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John Mayhugh

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Olde Stone - photo tour New
« on: June 17, 2008, 12:17:27 PM »
Last week I finally got the chance to play Olde Stone, a relatively new Arthur Hills course in Bowling Green, KY.  I had heard a lot of good things about the course, but figured it would probably be just another really well conditioned residential course.  Given my expectations, I was pretty much blown away by how good the golf course is.

This is not a typical Arthur Hills course.  I really enjoyed the bunkering and green complexes a lot.  There were very few holes where you could go up to the tee and just swing away.  The course had plenty of width, but only if you picked the correct line of play.

Here's my favorite hole on the course and my favorite par 3 hole in the state.  Named "peek-a-boo," the hole has a green that is partially hidden by a large, Raynoresque bunker.  It was around 170 yards from where we played.


This green is a good example of the difficulty you have with locating iron shots.  Hit (or miss) the green in the wrong spot and you can have some real trouble.


Here is the green viewed from the back left side.


There are some great holes on this golf course.  I'll try to post some more later if folks are interested.
« Last Edit: January 27, 2016, 08:50:19 PM by John Mayhugh »

Tony_Chapman

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Re: Olde Stone - home of the best par 3 hole in KY
« Reply #1 on: June 17, 2008, 12:21:22 PM »
Way cool!

Doug Ralston

Re: Olde Stone - home of the best par 3 hole in KY
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2008, 12:59:09 PM »
I obviously am interested John, bring it.

Doug

Mike Hendren

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Re: Olde Stone - home of the best par 3 hole in KY
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2008, 01:23:33 PM »
John, I liked this modern version of the redan as well but felt it would play better from 220 to 240 yards to make the kick-plate more relevant. 

Ditto on the par 3 by the river (16?) where the kick-plate could have been expanded to make it more attractive to use. 

A very good golf course with excellent shaping that could have been a little more functional in places. 

Mike
Two Corinthians walk into a bar ....

Eric Smith

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Re: Olde Stone - home of the best par 3 hole in KY
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2008, 01:24:42 PM »
John:

From the tee it sorta reminds me of 17 at Longshadow, (eg hidden green behind big bunker fronting the right), and I know you LOVED that one as I remember very well your tee shot on Saturday in last year's Dixie Cup.

Good looking hole.

John Mayhugh

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Re: Olde Stone - home of the best par 3 hole in KY
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2008, 02:16:13 PM »
Doug,
More pics to be posted tomorrow sometime. 

Eric,
You're onto me.  Hadn't even thought about that hole at Long Shadow, but a good observation.

Mike,
I think 16 would work really especially well as a longer hole. At the length we played from, I didn't get the kick left I was looking for.  It's a great looking (and playing) hole.  I wish that I had been able to take even more pictures, but my friends already think I'm kind of weird.   

« Last Edit: June 23, 2008, 11:53:55 AM by John Mayhugh »

John Mayhugh

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Olde Stone - photo tour New
« Reply #6 on: June 23, 2008, 12:44:22 PM »
I finally got a chance to add photos of some of the other holes.  We spent the day at the black tees (6900 yards) which was plenty long.  The course can be stretched to 7372.

The first hole is one of the tougher starting holes I've played.  449 yards, dogleg left.  Part of the fairway is elevated a bit above the tee, then goes back downhill.


The approach is played to a green that somewhat diagonal to the line of the approach.  The way the fairway is shaped, you'll probably have a 200 yard approach.  There is a low area between the end of the fairway and the green.  Many of the green complexes have large chipping areas.  It's hard to see that from this picture.


After a long cart ride, you reach the second tee.  This starts a collection of six holes in what looks like a flood plain area.  The setting of the these holes reminded me a bit of Valhalla, but the design is much different.  The second hole played 557 yards.  The tees are elevated above the fairway and stairstep their way down the hill.  The front of the bunker on the left was about 240, forcing you to confront the bunker on the right off the tee. A 270 yard carry gets you past both bunkers, but that's not an option for me.


It's a shame the cart path cuts across this fairway.  The approach shot needs to be the right distance and line to avoid the bunkers on the left and right. 


The third hole is a 238 yard par 3.  The front of the green is well protected by bunkers.  There is a large chipping area to the left and rear of the green as well as a layup type area short.  On the far left of this picture, you can see the tees for the previous hole.


This was taken from the left side just in front of the green. 


The fourth hole in named Entrapment.  It is 438 yards and features 17 (I think) fairway bunkers.  Many of them aren't visible from the tee.


On the approach, there is a large bunker to the right of the green that stretches out around 40 yards into the landing area.


The fifth hole is a 384 yard dogleg right. 


If you play up the left side to avoid the fairway bunkers, there is a large, deep bunker that is pretty intimidating.


The sixth hole is a 338 yard par 4 and a blast to play.  There are a lot of options with the tee shot.  It takes 250 yards to carry the large bunker on the right, but there is also room to the side of it.  If you try to lay up short of the bunker, you need to be accurate.


Here's the look you have with a safe layup just behind the cross bunker.  I thought this hole had a real Raynor look to it, as did several of the others.  The bunkering here does not look like other Art Hills courses I've played.


This bunker awaits the player who goes over the green.


