[Matt Bosela]

I had the unbelievable pleasure of spending three days at Ballyneal with a number of fellow GCA'ers a few weeks back.  The weather didn't cooperate for much of the trip but I'm happy to say that the cold temperatures and rain did not come close to putting a damper on our experience on this incredible golf course.

I know there have been many photo tours of this course before, with Kyle Henderson's especially being one of the best this site has ever seen so I wanted to do something a bit different.  I found that the low light conditions on the trip actually complimented the contours of the course, especially when shown in black and white and really show how dramatic the site is at Ballyneal.

I'll go three holes at a time - hope you enjoy the show and I hope there's a few shots here that haven't been seen before.

1st Hole - 382 Yards Par 4: Back Tee Deck


1st Hole: Front Deck - Just left of Terrapin Lodge


1st Hole: Middle of Fairway


1st Hole: GCA'er Andrew Lewis from Left Side of Fairway with caddy Lucas


1st Hole: Looking Back Toward Tee


1st Hole: View from 2nd Tee


1st Hole: A look at the chipping area to the right of the 1st Green


2nd Hole - 490 Yards Par 4: Back Tee Deck


2nd Hole: View beyond 2nd Hole from Tee Deck


2nd Hole: A Great Walk


2nd Hole: Fairway Contouring


2nd Hole: GCA'er Harris Nepon contemplating his approach with caddy Andy


2nd Hole: Greenside Bunker


2nd Hole: View Looking Back toward Tee, with Andrew Lewis putting


3rd Hole - 145 Yards Par 3: Back Tee, with Pin Obscured from View


3rd Hole: Left Side of Tee, with Pin now Visible


3rd Hole: Front Right Tee, opening up view to show that there is more room in front than you think


3rd Hole: From in front of green, one of the most dramatic on the course, with front to back slope


3rd Hole: Looking Back toward Tee, with great look at green contouring

[Rob Rigg]

Matt,

Please keep them coming - I'm jonesing for the Yucca next w/e!

Course looks great in B/W too - great idea.

[Matt Bosela]

4th Hole - 573 Yards Par 5: Back Tee Deck


4th Hole: Left Side of Fairway


4th Hole: Right Side of Fairway, with Green obscured somewhat by bunker


4th Hole: Approach Shot


4th Hole: View of Elevated Green


4th Hole: View Looking Back toward Tee


5th Hole - 165 Yards Par 3: Back Right Tee


5th Hole: Back Left Tee


5th Hole: View of nasty bunker left of green


6th Hole - 480 Yards Par 4: Back Tee Deck and a pretty blind tee shot


6th Hole: View from just in front of fairway


6th Hole: Middle of Fairway


6th Hole: View from in Front of Green


6th Hole: Left Greenside Bunker


6th Hole: View Looking Back toward Tee

[Matt Bosela]

Matt,

Please keep them coming - I'm jonesing for the Yucca next w/e!

Course looks great in B/W too - great idea.

Thanks Rob,

You'll have the time of your life there, trust me. 

[Ronald Montesano]

Nicely portrayed...I'm happy to know that there are greens like those of MacKenzie's Alwoodley still alive in this world of ours.

[Evan Fleisher]

Matt,

Absolutely stunning shots...truly amazing how much the B&W brings out all the contours and details of the course.

By far, my favorite shots above (that you took) are those from BEHIND the greens looking back down the fairways...you can really see the genious in the holes from those vantage points, and the starkness of the B&W just accentuates the features even more.

Thanks so much for sharing!

[Bill_McBride]

Nicely portrayed...I'm happy to know that there are greens like those of MacKenzie's Alwoodley still alive in this world of ours.

Ronald, I've played both and don't think there is any comparison.  With a couple of exceptions, there is more slope and internal contours on every green at Ballyneal.  They are that good.

And I am a big fan of Alwoodley.

[Peter Pallotta]

thanks much, Matt - terrific stuff. I'm glad for you that you got a chance to play there. Your pics show something unique, for me at least - in colour pictures, I appreciate the blending of "lines" between what's native and what's created; with your B&Ws, I appreciate the blending of "textures".

