Birdwood Golf Course (Charlottesville, VA) Photo Tour

[Matt Albanese]

I had the opportunity to return to the University of Virginia, my alma mater, this week to see the new Birdwood Golf Course at Boar’s Head Resort. The new course by Love Golf Design replaced the previous 1984 Lindsay Ervin design. The new course uses 9 of the same corridors, 5 in the same direction and 4 reversed. There are 9 new holes on the property. I will be posting a detailed photo tour over the next few weeks. Overall, I think the project was a success in upgrading the facilities for the Division 1 program while maintaining the sense of place in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains. Although I have great nostalgia for the old course having played hundreds of rounds there, the new course is an improvement. It is certainly a more robust test for the elite level player. It is a modern feeling design. However, it still fits nicely on the land.
 
Overview
 
Designer: Davis Love III
 
Co-Designer: Mark Love
 
Architect: Scot Sherman
 
Par 71 3856 to 7116 yards
 
“The Nest” Six hole short course and “Ridges” 18 hole putting course
 
New Scorecard


 
Old Scorecard

 
New Aerial Drawing

 
Old Aerial Satellite

 
New aerial drawing superimposed on old satellite

 
Tees: Northridge Bermuda
 
Fairways: Zeon Zoysia
 
Greens: V8 Bent grass
 
Rough: Fescue and bluegrass mix
 
Native areas: Irish links mix, fine fescue and natural grasses like Broomsedge
 
The most dramatic green contours are found on the 18-hole putting course. The greens on the main course appear to have been designed with modern green speeds in mind. I imagine that the internal contours would come to life with green speeds in the 12+ foot range while maintaining pinnable areas. There are detailed green drawings of each hole posted in the clubhouse. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures of these drawings. If anyone is able to take some, they would be a welcome addition to this photo tour.
 
Stay tuned to this space for the complete photo tour and commentary. Any and all discussion is welcomed.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Matt, I heard that DL3 did a great job. I hope to play there in late August when my foot heals. I am eager to see it. I never played the old course so I can't compare them.

[Matt Albanese]

Hole 1 - Par 4, 372 yards.
 
This is one of the five holes that uses a previous corridor in the same direction. The new hole is very similar to the old hole, although clearly an improvement. The hole was shortened from 408 yards to 372 yards. This was accomplished by moving the tee forward and to the right.
 
New first tee

 
The hole is now much straighter. This eliminates the awkward opening tee shot which was often a layup to the fairway short of the right fairway bunker and trees through the dogleg. The carry over the left bunker on the corner left a steeply uphill shot to the green.
 
View from the new back tee. The hole has been straightened.

 
The bunker complex down the left side of the fairway has been expanded from a single bunker to three bunkers. The longest carry is about 275 from the back tee. The longer players can decide whether to carry this bunker complex or play right / short of them. The bunker on the right side through the dogleg has been eliminated.
 
1st fairway from the tee

 
New bunker complex down the left



Old hole #1 (photo credit: https://worldgolfer.blog/2017/03/17/review-birdwood-golf-course/)

 
The hill leading up to the green site has been flattened. The hole does not play as sharply uphill. However, it remains a mostly blind uphill approach shot to the green that slopes gently from back to front. There is a closely mown area to the left of the green and a bunker right.
 
1st green

[Matt Albanese]

Hole 2 - Par 5, 574 yards.
 
The second hole also follows the corridor of its previous counterpart. A new back tee was added behind and to the left of the old tee bringing it closer to the water. This slightly changes the angle of the tee shot. The green was also moved back and to the left (more on that later). These changes have increased the length of the hole from 508 yards to 574 yards.
 
View from the new back tee

 
It was quite jarring to stand on the second tee and see golf holes on the hill left of the lake. This area was previously densely forested and not part of the original golf course. In fact, it would have been nearly incomprehensible when playing the old hole to think that there could be golf holes there. It has been entirely cleared which opens up dramatic, sweeping views of the property and the mountains. This will be evident later in the tour. Seven of the nine new holes (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12) occupy this previously unused and formerly heavily wooded area.
 
View from the old 2nd tee (photo credit: https://worldgolfer.blog/2017/03/17/review-birdwood-golf-course/)

 
The second tee also provides the first look at the back-to-back green sites of 3 and 11.

