Well Above Par

Palmira Golf Club

28501 Matteotti View, Bonita Springs. 949-4466. Private.

Number eight: 195 yards, par three.

It's rare that a par-three hole ranks as the number-five handicap hole of a course, but one look toward the island green here clarifies everything. It's called Oasis because of the gorgeous peninsula-like design, luring you toward water stretching from the tee box down both sides to a slightly elevated green. A group of palm trees sits majestically in the huge, white-sand bunker that catches shots straying left. The sandy shell path also can help by stopping shots right. Anything long rolls down a grassy bank into the water. Just hit a high, soft shot with, say, a five-wood and try not to leave yourself a putt from above the hole. Otherwise, it's easy!

Imperial Golf Club

1808 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Naples. 597-8165. Private.

Number nine: 398 yards, par four. (East Course)

Sometimes, you need to go back to basics. Built in the early '70s, Imperial's layout has stood the test of time, particularly this gentle dogleg right that challenges with hazards created by Mother Nature. A thick stand of trees lines the left side, forcing you to chip back into the fairway should you even find your tee ball. Woods are on the right, too, but out-of-bounds lurks just past the pivot point of the dogleg, swallowing up shots trying to fade too much around the corner. There are no fairway bunkers; two sand traps frame a deep, sloping green. Approach shots from the left must carry a water hazard. Nothing fancy. just an impressive old-school test.

The Talon at the Club at TwinEagles

11725 TwinEagles Blvd., Naples. 352-2121. Private.

Number 15: 398 yards, par four.

It becomes apparent immediately after you arrive at the tee box that Jack Nicklaus has given you one target. the huge cypress tree on the left side of a narrow fairway. Hit in that direction, and you won't need to worry about the water and bunkers down the right side, or the two bunkers and gnarly stuff on the left. Nicklaus designs especially test you on par-four holes; and should you stray right, the approach shot will be over water and the wooden bulkhead built into this side of the green. The senior pros of the Champions Tour find this hole one of the hardest every year during the ACE Group Classic.

The Black Course at Tiburón Golf Club

2620 Tiburón Drive, Naples. 594-2040. Resort course.

Number two: 436 yards, par four.

For the most part, technology has erased the psychological barrier of the 400-yard par four. Greg Norman apparently decided fear still needed to be part of the game when he designed this one. Indeed, he leaves nothing to the imagination. It's a dead straight hole lined with tall pine trees until water appears on the right about 40 yards from the green. But that should be the least of your worries. A few yards into the woods on either side usually results in a lost ball or self-admonishment about leaving your chain saw in the garage. Oh, did I mention narrow? How narrow? A bowling alley would feel like six lanes of open road. It's just a tough hole that requires pure, straight power.

Olde Florida Golf Club

9393 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. 353-7667. Private.

Number 15: 430 yards, par four.

Either play strong golf, or take a double-bogey or worse on arguably the hardest hole at one of the most difficult courses in Florida. A slight dogleg left, the fairway is 45 yards at its widest and has an interesting series of three smaller bunkers and one big one that architect Rees Jones built into the mounds along the right side. On the left? Splash! On your long-iron approach, anything left falls off into thick vegetation which even skillful wedge players cannot penetrate. To the right, more bunkers run the entire depth of a two-tiered green that demands near perfection with the distance of your shots.

Kensington Golf & Country Club

2700 Pine Ridge Road, Naples. 649-4440.Private.

Number 18: 424 yards, par four.

Coquina shells define the entire right side and a lake takes up the entire left side of an amazingly strong finishing hole to this Robert Trent Jones Jr. layout. Your tee shot is actually uphill to a crowned landing area of a fairway that smoothly slides right, then back left. Once there, you're looking down toward the flagstick for an approach shot that flirts with water cutting in near the left side of the green. It's a unique use of elevation for a hole on a Florida course.

The Pine Course at Grey Oaks Country Club

2400 Grey Oaks Drive N., Naples. 262-5550. Private.

Number 17: 200 yards, par three.

The adventure begins as you blast a tee shot through a chute that opens to a lake framed on both sides by live oak and pine trees, their Spanish moss swaying in the breeze. It's a 170-yard carry over the water, challenging yet not daunting with today's golf-club technology. Still, trees stand waiting to swat away any shots short left or short right. Bunkers lie behind and front right of the green. Should your shot land short, there are about 15 yards of rough that if you're lucky will keep the ball from rolling back into the water. It's simply the best of a great group of par threes at Grey Oaks.

The White Course at Wyndemere Country Club

700 Wyndemere Way, Naples 263-1700. Private.

Number eight: 404 yards, par four.

From the tee box, you can't see the green. All that lies ahead is extremely generous fairway, giving you a false sense of security as you gaze at a rare sight in Florida-an actual hill. You need to wallop a drive to reach the top of this straightaway hole. But once you're there, the challenge comes into full view. The green opens up beneath you, with out-of-bounds left and water to the right. Adding to the visual appeal is a wall of small boulders stacked near the cart path that follow the contour of the hole down the right rough. The huge, undulating green rolls and banks with the speed of a racetrack. A beautifully basic hole.

The Creek Course at Fiddler's Creek

3470 Club Center Blvd., Naples. 732-7332. Private.

Number two: 207 yards, par three.

From a slightly elevated tee, where you gaze at it from 200-plus yards away, the green doesn't look big enough to hold a tea cup, much less a five-wood. Don't worry: That's just a visual trick architect Arthur Hills likes to play with the angles and slopes of his greens. The narrow surface does run front right to back left and away from you, but there are other problems to solve on this stunning hole. A bunker guards the left front side and wraps all the way around the back. A lateral water hazard sits to the right and catches shots long and left, too. And don't forget to sneak a peek at those white out-of-bounds stakes just to the left of the green.