The back nine again opens with four par 4’s. The 12th is a straightforward scoring opportunity for most, but this is followed by the long 13th. Featuring a superb view from the tee, with a lake in front and mountain vistas in the distance, the fairway stretches out and around a slight dogleg left. At stroke index 1, par on this hole should leave any player satisfied.

The closing 18th is a testing par 4, and if you have a score going this could spoil things!
An accurate drive could leave a short iron approach, but with plenty of trouble in the fairway and a well protected two-tier green, this hole may have other ideas. As with the 9th hole, our designer friend obviously believes a strong finish to each half of the course will settle any close matches. The front and back nine are actually so well rounded it is feasible to compete on a full or half round.

You get the impression on playing El Paraiso that Gary Player was trying to create a course to suit everybody. This could have created a mix of holes that don’t sit together well, but in fact the opposite is true. Its beauty lies in its diversity – always giving an honest, well formulated challenge and always well maintained. This is a course to be savoured and enjoyed time and again, and for that its members, who are the owners – and especially its designer – should be proud.