Just to the northeast of Charleston among live oaks and the savannah is the location of a Mike Strantz design which upon first glance must bring a smile to the golfer. I say this because once one makes the turn onto the club property and sees a huge hill topped with a clubhouse rising from what is most assuredly Low Country, a smile is the only appropriate response. Building the hill was without doubt an inspired decision for several reasons. First, the hill gives the course a focal point feature which most Low Country courses lack. It is probably for this reason that the course could be more of the conventional type when compared to Tobacco Road yet the hill is incorporated into several of the holes. Second, the hill introduces the vital element of wind to Bulls Bay, an element which when combined with perhaps the widest fairways I have encountered makes for interesting decision-making. Third, a sense of anticipation as to how the incoming holes on both sides of the course will play hangs in the air. Fourth, any other shaping work doesn't look to stand out against the backdrop of an 80 foot hill. Finally, the hill affords glorious views of the course and beyond to barrier islands and the Atlantic a few miles distant.
After only one play I found the course to be fairly difficult. This was mainly due to some harsh hole locations which were still in place after the recent Hootie at Bulls Bay tournament which featured many of the southern powerhouses of college golf. I also found the course played very long from the 6700 yard Skull tees. There was often little roll due to the grass transitioning from winter dormancy to summer green. In fact, I think we would have been better off at least playing the par 5s from the forward tees. Covering ~2800 yards in five three-shotters is too much a recipe for sloggers golf. Of course, not knowing where the good misses are is always a handicap on a Strantz design because the greens are sure to have a flavour of disaster about them. It goes without saying that Bulls Bay is packed with strategic options and some deception, but in general, the course is far more sedate than its North Carolina neighbour, Tobacco Road.
The opening drive, like nearly every drive at Bulls Bay; wide open. I spose the goal is to earn a line of approach just left of the live oak, but there is oodles of room left of this which leaves a tight approach over sand.
The approach.
The hole location seems innocent enough, but missing what seems safely right is no bargain if the golfer hopes to write a four on the card.
The second is of a similar concept to Tobacco Road's 4th and 11th, arching doglegs - a leg from a large beast such as an Irish Wolfhound! The hole seems to go forever and for practical purposes, at 582 yards it does! The par 3s are well conceived if lacking a bit of the fizz one expects of Strantz. The use of lone Live Oaks seen in the right sand is a common theme throughout the design.
After a fairly lengthy cart ride to the 4th tee the question of why this course wasn't designed to be a comfortable walk did occur to me. Okay, there is a huge hill in the middle of the course, but even with this feature I believe the course could and should have been more walker friendly. The par 5, 4th features a fairly lengthy carry drive. It wouldn't be a Strantz without at least one forced carry The hole is reachable in two for some, but generally not without taking on the right side sand.
This is one of the few holes that Strantz allows for a foozled shot. This is the approach after two shots covered a measely 370 yards.
Like the 8th, #5 turns hard right and one can run out of room on the left.
The approach.
The longish three-shot 6th is probably my favourite par 5 on the course. The hole double doglegs around water/sand on the left and a built up mound further up on the right.
A good layup leaves the golfer looking straight down the two-tier green, but much of the putting surface can't be seen.
I think this is the first of a handful of holes in which there is a backboard which the player can spin an approach off if he chooses.
Water seemed to be a theme Strantz wanted to concentrate on at Bulls Bay; the par 3 7th.
#8 is very disorientating from the tee - a layup is the smart play. I did walk away curious as to why Strantz didn't try to make this a more drivable par 4. It is certainly something the course could use a few of to counter-balance the very long par 5s. The very attractive approach.
The 8th started the climb to the house and the 9th finishes the job! Like at some Tobacco Road holes, there is more space to the driving zone than can be seen; in this case, down the right.
A look at the approach first from the left. What can't be seen is a spine cutting the green in two.
What goes up must come down. The 10th is a long par 5 cascading down the hill. The combination of height and immense features make it very difficult to know how far one's ball will go. Fortunately, having played Tobacco Road many times, I didn't fall for any of the visual deceptions. The line is straight at the sand on the far side of the fairway for a hitter of my length.
More games from Strantz on #11. The bunkers indicate a line to the right, but the water comes further left than it appears. Furthermore, depending on how one rolls, if the pin is right, many would prefer to be on the left side of the fairway. I wonder if Strantz was thinking of #s 11, 12 and 13 as an Amen Corner.
It is quite evident from the fairway that the green is a roller coaster ride! Also note how Strantz uses the next hole as a distraction.
A closer look at the green.
Bulls Bay own version of Amen Corner continues on the 12th with a shortish par 3 over water.
The final hole in the Amen trilogy encounters water not once, but twice. In truth, I don't like holes like this where the golfer has to bust a shot or two just to reach what is usually a fish hook dogleg. It may be designed on purpose to frustrate, but it certainly isn't fun for the many (even from forward tees) who know they have no chance to reach in regulation and can easily lose a ball. I wasn't thrilled with the par 5s to this point and the 13th left a bad taste in my mouth.
Although, once we reach the approach it is not without merit.
#14 reminds me of a links hole like no other at Bulls Bay.
We now crest the hill to play a similar tee shot to #10; straight downhill. Below is the approach from well beyond the driving zone for most mere mortals. There is also a tree to the right which one must work around for the approach yet avoid the other Live Oak to the left. This is very clever use of trees in what seems like a wide open landscape.
The 16th is bewildering from the tee. It isn't clear where one should be aiming. Nor is it clear that the best line of approach is near the water on the right. Nor is it clear that this water is very much in play off the tee.
The par 3 penultimate hole features yet another backboard.
A closer look at how the backboard can be used.
The home hole is another deceiver. To shorten the hole one must carry the sand on the left. I detest the big bush blocking the view of the green and think it serves to steer golfers away from being lured left. Otherwise, this is a clever set-up for the tee shot.
With any length approach, the idea is to once again use the backboard. Most shots flown into the hill will feed back to the middle/right part of the green.
It is difficult not to like Bulls Bay. As a total package its a grand day out. However, the three-shot holes are not especially memorable nor is the difficult to walk aspect of the design desirable. That said, there are plenty of memorable shots and the greens are generally of interest. It is evident that Bulls Bay is the cousin of Tobacco Road, but the two are distinct enough to be seen as totally different types of courses. Bulls Bay afforded the space for Strantz to properly test the concept of mega wide fairways and I think it works well. Combine this with the incredible hand made hill which I believe is what makes the course work and I think Bulls Bay is deserving of the accolades it receives. Most certainly if anybody gets the opportunity to play Bulls Bay they should not pass it up. 2010
Ciao