This new C & C course is an absolute diamond in the rough. I always hesitate to even rate or judge any course on my first play or in this case, the course's first year. Yet, just like Friar's Head, these 18 holes are superb. With a little wind, Brad Miller and I tackled this gem and came away mighty impressed.
The routing is solid, its walkability just might be the best in all of New Jersey (PV included). This also reveals a negative, but i'll get to that later. The bunkering, per Jeff and the C & C crew, look as if its been there forever. The greens are huge with multiple, subtle and obvious, rolls and potential pin sites. To this point, I found them a bit too large for personal tastes. Allowing for little elevation change, it is obvious that the greens offer up a reliable defense to the all too common aerial game. Long irons are generally hitting the greens (and they readily received them) but results often include 2 zip code distance putts. Ian and Jeff Riggs both alluded to the ability of those surfaces to turn icy fast with relative little weather vulnerability. For a brand new course, high green speeds reveal just how well they were constructed. Many of these putting monsters were surrounded by wide mown chipping aprons that left lots of creativity in the hands of the player.
Over time, I suspect that several of these aprons (mostly to the side of the greens) give way to encroaching bunkers or the native wild brush and fescue that grow heartily.
The hole memorability is significantly stronger on the front side led by the wonderful, and potentially viscious par 3 fourth. At 230+ and playing into the prevalent winds, C & C saw fit to harass the golfer with a wild green that takes shots and then takes no prisoners (Big hump and bowl). The visual of a large yawning bunker in the front only adds to the tightening of one's sphincter.
The one shotters are all interesting and a quasi imitation of SH's 17 becomes HC's #11. Anyone who is lucky enough to hit and hold the green should absolutley rely on someone's (caddie/member) local knowledge to read the putt...as no everyday hitter will likely figure it out.
Many of the longer four pars are quite solid, if slightly unspectactular or easily discernable from each other. The distance and the angles are all well thought out and eminentl fair but penal if the fairway is missed. The shorter two shotter's are a bit more visually interesting. The fives are all wonderful and strategically reachable depending on the wind and size of the testicles.
Really, the entire course is just fantastic given that it is year one and is not nearly firmed up and running fast as it will eventually become, at least temporarily sometime. Roger, Ian and Jeff know exactly what they've got and what it might look like with a little time and cooperating climate. I worry whether the membership really understands that. The local skinny is that most all the members take carts, the caddy program is stunted by lack of use and some restrictions. IMHO, this is considerable loss. Never have I seen a modern course easier to walk and enjoy. Even with my 11 knee surgeries, I'd gladly take a bag and walk all day there.
Finally, I'll stick my two cents in again and suggest that National memberships be offered. I would love to find a way to join a NJ year-round facility of this caliber.
PS...Anyone looking for Brad Miller $$$ can see me and we'll share it.
Slapper