Wonderful White Bear - A photo tour

[Morgan Clawson]

INTRODUCTION

The golf course at the White Bear Yacht Club in Dellwood, MN is loaded with wonderful attributes including:  beautiful rolling terrain, unique holes and greens, long views of the course from many holes, wide fairways with limited tree intrusion, and an excellent routing.  Although hilly, it is a walkable course and the distances from green to tee are very minimal on most holes.  All of these features can be found on the 7th hole.


White Bear Yacht Club started as a sailing club in 1891. The golf course opened in 1912 with 9 holes.  Additional land was acquired, and 9 more holes were added in 1915.  A brochure printed in 1918/19 hangs in the golf house and reads “…an original design by William Watson, and was developed by Donald Ross and Tom Vardon."  Watson, and particularly Ross are well known architects.  Vardon was the club’s pro beginning in 1915.  He also designed several courses in the area.  Since the mid 1990s Tom Doak and Jim Urbina have been consulting with the club.  I will get into a bit more of the history after the tour.

Course yardages from the back, middle and front tees are 6,471, 6,266 and 5,633. In the photo tour I have listed the back and middle yardages.

While moderate in length, the course is no push-over.  The winner of the men’s 2011 state amateur was -7 for 3 rounds.  The low score in 2015 for an USGA women’s amateur qualifying round was +2.
 
The par is 72 with 5 par 5s and 5 par 3s.



PHOTO TOUR

Hole 1
Par 4 – 405 and 401 yards.

Many architects believe that the first hole should give the golfer a good idea of what the course as a whole has to offer.  WBYC delivers on this strategy with a beautiful par 4 that reveals the course’s hilly and dramatic nature from the tee box.

From the elevated tee, the golfer hits to the valley below.  The approach shot requires an extra club to reach the green located on top of a ridge.  The green is not overly contoured, but has some tricky slopes near its perimeter.  As you will see from the following photos, this is a terrific risk/reward hole.

Aerial view.  The bunker in front of the green is the largest on the course.  The pond on the left is out of play for most.


The practice green blends into the 1st tee.


The view from the first tee is terrific.  The size of the fronting bunker and the shot required to get out of it is foreboding, even from the tee.  This photo does not do this hole justice.
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With out of bounds on the right, playing to the left side of this wide fairway makes sense.  But, from here the approach shot is all carry.  The green is left of the tall pine tree in the middle of the picture. There is a lay-up area to the right of the same tree.


The right side of the fairway offers a safer path to the green.
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The green is flattish in the middle with slopes in the front and back.  This is taken from the right side of the green from the lay-up area.


Hole 2
Par 4 – 429 and 400 yards.

While essentially the same distance as the first, the second hole’s features are just the opposite.  Here the landing zone is a bit higher than the tee, and the approach to the green is downhill.  The green has fairly consistent back to front and right to left slopes.

Aerial View.  The long, skinny bunkers on the right keep balls from rolling down the hill and out of bounds.


Tee.


Approach shot.  Note the 3rd tee just above the green.


Looking back from 3rd tee.


Hole 3
Par 3 – 133 and 130 yards.

Vintage hand carved and painted tee signs.


This charming short par 3 has the tee and green nestled on the edge of a steep-sided ridge.  The green has a slight front to back slope that can be difficult to detect.  Tee shots pulled left will find the bottom of the hill, which sits about 18 feet below the green. The shot required from down there is very similar to one golfers experience at Lawsonia Link’s unique box car 7th.  This is one of my favorite short par 3s anywhere.

Parts of the green are obscured from the tee box.


The green sits at the edge of a steep-sided ridge. 


This 1925 photo taken from nearly the same spot as the above photo, shows that this corner of the course hasn’t changed much in 90+ years.

From Minnesota Historical Society

Tee shots pulled left require vertical skills to get to the green.


A terrific view of the 3rd green (taken from front-right) with the 4th tee just steps away.  This is certainly one of the special spots on the course.


Hole 4
Par 5 – 552 and 548 yards.

In Planet Golf USA, author Darius Oliver lists the par 5s at WBYC as one of the best sets in the country.  He is correct!  All of the 5s have wide and rolling fairways and offer long views of the course.  Appropriately, all of the 5s feel big and open, despite having moderate lengths by today’s standards.

