Shoal Creek, AL (pics)

[Brett Morris]

Over the past two weeks I had the great pleasure of returning to Shoal Creek to help out on the golf course for the 61st US Junior Amateur.  My first time back after 12 years when I interned and a 36 hour flight from Australia.  I was not alone with many former interns, now fine Superintendents, heading back to assist Jim Simmons prepare the course.  Jim is now in his 34th year with Shoal Creek.

It was good to see how the USGA run a tournament like this.  I spent each morning on the Stimpmeter in association with Chris Hartwiger, the SE Agronomist.  Many questions were asked from the golf ball to the setup at Torrey and was good to hear his opinions.

These kids can seriously play.  The leader after the first day of stroke play (and eventual Medal winner) shot 65 (-7) even with a bogey on 5 and double bogey on 7.  A back nine 30 (-6) bought him home.  A name to watch in the future Jorge Fernandez Valdes from Argentina.  He's only 15 at present.

Anyway onto the course:

No. 1, 406 yards.



The second shot to No. 3, 526 yards.



The 187 yard 5th.



The 171 yard 8th.



From the new tee on 12, 489 yards.



The 211 yard 16th.



The 18th, 443 yards.



 

[Brett Morris]

Why don't my photos show up instead of the link?

[Joe Bentham]

Over the past two weeks I had the great pleasure of returning to Shoal Creek to help out on the golf course for the 61st US Junior Amateur.  My first time back after 12 years when I interned and a 36 hour flight from Australia.  I was not alone with many former interns, now fine Superintendents, heading back to assist Jim Simmons prepare the course.  Jim is now in his 34th year with Shoal Creek.

It was good to see how the USGA run a tournament like this.  I spent each morning on the Stimpmeter in association with Chris Hartwiger, the SE Agronomist.  Many questions were asked from the golf ball to the setup at Torrey and was good to hear his opinions.

These kids can seriously play.  The leader after the first day of stroke play (and eventual Medal winner) shot 65 (-7) even with a bogey on 5 and double bogey on 7.  A back nine 30 (-6) bought him home.  A name to watch in the future Jorge Fernandez Valdes from Argentina.  He's only 15 at present.

Anyway onto the course:

No. 1, 406 yards.



The second shot to No. 3, 526 yards.



The 187 yard 5th.



The 171 yard 8th.



From the new tee on 12, 489 yards.



The 211 yard 16th.



The 18th, 443 yards.



 

nice pictures

[JLahrman]

Does the course play as tight as it appears from these photos?

[Jim Franklin]

I did not think the course was that tight. In addition, I thought these were some of Jack's best green sites I have played. Very enjoyable club and course.

[PCCraig]

The pics look great...cool looking course.

I thought SC wasn't allowed to host USGA Events per the '90's?

[John Kirk]

I played there once.  I think Robert Cupp was Jack's top associate on this course.

Shoal Creek exemplifies the changes in design philosophy over the last thirty years.  There are no short par 4s, and almost all par 4s are "medium-long", 390-440 yards.  Three of the par 5s require a long forced carry over water to reach the green to two shots.  Most of the greens are gently sloped, but some greens, like #18, are quite severe.  The course contouring is quite gentle.

A beautiful course and a very nice club.

Brett, do you have any photos of the 14th hole from the tee box?  I thought the 14th hole looks a lot like the 10th at Riviera, though it is about 390-400 yards long.

[Matt Bosela]

Great photos.  What type of camera are you using and did you use the scenic setting or a zoom feature?

[CJ Carder]

In my few years of being interested in GCA, I have never heard one peep about that course except regarding its dubious history and the fact that it's a really nice course.  These are the first pics I've ever seen of it, so thank you - it looks like great fun!

Not sure I'm too fond of that tree / bush on the edge of the bunker next to 16 green.  With those trees hanging over to the right, anyone that hits a draw is already going to have a tough enough time keeping it out of that bunker, particularly from 211.  No need, IMO, to stick that tree there and make it a double penalty.

[Sam Sikes]

Shoal Creek is a great club and golf course.  With regard to the trees and "tightness", the sentiment among many of the members is that a massive tree removal program is long over due.  However, Hall Thompson, the czar and founder will have none of it, and unfortunately he still calls ALL the shots.

