Another nice course from Chimaera Design and, once again, one that is probably overlooked by a lot of potential players, simply because there are no illustrating pictures and/or comments regarding the course itself, which is a “shame” as the scenery with the volcanoes is beautiful, the textures used for the rocks quite nice and the water hazards and plantings, pretty to look at.
If this course is visually attractive, it also offers some challenges with a few short risk/reward holes, undulated fairways and greens.
It starts with the short (about 360 yards) par-4 1st hole, with two small lakes on the right and a nice and big wooden house on the right of the green, close to the lakefront, and is followed by the right dogleg par-5 3rd, with big ditches filled with deep rough and an elevated green.
Then, after the left dogleg par-4 4th hole, with a downhill tee shot, a few trees on a hilltop in the corner, an undulating green and a blind approach shot to the green, and the par-3 5th, with a straight tee shot over a small pond across with two big rocks at both ends, you will see the... lava on the slope of the volcano on the straight par-4 6th hole, and again, on the short (about 360 yards) downhill par-4 7th, this time on the left side far away from the green.
But my favorite hole is the par-3 9th, with its nice panoramic view, with a pond to the left and behind the green and a big castle-like building, surrounded by a small garden, with the volcano (and the lava) way in the back.
Coming back, after the short (about 360 yards) par-4 10th hole, with a tee shot over a lake and three bunkers spread, left and right, not far from the green, another one of my favorite holes is the gorgeous par-3 11th, with the volcano as a backdrop, a big rock on the right of the tee (near the lake) and a tee shot over the water to reach the peninsula (and undulating) green.
The left dogleg par-4 12th hole is pretty too, with the lake on the left and behind the elevated green, and the volcano further back, just like the straight par-4 16th, with a wide undulating fairway between small hills all along and another elevated green.
Finally, after the par-4 17th hole, with big trees on a small hill on the right and a slanted fairway with a big bunker on the left midway through, you will face a beautiful panoramic view from the tee of the par-4 18th hole, with 4 small lakes on both sides of the fairway and the big manor/castle in front, while gazing, one last time, at the volcano.
While not being overly difficult, especially on the back 9, Under the volcano is worth playing with its spectacular panorama and quite fun to play. I just wished that Chimaera Design, despite his original (and/or funny) comments could “advertise” his courses differently, sometimes, by adding a few pictures to give players a good idea of what to expect, especially considering that he is one of the best designers around !

Ah, Stéphane, moln copain, j'ai quelques problèmes qui me dérangent trop pour le moment. J'attend une solution un de ces jours. Merci pour les bons mots.