Mike Sweeney,
I'm not quite sure how they're doing economically. I sense they are still trying to attract membership.
The ironic part of what you mentioned is that virtually all of the courses you listed have had a considerable degree of discussion and debate here on GCA...Twisted Dune, Galloway, Hidden Creek, even Seaview. I'd say that Ballamor is considerably better than Renault (even with a really good front nine) and better than the mishmash that is Seaview Pines, perhaps not as tranquilly enjoyable as Seaview Bay but much more challenging, in the league of Twisted Dune (though much different types of course, each have their respective pros and cons), and a point or so behind the level of Galloway and Hidden Creek.
I find it odd that a course with those attributes, built in a major vacation playground region in the past couple of years on the east coast would go virtually unnoticed.
As far as Brigantine, it's one course that I could never objectively review because it has FAR too much sentimentality involved for me. When I was a kid, starting at about age 13, we would go to Brigantine for our summer vacation the week of July 4th each year. We soon discovered "Brigantine Country Club", the old Stiles/Van Kleek course as it was known then, and for a neophyte budding bunch of golfers (my two brothers, me, and our dad) you'd have thought we'd died and went to heaven. With the ocean breeezes and sandy terrain, we might as well have been on the coast of Fife in our collective minds.
I haven't played there in over 20 years because I'm afraid of breaking any idealistic illusory memories I still lovingly harbor, although we get to the island often for day trips to the beach.
SS1,
Interesting thoughts...thanks.
I would agree with most of what you wrote and had mixed feelings about #10. We played it into a stiff wind, and it's a mine field of bunkers (10 in all....it plays 578 from the tips and 557 from the blues) that must be avoided or reaching in 3 becomes a real low percentage. From any tee, anyone trying to reach in two is facing a completely blind second shot, as the hole reaches the top of the hill at about 450 yards or so, and then falls away downhill to a really tightly protected green. It's also the only hole where a tree actually comes into play, with one impinging on the approach from the right side.
It's a ballbuster, no question, and very tough for a par five.
I thought about it and would have enjoyed seeing a long par four to a skyline green for that one, followed by a short downhill par three. However, that might not work ideally ast the 9th hole features a blind uphill approach and is a long, demanding par four.
But, if you did, then the 11th would be the 12th and you could make the present 12th and 13th holes into a par five, which I think could have been a pretty spectacular hole given the landforms.
Still, as you point out, the routing does seem to be limited at some points by the constraints of what land was available for use.
Still and all, a really nice effort overall with very interesting green complexes and considerable strategic interest and great playability for all levels of golfer.