I wanted to post some thoughts on a relatively new, very affordable public course here in Western NY. Arrowhead Golf Club is a approx 15-20 min east of Buffalo. Done by Scott Witter, it's laid out on a small piece of land (150ish acres I think?). Given that, the routing flows very well (especially the finish from 13-18 where you are turning direction on every tee shot and playing in the 25mph wind we did, made for some challenging golf). It's easily walkable and not once does anything feel like it's forced in. 6654/71.8/128 from the tips (but some distance will be added w/ a few new back tee's starting this fall).
A few holes really stand out.
Hole 1 is a 572 yard par 5. It appears tough, but you are given a tremendous amount of room to the left, which the golfer won't realize from the tee. Layup brings a bunker right into play and the fairway moves right to a green raised slightly w/ water surrounding 2/3's and a bunker front left. Miss left or long w/ your approach your in the drink. Playing it the second time you figure out that the appearance is what provides the challenge and the hole is very playbale.
Hole 4 is a very good par 3 of 158 yards over some water to an angled green raised on the right and ground level on the left. A center bunker seperates the butting surface and a ridge off the bunker provides a great feature. Some room to bail short & left & right, but it leaves a very tough up & downs to a back pin. Very, very fun hole to play.
Hole 7 is a great risk reward par 4. 329 from the tips slight dogleg right, but I don't think it's drivable. Take the agressive line over the bunker and your lefy w/ a flip wedge into a tough green w/ junk/hazard on the right. Lay back w/ an iron off the tee and miss that shot train wrecks abound.
Hole 10 was to all of us who played it our favorite hole. Great risk reward par 5 504 yards. Stream cuts across the fairway at about 190 off the tee. If you hit a draw you need to take it over a strand of trees on the right hand side to find the fairway. If you do your left anywhere from 230-180 in. If you choose to layup a bunker & native areas come into play in an ever shrinking fairway the longer you go. The green site is angled slightly from the line of play. Very well bunkered to catch everything but the best struck shot. A fairway cut short of the green helps w/ the recovery options. A great risk reward par 5.
Hole 11 (along w/ 18) are the toughest par 4's. Long (433 yards) w/ a raised green w/ no discernable background privides a tough approach. Challenge the right hand side bunker off the tee and you'll be rewarded w/ a mucher better angle into the tee.
Hole 14 is a drivable par 4 300 yards from the tios. It will take a perfectly executed drive as OB is left, water is right and bunkers short right of the green. Lay back w/ an iron you still need to hit a very good second shot to a smallish green.
Hole 16 par 3 193 yards into the prevailing wind. The most higly contoured green is raised slightly (seperated from the 10th greens ite by a ridge) and very well bunkered. It is easily the toughest par 3. Anything but on the green will leave you scratching your head on how to get away w/ a par.
Hole 18 is a extremlly challenging par 4 of 407 yards playing into the prevailing wind. Wetlands run down the right hand side. Play to the left brings a fw bunker into play. Once you hopefully find the fw your left w/ the most challenging approach on the course. Green is huge w/ water fron t & moving around the right side. A far right hand pin placement looks very tough. The left hand side of the green has a few bunkers & OB. The green also is sloped back left to front & right. Anything above the pin will haver the ball take off. Great finishing hole.
A few comments about the greens. Some raised, some at ground level, almost all offer the run-up option. Well bunkered, but not overly. The internal contours have a few bold ones, but it's the very subtle rolls which confound you. After 36 holes our group commented that they always felt challenged on the greens and there was never a let up.
Did not bring a camera, so pics will have to wait untill the next trip.
I got thinking about this course in terms of Lou's thread about where to retire. This is the type of course we need to seek out & support. Architecturelly intriguing. Challenging to those who need it and playable to all. If you find yourself in WNY, you should check it out, you won't be dissapointed.