 
Once you get past the shock of seeing golf holes left of 2, you must then focus on the tee shot. As with the old hole, anything left will likely find the water. The new left fairway bunker may save some balls from a rinse. The carry is about 300 yards from the back tee. The right fairway bunkers that were cut into the hill to collect balls off of the hill have been removed. This is a welcome change as these bunkers had an unnatural appearance sitting above the level of the fairway. The preferred line on the new hole is to aim at the right edge of the trees in the distance on the right. From there, the ball will bound left off of the steep hill into the fairway. The fairway is still sloped dramatically from right to left so it is possible for balls to land in the right rough and end up on the left side of the fairway. Additionally, the hill to the right of the fairway is severe enough to kick most balls down toward the fairway. If it hangs up in the rough on this slope, however, it leaves a very awkward stance for the certain layup. The fairway starts to slope toward the hole after the left fairway bunker giving an advantage to players who can reach this point. This leaves a mid to long iron for the second shot into the green.
 
The green site was moved back and to the left of Morey Creek. This creates a diagonal hazard for both layup shots and approach shots to the green. This is another excellent change as the previous green site was awkwardly defended by the creek and trees to the left. On the new hole, the green sits on a left to right diagonal away from the player daring him to challenge the creek. However, there is ample bail out to the left with a large closely mown area. Diagonally placed bunkers right and left provide a directional challenge to various hole locations.
 
Here is a view from the lay up zone. The size of the right fairway bunker in this area has been decreased.

 
This is the view from behind the green highlighting the well-placed diagonal hazard creek.

 
Here is the old second green site toward the tee and to the right of the new green. The new 9^th tee occupies some of the land of the right forward tee on the old 3^rd hole (more on that later in the tour).

[Mike_Trenham]

Matt - Keep it coming.  I played a good amount of golf at Birdwood while in Business School from 1997-99.  It was a really tough walk and too many students rode carts.  The revised routing really looks like an improvement.  I would say #5-7 are the only real good holes that went away.

[Matt Albanese]

Hole 3 – Par 4, 439 yards
 
The familiarity of the first two holes gives way to great uncertainty on the third tee. This is the first of the seven new holes constructed in the area left of the second hole. Although not pictured, the third tee shot is completely blind. Standing on the back tee, you are confronted with a sea of fescue in front of you and to the right, the left fairway bunker and the steep, fescue covered hill down to the lake on the left. The fairway is not visible at all. The only directional indicators are the two trees in the distance. The tree on the right appears to be the most comfortable aiming point. However, this tree actually marks the right side of the hole with fescue right of it. The center of the fairway is marked by the left tree. From the tee, this tree appears dangerously left because of the angle. The visual deception is revealed once you climb the large hill to the fairway. The severely right to left sloping fairway narrows at the bunker placed inconveniently about 300 yards from the tee. Although I am not familiar with the construction of the hole, it appears that the fairway was cut as a shelf into the steep hillside.
 
Two views from left of the third tee showing a glimpse of the fairway and the severity of the terrain. The fairway is not visible from the tee due to the large fescue hill to the right of the cart path.


 
The green site is revealed from the crest of the hill at the left fairway bunker. From here, the hole tumbles down and to the left toward the green. It is now abundantly clear that the right tree marks the right side of the hole. Even armed with this knowledge in subsequent plays, the center / left tree appears uncomfortably left from the blind tee shot. The effective width of the tee shot is reduced by the severe right to left slope of the fairway

 
Here are two views of the green site as the hole falls toward Birdwood Lake on the left. The short right bunker is about 20 yards from the front of the green. This bunker cleverly hides the closely mown area to the right of the green. The area is also obstructed by the tall tree right of the bunker. This tree is the leftmost of the two prominent trees visible from the tee. The bunker and the tree add to the visual intimidation of the approach shot, especially from the safer right side of the fairway. The difficulty of the safer approach shot to the right of the green dares the player to challenge the dangerous green site. The green is well protected by bunkers and a steep, fescue area down to the water. It is unlikely that a ball that misses the left greenside bunker complex will stay out of the water due to the severity of the slope. The green itself slopes from right to left. The front section of the green slopes from back to front until the swale at the left greenside bunker. From there, the green then falls away from the player toward the low back left corner and then falls steeply into the water behind the green. The back right corner is another high point on the green. These features lead to an interesting variety of hole locations. Overall, this is a very demanding hole that requires two excellent shots. The eleventh green is visible behind the third.


