I was fortunate enough to play Wolf Point with Mike Nuzzo and some friends this past Sunday and it was a blast! What made it even more enjoyable was Mike holed out on the #18 hole from ~100 yards for eagle.
In my opinion Mr. Nuzzo gets an albatross for his design at Wolf Point. For me and my friends, who have all played some great courses we were in a state of giddiness at how wonderful the course played. Each hole is unique and special. It’s a one of kind original that should be studied for its importance in the architecture and golf world.
At dinner after the round my friend said this which is very telling of the design, “Mike, you made me realize today why I love to play the game of golf.” It was well said, but heartfelt and true. It could be probably one a greatest complements an architect can hear.
In today’s world of 7200+ yard monsters it’s a treat to play a course that is FUN to play. I’m not going to get into what course is better than what because we often live in a world of hyperbole. But one thing I know that is not hyperbole is that Wolf Point was the most FUN golf course I have ever had the opportunity to play. It is a course that touches all of your senses and was almost a biblical experience that we haven’t stopped talking about since the round was over. In fact the only regret is we only got to play 18 holes.
I am not sure if Mike was trying to pick off each of Dr. Mackenzie’s 13 principles but he did so easily. I piled up quite the score despite the fact I didn’t have to search for balls or hit long irons into every green. With the varied ability and length off the tee of the people in the group I was amazing how it favored no one and in some cases leveled the playing field between long and short hitter. Both had to execute but both had an equal chance of success or failure. Outside of the Old Course I’m not sure there is a course with so many options.
One discussion we have been battling since our round is what holes we thought were the best. And it’s like any GREAT course you have a lot to choose from and some great debates can ensue after a couple of brews. But for me the short two-shot holes really stood out like #4, #7, and #10. The angles of attack, wind direction, hole placement and skill level all come into play. In fact on #10 the two longest hitters took a double and a triple while the two short hitters made birdie. All the three shot holes were also varied and interesting. Angle of attack is very important on the 3 shot holes at Wolf Point and sometime taking aggressive lines pays off and sometimes a failure in execution can be fatal. And the one-shot 11th hole was a real gem in a perfect setting that kind of reminded of the 7th at Shinnecock, not because of its redan qualities but because of the views and vistas. The finish of 15-18 was also very strong and stood out to my friends as being there favorites on the course. These are the holes that stood out to me but I truly loved all 18 which is rare this day in age.
Mr. Mahaffey does an OUTSTANDING job of being the caretaker of Wolf Point. I was speechless but one small detail really stood out to me was Don’s meticulous work with perimeter management on the outer fringes of the course. The tree pruning and underbrush management was outstanding and really enhanced to look of the course. I felt like Shinnecock meets Royal Melbourne meets St. Andrews meets the African Serengeti. Even for being so wet and gloomy this winter in Texas the place still played great.
It’s a shame that Jack Nicklaus gets to design 400 courses that deter people from playing the game because it’s too hard, takes too long, hits your wallet, and really isn’t any fun to play meanwhile Mr. Nuzzo sits as a one-trick pony. That ought to be a crime! It has to be one of the best one course attempts in the history of the game outside of Crump at Pine Valley. I commend Mike, Don and the whole crew for a job well done. When you walk off a course and say that was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had in the game or life that is really saying something. My hats off!
PS Thanks for introducing me to Shiner Bock. I will have to look for it here in Wisconsin!
Steve Blake
Head Greenkeeper
Ridgeway Country Club