Any course that bills itself as "The (insert famous course here) of the (insert polar opposite geographic location here)", runs the risk of falling flat on it's public relations face.
Last week, as I mentioned in my thread about "Children's Tees", I played a course called Baywood Greens near Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, in an area that tends to cater to their summer vacationing clientele.
The golf course was originally designed by Bill Love, formerly of Ault/Clark and Associates, but a fellow by the name of Larry DeWitt (a landscape architect) and the owner, Rob Tunnell did most of the shaping and construction, adding design ideas of their own.
The "bones" of the golf course are not bad at all, with quite a number of interesting holes and even a few wild greens, but the golf course is most assuredly not what the "experience" at Baywood is all about. In fact, it's merely the tree to hang the elaborate trimmings on.
Consider the following from their website;
You will experience the meticulously manicured Woodside and Waterside nines with eight timbered bridges and 27 acres of man-made ponds, two tunnels and over 200,000 flowers, plants, shrubs and trees."
The place puts most arboretums and flower nurseries to shame!! In fact, the tee markers are large wooden flower pots with different flower types on each tee!!
The place is immaculately conditioned and it wouldn't strike me as odd to see someone out vacuuming the fairways! Most private clubs would kill to have maintenance budgets anywhere near what must be spent at Baywood Greens.
From an article by Jeff Mankus of "TravelGolf";
"The technological advances implemented to build Baywood Greens create a Longwood Gardens presence, a world renown garden in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. The Tunnell Companies along with Golf Course Architect Aulten Clarke (sic) designed 8 bridges, 2 tunnels, 60 vast bunkers, and 350 mounds which spread out over the first 2 nines. Over 200,000 flowers adorn the Woodside (holes 1-9) and Waterside (holes 10-18) Courses."
"Just imagine how many flowers will be added to the final 9 holes, a total of 750 acres, once it is completed in the next few years. Of these 200,000 flowers, several thousand decorate 3 timbered bridges on the 14th, 16th, and 18th holes, a newfangled idea which resembles the hanging gardens of Babylon above the water's edge."
"Another feature Baywood Greens' offers is National Park like Scenic View Signs which overlook majestic vistas of 27 acres of water, over 100,000 plants, shrubs and trees, and two wild flower hazards that form a sea of colors on the 7th and 9th holes. On the 603 yard, par 5, 5th hole, I saw a limo cart pass me filled with tourists who had cameras and cam-corders."
"Large Grecian shaped columns extend over one hundred yards, forming the practice facility which shoots golfers into a coliseum like driving area filled with target greens. The practice entrance is guarded by an ornamental horticultural paradise which surrounds two winding putting areas while hiding a sand and chipping area off to the right."
"Storm shelters every 2-3 holes are elegant gazebos with patio furniture fit for kings and queens. Bathrooms facilities on the Woodside and Waterside Nines are exceptional, nicer than most of the trailer clubhouses often found on new upscale public courses."
"Even the maintenance building to the left of the 3rd tee is dressed with the same splendor as the other buildings at Baywood Greens. Although the future clubhouse is still under construction, the pool clubhouse serves as an ample fill in until construction is complete."
"Chesapeake Golfer, a magazine which serves golfers from Maryland, Delaware, Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Virginia, first wrote about Baywood Greens' commitment to excellence in an October 1999 article. This article states, "Baywood Greens sets a new standard for public courses to follow!""
And therein lies the problem...
Once again, the bar has been raised, the new standard has been set, and the effort to turn public golf into an "experience" akin to an amusement park ride sets the game off into a direction that I don't believe is healthy for the long run. While Baywood is "reasonably" priced at $88 in season, I can't imagine that is a figure that is reasonably commensurate with the maintenance budget and balance sheet over the long haul. And, if Baywood is successful, it puts the squeeze on other operators of courses to once again UP the ante on greenery, conditioning, non-golf related amenities and service to compete for a shrinking or stagnant golf dollar.
To give you an idea of the "Service" provided, there were 3 (THREE!!) different beverage women selling their wares on the course, helping to slow play infinitely. One of the carts served only booze. On one par three tee, a humorously ironic scene ensued while a ranger was telling us he was trying to speed play while a cart girl served drinks to the group on the green. Play took all of five hours when I was there, and not for lack of rangers. who have an impossible job with all of the distractions.
The golf gods definitely have a sense of humor. At Baywood Greens, where visual beauty is of the utmost importance, I was paired with a fellow named Fred from VA, and a couple where the woman was stunningly gorgeous and obviously surgically enhanced. (she was the one playing the "beginner's tees").
By the 4th hole, I found out that they owned a topless bar (she HAD to have been an "entertainer") at the shore, and hadn't slept in 48 hours.
As you might imagine, visual distractions were everywhere. Still, the perils of "high maintenance" became obvious on the 13th hole, where after several particularly poor shots, Ms. Silicone matter-of-factly and inspirationally announced to her compliant hubby, "I know what I want for Christmas! I want to go to Tiger Woods's Golf School!!"
Somebody's gotta foot the bill to maintain that type of beauty, which while it might be its own excuse for being, can only hide inherent inner flaws and faults for so long.
After that, the soul begins to yearn for something a little deeper and more meaningful.. If this is where public golf is going, I'm not sure who's coming along for the ride.
*see the course at
www.baywoodgreens.com