this one to break par? You’re just as likely to walk off with a double bogey.

“If you’re a low-handicap player, you shouldn’t hit driver off the tee,” says Bill Harvey, Ladera director of golf, “because the pond comes into play on the right.” The lake is from 250 to 280 yards, depending on the tee box.

“It’s just a tight landing area. The fattest part of that fairway is about 240 off the tee,” Harvey says.

“That will leave you about 160 yards into the green.”

You can play your drive to the left, but that will leave a long shot of 200 yards or more to the green if you’re short of the lake. If you can really bomb it, you better be really accurate trying to clear the left part of the lake.

A bit of a hook, or even a draw, and you’re looking for the drop spot and another ball in your bag.

“It’s an interesting hole. A great hole with a gigantic green.”

Try to hit your approach to the left of the green and hope the pin isn’t tucked on that side. If you miss the green left, you are in a bunker. Then again, if you miss right there is another sand trap waiting for you — actually two. There are four traps in all on the hole.

Even if you hit the green in regulation, you still might have a 70-foot putt.

The green breaks toward the river (being on the west side of Albuquerque, that is also east toward the mountains).

“It’s just not an easy hole, but it’s a great one.” Harvey said. “You make birdie on that final hole, and you’re going to collect money.”

Ladera Golf Course, Albuquerque Opened: 1980 Yardages: 7,105 (blue), 6,618 (white), 5,966 (red) Address: 3401 Ladera Dr., NW, Albuquerque, 87120 Phone: 505-836-4449 Director of Golf: Bill Harvey Web: www.cabq.gov/ golf