[Mark Saltzman]

Other photo tours from this trip:

Sanctuary, CO: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48714.0.html
Prairie Club (Dunes), NE: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48734.0.html
Prairie Club (Pines), NE: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49022.0.html
Awarii Dunes, NE: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48784.0.html
Wild Horse, NE: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48807.0.html
Golf Club at Bear Dance, CO: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48903.0.html
Coeur D'Alene Resort, ID: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48906.0.html
Wine Valley, WA: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48960.0.html
Ballyneal G&HC, CO: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49112.0.html
Palouse Ridge, WA: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49215.0.html

Upcoming:
The Idaho Club, ID
Sahalee CC, WA
Old Works, MT





“Aldarra was our first course in the Northwest, which makes it a very important golf course. If my design firm is going to ‘fly our flag’ in a particular area, the golf can’t be just good…..it has to be ‘as good as it gets.’” – Tom Fazio

Of all the golf courses I played on my trip, Aldarra was probably the biggest (positive) surprise.  Before researching Seattle golf courses on GCA.com (as well as various magazine rankings), I had never heard of Aldarra.  In my mind it is miles ahead of the nearby and much more well-known Sahalee.  If I were to split 10 rounds, I would play at least 8 at Aldarra.

1) Routing is good but not great.  Very good use of elevation changes and constant direction changes means the player will not be bored.  But, the golf course crosses a road twice, making for some awkward green to tee transitions and there are a couple of walks on the back nine that are not fun.

2) Exceptional greens.  Some of the boldest Fazio greens I have ever seen.  Many possible pins make for great variety.

3) Very good variety of par 4s.  Fairways from 20 yards wide to 50.  Perhaps too many dogleg right-to-left.

Scorecard: http://www.themembersclubataldarra.com/default.aspx?p=CourseScoreCard&vnf=1&ssid=115713&view=&crsID=1173


Routing





All yardages will be from the 6600 yard, par 71 Championship (one off the back) Tees (72.8/145)


Hole 1: Par 4, 417 Yards

Playing #1 - The play for the longer hitter is directly over the bunker on the left side (A). This will leave a short approach shot to a two-tiered green. The shorter hitter should aim towards the right bunkers (B) and approach the green from the right side, taking the water out of play.



Aldarra is known as a player's golf course and right of the gate it shows some teeth.  The first tee shot asks if you brought your game today with water and bunker left and bunker through the fairway.




Interestingly, while tee shots down the left leave a shorter approach, they leave an approach that requires a forced carry over the water.




Tee shots up the right give a better look at the open green front:




The first green gives an idea of the contouring one can expect at Aldarra.  There is a large bowl in the front left portion of the green and a small, but significant ridge that bisects the back portion of the green:






Hole 2: Par 3, 168 Yards

Playing #2 - The play on this par 3 is for the center of the green regardless of where the flag is located. A ball landing short left will funnel down to the rough leaving a treacherous chip/pitch/flop. This green tends to slope to the center.




While short, the second is demanding.  One really must get both yardage and line right here.  Bunkers protect the green on the right and a large and obvious false-front/collection area protects the left side of the green.

[Sean Leary]

Mark,

Pretty impressive assessment of the course after one round. I agree with all of your points thus far.

[Sean Leary]

Mark,

Do you think the first hole would be improved if the right bunker were eliminated on the outside of the dogleg? Especially since it is a first hole and would give you the option of playing it safe to the right?

[Brent Carlson]

Mark,

Do you think the first hole would be improved if the right bunker were eliminated on the outside of the dogleg? Especially since it is a first hole and would give you the option of playing it safe to the right?

While not Mark I think it is a well placed bunker.  The preferred line looks to be from the right side of the fairway so flirting with the bunker to achieve position A is acceptable to me.  What do you think Sean?

[Mark Saltzman]

Mark,

Do you think the first hole would be improved if the right bunker were eliminated on the outside of the dogleg? Especially since it is a first hole and would give you the option of playing it safe to the right?

Sean,

I don't mind that  bunker.  Though it was not an option for me, I believe that the left bunker is carryable for the longer hitters.  If not for the right bunker, those guys could just aim over the right side of the left bunker and just rip it, with a bit of room left and (with no bunker) tons of room right, there is no interest in the tee shot.  The bunker keeps em honest.