The joke around the club is, "Nobody will be able to hear Hall Thompson's eulogy for all the chain saws going off at Shoal Creek".  For what its worth.

[David Stamm]

The 211 yard 16th.


 

 

The course looks very solid, but that tree by the bunker has got to go. Egad!
 

[JR Potts]

I have a hole-by-hole but the shots were taken in March, when the course was dormant.  I don't know if they will do the course justice.

I loved Shoal and look forward to returning.

[Brett Morris]

I'm about to head off to work, it's 5.00am here.  I'll post some more pics of the holes later during the day.

John, the USGA set up 15 as a 317 yard Par 4 for a couple of days.  They removed the first bunker near the bottom of the upslope near the green to encourage the kids to have a go.  From what I saw though, they were hitting mid-irons to the top of the rise.

[Brett Morris]

Some more photos.

JAL:  A common thought amongst the former interns who hadn't seen the course for many years is that the tree stands have actually thinned.

Pat:  Talk is of another USGA event in the next 4 - 5 years there.  Unfortunately the local media still raised the 90 issue while we were there.

Matt:  The camera was new I bought for the trip.  It is an Olympus u840.

Mr. Thompson is still going strong.  He's 85 now and was still out there every day checking on progress.  He shows no signs of slowing at all.


The 4th,  464 yards.  The only bunker less hole on the course with a magnificent green reminiscent of 5 and 14 at ANGC.



From the apron front right on 4.



The 7th green, 444 yards.  Nicklaus used a few plateau like forms on portions of fairways like 7, 14 and on greens like 16 at the back.



The approach to 9, 464 yards.



The second to 11, 523 yards water in front and right.



The tee shot on 14, 380 yards.



Short left of the diagonal green on 14.



Approach to 15 from the top of the rise, played either at 401 or 317 yards.




Damn I love this golf course.

[Brett Morris]

Again, I only get the links and no images.  Must be a Firefox thing 

[Matt_Cohn]

Some more photos.

JAL:  A common thought amongst the former interns who hadn't seen the course for many years is that the tree stands have actually thinned.

Pat:  Talk is of another USGA event in the next 4 - 5 years there.  Unfortunately the local media still raised the 90 issue while we were there.

Matt:  The camera was new I bought for the trip.  It is an Olympus u840.

Mr. Thompson is still going strong.  He's 85 now and was still out there every day checking on progress.  He shows no signs of slowing at all.


The 4th,  464 yards.  The only bunker less hole on the course with a magnificent green reminiscent of 5 and 14 at ANGC.



From the apron front right on 4.



The 7th green, 444 yards.  Nicklaus used a few plateau like forms on portions of fairways like 7, 14 and on greens like 16 at the back.



The approach to 9, 464 yards.



The second to 11, 523 yards water in front and right.



The tee shot on 14, 380 yards.



Short left of the diagonal green on 14.



Approach to 15 from the top of the rise, played either at 401 or 317 yards.




Damn I love this golf course.

[Brett Morris]

Shoal Creek is back this week with the Regions Tradition.  Some changes over the past year or two are new fairway bunkers on 2 & 6, plus the loss of around 3,000 trees on the property.

http://www.gcsaa.org/news/NewsReleases.aspx?id=fc71753c-7f59-4203-b8a9-4660b83eed29

[Mark McKeever]

Some pretty neat looking holes based on the pictuers.  Thanks for sharing!

Mark

[Tom ORourke]

This is a nice looking golf course. I have never played there and my primary memory of the course is pros chipping out sideways at the PGA. I am guessing the setup for the seniors will be close to how the course should have been set up then. I am not a huge fan of missing the fairway by a few feet playing the same as hitting into a fairway pot bunker.

[Andy Troeger]

I played the course once last May and enjoyed the round. The course is on great terrain and has a nice mix of ups and downs. I do think thinning out the trees would help--I found that the course didn't allow for much recovery after poor shots because of all the trees and a fair amount of holes having water in front. If you weren't in good position the only real option was often just to pitch out and take your medicine. That's ok, but a steady diet gets a little tedious after awhile. The aesthetics are great, and there really aren't any lackluster holes--but the strategy overall gets a little repetitive. Don't get me wrong though--its definitely worth playing if you get the opportunity or invite!