My day at Hollywood started off steady, nothing too special on holes one and two, but, just like Essex County, it is when you step onto the third tee that the course really begins to open up. The sightlines widen, and suddenly you are getting a full preview of the golf ahead. It is a satisfying reveal that sets the tone for the rest of the round.
The fifth is a fun short dogleg left par four that threw me for a loop in the best way. There is some of the most bizarre bunkering I have ever seen on the right side of that green, these tiny solo bunkers, probably the smallest I have ever come across. I found myself genuinely curious, wondering what the drainage and liners must look like in there. It is details like this that make a course stand out, and Hollywood is full of them.
Fairways six and seven are connected by a playful stretch of bunkering that almost makes the two holes feel like they are talking to each other. The seventh, a par five, is guarded by a massive bunker that makes the approach feel even more dramatic. The green itself moves like a rollercoaster from top to bottom. Word of advice is do not get above the hole. You will spend the rest of the hole just trying to get back in position.
Twelve was one of the most beautiful holes I played all week. The bunkering scheme here is truly impressive, maybe the best I have seen in my life. It is not a beast in terms of length, but the trees and bunkers surrounding the green mean club choice is critical, and staying out of the sand is even more important. There is so much visual interest and just enough challenge to keep you locked in.
Seventeen is the signature par three with the tunnel, an iconic look that you do not forget. Then you finish with a gorgeous, understated eighteenth. The bunkering and trees frame the final hole so perfectly it feels like it could be set at Olympic Club in San Francisco. Eighteen is not an intimidating or awe-inspiring closer, but honestly, it is one of my favorite holes on the course. It has everything it needs to end a great day of golf, no fireworks, just pure design and a walk back to the clubhouse that lets you take it all in.
After several rounds on tree-lined and hilly courses, Hollywood was a breath of fresh air. The openness, the bold bunkering, and the way the course lets you see everything ahead makes for a different kind of test. It is a place that rewards both creativity and strategy. I finished the day wanting to loop it again, if only to take another crack at those greens and see those one-of-a-kind bunkers up close.