Moraine Country Club profile posted

[Ran Morrissett]

http://golfclubatlas.com/moraine-country-club/

Does a club honor its name?

If so, all is well.

If not, why?

This is that story of how Moraine Country Club once again pays tribute to the promise implied by its name.

I for one am thrilled to have seen what has transpired here. ‘Seen’ as I was here in 1986 when I thought it was located in the town of Moraine (it isn’t) as opposed to being laid over one (it is)!

In the case of Moraine’s restoration, we are nearing year eleven  – and that is before the club’s fescue program kicks in next year. Mark these shocking words: when Campbell’s work is awash in fescue, people will start drawing comparisons between it and Shinnecock Hills  , which possesses equally steep faced bunkers. Somebody bring this post back up in two years and see if I am right!

Go big or go home applies in Texas but the Buckeye state evidently doesn’t accept half measures either. Superb restorative work over the past decade is littered from side to side, top to bottom – from Cleveland’s triumvirate of TCC, Kirtland and Canterbury to the state’s west side and historic Inverness with one of the game’s great set of two shotters and down to Camargo which occupies a seat at the table of Raynor’s five best. Having said that, I contend that the bar of excellence has just been raised. 

True, nothing surprises this Discussion Group and Moraine has been receiving positive press here for over five years now. When trees started falling, interest started rising in Alex Campbell’s magnum opus. Sure enough, the tumblers had started falling into place – Green Keeper, Architect, patient and well informed decision makers at the club - and this profile attempts to capture the results.

Here is why what has happened at Moraine is so exciting: It has become the best version it can be and it now offers its members and guests an experience they can’t find anywhere else. Very few clubs worldwide (I would put the # at less than ~50) can claim the same. The downfall of golf architecture in the last half of the last century was that it delivered the same product, only slightly ‘gift wrapped’ a bit different per site. The 7,270 yard Moraine littered with ½ par holes (go low early is all I can say) is a true one-off.



Big picture, Moraine is most handsome but it is the micro-fairway contours (including the rippling 3rd fairway in the background) that dazzle the Old Trooper.

We should all applaud when smart people make tough, bold choices, stay the course for years, and emerge triumphant. To me, that defines success and it makes Moraine a cause for celebration.  Please have a read and see if you agree.

Best,

[MCirba]

Wow, terrific look to the course.   Can't wait to get out there next year.   Even better, I'll plan to double it up with a round at Dayton's municipal Community Golf Club, where Joe Coble of Cobb's Creek fame won the 1924 US Publinks.

Not coincidentally, the muni was also designed by Alec "Nipper" Campbell. 

[Josh Tarble]

Was fortunate to visit Moraine late this fall.  I've only seen pictures of it filled with trees so can't comment on the improvement, but what was there now is absolutely spectacular.  It is as unique and fun of a course as I've been fortunate to play.  Hopefully you hit on this in the review, but part of the appeal is uphill/downhill nature of the half par holes.  The long holes typically play uphill, making them even longer while the short holes play downhill.  It's a really fun juxtaposition of golf holes/terrain. 

[PThomas]

I've played the course pre- and post- restoration....quite remarkable results!

[JLahrman]

Here is a very mediocre photo tour of the course, circa 2008:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,34421.0.html

They had started some of the tree removal work but as you can see the renovation has come a long way.

I don't have a lot of photos where you can make direct before and after comparisons with what Ran has put up, but compare the photos of the approach to #17. It's noticeably better now.

[Joe_Tucholski]

Out of curiosity how are courses added to the courses by country list?  I seem to remember Ran was speaking at the course re-opening.

[Michael Moore]

Well, I try to avoid writing about courses I haven't seen (or even heard of) but damn . . . that looks like the love child of Eastward Ho! and Oakmont. Keith Foster strikes again. Wow.

[noonan]

Wow, terrific look to the course.   Can't wait to get out there next year.   Even better, I'll plan to double it up with a round at Dayton's municipal Community Golf Club, where Joe Coble of Cobb's Creek fame won the 1924 US Publinks.