Peter

[Matt Bosela]

Thanks guys for the kind words.  I'll get many more photos up tonight after the little one is put to bed.

[Carl Rogers]

Yes, the b & w's are stunning.

One small question.... These bunkers, though very remarkable, seem like very very high maintenance, right?

[Adam Clayman]

Carl, I got quite the chuckle from your assumption. Most were designed so they wouldn't require much maintenance at all. A few have to be put to bed for the winter. What they do is spray the pulp from a hydro seeder. It holds the sand in place on just a couple of bunkers situated higher and /or more exposed to the prevailing winter winds..

These bunkers are real hazards and most don't have rakes. The rakes we do have are those furrow rakes. I believe they are made by the Amish without any hardware, save for a wooden peg that acts as a fastener.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. AWESOME Photos!

[Matt Bosela]

Sorry for the delay...let us continue!

7th Hole - 352 Yards Par 4: View of Back Tee


7th Hole: Tee Shot


7th Hole: Tee Shot - you can make out the pin over on the left side


7th Hole: Approach from just right of fairway bunker


7th Hole: Approach from Right Side of Fairway


7th Hole: View from in front of E-shaped Green


7th Hole: Looking back down fairway from back of green


8th Hole - 515 Yards Par 5: Tee Shot


8th Hole: View from Right Side of Fairway in Front of Fairway Bunkers


8th Hole: Harris Nepon hitting his second shot from close to ideal position


8th Hole: View from Fairway


8th Hole: View from in front of Green


8th Hole: Andrew Lewis and caddy Lucas walk up toward the pin


8th Hole: Looking back toward tee from Green (one of my favourite shots!)


9th Hole - 362 Yards Par 4: Tee Shot


9th Hole: Making the walk uphill toward second shots


9th Hole: View from middle of fairway


9th Hole: Partially blind view from Right Side of Fairway


9th Hole: Looking up to the first Tee


9th Hole: Looking back toward Tee from behind the Green

[Matt Bosela]

10th Hole - 509 Yards Par 4: Tee Shot from Back Tee


10th Hole: The world-famous Triumvirate of Jim Colton, Jeff (Jefe) Tang and Jim (Jimbo) Tang bravely head out on a stormy Sunday morning


10th Hole: The Triumvirate


10th Hole: View from Fairway


10th Hole: Andrew Lewis hits his approach from Left Side of Fairway


10th Hole: View from Middle of Fairway


10th Hole: View of Right Fairway Bunkers


10th Hole: Harris Nepon and caddies Andy and Drayton make way to Green


10th Hole: Looking back toward tee from Behind Green


11th Hole: Tee Shot


11th Hole: Tee Shot, with perspective on how uphill the shot is


11th Hole: View back to Tee, showing the elevation of both the tee and green


The Walk from 11th Green to 12th Tee


12th Hole - 375 Yards Par 4: Tee Shot


12th Hole: Front Tee Deck


12th Hole: Middle of Fairway


12th Hole: View from Right Side of Fairway, giving blind approach


12th Hole: Another view from Right, with nasty pot bunker to avoid in front


12th Hole: View of 12th Green from Back of 13th Tee

[Jeff Taylor]

Black and white was a fine choice.
Excellent work.

[Matt Bosela]

13th Hole - 510 Yards Par 4: View from Back Tee


13th Hole: Middle of Fairway


13th Hole: Andrew Lewis walking past centerline bunker


13th Hole: Looking back toward tee from Behind Green


14th Hole - 362 Yards Par 4: Tee Shot


14th Hole: Middle of Fairway


14th Hole: View from behind Centerline Bunker


14th Hole: View from Left Side of Fairway


14th Hole: Harris Nepon blasting out of Left Greenside Bunker


14th Hole: Looking back toward tee from behind Green


15th Hole - 237 Yards Par 3: View from Back Tee Deck, with Pin Tucked Left behind Dune


15th Hole: View from Middle Tee Deck


15th Hole: Looking back toward Tee

[Matt Schmidt]

Great stuff!  I love B&W and the number of shots you took!  Next time, I'd like to get a game with you, Matt.  We could have dueling cameras going - I'm not afraid of taking a few hundred shots during a round....for whatever reason, I left my cameras in the bag until Sunday, when it rained!

