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PThomas

Re:Ballyneal course profile is posted...
« Reply #25 on: June 20, 2006, 05:51:57 PM »
I forgot to add that it looks wonderful and like so much fun to play!

thanks Ran and congrats Tom
199 played, only Augusta National left to play!

Tom_Doak

Re:Ballyneal course profile is posted...
« Reply #26 on: June 20, 2006, 09:08:29 PM »
Mike N:  On several holes there is a grass walkway of varying width mowed tight all the way from the foot of the tee to the fairway -- there's a "fairway" around to the left on #3 [which looks MUCH different from the tee than it does in Ran's two photos] and there is fairway all the way up the gut on #11.  On #5 you can see there's a maintenance track which you walk on for about twenty yards between the end of the tees and the start of the fairway.  And on #15 there's a path through the long grass.

There's not much dew in eastern Colorado in the summer though, so "dew paths" are kind of redundant.

Mark_F

Re:Ballyneal course profile is posted...
« Reply #27 on: June 20, 2006, 10:09:49 PM »
If the Fingal course is half as good, I will be a happy chappy.

Then again, if the Fingal course GETS built I will be a happy chappy.

John Foley

Re:Ballyneal course profile is posted...
« Reply #28 on: June 20, 2006, 10:15:48 PM »
First of all to Ran, that is a fantastic write up and even better pictures. BTW - Did you play it w/ Hickories and how did that sway your review?

Tom D - the greens look great, are they fescue? What are the expectations on how they are to be maintaned? Looks like there are some pretty bold movement in theere.
Integrity in the moment of choice

Joe Perches

Re:Ballyneal course profile is posted...
« Reply #29 on: June 21, 2006, 12:41:31 AM »
Thank you Ran, an excellent writeup and photos.

Ballyneal appears to be a course that would be a great pleasure to play many many times.

Some questions:

I saw a few cart tracks, but perhaps those were from maintenance vehicles.
Is Ballyneal walking only?

From the photos, I have a difficult time imagining the green to tee routings.
What are the average walks from green to tee?

Ballyneal doesn't appear too vertical, but pictures can deceive.
What are the average and maximum elevation changes?

Any idea what the expected average time to play will be?

How long is the golf season in eastern Colorado?

Bill_McBride

Re:Ballyneal course profile is posted...
« Reply #30 on: June 21, 2006, 09:46:09 AM »
Joe, I haven't been there but have talked to some who have.  The club is indeed all walking and is well-designed for that in terms of green to tee distances.  Not sure about the hilliness factor but the photos make it look pretty "choppy" there in the Chop Hills.  Perhaps John Kirk will get back on and answer your other questions.

John Kirk

Re:Ballyneal course profile is posted...
« Reply #31 on: June 21, 2006, 10:30:10 AM »
Joe,

For all intents and purposes, Ballyneal is walking only.

Green to tee walks are the feature where Renaissance Golf most exceeded my expectations.  There are no awkward green to tee transitions; it all fits quite nicely.  Grassed walkways have been established.  Some walks are really short.  The 5th tee is nearly an extension of the 4th green.  Others, like the walk from 14th green to the back tee on 15, require about 100 yards to get into position.  I'll guess the average walk is 50-60 yards.

Tom D. will probably answer this question about maximum elevation changes.  I'll make some guesses.  The course starts about 30 feet above where it finishes.  The maximum elevation change on the property is about 150 feet, and the course elevation change is about 100 feet.  The biggest elevation change on the course is the shot from the back tee on the par 5 4th hole, which is maybe a 70 feet drop (the walk from 3 green, around a dune to 4 tee, is dramatic).  Other than that, holes play 5-30 feet uphill and downhill, and typical shots on the course will play no more than one club more or less for the elevation change.  I hope that's close.

I don't know what the expected time will be, but if you're taking over 4:15, you're too slow.  Another member and I played the course last September in 3:05 and 3:10.  Granted, there wasn't much putting going on, but we played the whole thing, and we weren't rushing.  This is a 4 hour course.

The weather in eastern Colorado is quite volatile.  In March or September, it can be 85 degrees, or it can snow, sometimes in the same day.  Tentatively, Ballyneal will open each May, and close in November.  The club has an active and ongoing bird hunting program, so the course will stay open a little later in the fall.  

Tom Huckaby

Re:Ballyneal course profile is posted...
« Reply #32 on: June 21, 2006, 10:39:06 AM »
John - this is sounding better and better... good lord, the drool is really flowing.   ;D


I don't know what the expected time will be, but if you're taking over 4:15, you're too slow.  Another member and I played the course last September in 3:05 and 3:10.  Granted, there wasn't much putting going on, but we played the whole thing, and we weren't rushing.  This is a 4 hour course.


Coming from the land of "if you get in under 5.5 hours you are flying", that just sounds too good to be true.  And what I mean by that is SUCH a great-looking course also can be played fast... wow... that is awesome.

TH
« Last Edit: June 21, 2006, 10:41:39 AM by Tom Huckaby »

Mike Benham

Re:Ballyneal course profile is posted...
« Reply #33 on: June 21, 2006, 02:03:07 PM »
The club has an active and ongoing bird hunting program, so
the course will stay open a little later in the fall.  


Yep, Vizslas are the dog of choice at Ballyneal and my dog
will probably get there before I do  ;)


« Last Edit: June 21, 2006, 02:03:42 PM by Mike Benham »
"... and I liked the guy ..."

Larry_Keltto

Re:Ballyneal course profile is posted...
« Reply #34 on: June 21, 2006, 02:12:00 PM »
Here's something that I think contributes to the natural appearance at Ballyneal: during the hydroseeding process, the crew worked very hard to blend the grass into the surroundings. On fairways, for example, they applied seed in an irregular fashion to the native/rough areas that were just beyond the playing surface.

As a result, Ballyneal doesn't look like the playing areas were edged with an Exacto knife.

Following the evolution of Ballyneal from pre-construction through construction, and now to opening has been a wondrous experience. But I am glad the waiting is over ;-)

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