Not coincidentally, the muni was also designed by Alec "Nipper" Campbell. 

Ash borer has really hit Community hard. In addition the course was in horrible condition. Community lost a pro a couple years ago due to sexual harassment of someone on the maintenance staff. His replacement was removed this year because of missing money and 50ish carts sold illegally to a course in Indiana. The turf is in very poor condition. But it is still a fun track to play. Make sure and play the hidden tee on the 3rd hole up and to the left of 2 green.

[MCirba]

Thanks Jerry.   Appreciate the report.

[Ari Techner]

Throw out a list of extremely complementary superlatives.  Thats how I feel about Moraine CC.

[Jerry Kluger]

I am still amazed that the membership went along with this; I am not saying this as a negative.  Nearly everyone outside of GCA who I have played golf with thinks removing trees is a sin so to convince a membership to do so is an unbelievable achievement.  In some ways it makes me think of what Old Town was able to do. 

[Mark Jackson]

Excellent profile documenting a pretty significant transformation. I grew up in Dayton and played Moraine many times during the late 90s and early to mid 2000s during high school matches, in college while tagging along with the golf professionals that I worked with at another private club in the area during the summer, or while playing in some inter-club matches. It was always a treat to play during those times mostly due to the exclusivity of Moraine (it was always perceived - and probably still is - as the "old money" club in Dayton). I was also aware of its past history of hosting a PGA Championship in 1945 that was won by Byron Nelson. Nevertheless, from my perception, the course at Moraine seemed to be considered - although exclusive and always in impeccable shape - 2nd tier compared to its neighbor course at NCR South.


I can recall most of the holes on the course as they existed in the 90s/2000s. It was, as Ran puts it, a "straightforward parkland test." I could see how it could get lost in the shuffle with so many other golden age era courses that were overtreed and lost so much of their original character as a result. In viewing the profile, the holes were mostly recognizable to me from Ran's pictures, but with the tree removal, the recaptured width, the defined bunking (which seems much more steep and abrupt than what I remembered when I last played the course more than 10 years ago), the green complexes and tee transitions, it seems that Keith Foster has breathed new life into the place.


I had been hoping to go back and play Moraine over the past few years, but my calendar could never align with the opportunities that I had to get down there. No need to delay any further - I will make it a priority to see Moraine in 2017. Can't wait to see the course in person.

[David Royer]

I've now had the pleasure of playing Moraine around ten times since the reopening.  Each time I discover something new about the renovation.  I played with the green chair Ray Lane and we discussed how 7 1/2 miles of drainage was installed and what a difference it's made on several holes.  The short 4's just keep getting better. The 3's are a wonderful mix of length and looks.  Keith Foster did an outstanding jod on the long 12th, par 3. I'm sorry to folks I couldn't get out this past year.  I'll try to accommodate as best I can this next season.  Thanks to Ran for all the kind words.  The pictures captured the essence and beauty of Moraine.  Happy holidays to all. 

[Criss Titschinger]

Thank you for this write-up. Everyone involved should be very proud of their work.

What I didn't realize was how close Moraine's 5th green is to NCR South's 2nd green. From NCR South's 2nd, you look up and see a hill, but you can't tell there's a golf course on the other side. I wish I would have taken a moment to scale that hill and look out. I got a quick view of Moraine as I drove down Stroop Rd. after playing NCR and it looked wonderful.

I always thought Moraine was solidly in the top 10 of Ohio golf courses. Does this renovation push it into the top 5?

[Josh Tarble]

I always thought Moraine was solidly in the top 10 of Ohio golf courses. Does this renovation push it into the top 5?

There's a lot of great golf in Ohio, but I think it could be top 5 depending on personal preferences.  I don't think Moraine is a huge drop in quality from Camargo from my standpoint.

[noonan]

Thank you for this write-up. Everyone involved should be very proud of their work.