I would also suspect that a decent part of the membership can't reach that bunker anyways.

[Mike Hendren]

[I would also suspect that a decent part of the membership can't reach that bunker anyways.

Mark, Leary is long - I'm talking Matt Ward long.

[Carl Nichols]

It seems like you could have a really cool and very diverse trip if you visited Seattle and played Chambers, Aldarra, Tumble Creek, and Sahalee, and perhaps the UW or Golf Mountain courses.  This is not a request for access . . . anyone have any idea how easy it might be to play Aldarra, Tumble Creek or Sahalee with a call from a pro?  

[Sean Leary]

[I would also suspect that a decent part of the membership can't reach that bunker anyways.

Mark, Leary is long - I'm talking Matt Ward long.

Hah. I certainly am not.

[Sean Leary]

Mark,

Do you think the first hole would be improved if the right bunker were eliminated on the outside of the dogleg? Especially since it is a first hole and would give you the option of playing it safe to the right?

Sean,

I don't mind that  bunker.  Though it was not an option for me, I believe that the left bunker is carryable for the longer hitters.  If not for the right bunker, those guys could just aim over the right side of the left bunker and just rip it, with a bit of room left and (with no bunker) tons of room right, there is no interest in the tee shot.  The bunker keeps em honest.

I would also suspect that a decent part of the membership can't reach that bunker anyways.

You are right on all counts. I am a warm handshake opening hole guy and this hole is just really hard as a first hole, that is all. In the recent US Mid-Am qualifier, it was the hardest hole, by a lot. It was from the back tee, granted, but still.

I would like the right bunker more if it wasn't the first hole, that is all.

Brent,

Position A for someone who can carry it 250 is over the left bunker. For those shorter than that, it is right at the bunker.

[John Mayhugh]

Thanks for the pics.  If only I knew a member there.....

[rjsimper]

I can't wait until we get to the 7th hole. Green light special if there ever was one.

[jim_lewis]

Carl:

Regarding your question about gaining access via a call from your club pro, let me tell you what I observed a Sahalee about 6 years ago.

When I entered the pro shop prior to the round, I heard the pro on duty explaining to a Merion member that Sahalee does not honor access requests from other pros. Mind you, this was not Goat Track GC. It was Merion. After I completed my round I returned to the pro shop. This time I heard the same pro on the phone asking a club (unknown which) to accommodate one of Sahalee's members. Talk about a double standard. I hope that was an isolated instance.  I don't think I would spend a lot of effort trying to get on the course. You can get the same experience by going to a city and hitting balls down the street between the tall buildings.

[Peter Ferlicca]

  I love Aldarra, it really is in quite a nice environment.  Holes 3 through 8 are in a dense forestry jungle.  The greens have an amazing amount of contour.  It is funny Aldarras greens have much more movement than Tumble Creeks.  If you are not putting well, you will rack up a bunch of 3 putts.  It plays extremely long also, since it is at sea level in the thick moist air, 400 yard golf hole seems like 450 yards.  Practically every tee shot requires interest, and most approaches are good looking that requires a good strike.  Great hole are; 3, 8, 13, 14, 15.  And very good holes are; 5, 7, 10, 12, 16, 18.  A golf round here is very enjoyable.  

Regarding planning a little trip up in the Seattle area,  IMO play Chambers Bay, Tumble Creek, Aldarra, and Gold Mountain, and if you want some more golf play Broadmoor, a good private club.  Like others have said Sahalee isn't worth it.  It really isn't an enjoyable golf round, and you will find yourself completely under whelmed once you are done.  Regarding access Tumble is pretty accommodating.  Aldarra should be pretty easy considering a great member that belongs there.  Last piece of advice is travel in July, August, or September.  I would personally recommend Late August or September, because the fescue starts turning brown to give definition, especially at Tumble.  

[Mike Benham]

Mark, Leary is long - I'm talking Matt Ward long.

He and the Lama, big hitters, which is nice.

[Peter_Herreid]

I will be interested in seeing where the various conversations go with the discussion of Aldarra, which I have consistently suggested is the strongest test of the entire bag we have up here in the Seattle area.  While in my opinion Chambers Bay is overall the better course, and CB clearly fits my eye and aesthetics to a T, one can find a way to maneuver around CB when one is off one's game.

