Moraine Country Club profile posted

[JLahrman]

Ran I hadn't thought of 7-8-9 and 16-17-18 being so similar but yes they do have the same pars and all play in the same direction.

From my three plays of the course (about 8 years ago), 9 and 18 definitely seemed the most similar certainly from a length perspective (they are each slight doglegs in the opposite direction).

8 is a fairly meaty three-shotter. 17 seems like it really should be listed as a par-4 (if that matters to anyone here). And as you noted, 8's green is large which I do recall quite clearly. Those two holes had more to contrast than compare IMO.

Being a longer (and often wronger) hitter, I felt compelled to try to drive it down near the green on #7 with mixed results. I remember hitting fairway woods off the tee on 16, leaving myself about 150 yards in. Again I felt there was more to contrast for these two holes than compare.

With the trees fully down now, it's no doubt easier to want to compare those holes as they run side-to-side and I'm sure the golfer now has a great view of each pair of holes twice per round. I always thought 6 and 7 seemed to be too similar though that's perhaps just from a length perspective and the fact that they are back-to-back. 7 is only uphill in the approach to the green while 6 plays uphill pretty much the whole way.

In any case, the restoration work just looks fantastic. Hopefully I can get back to my home state sometime and have an opportunity to play Moraine again. This formerly good course now looks incredible.

[Josh Tarble]

Ran,

Thank you for the thoughtful response.  I do think the holes are different enough to not feel monotonous in the slightest.  I think with more plays that might be even more different than they appear.  As you mentioned the best way to play 6, 7 and 16 are probably very different, but I'd need a few plays to confirm. 

My post was simply to explain my reasoning on why it may be left out of the discussion for the very upper-echelon of courses.

[BCowan]

Ran,


   What did u think of the green complexes?  Did u think they were softened too much or just right?  This is 1 of 2 things I'm looking forward to on a 2nd and 3rd look.  The 2nd is rewards for proper angles.  Those fairway bunkers are no joke, a good half stroke.  I believe it's top 100 by the way

[Ran Morrissett]

Joel,

The fairway bunker Keith added ~80 yards short left on 7 was a master stroke as it calls for decisions, decisions! The plan is for fescue grasses to inhabit the area right of the green and once that is so, swinging away from the tee will best appeal to those with a high tolerance for pain.

For the 2019 Ohio Amateur, I wonder if they will use the 300 yard tee one day? It would bring the green within reach for even more of the field with a 3 wood given the drop in elevation. It is always fun to find the hole set-up that creates the most rue and the 7th is one of those rare holes whereby you might change your mind 3 or 4 times on the tee before pulling trigger.

Lots of gnashing of the teeth on this downhill ½ par hole, ESPECIALLY given the savage 7 hole stretch that follows. Your affairs need to be in order as you depart the green – and that pressure doesn’t 'foster' (no pun intended!  ) a nimble thought process while standing on the 7^th tee!
  
Ben,

As a set of targets, I think the green complexes are fantastic as they enjoy four key elements:

1) Almost all are open in front.

2) Hazardous, deep bunkers pinch in from the sides and sometimes rear. Recovery talent is allowed to shine as there is no water and thick rough isn’t the primary obstacle.

3) Terrific slope. Similar to Wykagyl, the greens here are more about tilt and cant as opposed to internal contours. Apart from the 12^th which is a new green in a new location, Keith worked the hardest on ‘taming’ the pitch of the 2^nd green. Well … I had a ~25 footer from above right of the hole that broke 8 feet so ….. it has plenty of fire! Put another way, the slopes combined with firmness and speed very much make it a position golf course, which to me is a green complex’s ultimate responsibility.

4) Invariably well positioned, the green complexes afford a variety of attractive backdrops and long views.

[noonan]

As a set of targets, I think the green complexes are fantastic as they enjoy four key elements:
2) Hazardous, deep bunkers pinch in from the sides and sometimes rear. Recovery talent is allowed to shine as there is no water and thick rough isn’t the primary obstacle.

Is the area behind 10 green unchanged in the redo?


It was a steep drop off and impossible recovery if I recall.


Thanks!

[David Royer]

Jerry, the green is now surrounded a drop off of about 2-3 feet with a basin of 3-4 feet.  The ball rolls off the green surface and now settles in the closely mown area.  The player is offered a multiple choice of clubs depending on pin position.  It is a much better hole with the changes. 

[JLahrman]

10 had that trough around the green before, though it may have been deepened during the registration. I liked that feature. 10-12 are on the flattest portion of the property, I think the trench adds some intrigue to what could have been one of the least interesting holes on the course.

[Josh Tarble]

I thought the greens at 10, 11 and 12 were very interesting. (Would also never know 12 hadn't been there forever!) Especially thought 10 was really good and for occupying the most mundane part of the property all three holes are very good.