News:

Welcome to the Golf Club Atlas Discussion Group!

Each user is approved by the Golf Club Atlas editorial staff. For any new inquiries, please contact us.


cary lichtenstein

  • Karma: +0/-0
Black Creek
« on: April 02, 2006, 06:42:48 PM »
I ran across pictures of Black Creek in Chattonoga. Looks like a neat course. I have never played a Brian Silva course.

Any recommendations?
Live Jupiter, Fl, was  4 handicap, played top 100 US, top 75 World. Great memories, no longer play, 4 back surgeries. I don't miss a lot of things about golf, life is simpler with out it. I miss my 60 degree wedge shots, don't miss nasty weather, icing, back spasms. Last course I played was Augusta

Jay Cox

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Creek
« Reply #1 on: April 02, 2006, 07:25:09 PM »
Black Creek is a completely different animal from every other Silva course I have played, largely b/c he built it conciously to emulate Raynor's style rather than in his own.  

Most of Silva's work is in New England; most of it is for mid- to low-end clients, although a lot of the recent stuff is moving in the CCFAD direction. There are a lot of Silva courses (especially older Cornish and Silva courses) that are nothing more than average publics.  On the public side, the two I have played that are head-and-shoulders above average are Waverly Oaks and Red Tail.  Waverly Oaks, in Plymouth, MA, is probably the better test because of the wind, but I prefer Red Tail, on the old Fort Devens military base (now closed) in central Mass.  The front nine is particularly strong, especially the really neat short par 4 8th.  The style is also fairly typical of Silva.  I'd say it's a 5 on the Doak scale.

john_stiles

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Creek
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2006, 11:12:07 AM »
Black Creek is very enjoyable, go visit. The course plays pretty much as a wide open course but where position in the fairway is very important.  I presume you are not yet bombing it 300+ and lofting 9 irons or wedges into every 470 yard par 4.  Course has a very nice Alps/Punchbowl, reverse Redan, the full Biarritz, and some others.  The Spine hole is a lot of fun.

It is kind of like Raynor meets MacKenzie as fairway position can mean everything.  

The greens are all interesting, every single one.  Most recoveries are therefore challenging.

Chattanooga also has 'Lookout Mountain GC' which has plenty of interesting holes along with the most difficult to putt greens in the area. Check your 'putting ego' at the door.

There is also the thoroughly modern and manly 'Honors' nearby.

Downtown is quaint, with maybe the best 'America' art museum in the south (as I have been told) at the Hunter Museum. Nearby is a very nice aquarium, the Tennessee Aquarium.  My fav spot is the 'new' downtown AA ballfield for the Lookouts.  All of these downtown spots are within walking distance (ie three or four par 5s).

You cannot go wrong with playing Black Creek, The Honors, and Lookout Mountain as a golf trip.

--- end of Chamber of Commerce advertisement ---

Jay Flemma

Re:Black Creek
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2006, 03:40:19 PM »
Oh my goodness, Cary, you have to play one TODAY!

Black creek is great...very Raynor-esque.  I think an EVEN better idea is a quick weekend trip to Boston to get in 1) Red Tail, 2) Black Rock and 3) Waverly Oaks.  

SIlva is a HUGE fan or Raynor/Macdonald and always tries to find places in the land where he can do true redans (with the green sloping away), biarritzes, (everything from the SEVERE one at Black Creek to his softest yet at Black Rock), saddles, punchbowls etc.  His big aim is perpendicular hazards and strategic options.  

He also is a disciple of Pete Dye in terms of alternate shot requirements.

You will really like his style...old school, but with a spit shine...
« Last Edit: April 03, 2006, 03:40:38 PM by Jay Flemma »

George Pazin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Creek
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2006, 03:44:22 PM »
Review of Black Creek on this site

Let us know what you think if you go.

I'd be curious to read a review of the private course Silva built up in Mass. recently, if anyone could point me in that direction. Is it one of the one's you recommend, Jay? Black Rock or Waverly?
Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

Mike_Sweeney

Re:Black Creek
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2006, 04:24:01 PM »
Any opinions on Silva's Cape Cod National? I will be playing it this summer.

DTaylor18

Re:Black Creek
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2006, 04:34:18 PM »
George, Brian Silva has done more than one private course recently in Mass. but the one i think you are referring too that will be a GCA favorite is Black Rock.  David Carroll played here last year and really liked it, so perhaps he will chime in.  It has a lot of Raynor features.

Sean Leary

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Creek
« Reply #7 on: April 03, 2006, 04:42:50 PM »
Has anyone played Renaissance Golf Club in Haverhill?  I believe that one may not have even opened yet..

Jay Flemma

Re:Black Creek
« Reply #8 on: April 03, 2006, 04:49:21 PM »