The seventh hole is a 568 yard split fairway par 5 named Wishbone.  My strategy in cases like this is usually to aim at the center section of rough & bunkers and count on not hitting it straight off the tee.  ;D  I really would have liked to have a yardage book when playing this hole as there are a lot of angles & decisions to make. 


The second shot is a layup unless you're really long.  The green is very small.


You can get away with missing this green a little left as the hill helps funnel shots back down. 


I liked the 453 yard ninth hole least.  It's a hole that seems common for Hills courses.  Long tee shot with trees guarding one side of the fairway complicating the approach. 


You have to avoid the lake to the right of the green on your long approach.


Thus completes the front nine at Olde Stone.  I'll try to post photos and descriptions of the second nine later this week. 

« Last Edit: January 27, 2016, 08:49:34 PM by John Mayhugh »

Lou_Duran

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JM,

Public or private?

Green fees?

Comparison to Long Shadow?

John Mayhugh

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Olde Stone is private.  Guest fees are in the $100 range.

Interesting question about comparing it to Long Shadow.  Olde Stone is a great facility, with a really nice clubhouse & practice area.  Everything is green and very well maintained w/o being too soft.  Not quite firm & fast, but not spongy.  The routing at Olde Stone is very good with the necessary exception of moving downhill for holes 2-7 & then back uphill.  Other than that, it's pretty walkable.

I prefer Olde Stone to Long Shadow, but only slightly.  Olde Stone is set to be one of the two best courses in KY IMO.

Doug Ralston

Thanks John. I look forward to the second nine.

So John, the claims by associates of mine [I have not played there] that it is the BEST course in KY, even above Valhalla, are not completely unrealistic afterall? I mean, that good an a HILLS course? Who'da thunk it? :D

Doug

Doug Ralston

Oh, and BTW John. Play Dale Hollow #15 before making claims about 'Best Par-3 in Kentucky. Well, perhaps not quite a tough, but wait till you stand on that tee.

Doug

John Mayhugh

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Thanks John. I look forward to the second nine.

So John, the claims by associates of mine [I have not played there] that it is the BEST course in KY, even above Valhalla, are not completely unrealistic afterall? I mean, that good an a HILLS course? Who'da thunk it? :D

Doug
Of course, any club in KY would inevitably be compared to Valhalla.  If your friends claim that the course alone is superior to Valhalla, they're not being unrealistic.  There's room for argument that way.  I might even agree with them.

Valhalla has a huge advantage as a club.  It's hard for me to not be thrilled anytime I play there.  You're playing the site of several major championships.  The entire staff treats you great, but in a low-key way.  Their caddie program is fantastic for this area.  Conditioning is first rate.  The setting (with no houses) is beautiful.

I don't love the Valhalla design, especially some of the Ryder Cup changes.  I don't think there are enough playing options behind hit fairways & greens.  The holes at Olde Stone are more thought provoking but less fear inducing.  Still, I do love Valhalla and prefer it to Olde Stone.  If that makes any sense.

Doug Ralston

Thanks John. I look forward to the second nine.

So John, the claims by associates of mine [I have not played there] that it is the BEST course in KY, even above Valhalla, are not completely unrealistic afterall? I mean, that good an a HILLS course? Who'da thunk it? :D

Doug
Of course, any club in KY would inevitably be compared to Valhalla.  If your friends claim that the course alone is superior to Valhalla, they're not being unrealistic.  There's room for argument that way.  I might even agree with them.

Valhalla has a huge advantage as a club.  It's hard for me to not be thrilled anytime I play there.  You're playing the site of several major championships.  The entire staff treats you great, but in a low-key way.  Their caddie program is fantastic for this area.  Conditioning is first rate.  The setting (with no houses) is beautiful.

I don't love the Valhalla design, especially some of the Ryder Cup changes.  I don't think there are enough playing options behind hit fairways & greens.  The holes at Olde Stone are more thought provoking but less fear inducing.  Still, I do love Valhalla and prefer it to Olde Stone.  If that makes any sense.


It does indeed John.

My thoughts were dwelling on the fact that I tried to introduce Olde Stone here some months ago, and was pooh-poohed because it WAS an Art Hills. Glad to see someone back up SOMETHING I say about quality of architecture on this site.

Now I will even go so far as to say there are at least two more Art Hills private courses in Kentucky worth a visit if you are there; Persimmon Ridge and Champion's Trace. Not is this same class, but good golf nonetheless.

Again, looking forward to your 'back nine' presentation.

Thanks,

Doug

John Mayhugh

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Doug,
I agree that Champion Trace and Persimmon Ridge are worthy of a visit.  Both of those are nice courses as are Triple Crown & Traditions (Hills must love Kentucky).

With Olde Stone, I think Arthur Hills stepped it up a notch.  One more reason to participate in the Dixie Cup this fall is John Cullum's recommendation of another recent Hills course, Dunes Golf Club in Florida.  He said that: "Any preconceived notions you may have of Art Hills work should be left at the gate."  That's certainly my feeling after playing Olde Stone.


Joey Smith

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Thanks for the great pix.  It brings back good memories.  It was fun to study the photos even after playing the course 3 times.

Olde Stone is a really good golf course.

Joey
I've only seen one that really stinks...but I seen a lot of really good ones...

Ryan Farrow

I spy Mike Strantz looking greens and surrounds? Any insights from anyone?

Pretty nice looking course I must say.

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