Hole 4 is the longest of the par 5s. The tee shot is on the same ridge as the #3 green and requires a reasonable carry over a wetland.  After an enjoyable walk across a neat old wooden bridge, the golfer must traverse a series of steep hills to get to the green.  Like the previous 3 holes, the green has modest interior contours.  Its primary slope is back to front.

Aerial view.  The tee is in the lower right corner of this dog leg right hole.  Longer hitters can run out of fairway if they hit a straight shot off the tee.  An angled shot closer to the tree line on the right side of the hole will find the fairway.


A look back at the tee and 3rd green from the bridge.


A series of hills must be navigated with the 2nd shot.


The green slopes gently from back to front.


Hole 5
Par 4 – 441 and 432 yards.

At this point in the round, the golfer has putted on 4 greens with limited internal contours.  That changes on the 5th.

On this hole the golfer must navigate a fairway with a strong left to right sloping hill that runs nearly the entire length of the fairway, and creates a high and a low side.  Position A is on the left and high side of the fairway.  It offers the best visibility of the green and an easier approach shot.  Balls resting on the right side face an uphill and partially blind shot to the green.

The green requires good reading skills as it has a bowl shape plus a left to right slope.

This is a very dynamic and challenging hole, and is quite deserving of its #1 handicap.

Aerial view.  The back tee is just left of the green and the middle tee is on the other side of the road.


The back tee requires a shot over a road. You can see the severity of the hill in the landing zone.


The middle tee is much lower than the back tee, creating a semi-blind tee shot.
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The forward tee box is on the left side and top of the hill.  From here you can see how small the fairway landing area is on the left side of the hole.
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Due to the hill, many drives find the low side of the fairway where the view of the green is obscured.
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The well-executed shot that stays on the left/high side of the hole has a nice view of the green.


This view from the right side of the putting green reveals the bowl contours (where the flag is)  as well as the left to right slope.


Hole 6
Par 3 – 152 and 137 yards.

The green on this downhill par 3 is located on a peninsula between open wetland areas. As with the previous holes, notice how the tee is just steps from the previous green.  Winds blowing through the open area by the green are often not felt on the tee, causing some balls to come-up short.  The green is fairly flat.

The tee shot.


The green is surrounded by 6 bunkers.  Cleverly, all 6 were not visible from the tee.
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[Morgan Clawson]

Hole 7
Par 5 – 457 and 453 yards.

This great par 5 is in an open part of the course and provides the player with a look at 5 other holes.  The hole climbs uphill and quite steeply at the end, adding more real distance than the score card indicates.

The right half of the landing zone slopes down to the right, making the journey up the hill even longer from down there. This may be the largest green on the course.  It has some significant undulations along with back to front and left to right slopes.

Aerial view:
The 7th hole is in the middle of the frame. The 5th hole is on the left and the 12th hole is on the right.  Note the large light colored fescue area the separates the 7th and 12th holes.


From the tee.


Terrific fairway movement.


A neat knob in front of the green brilliantly obscures the view of the putting surface and alters the player’s depth perception.  There used to be a number of bunkers (3+?) on the hill in front of the green.  They were removed 10 or so years ago (I assume this was a Renaissance recommendation).  I think this was a smart move as the land offers plenty of challenge on its own.


The strong back to front and left to right slopes are evident from right of the green.


A remarkable hole from start to finish!


Hole 8
Par 3 – 189 and 186 yards.

This demanding downhill par 3 has a green that wraps around the base of a steep hill. The green slopes from back to front and right to left.

Renaissance rebuilt this green complex in 1995/6.  The old green was smaller and had a more significant right to left slope, making it difficult to hold for many players.

Aerial view.


The hole plays more downhill than this photo indicates.


View of the green from the elevated 9th tee with the rolling 4th fairway beyond.


Hole 9
Par 5 – 514 and 500 yards.

Here the golfer has 3 large hills to navigate.  The approach shot must fly between the 2 large trees that guard the opening to the green. The green sits a little below the 3rd hill in a slight punchbowl, and a running shot landing well short of the green can roll onto the putting surface.

Aerial view.  The primary tee boxes are in the lower left corner, and the lower center (in line with the bunker on the 8th hole).


Here’s the view from the center tee box.  The hole plays straight toward the club house. The first fairway is on the left.


