[Mike Golden]

I played Longshadow yesterday on a beautiful fall day and have never felt so beat up by a golf course in my life.

Is it just me or is this the toughest walk in the world?

Maybe it was the late dinner the night before (and too much wine) or the drive from Atlanta and, because there was a twosome ready to go out (and virtually no one else on the course) no warmup, but this course just beat me up both physically and mentally.  #11, a 460 yard par 4 uphill and into the wind, broke both my spirit and golf swing down to a nub

There is obviously lots of interesting stuff and Mike Young did a great job with the land  but maybe it's just too tough for an admittedly out of shape 60 year old with a tenuous grip on the game right now.

I did find the greens, although wild, very receptive to good shots.  My putting was actually better than normal, it was just my usually reliable iron and tee shot play that left much to be desired.

So Mike, if you're reading, I'm getting in better shape and getting back there to try to even the score sometime soon...

[Brent Hutto]

Mike,

I've had longer and/or tougher walks but Long Shadow is definitely in the category where you won't be feeling as fresh and strong on the back nine as you did at the beginning of the round because of all the up-and-down and sidehill walking.

For my part, playing the course was certainly on the "fun" side of the fun-vs-grind continuum. I guess I'm a sucker for wide fairways, firm ground and abundant recovery options on most shots (the sixteenth hole not withstanding). It's also one of those courses with bold enough contours to help my weak brain visualize a shot that I can hit rather than having to provide my own mental images for more mundane situations. I like that, even if the same sort of contouring probably leads to a physically tougher day on the course.

[Bill_McBride]

#11 is a tough one for sure, although it usually plays downwind.  Somehow during the Dixie Cup the wind was reversed and both #2 and #11 played right into the teeth of a brisk wind.  

What'd you think of the par 5s?  Could be the most interesting par 5's I've played in years as a group.  All the second shots were demanding and thought provoking.

And what about #10, #12, #13, #14, #15?  What a great group of holes!

All the Dixie Cuppers were very positive about Longshadow.  If the climate weren't pretty much the same in the summer as Pensacola, I'd be thinking second (or third) club.

[Mike Golden]

#11 is a tough one for sure, although it usually plays downwind.  Somehow during the Dixie Cup the wind was reversed and both #2 and #11 played right into the teeth of a brisk wind.  

What'd you think of the par 5s?  Could be the most interesting par 5's I've played in years as a group.  All the second shots were demanding and thought provoking.

And what about #10, #12, #13, #14, #15?  What a great group of holes!

All the Dixie Cuppers were very positive about Longshadow.  If the climate weren't pretty much the same in the summer as Pensacola, I'd be thinking second (or third) club.

Bill,

the par 5's were extremely demanding for me because my drive on #3 hit the middle of the fairway and bounced into the pond (and I somehow made par anyway), I hit it into the native grass on both 5 and 18 and made at least double on both, and, on #12, after staggering up the hill on #11, I was within 20 yards of the green in 2 and still made bogie.  But I agree, they are 4 very different and challenging holes.

11 through 15 are a really good stretch of holes-after making birdie on 13, I hit two 3 woods somewhat right on 14 and never found either ball so couldn't tell you how that hole played.

I guess I need to go back soon...

[Gary Daughters]

Mike,

I have heard through the grapevine that you may have return trip in your not too distant future  

[Gary Daughters]

Bill,

Since you singled out the 2nd shots to the par 5's I'd be interested in your thoughts on #5, because after 2 plays I have found that shot to be the Achilles heel of a hole that's pretty spectacular on the bookends, especially off the tee.

I'm a pretty fair golfer, and I don't totally rule this out, but I don't seem to have the shot that gets me to the green in 2.  I have found the 2nd shot there to be somewhat of a throwaway, made nominally interesting by negotiating around that tiny bunker that seems to have the propensity to be a ball magnet.  While there is ample room to the left of the bunker, that play makes no sense so it seems to be a matter of just finessing a mid or even short iron to the right of it.

I wonder if you have any thoughts, perhaps something I have missed.

[Bill_McBride]

I think Mike Young has made #5 one of those rarities, a par 5 where you MUST lay up!    There is just not a shot there, except possibly playing long on purpose.  Even then it's a tricky chip back toward the creek.  What looks like a bail out right isn't really, it is also very tiny, just like the green.

I think the only to play the hole is lay up just short and right of the central fairway bunker and hit your best 80 yard lob wedge.  Trying to get home in two is a sucker play.

Courtesy of Mike Young!  

[Michael Christensen]

good to see you made it out there....too bad I couldn't join you, but I was tired from all my northeast golf last week.

LS is a treat.....I am still trying to break 83 out there walking.....there is still one or two holes I blow up on!

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