Was just out to Rustic and had a blast. It is unique, beautiful and immense fun.
It's got shot opportunities around and into the greens which remind me of Scotland...firm, fast, undulating (and true) without being contrived in the least. The greens and surrounds have you judging (trying to figure out) the bounce and release on approaches and around the greens. There are options to either chip, pitch or putt...it's immense fun. The wind was blowing a fair bit, which added to the interest.
I love the bunker work.
The 4th? Much has been made of the houses, but I didn't see them, and I'd been given a heads-up by this post and additionally by Tommy N. when driving into the site! They just didn't register. In fact I'd have forgotten about this aspect totally had Tommy not asked me about them after the round!
As for the 4th hole itself...that green may not be draped by glaring hazards...Joe Public may be able to bounce it in, but it surely didn't strike me as a weak link. It’s a nice looking hole…not stunning, but it fits into its surrounds seamlessly. I like the little scrapes (bunkers) around the green. Once on the green, if you’re on the wrong section you're working to make 3...miss the green and you've got the same challenges...plus a little. It may be more a psychological factor during the round…coming off the green early in the round, good players just may be pissed for getting beat by a hole which looks at first glance somewhat tame.
I do think the short par-4’s could use a bunker on each to strengthen them a little for the strong player…on the 12th I think a small pot bunker like that on the 9th at St.Andrews…right around the area where a good player would land his drive would add interest just as their Principal’s Nose bunker does on the next hole (but would it be repetitive?). Such a bunker on the 12th would give pause, even indecision with club selection and line selection on the drive…it’d make the hole play more like the 10th at Riviera...which I understand was the intent.
On the 3rd I’d place a bunker out to the right-front of the green about 15-20 yards away to catch tee shots that bail. It would be a miserable distance for a bunker shot, and the ensuing shot back to the green with the surrounding bunkers and wash behind the green would be hairy. Then again both these observations and ideas are based on first impressions, and the next time out, in different conditions, these holes could just kick my ass. In any case...as they stand now, they are fun holes.
The clubhouse and cart barn are just too close to 18 for my liking.
My hat’s off to the crew involved with its creation…to repeat Matt Ward's line…it is ”what modern courses should be about.” To think another architect passed up this opportunity!