The approach shot should be aimed at the club house, as the trees on the left and right side of the fairway must be avoided.  The green is blind, making this a thrilling approach shot.


This view from behind the green shows the kick plate that can feed balls onto the green. The green is set in a gentle punchbowl steps from the golf house.  I love how perfectly this green blends in with the natural contours.


Hole 10
Par 4 – 332 and 321 yards.

A very picturesque hole with rhythmic fairway undulations and a demanding green.  The green has more slope than it appears and a sneaky false front.

Aerial view.


Wide view from the tee.  The 10th fairway is on the left, and the 9th fairway is on the right.


The rhythm of the 3 alternating slopes creates one of the prettiest fairways on the course.
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While not evident from the fairway, the player will notice the undulations on the left side of the green and the false front as they approach the green.


View from the right side of the green.


Hole 11
Par 3 – 180 and 159 yards.

One of the great things about a round at WBYC is that you’ll see holes and features that you simply don’t see elsewhere.   This is one of those holes.

Aerial view.


This large dip in front of the green is not visible from the tee.
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The back half of the green has a steep slope and serves as a back-stop.


There’s also a subtle downhill slope at the front of the green.  Most of the hole locations are in the valley between the 2 slopes.  There is a right to left cant to the green that you can see from the tee, but can be overlooked while on the green.


Hole 12
Par 4 – 383 and 357 yards.

This very unique hole is one of the best on the course and a favorite of many.  The back tee is placed just above the 11th green and at the top of the hill, allowing the player to see the entire hole.  After a drive to the valley below, the player has a blind shot over a ridge to the green.  The fairway begins sloping downward immediately after the crest of the ridge. The downward front to back slope continues on the green.  Determining the correct yardage to hit the approach shot while factoring-in the trajectory of the shot is the key to having the ball stay on the green.  A shot with a low trajectory could land well short of the green and roll on. 

Aerial view.  The hole runs diagonally in this picture lower-left to upper-middle.  Note the interesting bunker locations around the green.

 
A ridge with 2 bunkers benched into it hides the view of the green. This was taken from the 150 yard marker.


The crest of the ridge is just a couple of feet past the traps. From there the fairway slopes downward 25-30 yards to the front of the green.


The green slopes steeply from front to back. A large bump on the left side of the green gives it some punchbowl characteristics. Photo taken from behind green.

[Morgan Clawson]

Hole 13
Par 5 – 514 and 502 yards.
 
Another par 5 with a series of rolly-polly hills to navigate.  The entrance to the green is a unique slender isthmus that is narrower than the width of the green.

Aerial view.


Average to shorter hitters confront this hill with their drives.


The second shot must navigate a series of hills.


Precision is required for the 3rd shot.  The drop-offs on both sides of the green are significant.


Hole 14
Par 4 – 336 and 330 yards.

This fun short par 4 is a dog leg with a sublime 2 tier green that blends seamlessly with the surrounding terrain.

Aerial view.  Out of bounds runs along the right side of the hole.  Trees in the out of bounds area prohibit a shot that “cuts the corner”.


The landing area for the tee shot is quite large, giving the player several options.  An iron or hybrid might be the best choice for finding the fairway. But a 3 wood or faded driver may provide a shorter approach to the green.


After rounding the corner, the architecturally appreciative golfer is rewarded with a view of perfection.  A wonderful 2 tier green awaits their approach.  This is from the right side of the fairway.


From the left side of the fairway, a low running shot down the closely cropped hill is an option.


This view from the right side of the green distinctly shows the 2 tiers.  As with other holes, the green ties-in beautifully with the surrounding land.

 
Hole 15
Par 4 – 423 and 414 yards.

Here, drives fly over the flattest part of the golf course and land at various points at the bottom, side, and top of the hill.  Hitting on top is practically a necessity for reaching the green in 2 shots.  The green is tucked into a corner of the woods.  It has a significant back to front slope (perhaps the steepest on the course), but is also subtly V shaped with the bottom of the V on the left third of the green.  Balls landing well above the hole guarantee a challenging putting session.  This is the #2 handicap hole.

Aerial view.


The tee shot.


The green is situated in a heavily sloped notch.  The mounds right of the green help to guide the approach shot that is often blind.


