Spring Creek GC and Ed Carton

[Rob_Waldron]

I just played Spring Creek GC in Gordonsville, VA (Near Charlottesville) and was blown away! The course was simply spectacular. Ed Carton is the architect. Apparently Mr. Carton spent 6 years with Tom Fazio as well as some time with Raymond Floyd. He worked with Sam and Jack Snead on Poplar Grove GC in Amherst, VA which received numerous accolades including a Top 10 Best New Daily from Golf Digest.

Is anyone familiar with Ed's previous work with Fazio?

If you get anywhere near Charlottesville or the West side of Richmond it is well worth the drive!

[Mike_Cirba]

Rob,

What are the odds that I would like it?  

Just teasing, you yin to my yang.  

[Jimmy Muratt]

Rob,

You are right about Spring Creek, it's an excellent golf course.  And, the conditioning is superb considering how new the golf course is.  The superintendent was an Assistant under Pete Wendt at Kinloch, so he learned from one of the best.  

Now is a great time to play Spring Creek as well, it's part of a housing community but very little housing has been built as of yet.  

http://www.springcreekgolfclub.com/

[Bill Gayne]

I played Spring Creek last Friday afternoon and the conditioning is very good. However, there was no roll in the fairways. A couple of times the ball plugged. It might be because the fairways are still growing in or maybe it was the thunderstorms from earlier in the week. The three times I've been there it's cart path only. The course is walkable but I wouldn't say it's an easy walk.

If you're inclined to like Fazio courses than you will really enjoy Spring Creek. The greens are some of the best for a daily fee course.

I wouldn't be surprised if this course wins some "best new" awards.

[Rob_Waldron]

We played on Sunday after 1 1/2 inches of rain Saturday evening so the course was extremely wet. Drives either backed up or "released" two feet from impact. Apparently carts have never been permitted off the paths since opening. I was also told that the course is kept pretty wet in order to keep the bent.

The back nine is rather difficult to walk considering some long distances between greens and tees. There are several long bridge crossings over wetlands and enironmental areas.

The bunkering and green complexes are simply outstanding. Each green has numerous cupping positions that make the approaches different every time you play the holes. I cannot believe that I had not heard about the course until last week. Do you hear that humming sound in the background? It is the buzz about Spring Creek.

Can anyone provide me with a list of courses that Ed Carton worked on prior to Poplar Grove and Spring Creek???

[Mike_Cirba]

Rob,

Strictly from pictures, I'm pretty sure we'd disagree again, my friend.  

Of course, neither of us would expect less.  

As far as Spring Creek, it reminds me of the overly fussy Els/Poellot Whiskey Creek look.