As expected, Painted Forest GC is quite colorful, but it is also challenging, especially on the front 9 (3 of the first 6 holes are par-5s !), with subtle elevation changes and quite a few blind shots.
After a dogleg left par-5 opening hole, with a slightly-downhill green, too far to reach with a blind second shot, I like the nice par-3 2nd, with another slightly downhill tee shot flying past a small creek, filled with plenty of reeds and shrubs (winding its way across in front of the green), and the tough dogleg left par-5 3rd, with an undulating fairway and a blind and uphill approach to the elevated green, quite tricky to reach with a couple of tall trees (on the right) and another serpentine creek (in front).
If you are in a gambling mood, then the short, straight, downhill and wide open par-4 4rd hole, is for you with its green, potentially reachable with a blind driver shot...
Then, after the dogleg left par-5 6th hole, downhill all the way and with a blind tee shot and a second shot over a creek winding its way across the fairway and in front of the green, you will enjoy the “cute” par-3 8th, with its blind tee shot flying past a tiny bridge and along the creek (on the right), before finishing with the challenging dogleg left par-4 9th, again downhill all the way, with a blind tee shot over bushes and trees and another blind shot toward the green.
Heading back home, the back 9 is easier and more wide open, after the straight par-4 10th hole, with another blind tee shot over trees and a stream (and an uphill approach to the green), as you will find out with the par-3 11th, and the dogleg right par-5 12th, with an uphill tee shot and a long and blind approach to the downhill green.
Last, but not least, the short par-4 16th, along a big lake (on the right) is another hole worth mentioning, with its downhill green reachable from the tee box (if you can avoid the few pot bunkers guarding it, in front and on the left), just like the pretty par-3 17th, with a tee shot over an elongated lake and a small green, framed by two bunkers (front and back).
In the end, with its nice forest to gaze at, this par 72 is fun to play, but beware of the par-5 holes and some short par-4s : remember, sometimes it is better to be safe than... sorry !