A closer view of the green from front-left confirms that this is a very challenging green.


Hole 16 –
Par 5 – 483 and 476 yards.

A great par 5 that requires accurate club selection on the tee and fairway.  On the tee, the player must decide how close they want to hit to the natural grass/bunker complex on the right.  Laying up and challenging it are both viable options.  The second shot is usually blind and calculating the right angle of the shot is key.  The dynamic green is one of the best on the course.

Aerial view. The longer the tee shot, the narrower the fairway.  Classic risk/reward.


The tee shot can cause nervousness.  The native grass/bunker area on the right is large and reachable, or close to it, for most hitters.   Left of the fairway is a bunker and wetland.   The native grass/bunker area helps accentuate the dog leg and makes the second shot blind or semi blind for most.


The green is slightly elevated.  The slope in front of the green used to contain several bunkers. I believe that Renaissance recommended their removal. 


This view from above and behind the green reveals its complexity and 3 semi-distinct sections.


This shot from the right side of the green shows the neat rounded edge.  The bottom of the pin is not visible, as the hole is located on the left portion of the green.  Should the player putt it or chip it?  This is just one of the many questions the golfer must decide on this terrific option-filled par 5.


Hole 17
Par 3 – 205 and 183 yards.

The longest and most picturesque of the par 3s requires a long shot over a pond to a green perched on a shelf in the middle of a hill.  Shots coming-up short will roll a ways down the hill.  The green has a modest back to front slope.

Aerial view.  Unlike many par 3s of this genre, the tee shot is not “all or nothing”, as there is a fair amount of land in front of and on the sides of the green to catch a mishit shot.


The challenge from the tee is clear.
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Hole 18
Par 4 – 343 and 337 yards.

The tee ball on the 18th requires a blind shot over a hill that crests about 90-100 yards in front of the tee.  The approach shot is downhill to a flattish green guarded by a small pond on the right with bunkers on the left.

Aerial view of the 18th hole with the driving range to its right.


The tee shot is totally blind.  The hill is high enough that some players may need to hit a club with more loft than a driver.


The view from the top of the hill.  From here the hole plays downhill the rest of the way.  A small view of White Bear Lake is visible to the right of the golf house.


Looking back up the fairway from left of the green.


For the golf architecture enthusiast, a round at the White Bear Yacht Club is about as good as it gets.  There are features and holes on the course that are very unique. The movement of the land is beautiful, natural and impressive.  The greens were placed in interesting places and blend-in with their surroundings.

From a golfing standpoint, White Bear Yacht Club is exceptionally fun to play.  The architecture and movement of the land is compelling.  Each hole is a new adventure because it’s very different from the last. The movement of the fairways and greens requires you to plan your shots.  The course is very playable as the fairways are wide and the green speeds are reasonable. 

[Morgan Clawson]

SOURCES

Thanks to the following authors and contributors for their fascinating books, information and photos:
Discovering Donald Ross by Bradley Klein   www.discoveringdonaldross.com/
From Fields to Fairways – Classic Golf Clubs of Minnesota by Rick Shefchik  -  http://www.amazon.com/From-Fields-Fairways-Classic-Minnesota/dp/0816677328
Minnesota Historical Society website - www.mnhs.org/
Planet Golf USA by Darius Oliver - http://www.planetgolf.com/index.php?id=1353
White Bear Yacht Club website - www.wbyc.com
White Bear Yacht Club golf course photos from 2009 – Dan Kelly
Wind, Waves & Waggles – 100 Years of Golf at the White Bear Yacht Club by Mark Mammel - available at WBYC

[MCirba]

Wow.   That's one very attractive and compelling golf course!   Thanks for sharing, Morgan.

[Jason Thurman]

Dammit Morgan, I'm trying to work!


White Bear Yacht Club has a fantastic reputation, and it's still the most underrated course I've ever played. It is pure, world-class golf from start to finish, at least for guys who don't hit it 330 yards. To name just one great course of comparison, I played Ballyneal and White Bear two weeks apart, and I waffle back and forth on which one was my favorite. I'm also not sure which one had the wildest fairway undulations.

