10
Par 3 167 yardsNow this is QUIRK at it's best. I loved this hole. It is definitely different than any I have played, but no less of a quality hole because of it's odd ball-ness.
Really from the tee you have no clue what you are about to see.
You can putt from the front of the green, up over the crest on the left and see your ball funnel around the bowl and with the right speed, snuggle up within a few feet of the hole.
11
Par 4 398 yardsNo photo from the tee, but it is a straight away par 4 with a pretty mean cross bunker at the front right entrance to the fairway.
The second shot needs to avoid falling away left as the fairway drops off to the left and a deep bunker will swallow up balls that do not carry the green surface.
Looking back to the tee.
This is a huge green with a ton of pinnable locations to choose from. After studying this green over multiple plays I think it shows just how good Nicklaus' team can design greens. In no way are they rudimentary here at Dismal River. This green would be a lot of fun to spend time practicing on. Nothing too wild or severe, this green just sits well with the land, has some nice movement within it and allows you to have a chance to roll in a long putt. A favorite corner of the property for me no doubt.
Great green.
12
Par 5 536 yardsA beauty. The fairway snakes in and out of the dunes as you tee off from on top of the dune ridge and play down and back up the gentle rise to the green site. From the right side of the fairway you'll never see the green and likely won't see the large bunker complex on the right either.
On my first play I did just that, tee shot to the right portion of the fairway, smoked 2 wood over the dunes to the right, finding my ball in the wooga right of the green and no shot at holding the approach.
I did however learn that there was a lot more room out to the right, basically in line with the fronting dune that hides the green from the fairway. So on my last play I took the 2 wood again on that same aggressive line with a draw this time and when we arrived at the green there was my ball, resting 12 feet from the hole.
13
Par 4 379 yardsThe 13th hole is undergoing a major facelift, though the work doesn't currently affect play.
Tee shot
Second shot from left side of the fairway. Note the new green growing in down to the left.
This bunker will become the center line bunker of a massive 120 yard wide fairway.
The fairway of the current (second?) iteration of the hole is maybe too narrow?, with the right to left cant allowing balls to run through the fairway into the left rough. So they have seeded an additional 50 to 60 yards or so to the left and will apparently merge the two into one enormous fairway with a new green down below that is pushed back perhaps another 30 yards...
...back towards where the original green was located and only steps away from the next tee box.
The current green, a peanut shape, with the future green in the background.
14
Par 4 441 yardsOne mean bitch. Big fairway, lots of room off the tee, even though you don't see how much is there beyond the dune right.
You're going to want to keep your second shot out to the left, a long iron most likely, because anything leaking right will feed down the escalator to hell where the Dismal Devil will burn you into submission if you step foot in his own version of Hell bunker. I think I saw flames coming up from the floor.
15
Par 3 171 yardsA gas of a hole. It looks and plays fast. Kind of like a race track banking around the massive dune wall on the left. Dare I say it has Redan qualities? A play up the right side is definitely going to funnel back to the left rear of the green.
16
Par 4 402 yardsA dog leg right with a high banking slope on the far side of the fairway that gives some turbo propulsion to a well struck tee shot, though the best line is to play off of the right side, challenging the inside bunker where you'll find a view of the green awaiting. From the other side, all you'll see is a dune with a gnarly bunker cut into it followed by another with the same.
Another really nice green, laid naturally over the terrain.
17
Par 4 428 yardsThe 17th is a hole where the Dismal Devil would love to add another bogey to your round if you aren't paying attention. It doesn't play quite as long as the card says and you can take an aggressive line at the dog leg and get on down the fairway with a solid tee shot.
But you better be sure you know your carry distance. if you don't clear the dog leg, these bunkers can wreck your scorecard.
An inviting green giving the player plenty of room to bring it in the front door.
You feel so small on this hole, being next to the towering sand hills just off the fairway to the right.
A new 18 tee is just a few steps off of the back of this green.
What a beautiful hole that leads you to your final test.
18
Par 5 500 yards (580 Black tees)I climbed the highest dune to the right of the black and took this shot. The wind in my ear reminded me of parasailing. A spiritual moment for sure.
Clubhouse
Cabins
I loved Dismal River. On this trip, we played Ballyneal, Wild Horse and Sand Hills. All were incredible. All were unique. Call me crazy, but for now, I consider Dismal River to be my favorite course ever played. It stirred my soul.
I hope you enjoyed the tour and I hope you have some questions.
I'll check back later.
Eric