 
The old third hole will be addressed in detail when this tour reaches the ninth hole.

[Matt Albanese]

Hole 4 - Par 4, 485 yards.
 
The player climbs from the low point of the third green up a large hill to the highest point on the new golf course. This vantage point offers dramatic views of the course and the Blue Ridge mountains in the distance. The area was used effectively in the new routing as it is occupied by the fourth tee, twelfth tee, eighth tee and seventh green. This adds both to the intimacy of the routing and offers these spectacular views at multiple points in the round.
 
A view from the fourth tee looking left across the twelfth hole with the mountains in the background.

 
A view from the fourth tee looking right across the seventh green with the fifth hole in the background (old 13).

 
After you have taken in the beautiful views, it is time to focus on the fourth hole. The fourth hole was inspired by the Leven template (see https://thefriedegg.com/leven-template-hole/). In this version, the row of right fairway bunkers provides the diagonal hazard guarding the preferred right-sided approach. A safer shot to the left side of the fairway can leave a semi-blind approach over the crest of the hill down to the green site which is protected by a poorer angle and deep front left bunker. There is also water looming over the green past the back greenside bunker.
 
Tee shot on 4


 
A view of the green site from the preferred right side of the fairway.

 
Here is a closer view of the green site from the right side of the fairway. The diagonal green is protected by the left greenside bunker and water long. There is a closely mown area right of the green which provides a safer route to avoid challenging the left front greenside bunker. The middle and forward tees of hole five are seen in the distance (old 13^th tees).

 
This is the view from the back left corner of the green looking back up the approach. The green slopes predominantly from right to left and toward the back left corner over the bunker. The front section is sloped from back to front, again providing a variety of hole locations.

[Matt Albanese]

Hole 5 - Par 4, 423 yards.
 
The new fifth hole is a substantially improved version of the old thirteenth hole. The old thirteenth hole was a downhill, dogleg right short par 4 measuring 405 yards from the back tee. The water to the right cut substantially into the fairway at about the 240 yard mark. This was difficult to appreciate from the tee making course knowledge critical. The play from the tee was a lay up short or left of the water. A more aggressive play was to take it at the large tree on the outside of the dogleg, or just right of this, requiring a 260 yard carry over the water. However, the tree on the outside corner of the dogleg was about 290 yards. So, there was a risk of running through the fairway on this aggressive line. There was also a tree short of the water on the inside of the dogleg interfering with this play. Longer players could even drive the green which was a 300 yard carry over the water.
 
Old 13^th from the tee (photo credit: https://worldgolfer.blog/2017/03/17/review-birdwood-golf-course/)

 
The new 5^th tee turns this hole into a heroic Cape hole (see https://thefriedegg.com/cape-template-hole/). It may not meet the strictest definition of a Cape hole green as the water does not completely surround three sides of the green. The new back tee is located on the former forward tee of the old par-3 12^th hole. The new tee may have been inspired by varsity collegiate players who, at least in my time at the university, would play the 13^th from this forward tee at the encouragement of the coach. There was even some talk of setting it up this way for the Cavalier Classic tournament. Although, to my knowledge, this was not done as it would likely have interfered with play on the 12^th. Nevertheless, the new tee establishes a heroic carry over the water to the fairway. The fairway has been extended to eliminate the intrusive finger of water which previously narrowed the fairway considerably. The short tree on the inside corner of the dogleg has also been removed. Fortunately, the large aiming tree on the outside corner of the dogleg has been retained. This tree is a good aiming point for tee shots from the back tee. The carry over the water on this line is 272 yards. Lines to the right of this tree can require carries of up to 300 yards (or more). There are also safer lines requiring much less carry to the left of the tree. The green is blind from the new back tee due to the new 4^th green.
 
Two views from the new back tee


 
The new 5^th tee location annotated on an aerial view of the old 13th

 
There is also a new alternate back tee turning the hole into a heroic, drivable par 4 with a 298 yard carry to the front of the green.
 