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Great tour thanks for taking the time and effort.
What a wonderful classic style golf course,another on the list

[Jason Topp]

Thanks Morgan. You should try and include a picture of the tee shots across the road because they are such a unique part of the course.
 My view of the quality of White Bear Lake varies dramatically from visit to visit.  There are some very interesting and one of a kind holes.  I have never thought of the par 5's as particularly excellent (with the exception of 9) but your tour does remind me of their quality.  I am not a big fan of 4.  I would say I like the par 3's more than the 5's.
My other impressions:
15 is either a great hole or a terrible one - I cannot decide.  12 has become less compelling with repeat play - the main feature is a green that slopes front to back.  18 is a real clunker in my book - particularly with the little ponds I suspect were not there originally. 
I have always thought of the first three holes as less interesting than the rest of the course but they are in fact very good solid holes that seem generic only in comparison with the others.

[Morgan Clawson]

Dammit Morgan, I'm trying to work!


White Bear Yacht Club has a fantastic reputation, and it's still the most underrated course I've ever played. It is pure, world-class golf from start to finish, at least for guys who don't hit it 330 yards. To name just one great course of comparison, I played Ballyneal and White Bear two weeks apart, and I waffle back and forth on which one was my favorite. I'm also not sure which one had the wildest fairway undulations.

Jason Thurman - That is high praise!  Ballyneal is my favorite.  There are certainly some parallels - dramatic rolling terrain and unique greens.

[Tommy Williamsen]

If I lived anywhere near White Bear I'd join in a heartbeat.  The golf is first rate and the club itself is just wonderful. Sitting on the deck overlooking the lake is a great place to have a bite to eat.

[Peter Pallotta]

Morgan - thank you, that tour was outstanding! You've managed to provide us with what seems (at least to me) with the most complete 'sense' of the course possible.
Peter

[Jason Thurman]

Pete, I agree that Morgan has captured the course as well as it can be captured in photos. However, I’d also note that White Bear is uniquely difficult to bring across in two dimensions thanks to its extremely unique topography. I’ve spent the weeks since I played it describing it as a bentgrass, clay-soiled Kingsley Club. Unfortunately the climate doesn’t afford it the opportunity to present the same bouncy and zippy playing conditions that Kingsley exhibits on a daily basis, but it still works even when soft. If the course is firm, the ball will bounce and roll and follow slopes in ways as dramatic as any course in the US. If the course is soft, you’ll spend the day dealing with every variety of uneven lie and still be thrilled every time you reach the crest of a hill to see where your ball has finished. It’s a great golf course even when weather doesn’t cooperate, and if conditions are equal I think it’s as good as just about anything I’ve seen.
 
A few notes and questions on the photos and White Bear itself:
 
Morgan, you mention the winning score in the 2001 MN Amateur. Were all the par fives for everyday play also played as par fives in that tournament? Do you think the course would still hold up with the advancements in technology in the 15 years since?
 
White Bear really hits its stride starting at the fifth for me, but what a brilliant opening hole it offers to get things started. It might be my favorite opening hole in golf.
 
Morgan identifies the high left side of the fifth as the best angle of approach based on the view it opens up. While I agree that the view of the green is excellent if one can reach the top of the hill, I hit a pretty good drive on that hole and couldn’t reach the top to make the second anything but blind. I think you need to hit it about 280 yards at least to get a view of the putting surface for your second up the left side. It appears to me that it’s easier to get at least a view of the flag by going up the right side, as the crest of the hill running through the fairway is lower on the right and thus makes it easier to see the pin, though you won’t be able to see much of the green at all from there. Regardless of strategy, the fifth can compete with any par four in the world when it comes to blending challenge, shotmaking interest, and pure joy.
 
 It’s interesting that fairways at White Bear almost seem to get narrower as holes get longer. Note how roomy holes like 10, 12, and 14 feel compared to holes like 2, 7, 13, and 16. While there’s plenty of forgiving width throughout, one of the things that makes White Bear compelling is that this extra width in the shorter holes makes it possible for players to take advantage of the fact that a 280 yard drive on a 370 yard hole can produce a wider variety in angles of approach than the same drive on a 500 yard hole. This effect is almost exaggerated by the enhanced width on the shorter holes at White Bear, as angles of approach to the shorter holes can legitimately vary by 70 or 80 degrees relative to the pin in some places between two players who both hit the fairway.

