I noticed that The Eagle course was named this month as the best new private club of the year by Golf Magazine. I had played it last January when it first opened and was impressed (confounded, irritated) by the green complexes and their negative impact on my score. A couple of days ag I played it again and, again, apart from confirming that the green complexes are a challenge, I thought that this really is a fun, although challenging, golf course.
The only Steve Smyers courses that I've played are Southern Dunes and Bella Collina, the former very nice and the latter interesting, but with some questionable holes.
It has been reported that Smyers was inspired by Macdonald and Raynor 1920's designs in the creation of The Eagle. I haven't played courses by either. I'd be interested if someone with more experience and who has played The Eagle could comment on how much the course looks and plays like a Macdonal/Raynor course. Certainly there are some features that are unique, like square corners on greens that are geometric like Raynor.
In looking up some background on Smyers, I found the following quote. Sounds good to me.
"The great golf courses of the world share a common ingredient with great symphonies--they are technically correct--but more than that they are alive. They have feeling. A great golf course moves you to alternating highs and lows. It excites you, thrills you, and even frightens you. In the end, a great golf course challenges the very best in you...And that's what golf is all about"
And, a quote from his design partner Patrick Andrews on The Eagle:
"We regard what we are creating at TwinEagles as very much a work of art. The design worked to create shapes and lines that are interesting, vibrant and have a harmonious relationship to the surrounding land. Our hope is to showcase the new "Eagle" Course in a way that players can sense the place is alive and vibrant."
TwinEagles originally had two courses, the Talon by Nicklaus and the Aerie by Player. As I understand it the membership thought the Player course to be too difficult and ultimately decided to redesign and rebuild it completely. Interestingly Smers created a course that is a bear from the tips at 7634 yards rated at 77.9 and sloped at 153. From back there it must be brutally tough given the extreme challenge of the greens combined with the raw length. From the more manageable members tees it is 6529 yards, 72.3 and 134, still a challenging course.
And, for me what makes the course challenging from whatever tee are the green complexes. Many are elevated 8 to10 to 15 feet above the fairway and surrounds and have significant undulations, bumps, ridges, and plateaus. One of the greens, the 8th, is said to have a redan-like feature, a punch bowl and a plateau feature all in one green. It is a very large green that provides many possible pin locations and is not as busy looking as it might sound. Perhaps the biggest challenge is missing the green and having the ball repelled away from the green. And, the most fun is trying to recover and stay on the green, especially if you miss on the wrong side. For example, on the second hole, a par 5, I was pin high in two but thirty yards right of the pin faced with a chip from the rough into a short side pin on an elevated green that ran abruptly away from my angle. Nice chip into the side of the bank that didn't kick up onto the green. An 8 iron bump up the bank that came back to my feet. Another 8 iron chip past the flag and off the edge of the green. Two putts coming back for a double bogey on what looked at first blush like a birdie opportunity. I think the green complexes on the course would require a lot of study to figure out the best way to attack them.
The contours of the fairways leading to the greens can also provide excitement when trying to run the ball into greens. And, unlike many FL courses at this time of year the fairways are maintained fast and firm, so a ground game in a possibility.
Following is a brief description of the holes from the club's web site. I'm going back tomorrow for another go at it and hope to get some pictures.
Eagle Hole Descriptions Yardages From The Back Tees
Hole 1 Par 4 / 414 Yards
The tee shot on the first hole of the Eagle is very deceptive. It looks like there is no landing area at all but in fact there is plenty. The mistake is laying back; the player must take on the tee shot due to the difficult second shot into a two-tiered green with a false front. Once the player reaches the green the two put par is not a certainty.
Hole 2 Par 5 / 605 Yards
This long par five gives the player room off the tee but the lay-up is much more difficult. The player must decide what third shot they must play into the green before the lay-up strategy is considered. The third shot into number two demands a bump and run shot but if the player is not ready for it the wedge in could produce disaster. Choose wisely.
Hole 3 Par 4 / 460 Yards
Our third hole has hazards left, right and long. With the fairway sloping right to left, a fade off the tee is your best play. Now hold on, the approach shot must find the green due to the greens triangular shape with a bowl on the left and a treacherous slope on the right. Another two put par is all the player should look for on number three.