A view from the alternate back tee

 
Fortunately, they have also retained the old 13^th teeing ground for the middle and forward tees which eliminates the forced carry.
 
The walk around the lake affords a fantastic view of the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th holes


 
Once a player has found the fairway, he is confronted with an approach shot nearly identical to the old 13^th hole. The green site has been retained. The green angles from left to right away from the player. The green slopes from back to front and left to right. The left greenside bunker has been renovated.
 
The approach shot on 5

 
A look back at the hole from the green. The new middle and forward tees (old 13^th tees) are marked by the cart and players in the distance.

 
At this point, I will take the opportunity to discuss a few of the lost holes in this part of the routing.
 
The old downhill par-3 12^th, 195 yards (photo credit: https://worldgolfer.blog/2017/03/17/review-birdwood-golf-course/)

 
The old 12^th hole was an exhilarating, downhill shot over the creek to a green site nestled in the trees. The green was almost always in the shade which usually led to poorer green conditions than the rest of the course. Here is how the hole looks now.
 
Looking up at the old 12^th tee from the new 5^th tee

 
Old 12^th green site

 
Old 12^th from the old tee

 
Aerial photo of the old 13^th, 14^th and 15^th holes

 
Next, a look at the old 14^th hole. Getting to the 14^th hole required a long, uphill walk through the woods culminating with the dramatic reveal of the drop shot 158-yard island green par 3. The walk through the woods was reminiscent of the walk to the 14^th tee at Bandon Trails. Although, the old hole was nowhere near the caliber of that hole. The reveal did add to the experience of the cross-country trek in the rolling hills of the back nine.
 
Old 14^th hole (photo credit: https://worldgolfer.blog/2017/03/17/review-birdwood-golf-course/)

 
Here is what the hole looks like now



 
The 14^th green is more maintained than the other abandoned greens. I was told that the resort is using the space for morning yoga classes. Visible to the left of the 14^th green in two of the photos is the old 15^th tee. The old 15^th hole was an awkward dogleg left 537-yard par 5.
 
Old 15^th hole aerial

 
The tee shot required a blind carry over the trees and two left fairway bunkers to a downhill sloping landing area. Alternatively, one could lay up to the top of the steep uphill to the corner of the dogleg. From there, the green was usually blind as the green site was tucked to the right into the trees. Nevertheless, the trek up the hill to the 15^th tee did offer a tremendous view. It also added to the sense of place and adventure hiking in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains. If one wishes to recapture that sense of adventure, I was told that the old corridor is being maintained as a hiking trail for the resort.
 
Here is what it looks like now.
 
Old 15^th fairway looking back up the hill

 
Old 15^th green site

 
Old 15^th approach as seen from the 5^th fairway (old 13^th fairway)

 
The next lost hole to discuss is the downhill, dogleg right 446-yard par 4 16^th. The 16^th tee shot required a long to mid iron lay up to the crest of the hill on the corner of the dogleg. The more daring player could take a longer club over the hill and right fairway bunker complex. The ball would then trundle down the hill toward the green blindly to the player on the tee. The 16th green was tricky as putts always seemed to break toward the back of the green. This slope was not particularly evident visually.
 
Old 16^th aerial

 
A view from the old 16^th fairway looking back up at the elevated tee

 
The approach from the top of the hill down to the old 16^th green site

 
When the tour returns, I will end this detour and discuss the new 6^th hole.

[Matt Albanese]

Hole 6 – Par 4, 358 yards.
 
The sixth tee is located immediately to the right of the fourth green. A player must walk around the lake from the fifth green to reach it. This is a relative weakness in the routing. It also can lead to some confusion after finishing the fourth hole. However, this was likely a necessary compromise as the area to the left of the sixth and between the fifth and sixth holes is wetlands. There is also an added intimacy due to the proximity of the sixth tee to the fourth green which is mostly maintained as fairway.
 
The same view of 4-5-6 showing the relationship between the holes. The sixth tee is to the left of the fourth green in this photo.

 
The sixth hole is a short, slightly uphill 358-yard par 4. The landing zone is defended by staggered fairway bunkers right and left. Balls left of the left bunkers may tumble all the way down the hill into the wetlands. However, as with most of the fescue areas on the course, there is an opportunity to find and play balls because the grass has been maintained to a playable thickness. I hope that the maintenance practices continue to make these areas playable as the course would otherwise be quite penal with the potential for numerous lost balls for lesser players.
 