[Morgan Clawson]

Pete, I agree that Morgan has captured the course as well as it can be captured in photos. However, I’d also note that White Bear is uniquely difficult to bring across in two dimensions thanks to its extremely unique topography. I’ve spent the weeks since I played it describing it as a bentgrass, clay-soiled Kingsley Club. Unfortunately the climate doesn’t afford it the opportunity to present the same bouncy and zippy playing conditions that Kingsley exhibits on a daily basis, but it still works even when soft. If the course is firm, the ball will bounce and roll and follow slopes in ways as dramatic as any course in the US. If the course is soft, you’ll spend the day dealing with every variety of uneven lie and still be thrilled every time you reach the crest of a hill to see where your ball has finished. It’s a great golf course even when weather doesn’t cooperate, and if conditions are equal I think it’s as good as just about anything I’ve seen.
 
A few notes and questions on the photos and White Bear itself:
 
Morgan, you mention the winning score in the 2001 MN Amateur. Were all the par fives for everyday play also played as par fives in that tournament? Do you think the course would still hold up with the advancements in technology in the 15 years since?
 
White Bear really hits its stride starting at the fifth for me, but what a brilliant opening hole it offers to get things started. It might be my favorite opening hole in golf.
 
Morgan identifies the high left side of the fifth as the best angle of approach based on the view it opens up. While I agree that the view of the green is excellent if one can reach the top of the hill, I hit a pretty good drive on that hole and couldn’t reach the top to make the second anything but blind. I think you need to hit it about 280 yards at least to get a view of the putting surface for your second up the left side. It appears to me that it’s easier to get at least a view of the flag by going up the right side, as the crest of the hill running through the fairway is lower on the right and thus makes it easier to see the pin, though you won’t be able to see much of the green at all from there. Regardless of strategy, the fifth can compete with any par four in the world when it comes to blending challenge, shotmaking interest, and pure joy.
 
 It’s interesting that fairways at White Bear almost seem to get narrower as holes get longer. Note how roomy holes like 10, 12, and 14 feel compared to holes like 2, 7, 13, and 16. While there’s plenty of forgiving width throughout, one of the things that makes White Bear compelling is that this extra width in the shorter holes makes it possible for players to take advantage of the fact that a 280 yard drive on a 370 yard hole can produce a wider variety in angles of approach than the same drive on a 500 yard hole. This effect is almost exaggerated by the enhanced width on the shorter holes at White Bear, as angles of approach to the shorter holes can legitimately vary by 70 or 80 degrees relative to the pin in some places between two players who both hit the fairway.

Jason -
Thanks for catching a typo. 
The men's state am was held in 2011, and was played over 3 days. It was played as a par 71 at 6,467 yards.  The 7th hole was a par 4 for the tournament (normally a par 5). 

Donald Constable was the winner at 7 under par. During the tournament he made a 3, 4 and 5 on that hole.

I agree - from the drive to the last putt, the 5th is really dynamic and challenging.

Great observation about the width of some of the short holes.  It's one of the strengths of the course.
 

[Peter Pallotta]

Jason - thanks, that was a very informative post, especially the parallel to Kingsley and what climate/soil make the norm re playing experience.

Peter

[Sean_A]

Morgan


Thanks for the fine tour!  The terrain is incredible.  Do you think the bunkering enhances the aesthetics of the terrain? 


Ciao

[Pete Lavallee]

Morgan,

Thanks for time and effort to give such a wonderfully complete tour. Definetly a gca top 10!

[Morgan Clawson]

Thanks Morgan. You should try and include a picture of the tee shots across the road because they are such a unique part of the course.
 My view of the quality of White Bear Lake varies dramatically from visit to visit.  There are some very interesting and one of a kind holes.  I have never thought of the par 5's as particularly excellent (with the exception of 9) but your tour does remind me of their quality.  I am not a big fan of 4.  I would say I like the par 3's more than the 5's.
My other impressions:
15 is either a great hole or a terrible one - I cannot decide.  12 has become less compelling with repeat play - the main feature is a green that slopes front to back.  18 is a real clunker in my book - particularly with the little ponds I suspect were not there originally. 
I have always thought of the first three holes as less interesting than the rest of the course but they are in fact very good solid holes that seem generic only in comparison with the others.

Jason -
You're right.  The road crossings are another unique feature.  I'll try to find a photo.

