First time at Bulle Rock...hints?

[Tim Taylor]

Playing Bulle Rock this Saturday for a friend's 35th birthday outing. I have the low handicap index of the foursome at 12.9. The highest is a 19. I'm assuming that we should probably play the whites at 63xx yards and 71.5/136.

Any other pointers anyone might offer?

TimT

[Dan Herrmann]

I've found the staff to be extremely friendly (easy to do when you're paying $145).  

I'd get there early and hit their awesome range - it's one of the best I've ever used.  

If you don't mind walking, call and reserve a caddy - they can really make your round enjoyable.

Have some fun on #9 and try to reach the green from the tee - it's all over water, and it's fun to urge your tee shot up on the shortcut fairway.

Don't go right on #13 - doom awaits those that do.

#2 is a beautiful par 5 - enjoy it.

Whenever I've played, the course was in immaculate condition.  I know you'll like it if you don't expect too much - Bulle Rock is a Dye course that can eat you alive.

Enjoy the day and HAVE FUN!

(PS - Next time you're in Harford County, MD, try Beechtree - better than Bulle Rock (I actually prefer Doak's architecture to Dye's) at about 60% of the cost)

[Jim Franklin]

You definitely don't want to play the back tees. #5 is one of the toughest par 4s around and like Dan said, don't go right on 13. It may look like you can, but you want to aim at the cart path on the left. 18 is a beast too. Practice area is great, putting green is average at best.

Beechtree is a good call too. I am playing there in the mid-atlantic two man tournament in a few weeks. It is usually in great shape.

[Chris_Edge]

All good advice above. I'd add the following;

The long and narrow green on #4 opens up from the left side of the fairway. Avoiding the FW bunker and leaving your tee shot on that side of the fairway will give you more options approaching this long narrow green.

Watch out for the hornets' nest in the apple tree near 8th tee.

Check you pin positions on the tee as some of the greens are deep (4,5 and 18 come to mind), and are better approached from one side of the fairway or the other.

Agree that Beechtree is great too.

Enjoy

   

[Matt Kardash]

Does anyone know when the 2nd course is suppose to open at Bulle Rock?

[Dan Herrmann]

Last time I checked (early this year?) it was on indefinite hold due to the economic conditions.

When I played in 2001, there were bulldozers everywhere.  Last year, it was silent.

You'll have a great day!

(Oh yeah - stop and check out the view of the Bay from the 10th tee.  It's not up there with Niagara or the Grand Canyon, but it's very nice).

[Mitch Hantman]

First, I think that whenever playing a Pete Dye course, you should figure out which tees you want to play, and then choose one set further forward.  Otherwise, it may not be any fun.

The story I heard about the 2nd course, is that although the major shaping was done, the course won't be built, because the owner sold the land off for a housing complex.

[Tim Taylor]

Then I've chosen the right strategy because I really want to play the 68xx yard tees but I'm going to play the 63xx yard tees.  

TimT

[Matt_Ward]

The key to playing Bulle Rock is to score early. The first four holes are where opportunity can be had provided you execute.

I always liked the long par-3 8th and the 9th is always interesting. ONLY DARE TO PLAY THE BACK TEE IF YOUR LAST NAME IS THE FOLLOWING ...

Woods
Mickelson
Singh

Get the point? Mike Cirba detests the hole but I think without question it's controversial because of the dual carries you face if you challenge the right side.

The key when playing Bulle Rock is remembering the famous line that Clint Eastwood uttered in a movie of his ... "A man has got to understand his limitations." Keep that in mind when playing Bulle Rock because steering the long shot on any number of holes there will quickly result in the famed combo of DB and TB or the dreaded "others."

[Mike_Cirba]

Play Beechtree.  

You'll have infinitely more fun, but if you have you're heart set on Bulle Rock, just keep playing away from the trouble.  If there is any doubt in your mind whether you can pull off a shot, don't go near it, because you can't.  Play to the outside of every dogleg because the inside is inevitably fraught with doom.  

Oh...and lift weights between now and then.  Even from 6,300 yards the course will play long, due to the fact that the longest par fours are all uphill, and the shortest are all downhill (which would be 9-iron, wedge approaches anyway)   Throw in a week of heavy rainstorms passing through and I'm sure it will play like 6,900 from there.  

[Roger]

Tim you seem like a nice guy.  Buy your buddy a hooker instead, she'll treat him kinder than Bulle Rock.

Love,
Roger

P.S.  Stock up on balls.