Until then, I'll just enjoy the rest of this thread.

[George Freeman]

Simply spectacular.

[Matt Bosela]

16th Hole - 546 Yards Par 5: Tee Shot


16th Hole: Landing Area Looking to Green


16th Hole: Middle of Fairway Just Left of Bunker


16th Hole: Partially blind shot from behind Bunker


16th Hole: Approach Shot


16th Hole: Harris Nepon hitting out of devilish front greenside bunker


16th Hole: Looking at Green from walkway to 17th Tee, with interested observer on hillside


16th HOle: Looking back up fairway from behind the green


17th Hole - 481 Yards Par 4: Tee Shot from Back Tees


17th Hole: Approach Shot


17th Hole: Extremely deep bunker in front right Greenside


17th Hole: Looking back down fairway from behind Green


18th Hole - 463 Yards Par 4: Tee Shot


18th Hole: Approach Shot


18th Hole: View from Left Side back toward Green


18th Hole: Looking back down fairway from behind Green

[Matt Bosela]

Here are some off-course bonus shots

Turtle Bar


Harris Nepon contemplating life from Patio of Turtle Bar


Looking down at Ringneck Lodge on Left, Restaurant in Center and Lawn Bowling area down below


Turtle Bar Patio


Pro Shop, with Bill McBride under cover


Restaurant, as Harris Nepon and Bill McBride grab a coffee on a cold, rainy Sunday morning


Ringneck Lodge Common Area, with fireplace and many great books on Golf Architecture


Yours truly - Happy to have experienced Ballyneal's many wonders but sad to be leaving

[Matt Bosela]

Great stuff!  I love B&W and the number of shots you took!  Next time, I'd like to get a game with you, Matt.  We could have dueling cameras going - I'm not afraid of taking a few hundred shots during a round....for whatever reason, I left my cameras in the bag until Sunday, when it rained!

Until then, I'll just enjoy the rest of this thread.

Sounds good Matt - it was a pleasure meeting you and yes, it's too bad we couldn't get a game in that weekend.  Next time!

And thanks again to Jim Colton, Jeff and Jim Tang, Harris Nepon, Bill McBride, Matt Schulte, Andrew Lewis, Steve Richardson, Shane Wright, Tyler Ince, Matt Schmidt, Mark Prichett and Kenny Baer for the great conversation and memories along with Rupert O'Neal and all the tremendous staff at Ballyneal.

[Harris Nepon]

Great pictures.

Ballyneal is an amazing place.

[Steve Kline]

I will be teeing off there in almost exactly one week from this very hour. I cannot wait after these photos, particularly the one of the 8th green.

[Michael Underwood]

Matt - The black & white photographs are excellent and I really enjoyed seeing the course as such.  By the way I played Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club yesterday (July 5) and it has never been in finer condition.  For those that have either never played Ballyneal or not played it in the last year it is well worth the trip to northeast Colorado! 

[Jim Colton]

Matt,

Nice choice with the black and whites.  It brought out some humps that I hadn't noticed before.

Michael, you're the third person I know who's been out there in the last week that has said the same thing. I'm more excited than ever to get out there with 31 of my closest friends in a few days.

[Scott Szabo]

Matt,

I'll echo the sentiments on the black & white - so much more contour is evident than seems to be in the color photos.  Nice job!

Weather for this weekend's gathering is supposed to be highs in the high 80s low 90s, without much chance for precipitation.  Ideal for a golf outing - too bad your visit was spoiled somewhat by the weather, which has been all over the map here in Northeastern Colorado this spring/summer.

Looking forward to meeting everyone this weekend.

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