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Welcome to the latest edition of the PGA DFS Hole-By-Hole Breakdown, where Josh Bennett (@JishSwish) breaks down the course the PGA Tour is playing each week. We think this course breakdown is an important slice of the "PGA DFS pie" and will help change the way you do your research for every tournament. A good understanding of the course that's being played is extremely important before diving into individual players. Each week, this article will give you everything you need to know about the course, strategies players could take, and statistics that fit the specifics of the layout.
This week's Breakdown features Corales Puntacana Resort and Club, host of the PGA Tour's Corales Puntacana Championship. Scores will be low on this resort course, so look for the birdie makers and great iron players. Be sure to also read all of our other top-notch weekly PGA DFS and betting articles to help you win big!
Corales Puntacana Resort and Club: Par 72, 7670 Yards
Hole 1: Par 4, 433 Yards
Off the Tee: The fairway is wide off the tee for the average hitter, but starts to narrow as it gets farther down so long hitters may have more issues holding the fairway than shorter hitters. It shouldn't matter much though, there isn't OB in play and will be just a wedge into the green no matter where the drive goes.
Approach: Just a wedge for most of the field into the first green, possibly a 9 iron on a mis-hit. The green is large and only has a bunker on the front right that is a few yards off the green so it isn't in play. They should be able to stick short irons and wedges close on the opening hole and get rolling with a birdie early on. Green Size: 30x25 yards
Advantage: SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 2: Par 3, 239 Yards
Approach: They don't make the par 3's easy on these guys this week. All of them are long and will likely be the hardest holes on the course just because of the length. This green is narrow for the approach being about 240 yards and it is well protected on both the left and right sides by bunkers. This will be a hard green to hit, so short games will be important on this hole. Green Size: 20x40 yards
Advantage: GIR, Scrambling
Hole 3: Par 4, 410 Yards
Off The Tee: The second par 4 is another one that does not provide an advantage for the bombers even though the fairway is wide. Too far of a drive will roll through the fairway and have them fishing their balls from the pond. Long hitters will have to hit less than driver, but that will be fine because it should still leave a wedge into the green. Those that can hit driver have a wide landing area, so finding the fairway won't be an issue for anyone.
Approach: A short wedge will be all that's left for the field here. There's a bunker on the left and one on the right, but they won't be in play with how short the approaches are. This should be a birdie hole for the field. Green Size: 30x15 yards
Advantage: SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 4: Par 5, 565 Yards
Off The Tee: Not much to the tee shot here. The fairway is wide enough that it will be hard to miss, and if the long hitters are really worried about the bunker on the right, they can just shift their aim point a little to the left. Otherwise, just step up to the tee and let it fly here.
Approach: Longer hitters will be able to get to this green if they want to. Bunkers are on the left side and there's plenty of room to miss on the right side, so we should see many approaches end up on the right, especially rolling up onto the green. The green may not be hit often because of the length of approach, so a good short game will leave easy birdie opportunities. Green Size: 30x20 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, SG: Approach, SG: Around The Green, Par 5 Scoring
Hole 5: Par 4, 465 Yards
Off The Tee: The tee shot here will not require any decision making. Short hitters can hit driver to the large part of the fairway and everyone else will have to hit less than driver to stay short of the bunkers. There is not enough room to go over the bunkers, and playing from them on the approach with longer irons is less than ideal. Anything short of the bunkers is what we'll see on this tee shot.
Approach: Given that the approach will come from more than 170 yards, this will be a difficult green to hit because of its size. It's angled in a way that there is not much room to miss anywhere, and if they end up too far left they'll wind up in one of the two bunkers. Good short game players should shine here and making a par is plenty good. Green Size: 15x35 Yards
Advantage: Approaches from 175-200 yards, Scrambling, Bogey Avoidance
Hole 6: Par 4, 387 Yards
Off The Tee: Back to an easy hole after one hard one. If they want to play this one conservatively, they can hit less than driver and stay behind the first bunker to the large part of the fairway, but it's unlikely that's the optimal play. Bunkers are out there, but it is wide open here so they can launch it pretty much anywhere and have a very short wedge into the green. Long hitters will be able to run it up to the bunker at the front of the green if they wanted to.