What I didn't realize was how close Moraine's 5th green is to NCR South's 2nd green. From NCR South's 2nd, you look up and see a hill, but you can't tell there's a golf course on the other side. I wish I would have taken a moment to scale that hill and look out. I got a quick view of Moraine as I drove down Stroop Rd. after playing NCR and it looked wonderful.

I always thought Moraine was solidly in the top 10 of Ohio golf courses. Does this renovation push it into the top 5?

The cut grass areas touch behind NCR south #3 championship tee and the grass behind 5 green.


I have eaten a few meals at the 2nd house from the end of Southern Boulevard. It bisects the 2 properties at the end. From the front window you can watch people tee off on NCR South #1. From the living room you can see 4 & 5 on Moraine. My friend purchased this house in the 70s before he played golf.

[noonan]

[noonan]

The round tee is the back tee on 3. The 5th green is just over what appears to be a road. At one time it was merely a roped off between the 2 courses.

[ward peyronnin]

I played Moraine with Dave Royer on US Open weekend. I love this course and it is in my top 10 in the US if i rated it on the fly...I have been to occupied since then to do more than that.

However I vividly remember watching the Oakmont approach shot TV camera angles with my son and having flashbacks from earlier in the day from our round at this wonderful wonderful course. I'm just sayin. And what an economical routing.

[Tom Allen]

The restoration completely reimagined this course, in my opinion (even though the bones are generally the same).  I am very glad to see the restoration get a little more coverage here.  The renovation truly changes the whole impression of the course, form top to bottom.  Moraine flirts with the Top 5 for sure; Top 10 no doubt, in my mind.

[Ran Morrissett]

Speaking of top 5, Ohio would be in my top 5 golf states in the country, that's for sure.

Think of the architects that have worked here: Ross, Alison, Raynor, Thompson, Strong, Flynn, MacKenzie etc. up to Jones, Wilson, Dye, Nicklaus and Hurdzan. The state has so much great golf that doesn’t rely on water and where the challenge is distinctly ‘Golden Age’ in that it harks back to when losing a ball was frowned upon from a design point of view.

When I first went to Moraine in the mid-1980s, the pecking order for ‘best in state’ was, according to William Davis’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses and Then Some, the following: Muirfield Village, Firestone, Canterbury, The Golf Club, Inverness, & Scioto in the first fifty followed by Coldstream and NCR in the next fifty.  

Roll the clock forward thirty years though and how we define ‘great’ has broadened. In no particular order, my personal 2016 view on Ohio's best would be Moraine, Inverness with its indomitable two shotters, Kirtland, Camargo and either The Country Club or Canterbury. (I haven't seen Brookside.)

As an anti-water and pro-recovery guy, I am harsh on Muirfield Village. Beautifully routed on a wonderful site, a majority of the holes nonetheless now feature water. Good for television viewing and watching nerves fray but too much aqua for daily play IMO. Muirfield is justly famed for its conditioning and while I am not a condition freak (!), Moraine’s re-grassed fairways and greens are outstanding. Their star Green Keeper can get these pure playing surfaces as fiery as desired. 

If I keep the Moraine hat on, I would note that it fixed its ‘3^rd hole at Inverness’ equivalent (i.e. its 12^th) as part of the Foster restoration.

It’s essentially a one-off design as opposed to Camargo and its (wonderful) templates.

And vis-a-vis Kirtland, its two nines feel more homogeneous. Put another way, I don’t care which nine I play at Moraine and you do at Kirtland if time only permitted a quick nine holes.

I am not trying to wax on about some 6,270 yard course BECAUSE Moraine is exactly 1,000 yards longer than that! Bryon Nelson won the one major held here and Moraine hosts the Ohio Amateur every ten years. Past winners here include John Cook and Ben Curtis.


Moraine is all about the ground. Above is the approach to the 13^th.