The sixth hole from the tee

 
There are a number of options from the sixth tee. There is ample fairway short of the right fairway bunker. This bunker is about a 260 yard carry from the tee. However, one must be cognizant of the left fairway bunkers when choosing this route as they run from about 200-240 yards from the tee. This staggered bunkering is a welcome difference from many penal modern courses with fairway bunkers left and right at the same distance in the landing zones.
 
The longer player may choose to take it over the fairway bunkers leaving a short pitch to the green. An optimal aiming point on this line is the right greenside bunker. The fairway slopes from right to left.
 
This photo shows the available fairway long of the fairway bunkers. There is interesting fairway contouring in this area which may lead to tricky uneven lies. The approach shot is executed to the slightly elevated green with fall off areas to the front, front right and front left. The green is also defended by right and left greenside bunkers.


 
On the preliminary drawings, the hole was longer with the green site positioned farther back and to the left of the current green at the edge of an existing pond.

 
This probably would have been a picturesque green site with a steep falloff into the pond. Unfortunately, the course website states, “during construction, a large rock shelf was discovered requiring the design team to shift the green complex forward to its current location”.
 
Here is a view of the sixth hole looking back from the seventh tee.

[Mike_Trenham]

Mark- How would the walk between 3 green and 4 tee compare to other walks on the prior routing? 

[Matt Albanese]

Mark- How would the walk between 3 green and 4 tee compare to other walks on the prior routing?

I think the most similar walk would be between old 12 green and old 13th tee.

[Matt Albanese]

Hole 7 – Par 3, 159 yards
 
The seventh is a connector hole that brings the player from the sixth green to the central teeing site of eight, four and twelve. It is the shortest one-shot hole on the new course.
 
A view of the Cavalier tee marker on the 7^th looking back down the 6^th and 4^th holes.

 
The tee shot is framed by three bunkers. The short left bunker guards the fairway. The bunker and the contour around it add to the visual deception by hiding the left edge of the green and closely mown area left. The left greenside bunker is partially visible from the tee. The right greenside bunker adds to the intimidation to the tee shot, especially to back or right hole locations, as it hides the back and right sections of the green. The green is slightly on a left to right angle from the tee. The overall slope of the hole is from left to right. The shape of the green is unclear on the first play as it is partially hidden from the tee. There appears to be more room to the right than there actually is. The right bunker actually marks the right edge of the green and runs most of the length of the green. It is important to avoid this bunker to right hole locations as you are left short-sided. The green is a narrower target than it appears from the tee.
 
The view from the 7^th tee.

 
A closer look from the 7^th fairway approach.

 
There is a slight bowl on the front right of the green. I was told by a member that there have been a number of holes in one on this hole already. That is one way to add memorability of a connector hole. The green falls slightly away to back right hole locations.
 
A look from behind the green to a front right hole location.

 
Here is the back section of the green with a look down the excellent fourth hole.

 
Next, I will examine the polarizing eighth hole.

[Mike Sweeney]

Matt,


I was just in Charlottesville, and my Dad is a UVa grad, so I am very interested in this thread. I can see the WorldGolfer photos, but not your photos. I am on Safari, and I also checked Firefox too. Same thing...

[Bill Gayne]

Matt,

Thank you for posting the pictures and your comments. I worked for The University for eight years and played the course several times. The changes looks like a significant improvement. In my experience they were always able to keep fast greens. Living in Richmond I need to take the short drive up I-64. Kudos to Bill Goodwin as I think he was one of the major forces behind the work.

Wahoowa.

Bill

[Matt Albanese]

Matt,


I was just in Charlottesville, and my Dad is a UVa grad, so I am very interested in this thread. I can see the WorldGolfer photos, but not your photos. I am on Safari, and I also checked Firefox too. Same thing...

Interesting. I have not heard of any issues. I cannot replicate them on my end. Anyone else having trouble seeing the photos?

[Matt Albanese]

Hole 8 – Par 4, 370 yards.
 