Approach: A wedge for the whole field (even if they hit less than driver). The one bunker in play is the large one in front, but it will be more in play for long hitters going down the fairway than it will for approach shots. Any easy birdie look with a good short wedge approach. Green Size: 35x15 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 7: Par 5, 515 Yards
Off The Tee: This is a very short par 5, made even shorter by the ability to cut the corner on the dogleg. Overall, this hole will be easy, but there will be definite eagle opportunities with a good drive that stays out of the fairway bunkers. If a drive happens to land in them, the lay up is not difficult and they'll just hit it as far down the fairway as they can (or to the green if possible).
Approach: A long iron approach to this green that has no protection other than its size, and even that won't do it. A good approach from long distance will give really good eagle chances, and birdies will be very popular from all over. A par on this hole should feel like a bogey. Green Size: 15x30 Yards
Advantage: Ball-Striking, Going for the Green Birdie or Better, Par 5 Scoring
Hole 8: Par 4, 399 Yards
Off The Tee: Hole 8 begins a stretch of holes along the beach. This one will not require a driver for most of the field especially if it plays firm at all. Long hitters will run their tee shots onto the beach for sure, so it will be popular to just play it safe into the large fairway. Shorter hitters may still need a driver to be sure to carry it to the fairway, but they will still have a wedge to the green no matter what, so no big deal there.
Approach: A short wedge approach to this green only protected by a small bunker on the right side. As long as the tee shot stays on land, this will be an easy birdie opportunity for the whole field. Green Size: 20x30 Yards
Advantage: SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 9: Par 3, 204 Yards
Approach: This may be an intimidating tee shot for amateurs by having to carry it over the water, but it shouldn't be for the pros this week. The green is huge, and all they'll have to do is make sure they carry the one bunker at the front of the green and they'll give themselves at least a very high chance to get par. There won't be tons of birdies on this hole, so it will probably feel like it's playing hard, but that is only really because the rest of the course is easy and par will just be popular because of the long approach. Green Size: 45x20 Yards
Advantage: GIR, 3 Putt Avoidance
Hole 10: Par 4, 496 Yards
Off The Tee: The start to the back 9 is a similar tee shot to most on the front. It's wide open other than fairway bunkers on the left that can easily be avoided. The fairway is large enough to even aim more to the right side and still not bring much rough into play. Hitting the fairway will be important because of the long approach that is next, but it won't be difficult to do.
Approach: The entire right side of the green is protected by bunkers, which is a smart play by the designers considering many will error to the right off the tee, meaning they'll now have to carry it over the bunkers to get on the green. Another bunker is on the left side of the green, but much less in play than the other two. The green is large enough to hold long approaches, so safe plays will be on, but bad swings or too aggressive swings will likely miss the green. Par will be a good score to start the back. Green Size: 25x35 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, Ball-Striking, Scrambling, Bogey Avoidance
Hole 11: Par 3, 265 Yards
Approach: This is one of the longest, if not the longest par 3 on the PGA Tour this year. A fairway wood for almost all of the field that will have to carry all the way to the green to avoid issues. Right after the water, there are two sets of bunkers to catch anything that is short. Anything that goes long will land in another bunker. Many will error out to the left, and short games will definitely be on display here no matter where the ball goes. a GIR will be rare. Green Size: 35x20 Yards
Advantage: Scrambling
Hole 12: Par 5, 623 Yards
Off The Tee: From one very long hole to another, but this one will be much easier. The fairway is so wide on this hole, it will take a very bad swing to miss here. Nothing to it, really, just hit it as hard as possible and go play the next one from the fairway.
Approach: Not many will be able to reach the green here, nor is it necessary. The green is protected in the front by bunkers to catch anything rolling up to the green, plus the green is just small in general. There is not penalty areas around the green so they can try to get it there, they just have to be prepared to play around the green. Some may just elect to lay up to a preferred wedge distance and play from there. No matter what they choose, it will likely be towards their strengths and everyone will have a great chance at birdie. Green Size: 15x40 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, SG: Approach, SG: Around The Green, Par 5 Scoring
Hole 13: Par 4, 446 Yards
Off The Tee: They'll want to avoid the trees to have a look at the green on this hole, so they'll have to move their aim to the right side of the fairway. This will bring rough into play, but the other set of trees on the right should not be in play still. Long hitters may have to hit less than driver, or they'll risk playing out of the bunkers or in the trees on the left. The dogleg shortens the hole a little, however, so even less than driver still leaves a short club to the hole.
