[Chip Gaskins]

I had the chance to get out to Creighton Farms last week and check out the new Nicklaus course in the DC Metro.  It is located on a huge track of rolling farm land and the club is operated by Ritz Carlton.  They really treat you really well and the course was in 100% perfect shape a very fun challenge.

Here are a few pics...





Fantastic green

[McCloskey]

I played the course last fall and it was in great shape then.   Does anyone know if it is officially opened.   Are they waiting on the clubhouse completion?   Has this course been submitted for the yearly mag rankings?   I thought it was quite challenging but still playable for a mid range handicapper.   

[Tommy Williamsen]

I played the course last fall and it was in great shape then.   Does anyone know if it is officially opened.   Are they waiting on the clubhouse completion?   Has this course been submitted for the yearly mag rankings?   I thought it was quite challenging but still playable for a mid range handicapper.   

Yes the course is opened.  The clubhouse is not open but they are using what I think will be the practice are clubhouse.  And yes it is on the GD list of best new private courses.  It might do well.  If last year's openings of Best Privates was a banner year, I think this year's is not nearly as good.

[Peter Pallotta]

Thanks for posting, Chip.

To my eye, there is a lot that's very appealing there. The course seems to breathe very nicely, and it doesn't seem embarrassed by its farmland roots, or try to hide those roots -- which is good.

Peter

[Dan Herrmann]

Wow - nice stuff.  This really shows the evolution of Mr. Nicklaus as an architect.  I had asked a few weeks ago if his best stuff was his earliest stuff, being unaware of his recent work.

Is Mr. Nicklaus becoming a minimalist?

[David Druzisky]

Looks like they had a nice piece of property to work with.  Are the greens on the small side?

[Dan Herrmann]

Oh yeah - is this course open to the public?

[Chip Gaskins]

it is a private club.  they said the "grand opening" isn't until this fall, though it seems several us dating back to last year have played it.

several of the greens were as small as i have played, matter of fact the green #14 (which is one of the best holes on the course) might be the smallest green i have ever played.



the green on #3 was fantastic. it is a medium length uphill par 5 that allows the player to run the ball in on the left with a several cross bunkers to carry about 100 yards from the green.



the green on #12 is also small but plays extremely small with a false front as severe as #9 at Augusta, two in my group hit mid way the green and spun it off the front about 20 yards.  it is short and you do hit wedge so it isn't unfair, matter of fact very fun, we knew before we all hit our second shots we had to not put too much spin on the ball.

[Cory]

Some of these holes look a little like Oakmont. 

[Carl Nichols]

Chip, Tommy, others who have played Creighton Farms:
How walkable is it? May have an opportunity to play in a few weeks.  Thx
Carl

[Jim Colton]

Somewhat unrelated question...wasn't there a Nicklaus course that was supposed to be built next to Dulles as part of a two-course private club with a Johnny Miller course in Leesburg (Beacon Hill?)  I think the Miller course went belly-up.

[Chris_Clouser]

Chip,

If you put some housing on the outside of some of those holes, I would have sworn that you had come to Noblesville and played Nicklaus' course called The Sagamore.  Some of those holes look almost identical. 

The green complexes are all just about the same as what was done here with the exception of that one false front.  I don't recall anything like that at Sagamore.

[Richard Boult]

posted to our gca photo tour directory at:

http://delicious.com/golfclubatlas/Virginia

[Chip Gaskins]

Carl-  It is walkable...though there a few holes on the back that could be a real bear (no pun intended :-) to climb up.

Jim-  There is a course being completed now by one of Nicklaus' former associates (don't know the name off the top of my head) called the Presidential.  It has supposedly some weird membership structure.  I can see the course from my office.  I have basically watched the holes being built for the past year.  Beacon Hill did go under, though I have heard the course is still out there under tall grass and someone is trying to get it out of bankruptcy.  It was a Miller course.

Cory-  I have played Oakmont.  Creighton Farms is no Oakmont.

Chris-  It just a matter of time before this course has MacMansions (10,000 ft or more) all over it.

[Mitch Hantman]

I had the opportunity to play it this summer, and it is excellent.  Wonderful green complexes, plenty of width on most holes, and thoughtful bunkering.  It is a bit of a difficult walk, but not impossible.  Just be sure you don't have an afternoon round planned. 

[Tommy Williamsen]

Chip, Tommy, others who have played Creighton Farms:
How walkable is it? May have an opportunity to play in a few weeks.  Thx
Carl

The course is designed for caddies and except for a few walks is very walkable.  It is pretty hilly however.  I think it is some of Nicklaus' best work.  I also thought that the bunkering is reminiscent of the work he and TD did at Sebonack.  Anyone else find that so?

[Carl Nichols]

Mitch:
What's the problem with an afternoon round?  Pace of play, or something else?

[Mitch Hantman]

Carl,

It's just that it would be difficult to walk 36 holes there. It is hilly.

[Tim Taylor]

Chip,

If you put some housing on the outside of some of those holes, I would have sworn that you had come to Noblesville and played Nicklaus' course called The Sagamore.  Some of those holes look almost identical. 

The green complexes are all just about the same as what was done here with the exception of that one false front.  I don't recall anything like that at Sagamore.

Chris, the Miller course - Beacon Hill - did indeed go belly up. The Nicklaus course - The Presidential - is actually billed as a Dave Heatwole design. It's a private, corporate-only club. The rumor I heard was that when Beacon Hill went belly up, Nicklaus pulled out and around the same time Heatwole left Nicklaus Design and took The Presidential with him, with Nicklaus' blessing.

I can't imagine trying to open a corporate only club in this economic environment.

http://www.thepresidential.com/club/scripts/section/section.asp?NS=PRES

Tim

[Rob_Waldron]

I had the opportunity to play Creighton Farms last month. There is very little play (Only 50 members to date) and an extended grow-in due to the delayed opening have resulted in PERFECT playing conditions. I was disappointed with the "typical" Nicklaus designed greens for the first 10 holes. (Angled with bunkers in front and run off area in back). Then on #11 the greens took a turn for the better. It was like Jack went home before the final 8 greens were completed. Fore caddies seem to be the way to go. Even the caddies hop on the carts for several long drives between holes. It appears that Jack & Co. had their hands tied with the numerous environmental areas throughout the property. There are several quirky streams running through the course that should have been covered. The course is very challenging and requires quite a bit of local knowledge. An expereinced caddie is essential.

[Michael Dugger]

Nice looking course, but it doesn't do a whole lot for me based on those images

[Dan Herrmann]

I visited the Air and Space Museum by Dulles Airport today (VERY nice, and hiighly recommended).

Took the back way down to avoid traffic, and ended up driving past Creighton Farms.  It looked really great from the car, even in its dormant condition. 

But, boy, are there a lot of courses off US15.  Is there that much demand down there?

[Rob Rigg]

Dunno, doesn't look that interesting from the pics.

Some of those tee boxes look like crop circles . . .

[Jonathan Cummings]

I wrote a review in VA Golfer about Creighton last year.  The course is quite good with greens unlike any of JN's other courses.  Jim Lipe was the principal architect. 

The business/housing model of Creighton is off-the-charts high end.  Each lot commands 5 acres and the "houses" are the size of castles.  Some, I'm told, are $20M.  In today's market, out in the boonies, I can't imagine they are not hurting.

JC

[Dan Herrmann]

Jonathan, I was thinking the same thing.  I can't figure out who their target demographic is. 

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