[Patrick_Mucci]

1. Escondido
2. Squire Creek
3. Branson Creek
4.Maroon Creek
5.Red Sky

Escondido was that good?

Very solid test. Straight forward. 
Firestone West- honorable mention

Call me crazy....... OK, I'm crazy, but, I liked Firestone West more than Shadow Creek.
And, I like it more than Galloway.

I could play Firestone West every day and enjoy the challenge.

I wouldn't want to play Shadow Creek and Gallaway every day.

[Tim_Weiman]

Micheal George:

I appreciate some of your comments about Sand Ridge, but don't agree with the suggestion of a "disconnect" between #11 green and # 12 tee. If you consider the many routing plans for the property, it was clear the architect had to deal with two key issues: 1) what to do with the parcel north of the wetlands, 2) how to minimize intrusion in the wetlands.

Using the north parcel was the correct decision, arguably the only logical choice. But, equally, there was strong pressure to build only two bridges (11 to 12 and 15 to 16). Besides, I have always enjoyed both walks.

As for what might have been done, I remember Dusty Murdock telling me C&C was his first choice, but the marketing decision was that wouldn't fly when it came to selling memberships. Still, Ben did have some influence: at one point the favored name for the club was Sand Hills, but Ben called Dusty and asked for that to be changed. If I remember correctly, Bill Conway was cool with that as long as the word "sand" was included.

[Greg Clark]

1. Escondido
2. Squire Creek
3. Branson Creek
4.Maroon Creek
5.Red Sky

Escondido was that good?

I liked Escondido just fine. It is a straight forward test with solid green complexes and a strong finishing stretch.  But give me Dallas National, Vaquero and Carlton Woods as better Fazio efforts in Texas.  I haven't been out to Briggs Ranch or Butterfield Trail yet. 

[Chris Munoz]

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<a href="http://s1149.photobucket.com/albums/o593/ccmunoz25/?action=view&amp;current=Hole11.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o593/ccmunoz25/th_Hole11.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>
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[Ronald Montesano]

[Ronald Montesano]

Picture Tags go  like this:

IMG width=300]PHOTO-URL~GOES-HERE[/img


make sure you put the bracket [ before the initial IMG and the bracket ] after the final /img for each image.


300 is the width in pixels.

[Michael George]

Micheal George:

I appreciate some of your comments about Sand Ridge, but don't agree with the suggestion of a "disconnect" between #11 green and # 12 tee. If you consider the many routing plans for the property, it was clear the architect had to deal with two key issues: 1) what to do with the parcel north of the wetlands, 2) how to minimize intrusion in the wetlands.

Using the north parcel was the correct decision, arguably the only logical choice. But, equally, there was strong pressure to build only two bridges (11 to 12 and 15 to 16). Besides, I have always enjoyed both walks.

As for what might have been done, I remember Dusty Murdock telling me C&C was his first choice, but the marketing decision was that wouldn't fly when it came to selling memberships. Still, Ben did have some influence: at one point the favored name for the club was Sand Hills, but Ben called Dusty and asked for that to be changed. If I remember correctly, Bill Conway was cool with that as long as the word "sand" was included.

Tim:

I do remember reading about a wetlands issue with the course.  That certainly would explain the long cart path between 11 and 12.  You are surely correct that Fazio had limited options in that regard.  Also, while I don't like the long cartpath, I did enjoy betting my group if anyone could putt across it.  

What is your opinion between the front 9 and the back 9? I love playing the back 9 at Sand Ridge.  As I said, I think holes #13-#18 are great golf holes.  In addition, I think #10-#12 are solid (but not as good as #13-#18).  However, I just don't think the front 9 measures up to the back.  I enjoyed #2, but think the long waster bunker is somewhat out of place, and I do enjoy #9.  But, I think Fazio could have done more with the front 9 (ie.  both par 5's are long and straight and head in the same direction, #5 and #7 are similar par 4s in the same direction).

Fo gca types, I think northeast Ohio has 4 great golf courses - (1) Brookside, (2) Country Club (PP), (3) Kirtland, and (4) Canterbury.  Each has history and are really great golf courses.  I think Sand Ridge is right after these courses, along with the Firestone courses.  However, it is just my amateur opinion.      

[Tim_Weiman]

Michael,

I share your view that the back 9 at Sand Ridge is much better than the  front 9. Some specific points:

#1 - really bland hole except that the green always seems very difficult to putt - not pretty just slippery.

#2 - the long waste bunker was all about creating a buffer with the wetlands. I agree it doesn't contribute much architecturally.

#3 - I always believed the center bunker was misplaced and not in play for most golfers. Unsuccessfully lobbied to change.

#4 - my favorite hole. Fun challenge from the back tee.

#5 - nothing special

#6 - ditto

#7 - wetlands prevented something much better - a green further left and way down the hill. Would have been really cool

#8 - nothing special except that it was the last hole I ever birdied. Left side pin placement has a damn small landing area

#9 - nothing special off the tee, but the approach shot is one you could play for hours, especially to a back pin

Overall, the course probably relies too much on the blue grass rough for its defense. Take someone for cart ride around the course and they may well tell you there aren't tough shots to play. But, local polls have rated the course the most difficult in the area.

Still, I always enjoyed playing the course, especially the back 9 which has a nice balance of fun shots, challenge and a  "walk in the park".

Too bad I live in Houston and never get to play it anymore.

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