Approach: A short iron approach to a green with basically no protection. There are a couple bunkers in the area, but are not close enough to the green to be in play. A drive that finds the fairway will make hitting this large green easy, but getting it on from the rough or bunker shouldn't be an issue either. Another birdie hole here. Green Size: 40x25 Yards
Advantage: Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 14: Par 5, 626 Yards
Off The Tee: Another long par 5 that actually gets longer because of the angle they almost force them to take because of the bunker placement. They'll likely take their tee shots to the right side of the fairway where there is plenty of room and go from there. Not much else to it.
Approach: This whole hole looks very goofy, and the approach does especially. There's a bunch of fairway bunkers in the middle and edges of the fairways, but there is only one small one at the actual green. If they want to let it rip and try and get to the green, they can do that because there is no trouble after the last fairway bunker. They can also lay up to any distance they want and play a wedge to the green. Like the last par 5, they should choose to do whatever the strength in their game is and everyone will have a good birdie look. Green Size: 20x40 Yards
Advantage: Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, SG: Around the Green, Par 5 Scoring
Hole 15: Par 4, 421 Yards
Off The Tee: Another hole here where it is nearly impossible to miss the fairway. Long hitters could possibly run through the fairway again on this hole, but there's plenty of room anyway. Like many other tee shots, not much to this one, just aim down the middle and hit it wherever it ends up.
Approach: This hole has two greens, but the green on the left is likely the one to be played. It has just one bunker, and these guys will only have wedges into the green so the bunker won't be in play. Another birdie hole for the field. Green Size: 20x35 Yards
Advantage: SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 16: Par 4, 461 Yards
Off The Tee: The fairway is smaller than the last few on this hole, but it's still large and there is no trouble around if it's missed. No surprise, bombs away yet again.
Approach: No protection to this green, so an approach with a mid iron will be easier than usual. Great iron players will have good looks at birdie, but this hole will be more about avoiding a bogey than pouring in birdies. It is not a difficult hole, but not extremely easy either because of the length. Green Size: 15x40 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 17: Par 3, 214 Yards
Approach: The last par 3 is another long one. The bunker in the front will catch anything short. There aren't a lot of open spaces to miss, but the green is large enough that it shouldn't be difficult to hit and hold. Avoiding 3 putts will be the key on this hole. Green Size: 35x15 Yards
Advantage: GIR, 3 Putt Avoidance, Bogey Avoidance
Hole 18: Par 4, 501 Yards
Off the Tee: The closing hole will be a fun one, and the tee shot will be largely dependent on wind and each individual's distance. They will absolutely be able to cut off most of this hole, it is just a matter of how much. The long hitters will have the opportunity to go straight at the green if they want as well.
Approach: No matter what angle they take to the fairway, they'll all have a wedge of some sort into the green. The bunker near the green is really only in play for the long hitters that go at the green. No matter what, a birdie on the closing hole is in play for everyone. Green Size: 25x45 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, SG: Approach, Sand Saves, Par 4 Scoring
Conclusions
The fairways are very wide here, as they are at many resort courses, so great approach players from the fairway should be the primary target this week. Even though the course is long on paper, the par 3's and par 5's make up most of that, so on many holes these guys will just have wedges into the greens for birdie looks.
With the note above on wedges into greens, GIR percentage will be high, so looking for birdie or better makers and those that convert birdies at a high percentage will be key. Scores will be low, so being exposed to those kinds of players is a good idea.
As in with any course that has huge fairways and no penalty areas near the fairways, hitting the ball far will be an advantage. Those that are towards the top of the driving distance category should pop at the top of the leaderboard.
Other stats to consider: Par 4 Scoring, Par 5 Scoring, SG: Around The Green, 3 Putt Avoidance, Ball-Striking
Assumptions
Images and measurements were done on Google Earth. These satellite images can sometimes be up to five or more years old and not show very recent changes to courses if there were any.
Carry distance is used for off-the-tee distances shown in the images. The average carry distance on tour in 2021 was 281 yards, so that is what is used here.
I used a total dispersion off-the-tee of 60 yards. This comes from an article that Jon Sherman wrote for Practical Golf (@practicalgolf) discussing average dispersion, and I took 5-10 yards off from that number.
I assumed a 10-15 yard roll out from the carry distance to start the measurement to the green. Measurements to the green were rounded to the nearest five yards and measured from the center of the fairway to the center of the green.
Green measurements were also measured to the nearest five yards.
Things like weather, rough length, elevation, etc. are not taken into consideration on the measurements. I can only see and assume so much from satellite images. However, I do note where possible on each hole if things like elevation and wind could impact how the hole plays.
Scorecard:
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