Built in the river valleys forged by glaciers over ten thousands years ago, The River Course is a truly spectacular golf course, and one that architect Pete Dye could in a way only take partial credit for. At 6,991 yards, it boasts a slope of 151 - one of the highest ratings in the country - and played host to the U.S. Women's Open in 1998. With 14 of the 18 holes featuring water hazards from glacial ponds and the river gorge, the River Course can be punishing if players don't bring their best game  

The 'Burial Mounds' on the 376-yard, par-four second line the entire right side of the fairway. Covered with thick and gnarly gorse, any tee shot here must be wisely positioned up the left side, leaving a short approach to a green cut diagonally between six bunkers.

Precision with an iron is again paramount standing on the fourth tee. From 195 yards, the shot calls for a solid approach between tall mounds to the left and a large pond on the right, framed by a pretty stone wall. The deep green requires precise club selection.

Manage the fourth successfully, and then arrive at the fifth tee, one of the 500 Top Holes in the World as ranked by Golf Magazine. The tee shot must be played over the wide river and a waste bunker to the fairway far below, and the approach plays back uphill to a green set into a gentle slope. A tiny pot bunker will catch any shot coming up short, so be sure to take an extra club.

The eighth is a spectacular risk-reward par five, one that can be attacked or played conservatively. The tee sits atop a large hill, and a thin fairway looms far below. A good tee shot through the trees and over the ravine will kick forward, leaving the player a long second to either a lower fairway - the easier option - or an upper fairway that provides a better view of the green. Eight demands shrewd decision-making, and then proper execution.

Another thoughtful hole awaits at the ninth. At 337 yards, 'Cathedral Spines' is likely so named for the thin hooked branch that rises from a stand of trees on the edge of the fairway, forcing the player to decide on his course of action. A shot played smartly left of the trees opens up the green to a short approach, but a bold play over the trees could yield an eagle chance. A terrific end to the outward half.

'Rise and Fall' is likely named for the effect it can have on your entire round. The 560-yard, par-five 11th bends like a boomerang to the right around a wide stream. The lay-up must be played precisely to a thin strip of fairway on the other side of the river, and two well-played shots will leave a easier third into an open green. Wise is the operative word here. Any mistakes can grossly inflate your score here.

11 begins an exceptionally difficult stretch of holes that arguably peaks at the 205-yard 13th. Golfers must either hit a high fade over the trees, or play a right-to-left shot that starts over the river and curves to safety. The margin for error here is miniscule.

After a pair of shorter par fours at 14 and 15, another long par five awaits at 16. The tee shot must hug the large bunker on the left to leave a clear lay-up shot down the fairway. The third is played over a small tree and a bow in the river to a small, thin green set on its bank.

The finishing hole encompasses the overall experience at The River Course; 'Dyehard' is a nod to the architect and the nature of this course at Blackwolf Run. Measuring 469 yards, the ideal tee shot will bend left-to-right, following the shape of the fairway. The long approach should be kept right, as the greenside mounding should help your second shot kick down toward the putting surface.