The eighth hole is a short, dogleg right par 4. I was told by a member that this is perhaps the most polarizing of the new holes. The tee shot is a blind, forced layup shot to a fairway that runs out at around 250 yards from the back tee down a steep hill. A top-shot bunker indicates one potential line of play. There is also a tall tree on the right side at the corner of the dogleg. This tree marks the right side of the fairway. Although, due to the dogleg, there is also some fairway available on the line over the left side of the tree. The tree is about 200 yards from the tee. It also marks the point at which the fairway stops climbing uphill and falls dramatically downhill and to the right to a series of plateaus serving as the blind landing area. A bell alerts the group behind you that the fairway is clear. As the saying goes, a hole is only blind once. However, it is difficult to determine the optimal play from the tee without prior course knowledge.
 
The eighth tee shot.

 
The top-shot bunker marks the middle of the fairway for short layup shots. However, since the hole falls to the right, it is also possible to run through the fairway on this line. The optimal line is slightly right of this bunker with a shot of greater than 200 yards but less than 250 yards.
 
The eighth tee is elevated which gives nice views across 1, 2 and 3 with the 9^th green on the left.

 
Here is a view from the left side of the fairway.

 
This is about 210 yards from the tee. There is a plateau on the left side indicated by the cluster of divots in this photo. This area is blind from the tee. From here, you can see the fairway sloping down and to the right. There is an uphill section at the end of the fairway that prevents some balls from running through the fairway down into the broken ground fescue and penalty area short of the green. There are also a few shelves cut into the rough on the back side of the hill that stop some balls from reaching the penalty area below even if they run through the fairway. The back bunkers are above the level of the green surface.
 
Another view. The ball visible on the plateau traveled about 220 yards from the tee.

 
This photo is taken from the end of the fairway on the right. This illustrates the downhill approach shot to an extremely shallow green. The green is sloped significantly from back to front and moderately from right to left. The green site is protected by a rock retaining wall from the fescue and penalty area below. The hole demands a very precise carry distance. The difficulty is somewhat lessened by the short approach shot. Nevertheless, it is an extremely demanding hole.

 
The new varsity tennis facility is visible from the eighth fairway on the site of the old third hole with the second green in the foreground. More on the tennis facility and old third hole later.

 
Here are three low angles of the eight green illustrating the broken ground and retaining wall.



 
This is a look directly down the shallow green showing the contours.

 
Two views of the eighth fairway from the eighth green showing the downhill nature of the shot to the green as well as the blind landing zone.


 
Here is another look at the eighth hole from the ninth tee. The fairway is visible in the upper part of the photo with the green below.

 
Next, the front nine tour will be completed with a look at the par 3 ninth hole.

[Matt Albanese]

Hole 9 – Par 3, 246 yards.
 
The par 3 ninth is the first of 3 (!) one shot holes of 240 yards or longer. The ninth hole was inspired by the Biarritz template (see https://thefriedegg.com/biarritz-template-hole/). The green contours, especially the swale, are much less dramatic than in other Biarritz holes I have played. The bunkering is also not typical for a Biarritz template. Nevertheless, it is a challenging par 3. The green is protected by a short, left bunker and a right greenside bunker. There is a closely mown contour to the left of the green that can be used to propel the ball onto the putting surface. Back hole locations can play as long as about 265 yards.
 
The teeing ground uses the right forward tees on the old third hole. Here is a view from the tee.

 
Here are two views of the putting surface showing the green contours. The closely mown area to the left of the green is shown in the second picture. Also, note the player’s head to the right of the green in the second photograph. This illustrates how far below the surface of the green the right greenside bunker sits.


 
The ninth green sites on the site of the former varsity short game facility. Two of the practice greens are still present. These greens now serve as a short game practice facility for members and Boar’s Head resort guests. This is an excellent addition to the public facilities.
 
I will take this opportunity to discuss the old third hole. The third hole had three different configurations during my time at the university.
 
This is an aerial photograph of the old third hole.

 
The third hole was a short, uphill par 4. It was usually a layup off of the tee. The first iteration that I played early in my time at the university is seen on the upper / left portion of the aerial photo. The old tees and old green are still visible. The fairway ran along the cart path visible in the aerial. The oldest third green was maintained as a practice area once the new green was built.
 
