Who Did This??

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

My friend just played this golf course, sent me the photo, and refuses to tell me what it is. Funny guy. Any ideas on the name or architect?

[Tommy Williamsen]

It has been a number of years since I played it, but it looks like Applebrook in PA by Gil Hanse.  But that is just a guess based on my recollection of the course as a whole.

[Willie_Dow]

These bunkers look like Kittleman's at Gil Hanse's Hidden Creek.

[Chris Cupit]

Whoever did it should get a medal--it looks great

[John Kavanaugh]

I'll go out on a limb and say whoever designed this should be hung from it...This is GCA people, that hole is a mess.

[Chris Cupit]

What don't you like?  The fairways look nice and rolling, the bunkers are nice and natural looking with a lot of variety in size, shape and texture (some have fringed edges, some don't).

Few if any trees ruin the golf course

I love the contrast of the green fairway with the browned out rough areas.  Wait....I think I see what you hate--the path next to the tee isn't paved!!  (That fact alone gives it even more brownie points in my book).

Oh well, different strokes...

[Kyle Harris]

Meh... without having played it (Applebrook? French Creek?) looks like the tee shot could have more to it. I'd probably bleed the bunkers on the right side into the fairway more, have them take chunks of the ideal line out. Perhaps push the line of charm toward the other bunker and give the golfer something to really think about lining up.

Can't really see how the bunker on the second shot plays into the hole, and can't see around the green.

[Mike Nuzzo]

Kyle -
How would your suggestions effect the rest of the course?

John,
Too many bunkers?
That lake?
The bunker in front of the lake?

[Kyle Harris]

Kyle -
How would your suggestions effect the rest of the course?

John,
Too many bunkers?
That lake?
The bunker in front of the lake?

No idea, completely based on the photo. I haven't seen either Applebrook nor French Creek.

I get the idea with the flow and having this mesh with the other tee shots... just not sure there's much to like or hate from this one photo.

[JESII]

Don't know the right answer, but I can say it is not Applebrook or Hidden Creek...at least the Hidden Creek by C&C in NJ.

Kyle, doesn't it look like you would prefer to be in the left side of this fairway? Looks to me like a medium to short par 5...


JK,

At first blush, I sort of agree...not much about that picture grabbing me.

[John Kavanaugh]

Things I hate about the photo...My opinion may be different in person.

The lake looks like a mosquito infested drainage afterthought,

The first bunker on the left looks like it belongs in Palm Springs or anywhere but on this course.

The tee shot strategy looks pure textbook, in Gorilla High that is, fly the pond/bunkers and have a clean shot to the green.

The tree far left needs to go or be cleaned.

The fairway rolls are artificially random.

I would be concerned with ball ending up on the island of the pond and not being able to be played without a boat.  The advantage of hitting off the island as opposed to dropping behind is just too great to ignore.

There is no advantage to challenging the bunkers because of the angle of the green...the fairway bunkers should go.

There is a good chance that this is a par 5 and the guy who took the picture is on an up tee.   I hate photogs that take pictures from up tees.  If it is a par five then my strategic observations could be wrong.

I like bunkers in front of a lake because it is funny as hell when a guy thinks he caught a break by going in the bunker then tops his next one in the lake.

[Doug Ralston]

What? John! I have done that and it is NOT funny!  

Doug

[Ron Farris]

John K,

You are way wrong.  This hole is great -- send your high tech drive all the way to the carts on the upper right of the photo fairway and then use your cm grade GPS to get the exact yardage to the pin, and then send your high tech ball high into the air with your super-grooved pitching wedge and let it suck off the mound at the back left of the green to within inches of, if not in, the cup

I think what you were trying to say (far be it from me to put any words in anyone's mouth via cyber space) is that this is a busy look?

[Andy Troeger]

I'd like to know the general yardage of the hole and to the general features before I start making comments personally. There is a lot going and could be a lot of ways to play the hole, but some of that depend on what options are realistic. Looks like a par five to me that could be good if its reachable for the longer hitter, but you can't tell that from the photo.

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

Interesting to read the answers considering the question were, what course is this and who did it?

I was not looking for a critique of the hole or of the photography, unless it was by someone who has been there. My friend is amused as well. He said the hole is a par-5 and the cluster of bunkers on the left cannot be reached. He said a guy in his group was down by the pond and did not encounter a single mosquito.

Tony

[JESII]

Interesting to read the answers considering the question were, what course is this and who did it?

Would have been a pretty short thread if you were only expecting the correct answer...

Has your friend given you the course yet?

[Roger Tufts]

I know the answer.

Me and Brad played there a couple weeks ago, I'm 90% sure that is Renaissance Golf Club in Haverhill, Mass. Its the 5th hole, and a par 5 of about 550 in length. I was down near the pond.

The tee shot is like 150 feet up from the fairway.

To be honest the course wasn't all that special. The holes on the hillside where that hole is are very cool, but the rest of the course wasn't very nice. One par 4 for example is completely cut DEEP into the side of a hill, and it doglegs around the hill with a drop-off on the right. It just made no sense to do the amount of dirt-moving they did.

The course had a lot of hype because they built it, then tore it up, re-designed it, then built it again and the project took VERY long. It's a Brian Silva design.

[Scott Witter]

If it is the Rennaissance Club then I guess John K. doesn't think much of Brian Silva

[Roger Tufts]

Edited post before, but yeah, I'm 100% sure that is Renaissance, and I agree with John K. The hole will be a LOT better once the grass to the left of the green/approach grows to full-length... right now, one can do what I did (hitting a massive hook) and take the route up the parallel fairway with absolutely no penalty for being short for the wood or long-iron approach.

The rest of the course also has far less bunkers... It's just that one area that is littered with them on the side-hill. There is a par-3 next to the waste bunker near the houses in the distance.

And the vegetation around that lake absolutely EATS balls.... i found about 8 of them walking up playing my own.

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

It is Renaissance.

The comments are interesting. In some cases a bit harsh for a golf course open for just about a year and in other cases outright wrong.The course was not built, torn up and rebuilt again.

Anthony

[Ryan Farrow]

This thread is quite amusing; who do you guys think you are? I am really surprised how much hate has been given to this course and especially you guys that are trying to pick apart the strategy when you assumed the hole was a par 4 to begin with.

[Roger Tufts]

The course was not built, torn up and rebuilt again.

True, not what I meant to say. But it was redesigned I believe... they scratched the original design didn't they?

And yes, the course is new, and there is no doubt it will be a better play after a few years and a few trees/grass grow to proper/full height. Just a few holes on the course REALLY got to me. I believe Brad agrees with me for the most part as well.

I will give them that they gave us great service and the course is very pleasing to the eye and was in great shape.

They also have an excellent practice facility for members complete with range, multiple putting greens, severely sloped short-game area, and multiple chipping greens.

[Mike Sweeney]

Going the opposite way.........

[John Kavanaugh]

If it is the Rennaissance Club then I guess John K. doesn't think much of Brian Silva

If I like someone or not if the shit hat fits they can wear it.

[Joe Hancock]

Is there any reason why I wouldn't intentionally play my second shot to the adjacent fairway to the right, for my third shot in? The proper fairway looks awful skinny if I'm thinking I have to lay up.

Sorry if discussing strategy is off topic.

Joe