In spite of a few last minute cancellations resulting in a rather small crowd for Dixie Cup V, I felt the gathering was a roaring success. I want to thank all of those who attended from afar for taking the time to travel to my part of the country for a few rounds of golf and the unique Golfclubatlas.com camaraderie that we have a unique talent for creating and sharing.
As for the golf, I was most pleased with the conditions we found on the chosen courses. I have never played Pine Barrens or Dunes when either was better. And it seemed as all of the satellite venues held their own as well. I heard nary a complaint from the group about any.
Saturday morning at Pine Barrens may have been near perfect. The greens rolled out beautifully, and every hole location was perched to give the player a jolt if he thought he had secured his par with a mere green in regulation.
Holes of note at Pine Barrens were the 5th with the hole cut just over the rim of the false front, with the best approach going toward the middle to leave an uphill putt back toward the front; whereas an approach up the hill that just fails short comes back off the green.
The 10th where a tee shot that finds anywhere other than the green on this 200 yard hole leaves one scratching his head. The all world 12th allows the player to take his approach long and let gravity bring it back close to a left side pin, and the longish 13th with a hollow on the front right of the green that kills a seemingly perfect approach to the front hole location.
For most, the Dunes had not been seen before. A stiff breeze toughened an already stern test. If you hadn’t realized you were in for something different when you stood on the first tee at Dunes, you certainly had an appreciation when you saw the green surrounds on 1. The par three 6th reminded us of the valuable lesson of staying below the hole, and the long uphill 8th into the wind was all anyone cared to take on, although the front hole location took the deep long bunker out of play. The jury is still out on the new 17th green, and the hole cut on 18 may have been beyond the pale, but all in all, I believe we all enjoyed it.
The North team was a bit overwhelming in strength, but there’s always next year. Steve Hyden is a heck of a player, and now that the long hitting Scott Burroughs has found a driver he can put in play, he is definitely one to fear. Alex Duran’s driver will be sent out for testing, and I’ll have to keep working on my putting. Thanks again guys, it was a great weekend.