The second iteration was from the newer right tee (visible as the tees in play on the aerial photograph) to the older third green. This change was made because tee balls were finding the parking lot of the indoor tennis facility to the left despite the fact that there was a large net between the hole and the parking lot.
 
The hole was then changed again as the green was shifted forward and to the right (this is the hole in play in the aerial photograph). This change was due to the new squash facility. The new hole was less uphill in the approach than the old hole. This made it less of a blind approach shot. The old green was completely blind from the fairway. Now, the hole has been entirely bulldozed and is the site of the new outdoor varsity tennis facility.
 
This is what the oldest third tees look like now.


 
The newer old third tees were left of the trees in the second photograph.
 
Here is a view of the old third corridor from the new ninth tee (forward tee of the newer old third hole).

 
For those interested, here is the new outdoor varsity tennis facility build on the old third hole.





 
This completes the front nine of the photo tour. The tour will continue with the back nine.

[Carl Nichols]

How would you split ten rounds between Birdwood and Farmington?

[Matt Albanese]

How would you split ten rounds between Birdwood and Farmington?

Carl,


I have not played Farmington in about 14 years and have not seen the new C&C East Course there. So, it is hard for me to answer this question. Hopefully someone else will chime in.


The photo tour will continue soon.

[Chris_Blakely]

I just played the course recently.  I sought it out as I have played several of DL3’s courses and really enjoy them.  What do you think of several of the long walks between holes?  I was quite surprised by my step count after my round!


Chris

[Dave Givnish]

How would you split ten rounds between Birdwood and Farmington?

I think that Spring Creek looks like it would be a closer comparison to Birdwood from the photos than Farmington. I'd split it 9 to 1 Farmington but I'm biased as a member. 

[Matt Albanese]

Hole 10 – Par 5, 615 yards
 
The Birdwood photo tour returns with the back nine. The tenth tee shot is very familiar as it shares the tee and corridor with the old 10^th hole. But where did the green go?
 
Three looks from the new / old 10^th tee.



 
The old 10^th hole was a straightforward 399 par 4. Here is what the old 10^th hole looked like (photo credit: https://worldgolfer.blog/2017/03/17/review-birdwood-golf-course/)

 
The left fairway bunker has been removed. There is a new fairway bunker complex on the right. The old left greenside bunker has been expanded and now marks the left side of the fairway.
 
The 10^th fairway offers a great view across the front nine.

 
This is a shot back to the clubhouse from the 10^th fairway near the old green site.

 
The new 10^th hole trundles dramatically down the hill from the former 10^th green site to an attractive new green site in the old 11^th fairway. The green is near the corner of the dogleg on the old 11^th hole. The new green fits excellently on the land. It is pitched predominantly from front to back which allows for the ground game to be played on approach shots. As with most front to back sloping greens, it can be challenging to judge the approach shot falling away from the player.
 
Two shots of the new downhill approach to the 10^th green.


 
Interestingly, the hole can be forgiving as the approach tends to feed balls down toward the green. However, the long second shot at the green is quite challenging as it is an uncomfortable blind shot down the hill with menacing trees guarding the left side, especially from the left side of the fairway. The visual intimidation encourages the player to bail out to the right of the green where trees and fescue await. These features provide a great challenge to better players while allowing an easier, playable route for the lesser or more conservative players. This makes for a good golf hole. It is the second-best par 5 on the course to the stunning 12^th and clearly an improvement to the old, dull 10^th.
 
This is a view of the 10^th green and approach from the new 11^th tee.

 
The old 11^th hole was a 439 yard dogleg right par 4 with the tee shot playing downhill to the fairway and then steeply uphill to the green site. It was a challenging tee shot for longer players who could cut the corner over the trees with the lake looming to the right.
 
Here is a look at the old 11^th hole. For context, the new 10^th green sits at the bottom of this hill in the old fairway (photo credit: https://worldgolfer.blog/2017/03/17/review-birdwood-golf-course/).

 
The photo tour will continue with the difficult par 3 11^th.

[Mike_Trenham]

This is a significant improvement.  #10 was a dull hole and #11 was kind of awkward to start and the cart path along the pond was terrible, ugly and could create a penalty.  I also recall a pump house near the corner of the dogleg but my memory may be incorrect (1997-1999).

[Matt Albanese]

Hole 11 – Par 3, 248 / 252 yards.
 