You just can't do that at Aldarra...Even when played from the proper tees for one's game, I find it a relentless examination and a course on which it is almost impossible for me to find a rhythm until it's far too late.  The rough can be punishingly thick (if not necesssarily deep), the fescues essentially unplayable and the playing corridors, particularly from #3-#6 seeming more narrow than they really are.

I think there are some world-class holes at Aldarra, and it will be fun to see if the treehouse feels the same way.  I have had many conversations with Sean about the strenghts and weakenesses of Aldarra and he is very generous in both his praise and criticism of the course.

Mark's pictures so far seem to be capturing one element that stands out for me at Aldarra; the tiered and shelved nature of many of the greens.  This really is a dominant feature on the greensites there, and many of the shelves seem to propel and reject shots, as opposed to gathering them.  On #2, for example, it is difficult to grasp just how meaningful those shelves are in challenging the tee shots.  Personally, I think that the dependence on some of the tiers and shelves is overdone at Aldarra, and this is similar to how I feel about Witch Hollow, for example, particularly when combined with the firmness of the greens and the comparative softness of many of the green entries.

The course is really quite beautiful, with different hues and textures in the various seasons, and to that extent is very representative of the great natural beauty we have up here.  I will look forward to any wide shots Mark may have upcoming of the east-facing holes in particular...

[Garland Bayley]

[I would also suspect that a decent part of the membership can't reach that bunker anyways.

Mark, Leary is long - I'm talking Matt Ward long.

Brushy,

Have you seen Matt play? For that matter, have you seen Sean play?

[Carl Nichols]

Thanks for the info on Seattle courses.  I completely get that Sahalee may not be that good, but I still think it would be interesting to play a course that's that tight with what I expect are pretty spectacular trees.  If nothing else, one can learn some "don'ts" from it, perhaps?

[Mark Saltzman]

Hole 3: Par 5, 550 Yards

Playing #3 - A three-shot par 5, the play off the tee is anywhere between the left and right-side fairway bunkers (A). Longer hitters should stay towards the right side as the bunker can be carried. Shorter hitters should aim towards the left as the fairway is more accessible. The second shot should be played just short of the fairway bunkers on the left (B) to avoid being blocked from the green by an overhanging cedar tree (C). This green slopes predominantly left to right due to a ridge on the left hand side of the green.




Hole 3 at Aldarra is one heck of a demanding par 5.  The tee shot is very intimidating, requiring a forced carry over a diagonal hazard.  For the first-time player, it is really difficult to judge the length of the carry (though it's not actually that long, probably about 190 yards at the centre of the fairway).  Tee shots that are pulled (bailouts) will find trouble in the bunker left.






OK, now that I've found the fairway I can mindlessly knock three wood up there and hit a wedge on.  Not at Aldarra, you better keep that thinking cap on (and be able to execute).  For those mortals not going for the green in two, there are two options: (1) Aim it up the left, towards the bunkers, or (2) Take enough club to get at least parallel to the bunkers, but don't miss left or right.




Trees just off the right side of the fairway punish shots that either too far back or too far right.  The picture below is taken from 140 yards out (IIRC) and from just right of centre.  The view to the back left pin is largely obscured and the view to anything centre or right on the green is completely blocked.




From 100 yards out in the centre of the fairway, the green is in full view and the pin ready to be attacked.  The reward for two well-played shots.




From just short of left bunkers:




Once again there is significant contouring on the green.  This time a large swale in the centre of the green makes front-right and back-left pin positions difficult to get to (as well as making it difficult to get from one part of the green to another).  




Short-right of green




From behind:

[Mark Saltzman]

Thanks for the info on Seattle courses.  I completely get that Sahalee may not be that good, but I still think it would be interesting to play a course that's that tight with what I expect are pretty spectacular trees.  If nothing else, one can learn some "don'ts" from it, perhaps?

I won't say not to play it because it is a polarizing golf course (GD top 50, yet hated around here) and you can form your own opinion.

I too thought it would be interesting and was actually quite excited to play it.  One of the few times I actually got bored on a golf course. 

Par 3s are identical.

Par 4s all ranged between 380 and 420 (IIRC).

