http://jayflemma.thegolfspace.com/?p=742A tidbit from the piece:
So what that the course doesn’t have waterfalls, striated red-rock canyons or inkblot-shaped bunkers? The three par-5s, probably the hardest holes to design properly, are all beefy showstoppers with myriad options. That’s a tough trick to turn on an irregular piece of property. In that respect, Moran is an east coast version of Jim Engh or Tom Doak, both masters of building intriguing par-5s with great angles and numerous ways to get to the green.
Further, Moran’s “random bunkering” – placing bunkers where they fit that land and in the center-line, not just 290 left, 270 right and penal bunkers greenside – means you never know what to expect and can play Lederach every day and never have the same shots twice. The course and the greens are hilly, but its not a difficult walk. Moran put undulations in the fairways as well as the greens, so there will be crazy bounces all day, and your patience and chipping will be tested. The price is $75, which is perfectly reasonable.
Maybe the casual and fan and TV golf crowd won’t “get” Lederach as the best features - the steep-sided bunkers and severe greens are anathema to them. Our friend the beer-swilling local that I introduced you too earlier in the article moaned, “I can’t just hit my driver, I have no idea where it will end up.” When I pointed out that this design concept originated in the UK and Ireland he cried, “But this is Pennsylvania, not Scotland.” Nevertheless, Lederach resonates with intrepid, open-minded, experienced golfers. Competitively priced and never overcrowded, Lederach is a nice getaway spot for a weekend, especially when coupled with another regional course such as Architects Club, Gettysburg, Beechtree or Bulle Rock.
Morgan Hill made people hear his name, now Lederach is Moran’s coming out party. Kelly had some interesting things to say and executed them well. He took some risks and experimented and it worked out well, especially on a difficult parcel of land. He created a course that is memorable and which players return to play over and over. Better still, Moran built a fascinating minimalist test on time and under budget.