The 11^th hole is the second of three (!) one shot holes of 240 yards or longer. The hole plays across the lake on a previously unused portion of the property. The green site backs up to the new 3^rd green. It is a long, dramatic, heroic carry over the lake to a well defended green.
 
The 11^th tee shot.


 
The green is angled from left to right away from the player. The carry over the front bunker is about 215 yards. Another bunker is placed deeper into the green on the right side defending longer shots to the right. Of course, balls to the right or short of this will certainly find the water and lead to a re-tee. The green itself is quite narrow. There is not really any bail out as the green is defended by a left greenside bunker and the fescue hill to the left. The fairway approach is also very narrow. It is an extremely difficult do-or-die heroic and penal hole.
 
There is an alternate back tee which stretches the hole from 248 yards to 252 yards. Interestingly the alternate tee is much easier as the angle is greatly improved.
 
Here is a view from the alternate back tee. The narrowness of the green and fairway approach is shown.

 
The hole is easier from the middle and forward tees as the carry over the lake is eliminated and the angle into the green is improved.
 
11^th middle and forward tees.

 
Two looks from the 12^th tee showing the proximity of the third green to the left and eleventh green to the right.


 
The 11^th hole is very similar to the 7^th at the Straits Course at Whistling Straits and 17th at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. These are both Pete Dye designed holes. Did the architects draw inspiration from Pete Dye when designing this hole? The answer is yes! Here is the description from the course website (source: https://www.boarsheadresort.com/recreation/golf/back-nine): “One of the most beautiful holes on the course, the 11th is reminiscent of a few of Dye’s picturesque par-3 holes at Whistling Straits.”
 
17^th at Kiawah Island Ocean Course, 221 yards (drawing credit: https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2021/05/19/pga-championship-kiawah-island-17th-hole-scorecards/)

(photo credit: https://golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/the-ocean-course-at-kiawah-island-sc-usa/the-ocean-course-at-kiawah-island-sc-usa-pgiii)

 
7^th at the Straits Course at Whistling Straits, also 221 yards (photo credit: https://www.destinationkohler.com/golf/whistling-straits/the-straits/the-straits-hole-by-hole/no-7-shipwreck)

(photo credit: https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/14897/9929665/whistling-straits-course-guide-how-to-play-the-pga-championship-venue)

 
The same well-described compliments and criticisms of these holes can be applied to the new 11^th at Birdwood. I’m sure you can think of other examples of this type of hole. It is certainly a hole that can provide a challenge to high-level players, which is one of the goals of the new course.
 
The photo tour will continue with the stunning par 5 twelfth.

[Matt Albanese]

Hole 12 - Par 5, 549 yards.
 
The twelfth is the best par 5 on the new golf course. The player once again climbs the hill from the eleventh green to the common teeing area of twelve, four and eight. The rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains await.
 
The view from the 12^th tee.

 
The new twelfth hole is a rolling dogleg left par 5. The tee shot presents the player with multiple options. A more conservative tee shot may be played out to the right to a high point in the fairway. More aggressive or longer players may choose a more dangerous line to the left over the short aiming bunker. The fairway slopes more dramatically down and to the left in this area rewarding the bold tee shot with some extra roll. However, a longer bunker awaits on the corner about 320 yards from the tee which will swallow balls that drift too far to the left. This bunker is partially hidden from the tee. It is a very attractive tee shot.
 
Three views of the 12^th tee shot.



 
This is a look from the fairway highlighting the overall slope and the farthest left fairway bunker.


 
From here, the player will be left with a shot with the ball above his feet to the green with a tree guarding the left side of the fairway.
 
Longer players can challenge this bunker from the tee leaving a flatter lie and better angle to the green. Note the ball on the right side of this photo.

 
The highest point of the fairway offers a nice view of the tenth green across the lake.

 
The low point of the new twelfth fairway shares some of the land of the old eleventh fairway. Here are two views of the uphill approach to the old eleventh green.


 
The twelfth green is perched nicely on the land formerly occupied by the seventeenth fairway. The green uses the gentle contours of the old fairway. There is a greenside bunker to the right and closely mown areas on all sides.

 
The green site flows beautifully into the thirteenth tee which is seen in the background of the previous photo. I will examine this hole next.