Before heading down to Kiawah I took in a game at The Governors Club in Chapel Hill. I didn't know much about the place before my visit other than folks on this site are generally disapproving and that it is a Nicklaus design. To be honest, I was skeptical, but true to my beliefs, I decided to go with the invite because its always a priveledge to be invited somewhere.
My general impression of the course is that it didn't feel like the punishing Nicklaus courses people speak of. Governors Club felt more like the typical pine lined rolling hills Carolina course to me. There is a lot of strategy in working down slopes or into them to hold optimal lines. What was different was the the use of water. The agua was more prevalent than I am used to, sometimes for the good, but for sure too much of it for my tastes. Additionally and this is even more surprising than the water, most of the greens are the wide and shallow variety and sometimes they are angled to boot. I recall this style popping up at Tobacco Road more than once, but I had never seen so many greens on one course of this style. I thought it was a bit too much, but this was the chief defense Nicklaus used for the course and to be fair, there are some excellent examples of the type.
The first two holes open the curtain on the Governors Club, but the 3rd gets the play properly underway with a good par 5 moving left around a bunker and featuring a bit of a turbo boost off the tee. The hole is definitely reachable in two, but not without some gambling. While I believe Nicklaus used too much water on this design, GC is not without some very good holes incorporating water.
Here is a look at the green from the right.
We now come to the first harsh water hole, a longish par 3. I wasn't keen on this hole because of the fronting bunkers combined with the wall. It just looks out of place to me.
#5 is a good longish par 4 requiring a solid strike up the left to set up an easier approach, but like many Redanish holes, this one too slides back left.
In general, the greens had good contours to them, but they didn't always tie in well to the surrounds. In particular, I noticed many greens are cut off from the high side by hollows which eliminate the kick in option.
One can see the hollow effect again on the 6th. I certainly think there is a place for this more extreme sort of demand, but I don't necessarily believe it goes well with many wide n shallow greens.
The following two holes switch things up by allowing a kick in off the left for #7 and the green for #8 is more welcoming without being easy. The Lakes 9 ends with a very good medium par 3 which is all carry. What I liked most about this hole was how the wind played a pivotal role and how challenging the water leaves a far easier putt than bailing long and playing back toward the water.
The back 9 moves into more rambunctious territory and is titled Foothills. #10 eases to the right, but it is best to stay well left to avoid having to cross a mighty chasm on the short right side of the green. The photo doesn't indicate how severe the front right portion of the green is. The flag is perched just on the high side of the bowl. This is a very good hole and perhaps my favourite on the course.
The eleventh is a good hole showcasing a great green which can cause all sorts of problems. #12 is perhaps the best par 3 on the course and its a shame the look is spoiled a bit by the over dose of bunkering. The slope on the right is severe enough that the "protection" of four bunkers really is silly. Nonetheless, this hole shines because so much of the green is pinnable.
A look from the rear of the green.
I was completely perplexed on the 13th, a shortish par 5, but very difficult to hit in two. Initially, after hitting a drive and a second, I thought the hole turned right. One can see why going for it is filled with danger. I had no idea of what lie ahead and was totally taken by surprise. I really like how even long hitters would be intimidated by going for it. This is most definitely the type of hole which really gives a fat old bloke me a chance to hang in with the flat belly.
The closer one gets the more intimidating the approach looks - most unusual in this regard.
After the terrifying approach of the last hole, Jack asks us to hit another on the par 3 14th. Once again, we can see how the kick in has been cut off. I don't particularly like the bunker for this very reason.
We now come to a short, abruptly uphill par 4. I thought the elevation change uphill was just too much. There is a little plateau some 40-50 yards short of the green. I am not sure why Jack didn't use this for the green. It would have been a more reachable par 4 whereas the current version is not reachable and this course could certainly use a few gentle par 4s. Perhaps it is part of Jack's makeup not to allow a breather hole even if its steeply uphill!
A look at the approach from near the plateau I spoke of earlier.
The view from behind the green!
What goes up must go down. #16 is a weird hole because the trees block out where one wants to flight the drive or at least that option of working down the hill. As it is now one must cut a tee shot back into the fairway or face trouble in either direction. This is a pity because the approach and green are good.
The 17th, like a great many of the drives and/or in combination with the approaches is an up and over deal. Consequently, there are a lot of blind/terrain obscured shots which took me by surprise as I thought Nicklaus was generally against this sort of thing. In any case, the penultimate hole is a good par 5 that is reachable.
We now head for home with another water hole. Not a bad one, but perhaps not the way to finish. I was curious as to why Nicklaus didn't try a double green with the 9th as it rests some way behind the 18th. At least it could have added a bit of flair.
Honestly, Governors Club was better than I anticipated. There are several elements which if done moderately I would have been fine with. Its probably just a matter of degree. Too many shots are dictated for this to be one of the subtle courses that I really enjoy, but some of the in your face shots are very appealing. I am torn in different directions with this course because there are a handful of very good holes and no holes that I can point to as poor, but there are several incidents (too many) in which I would have liked Nicklaus to tone it down a bit. In the end, I spose Governors Club is not one of those I would recommend folks to go to extra lengths to play, but it also shouldn't disappoint anybody who happens to have game there. I wouldn't mind having another go if only to see the course in good condition, but I am not sure that would change my overall opinion. All that said, I did enjoy the day and playing GC afforded me a unique opportunity to see a Nicklaus, a Dye and a Raynor course in one trip. Remy and I had a lot of fun comparing and contrasting each without taking any of it too seriously.
Ciao