Aerial of the Day #432 - 6 Nov 2003

[Scott_Burroughs]

We've seen at least one other aerial have those blotches in
the bunkers and it's just the picture, not 'black stuff'.

We heard some time ago that there were
environmental/wetland issues involved that affected the
routing of this course.

I see a dual greens on one hole, I believe, as at PV on two holes.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Optimally-based soil faound it's way into the name of the club, apparently on the top on an elevated edge.

Contradictory to the name of the local NBA team, the folks in
these parts now care about the team, due to the new blood
injected by Mr. Phenom.

Lots of hype on this course when rated highly a few years ago.

[El Guapo]

That looks like some of the Best Sand down there.

"Why men" play this course only on an occasional basis.

[wsmorrison]

Square Tees Golf Club?  Those tees sure look weird from the air.

[RJ_Daley]

I think I have the routing figured out... Does this course finish on a par 3?  Ballibunion or this course...hmmm

[Anthony_Nysse]

If memory serves me correctly, Ben Crenshaw wrote a letter to the club during construction to not name the club "Sand Hills" which was planned at the time.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Oft-maligned city, which has had at least 3 previous AOTDs.

Dick,

The routing ends with the par 5 with several central bunkers just north of the club house area.



Contrary to what the architect was quoted as saying for a
future project in Scottsdale in another thread, he can place
central hazards to create options and angles on several holes here.

The par 4 11th (lower right) is called Redan.  Does the green
have a high right kicker to thelower back left?  Because the
green shape and bunkering don't look Redan-ish, let alone it's
not a par 3.

This is more of a general comment on (often modern) clubs
that have the clubhouse as centerpiece, instead of the
course.  This parking lot is a decent distance from the bulk of
the clubhouse, and I prefer coziness and parking lots that
abut the pro shop/clubhouse, etc. where going out to your
car is not a separate excursion on its own.  Not always
amenable, but preferable is a parking lot where the farthest
space isn't much farther away than the closest, sort of mult-
rows parallel to the clubhouse, not going away.  My $.02 the
subject.  Also like 1st tees close to the clubhouse, unlike
below, which is left of parking lot.

[Scott_Burroughs]

This is Sand Ridge, in Chardon, OH (outside Cleveland),
designed by Tom Fazio.  Sand Ridge gained notoriety by
starting out at #55 on the GD Top 100 list 2-3 years ago on
it's first year of eligibility (it fell off the most recent list).

The layout is here:



from the club's pretty good web site:

http://www.sandridgegolf.com


other clues include:

"We heard some time ago that there were
environmental/wetland issues involved that affected the
routing of this course." = Tim Weiman, who knows this course
rather well, talked about this in the past.

"Optimally-based soil faound it's way into the name of the
club, apparently on the top on an elevated edge." =
"sand" "ridge"

Contradictory to the name of the local NBA team, the folks in
these parts now care about the team, due to the new blood
injected by Mr. Phenom. = Cleveland "Cavaliers", with
phenom, LeBron James.

Lots of hype on this course when rated highly a few years ago.

"Best Sand" = the name of the quarry that owned the land

"Why men" = Mr. Weiman

"Oft-maligned city, which has had at least 3 previous AOTDs."
= Cleveland, with AOTDs Kirtland, The Country Club-Pepper
Pike, and Pepper Pike.

Contrary to what the architect was quoted as saying for a
future project in Scottsdale in another thread, he can place
central hazards to create options and angles on several holes here. = Fazio mention in other thread.

The par 4 11th (lower right) is called Redan.  Does the green
have a high right kicker to thelower back left?  Because the
green shape and bunkering don't look Redan-ish, let alone it's
not a par 3.

Can you decide for yourself from these pics?:

[John Foley]

At the risk of being subjected to slings and arrows, from the picture's of the place, it looks tremendous, very, very strategic w/ some extremely challenging greens (Check out #17!)

A little too green (but it's wet in the Great lakes this year I know) but I do love those square tee's.

[Mike Nuzzo]

Scott,

I played there this summer with someone who explained why he named it redan....

it was a joke.

and commentary on how many other courses claim to have a redan, when they don't.

cheers

[Mike Nuzzo]

Has anyone ever played to the left of the bunker in the middle of the third fairway, on their second shot?  (Assuming you aren't MAT_WARD)
Tom Mac?

It's a very fine club.  I caught someone on a cell phone and tried to turn him in...

[Doug Sobieski]

Mike:

I've found it easiest from left of the central bunker on #3 when the flagstick is tucked over the right front bunker or on the right third. I wouldn't force the ball up into the gap left of the central bunker, but I like to make sure I stay short of it and as far left as possible.

Regards,

Doug