Hole 4 Par 3 / 202 Yards
The fourth hole is a mid-iron par three to a perfect rectangular green. With the bunker and water right, the bailout is definitely left.
Hole 5 Par 5 / 572 Yards
Our second par five will be one of your favorite holes due to the continuous options the hole offers. A draw off the tee will get the ball rolling through the alley of fairway bunkers and allows the player the chance to attack this half rainbow green. If the player decides to lay-up, they must go right or left due to the fairway bunkers down the center of the lay-up zone. Left may be the better option when laying up but going for it in two is way more fun.
Hole 6 Par 4 / 481 Yards
With ample room off the tee, the challenge is the approach shot on our sixth. A player must favor the right side of the fairway to use all of the slopes on the green properly. The green has a false front, and with the bunkers left and no clear bail out right the player must control their ball after the ball lands on the green.
Hole 7 Par 4 / 472 Yards
Number seven really challenges the player off the tee and into the green. With water left off the tee, the bunkers right really pinch the long hitters. Once the ball has found the fairway the player must hit a high mid to short iron into this perfectly square green. The green is well elevated and well-guarded left and right with bunkers. Short is the only miss but to guarantee par the player must find the green.
Hole 8 Par 3 / 222 Yards
This par three is long and elevated with a green that will be one of your favorites. Even though the green is large the player will face many challenges off the tee but once on the green the game really begins. Use your imagination well, number 8 does not give up too many two-putts.
Hole 9 Par 4 / 445 Yards
Pay attention to the huge fairway bunker left. A tee shot short of the bunker allows the player the best angle but the longer shot in may not be the best decision. If the player bombs a drive down the right and escapes the OB they can then challenge this elevated multi-tiered green. Make a par on nine and you may pick one up on the field.
Hole 10 Par 4 / 492 Yards
The par four tenth gives the player room off the tee but the player must hit the farthest tee shot possible to set-up the second shot. The farther your tee shot is the more narrow the fairway gets. A great drive will set up this mid iron shot into an elevated green that is almost 50 yards in depth. Favor the left side of the green to allow for the best kick to any hole location.
Hole 11 Par 4 / 477 Yards
With water right and OB left the player must be sure of what shot they want to hit off the tee. Once the fairway is found, the player faces a second shot into this par four that is guarded by a bunker left, water right and a mound in front. This multi-tiered green will reward a good shot but a little local knowledge goes a long way.
Hole 12 Par 3 / 233 Yards
This par three tempts the player to take on the bunker short right with an accurate tee shot but the play is to play to the left of the green and use the slope to move the ball to the center of the green assuring a safe two putt par.
Hole 13 Par 4 / 471 Yards
Off the tee this par four makes the player take on the water and the bunkers right. If you are playing for par the easy tee shot awaits but if your goal is to birdie this hole then the risk must be taken off the tee. The front hole locations demand a well struck shot with a lot of spin but if the hole location is in the back, the ball must be played to release.
Hole 14 Par 5 / 580 Yards
A big tee shot on this par 5 will get you home in two but be prepared for the incredibly difficult second shot. The lay-up is a fairly easy one but if you do go for it the green must be missed left. This will leave the player with some fun options.
Hole 15 Par 4 / 501 Yards
With water left, this par 4 makes you feel that 3 wood off the tee is the play but the player must play the big tee shot to set up the short iron into the green. The fifteenth green is one that has a false front and trouble left, right and behind. Just because there are not bunkers on this hole doesnt mean its a pushover.
Hole 16 Par 4 / 309 Yards
Just how many options does this reachable par 4 have? You may think a lay-up off the tee gives you the best option but this par 4 begs you to be aggressive. If you are lucky enough to hit this green off the tee your prize awaits but miss the green and frustration awaits.
Hole 17 Par 3 / 184 Yards
With many tee options, this par three can start from any angle. The secret to this tee shot is to use the green to get the ball where it needs to go. Long is always an option if the hole is located left behind the front bunker.
Hole 18 Par 4 / 514 Yards
The eighteenth is a demanding finishing hole. This par 4 starts with a difficult tee shot to negotiate the fairway bunkers left and right but due to the length of the hole, the play must take on the bunker right. The player then faces a long iron into this green complex and will again be able to use the slopes on the green to move the ball to the appropriate location.