I have a fairly good memory of golf courses I played. I would struggle to describe 9 holes at Sahalee (without photographic reminders).

Play TC, Aldarra and CB ahead of it.

[rjsimper]

I think 3 is the hardest par 5 of the lot at Aldarra. Not reachable, intimidating tee shot, pressure on being far enough left on the second. The only give is that the green is large.

11 is the second hardest, 12 is reachable, and 7 may as well be a par 3.  


Regarding Sahalee, I disagree with those of you that say it's not worth playing. I don't think it's necessarily top 100 material, but it's a pretty spectacular setting all architecture aside. The trees are ridiculously huge, and that alone is kind of fun to see if only for a novelty.

It's not a bad golf course by any means. Just different. very different.

[Mark Saltzman]

Hole 4: Par 4, 369 Yards

Playing #4 - This hole requires accuracy as well as distance. A shorter tee-shot will be easier to place properly but your approach will need to be precise as this green is very tricky. Longer second shots should try to approach this green from the left side as the bounce is usually favorable. Going over this green could be disastrous.




The 4th at Aldarra seems like Fazio's tribute to Sahalee.  An unbelievably narrow and uphill mid-length par 4.  Encroaching (and I believe planned this way) trees left and right mean that even shots that find the sides of the fairway will have the tree issues.  Oh and for any of you banana-ballers out there, watch out for those first few trees on the left!




Even if the tee shot is hit perfectly, the rest of the hole is no pushover.  Although only a short-iron, the approach must be precise as the green angles diagonally with a fronting bunker and slopes short-right that make for a difficult up-and-down. 




Once again the green is noticeably undulating, with the most interesting feature being a false-side that feeds balls off the right side of the green.




Shots missing right must deal with the false-side slope.  From thick rough the only real option is high and soft so hopefully you have a good lie and clean grooves.




From behind the narrowness is apparent.

[Peter_Herreid]

Coming after what I think is an all-world par5 in #3, and the variety of ways and shapes to play that hole, here comes the first of what I consider to be a few "less than inspiring" holes at Aldarra in #4.  To me, this hole (at least right up to the green) could be found in any number of the courses up here in Seattle in that it is a dead straight eye-of-the-needle hole with no "realistic" way to shape one's way around this hole.  I see this hole many times at Bellevue Muni, Rainier, Avalon, and Sahalee, etc..

However, the green does have some interest, as Mark's picture suggests, so I guess it's not a total loss...

Did I mention how much I admire #3?  That is a really good par 5 that plays like a strategic gem for all but the few who can overpower it.  Hard and unforgiving, but admirable at the same time..

[Brad Tufts]

I liked #4 at Aldarra.  Sort of a "this is what we could have done, but we didn't" homage to Sahalee, as Mark stated.

I think it also has some strategy:

A)  Slight left to right slope causes the better player to think "I should hit a draw down this fairway."  The three trees stepping into the fairway from the left about 260 out are placed exactly where a draw would land.

B)  Left to right sloping approach shot also is challenged by these trees.  Can you keep it straight, or even draw it off that lie?

C)  The narrowness calls for a 3-wood from many players, lengthening the approach and making a 380-yd hole play effectively longer.

[Sean Leary]

Sneaky tough par 4 for sure. It is a fantastic green especially to the pin shown in the picture. If the pin is back right, I would rather miss the green right and chip up the hill rather than putt from the front or even middle of this green.

Too tight? Probably. But it the trees add some interest to the tee shot and second shot, and this is the only tight hole on the course. The front bunker by the green was originally not there, but Fazio put it in in the final stages. Wished he didn't as it would be a cool bunkerless hole and greensite.

Overall the distances are deceiving as the ball honestly goes nowhere up here (as Brad and Ryan can attest). One of the weaknesses of the course IMO is that the shorter holes don't play short enough or as intended. As it was Fazio's first course in the area, I honestly believe that he miscalculated some distances with regards to some bunkers and how some of the holes play.

[rjsimper]

Yes as a "short" hole it doesn't really work. You end up laying back off the tee, and hit the same club in that you do on some of the other "regular" holes.

I like the hole, though. I would not call it a weaker hole on the course. Could be worse....could have been another dogleg left

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()