Interesting comments on the holes.  Regarding #12 - I like the fact that you can see the pin position when you're near the tee on #7.   The approach shot is similar to what you'd face on a Mac/Raynor punchbowl, but it requires more precision as there is no back slope on the green. Regarding #15 - I think the angles and dimensions on this hole are very challenging.  The long driver can hit it through the fairway if their line is too far right.  The short driver can get stymied by the tree if they hit it too far left.  Regarding #18 - The pond by the green is not original.  I'll put up an old aerial photo soon.

[PCCraig]

Morgan,


Thanks for posting this photo tour. Very well done. Although it's amazing how poorly photographs capture the movement in the land at White Bear.


I'll comment on some of the recent commentary as I have time, but I thought I would repost my thoughts on each hole from another White Bear thread from last week:


Hole by hole:
#1 - The coolest part of this hole to me is the neat teeing area wedged between the golf clubhouse and a little putting green which sits on essentially a small cliff overlooking the lake and the road below. The first 5 holes at WBYC are super tough and for an "easy" 6400 yard course it packs a big wallop right out of the gate. The tee shot is dramatic in that it is down hill and you see the intimidating green complex waiting for you at the end of the hole. For most players, the tee shot is straightforward but you want to hug the OB right to get the best angle into the green, which is partially blind. The green is a neat one as it slopes away from the big mound short of the green, but then it slopes hard back to front at the back part of the green.

#2 - I think #2 is a great representation of WBYC and its rollicking property and fairways. The fairway slopes are huge and dramatic, and the green sits wonderfully on a ridge with the 3rd tee closely above it. Typically, it's a driver-mid iron for most players.

#3 - A super neat short par-3 that usually plays about 115 yards. There is a massive drop off left of the green. The right side of the green is obscured by a large bunker/mound. Shots that come up short can actually bounce forward off of the mound. Anyway you shake it if you miss the green you are in for a hard par or bogey...if you hit a good wedge then its typically an easy two-putt or birdie.

#4 - I actually think this tee shot is pretty awkward and the hole could use some serious tree clearing on the inside of the dogleg on the tee shot. If you hit anymore than a 240 yard drive you need to take your driver over the trees and the OB below it to find the "A" position. Right now the trees kind of aim you toward the bunker and it turns the hole into a longish three shot hole.

#5 - Awesome hole. The tee shot is super cool as you hit under power/phone lines and over a very active highway. The best line is to hit a driver as close to the bunker/OB right as you can get so you can have a flat lie and see the green for your second shot which is usually at least a mid-iron (4 or 5 iron). The green sits up against the OB and the slopes on the green are pretty severe. A "layup" short left of the green leaves a super fun up and down.

#6 - A fun little downhill par-3 with a nice lake backdrop.

#7 - A short par-5 with a pretty awkwardly narrow tee shot. The fairway is squeezed in by some really long rough on the right. I think the hole would be a lot more fun if the landing area was widened considerably. The hole is reachable in two but the green on the 7th is awesomely severe and depending on the pin location it can be a nearly impossible up and down if you don't leave yourself a perfect angle for your approach shot.

#8 - A tough longish par-3 that was designed by Tom Doak & Co.

#9 - A super fun par-5. The hole is dominated by a massive mound/ridge short right of the green which you can try to use to get to the green in two. A fun hole.

#10 - You climb back up that hill on #9 to find the 10th tee, a short par-4. If you can hit a decently long tee ball, the 10th is typically a easy wedge into the green, which has a false front and is generally steeply sloped back to front.

#11 - An awesome world class par-3. The green is insanely sloped from back to front and that slope on the back part of the green dominates the way you play the hole as you use it as a kickpad/backboard in order to try to get close to the pin. If you go a little too long, there is a very shallow bunker on the top that is so shallow you can either try to hit a bunker shot or putt the ball out of the bunker and down the slope (the 2nd option being the best, in my opinion).

#12 - A world class short par-4 which has one of the coolest tee boxes I've ever seen. It's tiny and sits between the back bunker on 11 and the highway. The entire hole falls away from the player, including the green which is severely sloped away from the fairway so much that you aim for the very front of the green and hope the ball runs down near the pin. You won't know where your ball is until you get to the green.

#13 - A longer uphill par-5 through the trees. Some cool fairway undulations but generally I think it's a pretty straightforward hole.