Moraine walks the tightrope of fun and testing to perfection via its tiny holes all the way up to a pair of 600+ yard bruisers. True, there may not be any central bunkers but Nipper Campbell captured wonderful movement within the fairways that provides the playing strategy and Keith Foster has faultlessly dialed in the mow lines.

Add in the texture of the fescue next year and Moraine is bullet-proof in my book. The magazines may be slow to suggest it (especially as Moraine doesn’t seek publicity) but as an effective an argument can be made for Moraine as the #1 course in a superb golf state as any other course, IMO.

Talk about a transformation from 1986!!

Best,

[BHoover]

Ohio has a very good roster of courses, and Moraine is absolutely one of the state's gems. But I can't believe that Brookside is not in the top 5 on most lists. If it isn't, it's only because it flies under the radar because it's not in Cleveland, Columbus, or Cincinnati.

[Josh Tarble]

I described it as "what Erin Hills should have been" to someone the other.  Moraine has an incredibly unique terrain for golf and I think the course is incredibly unique because of it.  If you value unique and memorable more than straight up quality golf, I could see how it's top 3 in the state.  It is really good.

For me, there are a few too many similar shots to be THAT good (I still think it's a strong 7 or weak .  But tee shots like 6, 7, 8, 16 and 17 are all quite similar as are second shots on 6, 7, 16.  Those holes are all very good though, but just similar enough to keep Moraine out of the really upper echelon of courses in my opinion.

I don't mean these as a huge knock on the course, it really is wonderful.  I could happily play there everyday.  Those are just my reasons why it's more like top-150 instead of say top-75.  I could also see why others would say the opposite.

[BCowan]

Ohio has a very good roster of courses, and Moraine is absolutely one of the state's gems. But I can't believe that Brookside is not in the top 5 on most lists. If it isn't, it's only because it flies under the radar because it's not in Cleveland, Columbus, or Cincinnati.

Great post.  Canton Brookside is in my top 5 courses I wanna play in the country.  I have heard from well traveled Ohio friends that it's top notch.  As well as The Golf Club.  It will be interesting to see Columbus CC post Foster.  Of the 3 Foster tracks I've played Greens seem to be the weakest part of the course.  This need to make exciting greens boring so they can run at 12 isnt my cup of tea.  I have a feeling I'm going to love Brookside.


Moraine I'd put in the top 6.  Kirtland front 9 is very underrated.  The 10th and 18th holes are the 2 holes that I thought were the weakest.  The back 9 has drastic change of elevation and that's what people remember. However I think the front 9s Arch is as good or better. I do need another play though. 


Kirtland and Moraine are better then Canterbury and Scioto.  The annoyance of courses hosting majors getting more nods is sad IMO.  Moraine from the tips is a ball buster so it shouldn't be over looked for those interested in challenge.

[Ran Morrissett]

Josh,

It is interesting –7-9 and 16-18 parallel each other back to the clubhouse, and with the trees down, comparing them is almost unavoidable as 7/16 are short-ish, downhill par 4s, 8/17 are par 5s and 9/18 are tough two shotters, as you know.

That is certainly what I thought walking around without clubs and without a scorecard. 7 and 16 seemed like kissing cousins, two great ones to be sure but similar. When I got home and studied the scorecard, I was surprised/shocked that 16 is over 80 yards longer than 7. Plus, most golfers stay up a ‘level’ on 16 for their approach and actually hit downhill to the green while 7 is always an uphill approach.

Regarding 8 & 17, the new back tee on 8 makes it potentially a whopping 168 yards longer than 17 (which the big boys play as a par 4 anyway). After additional research, I was surprised to learn that the 8^th green is the largest on the course and the only one to measure over 7,000 square feet. The 17^th one meanwhile measures 4,700 square feet which is 10% under the median size of their greens.

9 & 18 do have a similar playing qualities. Nonetheless, I thought that all three concluding holes on each nine had similarities but I ended up ‘un-writing’ what I had typed on the flight home.