[Mark Greer]

I had the pleasure of playing Rock Creek Cattle Co two weekends ago.  My first time there and wow, what a place and what a great course!  Anyway, I was told that you were on site and are trying to determine to feasibility of moving the 18th green closer to the creek.  Where does that stand?

[Daryl David]

I'm sure Tom will answer, but he did mention the following in another thread about a week ago.

I took four days last week to re-visit Rock Creek and look at the possibility of moving the 18th green, which they now have environmental approval to do.  I also consulted on the placement of additional forward tees [the key movers and shakers are getting older [/size] ] and ten years worth of tree removal.  It looks like we will go back next spring and build the new green.[/i]

[Mark Greer]

I'm sure Tom will answer, but he did mention the following in another thread about a week ago.

I took four days last week to re-visit Rock Creek and look at the possibility of moving the 18th green, which they now have environmental approval to do.  I also consulted on the placement of additional forward tees [the key movers and shakers are getting older ] and ten years worth of tree removal.  It looks like we will go back next spring and build the new green.

Thanks, I missed this.

[Tom_Doak]

Thanks to Daryl in answering for me.


I was reluctant to change anything at Rock Creek, because I think it's some of our very best work.  However, the 18th has never quite lived up to the promise of playing all the way back up the creek to the pro shop.  There was a small wetland right near the green we had to avoid in building the course, which meant that the green is not right on the creek.


We tried to make up for that by building a difficult green that would make you want to play your second shot to the left, for the best chance at getting close with your 3rd shot.  But it's hard to see the line of the creek as you play your second shot, and nearly everyone shied away from the hazard, making for a very difficult third.  So the club tinkered with the original green a couple of times to try and make it less severe.  That work needed fixing anyway, so why not look into moving it to where we really want it?


It sounds like it's a go, and that they will do some preliminary work this fall, but unfortunately we can't finish it this fall because of our commitments at Bel Air and in Australia.

[Mark Greer]

Thanks to Daryl in answering for me.


I was reluctant to change anything at Rock Creek, because I think it's some of our very best work.  However, the 18th has never quite lived up to the promise of playing all the way back up the creek to the pro shop.  There was a small wetland right near the green we had to avoid in building the course, which meant that the green is not right on the creek.


We tried to make up for that by building a difficult green that would make you want to play your second shot to the left, for the best chance at getting close with your 3rd shot.  But it's hard to see the line of the creek as you play your second shot, and nearly everyone shied away from the hazard, making for a very difficult third.  So the club tinkered with the original green a couple of times to try and make it less severe.  That work needed fixing anyway, so why not look into moving it to where we really want it?


It sounds like it's a go, and that they will do some preliminary work this fall, but unfortunately we can't finish it this fall because of our commitments at Bel Air and in Australia.

Thanks.  The tee shot on 18 is spectacular from the back tees.  Moving the green closer to the creek will make it an incredible hole.  17 is special as are all the par 3s.  The beauty of RC is incredible despite the smokey conditions when I was there. 

[PCCraig]

I thought the contours on the 18th green were awesome. Too bad it has to go. May end it's just me but a green located right on the water would be too cliche

[Jim Franklin]

I thought the contours on the 18th green were awesome. Too bad it has to go. May end it's just me but a green located right on the water would be too cliche

I thought the contours on 18 were pretty cool too. I loved the little false front on the left. But, as cliché as it may be, I look forward to seeing what becomes of the new green/green site.

[Tom_Doak]

I thought the contours on the 18th green were awesome. Too bad it has to go. May end it's just me but a green located right on the water would be too cliche

I don't intend to build a cliche.  The front of the green will be very close to the creek so you will look down the creek as you putt out, but there will still be some wetlands to the left, and a chance to bounce the ball onto the green from the right side.

[Mark Greer]

I thought the contours on the 18th green were awesome. Too bad it has to go. May end it's just me but a green located right on the water would be too cliche

I don't intend to build a cliche.  The front of the green will be very close to the creek so you will look down the creek as you putt out, but there will still be some wetlands to the left, and a chance to bounce the ball onto the green from the right side.

I think it will add a better risk/reward element to the hole for the bombers.  The two assistants I played with  there both hit hybrids on in 2.  Moving the green closer to the creek will add to the interest of the hole in my opinion.

[Ted Sturges]

Tom,

Is there a possibility of building the 18th green on the opposite side of the creek?

TS

[Tom_Doak]

Tom,

Is there a possibility of building the 18th green on the opposite side of the creek?

I looked at that option years ago -- there are wetlands involved over there, too.  But I concluded it wouldn't work because of visibility issues.


The thing people don't realize about the hole is just how much uphill it is, and the fact that the creek follows an uneven path, both horizontally and vertically.  The area about 100 yards short of the green is relatively high compared to everything else as you play up the hill, so that you will never be able to see the creek up near the green.  With our proposed solution, you'll see the flag, or the green itself from 175 yards in, you will see the bank to the right of the green, and you will know you can't miss left.  That's as good as we can do.  I don't think anyone would like a hole where you had to hit over a blind creek.

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

The cliche build would be over the creek. Since it is a reachable hole, the worst miss for an accomplished player is left, and moving the green a bit left should improve an already very good hole.  There is a lot of potential to make a devilish up and down for the bail out right while accommodating the high handicapper

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