#14 - A neat little short par-4 with an awesome two tiered green. This is another hole that I wish they could clear out all of the trees inside of the dogleg, adding the option of trying to drive the green. Right now its kind of a forced layup with an iron off the tee, then a mid-iron into the green. Given the cross bunkers ~60 yards out I think this hole was designed as a short strategic hole, but I think it's lost a bit of it. Again, the green on the 14th is awesomely severe.

#15 - A super tough long par-4. There is a little "catchers mitt" in the uphill fairway on the right that you can try to hit it to which leaves the best angle and lie into the green. Anything hooked off the tee to the left is in a really tough spot. The green, for such a long par-4, is very severe (did it used to be a par-5?) and is bisected by a ridge/slope. You can be 15ft away, pin high, in two and essentially be playing for bogey because there is no way to get your ball within 15 ft of the hole if you're on the wrong side of the green. Cool hole.

#16 - A short par-5 with a super awkward landing area if you try to hit driver. There is wetland left and bunkers/fescue right and a fairway that slopes toward the wetland. If you can manage to find the fairway up  there you can easily reach in two, but it's pretty awkward so I've started hitting a 3-wood or 2-iron off the tee. Another great green.

#17 - I think this one is tied with #8 as my least favorite on the course. It's a pretty but penal hole with the pond and the pine trees behind the green, but there isn't a whole lot to it other than to hit a long iron to the small green and hope. The green is pretty flat (well compared to the others) and not super noteworthy. 

#18 - I like #18 more than most people. I think the totally blind tee shot over a rock is a lot fun. And I think the view from once you climb the hill, with the lake and its sailboats behind the green/clubhouse, is one of the best views on the course. The 2nd shot and the 18th green are kind of anticlimactic, but that's fine after all the dramatic stuff you just saw.

[Criss Titschinger]

Great tour, Morgan! I'll add my pics to this thread from my recent trip soon. I tried to get some perspective shots of the undulations using my playing partners' height for comparison. I think I got a good one of Jason on 13 green side.

[Tim_Weiman]

If I lived anywhere near White Bear I'd join in a heartbeat.  The golf is first rate and the club itself is just wonderful. Sitting on the deck overlooking the lake is a great place to have a bite to eat.

Me too. Looks like heaven.

[Morgan Clawson]

If I lived anywhere near White Bear I'd join in a heartbeat.  The golf is first rate and the club itself is just wonderful. Sitting on the deck overlooking the lake is a great place to have a bite to eat.

Me too. Looks like heaven.

Tim and Tommy -
I wish I lived closer too.  I live south and west of Minneapolis and WBYC is north and east of St Paul.  So, it's all the way across the metro with 2 large cities - Minneapolis and St. Paul - in between.
Part of the charm of WBYC is that it's located in an area with a few small towns, old homes on large lots, windy roads, farms, woods, and beautiful White Bear Lake.  It's really quite a remarkable area.

[Criss Titschinger]

There is a house for sale off the 1st tee right now. I was about right in my guess for asking price. http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/2248161_zpid/45.093557,-92.961664,45.083831,-92.97943_rect/15_zm/1_fr/?3col=true

[BHoover]

There is a house for sale off the 1st tee right now. I was about right in my guess for asking price. http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/2248161_zpid/45.093557,-92.961664,45.083831,-92.97943_rect/15_zm/1_fr/?3col=true

This would make for a wonderful summer home, Criss!

[Dan Kelly]

There is a house for sale off the 1st tee right now. I was about right in my guess for asking price. http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/2248161_zpid/45.093557,-92.961664,45.083831,-92.97943_rect/15_zm/1_fr/?3col=true

This would make for a wonderful summer home, Criss!

I'm sure Morgan would be happy to arrange a showing.


MN GCA could meet here after our many rounds at WBYC:





Built in 1916. At the very least, Scott and Zelda laid eyes on this fine property!

Maybe Donald Ross, too!

[Kalen Braley]

This course looks outstanding.  Reminds me a little bit of Indian Canyon with all of the massive undulation in the fairways, minus all the massive Pine trees of course.
 
Would be interesting to see how it would look if those roughs in between holes were all maintained as shaggy fescue like between #7 and 12.  It would look even fantastic-er!!