Birmingham Country Club

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

I have just returned from playing the National Invitational at Birmingham Country Club, alabama.
What a tremendous golf course.
Originally a Donald Ross design that last year underwent a total update with ne fairways and greens, but without significant contour changes to the greens.
Pete Dye was brought in to plan some new bunkering, and as I had not been there previously can not comment on any additions.
However, I can say that none of the bunering was out of place or unpleasant to the eye.
An addition of some new tees has added some real bite into the length of the golf course, along the lines of US open length par fours, and it is in fcat the US Open that cotinued to come t mind whilst playing...this course could indeed stage a major, it is in my opinion that good and could play that tough.

The greens are firm and fast...although as new surfaces the greenstaff were wise to moderate that in this first year...the rough could be as severe as you wanted, a variety of brutal pin placements possible..simply a wonderful place to play golf.

I was told what a good course it was, but to me I have never been as overpleased to see a course in my life...meaning it is the most underated golf course I have ever visited.

The club itself is marvelous, the members were wonderfully welcoming...a agreat week.
Just wish I could have played a little better...but isnt that always the case?

[Brad Tufts]

Hi Michael,

Nice report, sounds like a good event.

Is there any Ross left at BCC?  Or have the updates over the years generally removed the Ross aspects?

Just curious...I'm always intrigued at the Ross courses that are his only (or nearly only) design in a given state.

[Bill_McBride]

Hi Michael,

Nice report, sounds like a good event.

Is there any Ross left at BCC?  Or have the updates over the years generally removed the Ross aspects?

Just curious...I'm always intrigued at the Ross courses that are his only (or nearly only) design in a given state.

Ross also designed CC of Mobile in 1925 and Mountain Brook in Birmingham near BCC.

I was at a wedding-related party in a home right on the Ross course at BCC.  The home was pretty close to the green of a pretty par 3.  I have to say the housing looked to be close!  Wish I'd been able to play, looks like a good course.

[Eric Smith]

Nice place.  I believe they have 36 holes?  I was fortunate to spend a weekend in Birmingham where I played Shoal Creek but had only the opportunity to eat breakfast at B'ham CC.  Beautiful grounds.  The views of the golf course from the dining room were very nice.

That's an interesting mix there with Dye and Ross.  Do you recall what the winning score was?

[Bill_McBride]

Nice place.  I believe they have 36 holes?  I was fortunate to spend a weekend in Birmingham where I played Shoal Creek but had only the opportunity to eat breakfast at B'ham CC.  Beautiful grounds.  The views of the golf course from the dining room were very nice.

That's an interesting mix there with Dye and Ross.  Do you recall what the winning score was?

Pete Dye did the second 18 plus some new work on the Ross course.

[Mark Pritchett]

I missed out playing CC of Birmingham due to a day of 4 inches of rain a couple of years ago.  As I recall, Ross did both courses and the West course was redone by Robert Trent Jones and then subsequently redone by Pete Dye.  Also, I remember talk of George Cobb redoing the East at some point.

Hopefully someone will chime in on any Ross characteristics that remain.  I am curious if the routing was changed on either course during the revisions.

[Bruce Hospes]

Pete Dye re did the West course and John Lafoy the East.  Not much of Ross' work left on the West from work done over the years.  Both are pretty good golf courses and I am looking forward to playing the West after last year's renovation.

Bruce

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

I believ the winning score was 1 under...great credit to the toughness of the course and set up, which was in no ay gimmicky.

There is enough Ross design left to know it is Ross...the run off areas etc..but unfortunately the obsession with green does not enable the designed run up shot into the greens.
A few of the front pin positions were begging for such a shot to be played, to when attempted the ball would not run up...all the Ross like openings to the greens still exsit, just not very playable due to the conditioning...that is the price we now have to pay in this country for the "augusta" look.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I have played there a few times. The long term now retired professional there isa friend  here in Lafayette now. I love the club and the courses are good. But one cannot ignor the handprints, not just fingerprints of the architects who worked there in in the past with minimal regard for what Ross did. There is not much Ross there anymore.

[Bruce Hospes]

I believ the winning score was 1 under...great credit to the toughness of the course and set up, which was in no ay gimmicky.

There is enough Ross design left to know it is Ross...the run off areas etc..but unfortunately the obsession with green does not enable the designed run up shot into the greens.
A few of the front pin positions were begging for such a shot to be played, to when attempted the ball would not run up...all the Ross like openings to the greens still exsit, just not very playable due to the conditioning...that is the price we now have to pay in this country for the "augusta" look.

I think this had a lot to do with the amount of rain in Birmingham the week of the tournament.  From the times I have played there, weather permitting, the course usually plays fast and firm.  We have also had an extremely cool and wet spring which has made course conditioning a challenge. 

[Lawrence Largent]

I've played in the tournament two times and unfortunately haven't made it back the last two years.  I have a really good friend who is a member and we've discussed the course at length.  Pete Dye was brought in years ago for a renovation of the course.  Everything was changed pretty much except the routing of the course.  They did bring Pete back in last year for some additional tees, bunkering, and green contouring.  They also regrassed the entire golf course and it was perfect before they tore it up.  The East course is a Ross but John Lefoy did alot of work in the early 80's to the course so most of the Ross is gone there as well.  Micheal does have it right though they do treat you like a king for the 4 days your there for the tournament.  It almost makes you feel like a pro on the tour they are so accommodating.  The course is under rated I feel but I think that there really isn't any WOW factor.  Its just a solid course with no real weaknesses. 

  Lawrence

[Chuck Brown]

A minor correction/detail:

"Birmingham Country Club" is in Michigan.  Birmingham is a northwest Detroit suburb.

"The Country Club of Birmingham" is in Birmingham, Alabama.

The two clubs have a biennial Ryder Cup-style match, and I can tell everyone, first hand, that from the perspective of the Michigan guys, they play their asses off to make the team, because the Alabama guys have such a first-rate golf club, and they treat their guests so fantastically well.  

[Mac Plumart]

Michael...

funny you bring up the Birmingham National Invitational...a real good friend of mine won that tourment this last weekend.  Pretty exciting stuff!  He said that course was playing like a BEAST!!!

Mac

[Andy Troeger]

Played the West at CCB about a month ago. My impression was that its a Pete Dye golf course with a Donald Ross routing. The bunkering and features look like much of Dye's other work. Since I often like that other work, I also enjoyed it at CCB and thought the course was very well done and well worth playing. The course certainly beat my expectations, but I could certainly see how Ross fans might not appreciate the changes.