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Huntsman Springs Golf Club, located just over the mountains from Jackson, WY in Driggs, ID.
Background Information - Taken from
http://www.huntsmansprings.com/golfHuntsman Springs gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the smell of fresh cut grass, and the feel of the eager turf beneath your feet at one the nation’s top golf courses. Boasting a world class course designed by the acclaimed golf architect David McLay Kidd, winner of GOLF Magazine’s 2008 “Architect of the Year” and who calls Huntsman Springs “my greatest golf architectural achievement.” Huntsman Springs delivers not just an extraordinary golf course ranked one of the top in the nation, it also offers a true experience.
With the stunning Teton Mountains as a backdrop, Huntsman Springs blends seamlessly into its native lands with the graceful contours, fishable ponds, aspen trees, willow and Irish Links fescue. Players have a sense of vast open spaces with views in every direction. Playing the course reflects the impeccable quality of the design and construction with fairways that average 80 yards wide, greens that average 10,000 sq. ft., 153 bunkers and 450,000 cubic yards of sand to maintain contour and promote drainage. Huntsman Springs provides championship conditions throughout the season.
The course isn’t your average game of golf, it’s an experience. Built with replay value in mind, this course lends golfers an array of options and strategies to get the most of their game, including split fairways and a multitude of bunkers. Huntsman Springs is an avaricious course, and could take a lifetime before it gives up all of its secrets.
Accolades- Golfweek Top 100 Modern (no. 29)
- Golf Mag Best New Private
- Golfweek Top Residential Courses
RoutingScorecard InformationGeneral Impressions1) Tremendous variety in P4s.
2) Lack of variety in P3s. Too many played to similar yardages with a wide green over water.
3) Lots of width. Having only played the course once it was difficult to tell how effective the width was. On most tees. for me, although there were many potential options, there was only one that made sense for me. I think that in a different winds, other options would be open to me. Still, there were a few instances where I felt that Kidd used width, because the best modern courses use width.
4) Really fun set of greens. Many are absolutely massive with huge undulations. Some greens use tilt/slope, others use ridges, others humps. Really good variety. So many potential pin positions and so many ways to play each shot make local knowledge (or a good caddie) really important.
5) The course is a tough walk. It is flat enough, but there are some very long green to tee transitions. I asked the pro if he minded walking, he said he didn't mind. On the second hole I asked how often people walk the course. He said about 1 group a month. I guess long transitions are irrelevant if your members want to take carts... or I guess maybe the members take carts because of the long walks....?
6) I felt that the flatness of the property combined with the split fairways and multitude of fairway bunkers made me feel very uncomfortable and confused on the tee. As the photos will show, there is very little to assist with depth perception and as such choosing a line is difficult. Again, a good caddie is helpful here.
Photos will begin tomorrow.