InArkansas.com

No. 18 Granada (Hot Springs Village) - After 17 of the most gorgeous holes on one course in Arkansas, golfers wind around to the tee box at the par-4, 444-yard No. 18 to find Granada in Hot Springs Village in its most splendid glory: creek down the left side, the hole doglegging left with a second shot over trouble and a spectacular waterfall behind the well-bunkered green, all with the clubhouse sitting proudly atop the hill.

No. 12, Big Creek Golf & Country Club (Mountain Home) - Much of Big Creek at Mountain Home looks like a faux links-style course, but part of the back nine winds through hilly terrain populated with lots of trees. The long (440 yards) par-4 No. 12 at Big Creek takes full advantage of the beautiful, natural landscape in this corner of the course.

Nos. 3-4, Chenal Country Club-Founders (Little Rock) - A tight fairway with trees on the right and water the length of the hole on the left provides a stiff challenge on the par-4 No. 3, a 429-yarder on the Founders side of Chenal. The creek on the left becomes a lake near the hole and accentuates the beauty of the par-3, 201-yard No. 4.

No. 17, Cortez (Hot Springs Village) - One of the more majestic drop-off holes in Arkansas is the par-3 No. 17 at Cortez in Hot Springs Village, which measures 178 yards from the longest tee markers but plays a club or two less. Pay attention to the signs warning cart drivers about driving too fast down the path to the hole. Thrill rides are for amusement parks, not courses.

No. 18, Pleasant Valley Country Club (Little Rock)  - Reaching the last three holes of PVCC’s first 18, golfers encounter one of the prettiest sights in Arkansas golf: three demanding holes (a par-4, par-3 and par-5) around a large lake. It all culminates with a classic risk-reward par-5, the 18th, reachable in two shots for the longer hitters but with treachery all around the green to turn dreams of eagle or birdie into a high number. It’s the perfect capper to a round that includes many great holes over a traditional layout.

No. 4, Diamondhead Golf Club (Hot Springs) - The mountains in the distance and the forest surrounding the course make Diamondhead a delight. Negotiating fairways such as the tight par-4 No. 4 (416 yards) is another matter. What could be better than beauty and challenge in the same round?

No. 17, The Greens at North Hills (Sherwood) - When The Greens at North Hills was converted last year from a privately owned course to daily-fee play, some of the defining sand traps were removed, ostensibly to speed up public play. Still, North Hills, which was reworked by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in the 1970s, offers beauty in other ways, such as this classic rock-walled creek next to the par-3 No. 17, which plays 189 yards from the back tee markers.