At the risk of losing playing privileges I am compelled at long last to profile the elusive Lightning Bug Golf Course at Solitude. Using the last straw of discretion I will not, however reveal its location. After all, Solitude is not so much a place as a state of mind.
"The Bug" as it is lovingly called by the locals is a five holes course stretching to 555 yards from the tips. Like the great clubs in America, it is ruled by a single man - Bill Blackburn who also designed and built the layout. The following rules posted on the barn at the first tee are rigorously enforced and define the spirit of the club:
You will always be welcome at the Lightning Bug Golf Course if you:
1. Learn and play by the rules of golf.
2. Learn and use proper etiquette.
3. Are friendly and kind to everyone who wishes to play, regardless of their skill level.
4. Immediately return to the house or barn at the first sight of bad weather.
5. Respect the course and property, keeping it clean and in good condition.
6. Have fun and bring a friend when you return.
There is no entry sign, just directions from the owner that reference nearby geographical features, thus making one of the great entrance drives in America extremely difficult to find:
This is a no-frills club as evidenced by the adaption of the existing milk barn for a clubhouse/maintenance facility:
In the tradition of a true championship test, the first hole is the most demanding on the course, a slight dogleg left playing 145 yards downhill across a hazard to a small canted green:
From the tips the hole is all carry at 171 yards at a slight angle:
The second hole plays 102 from both markers and features a green that slopes wildly from right to left with a false left side as show in this photo from the left side of the green:
The third plays 99/102 from this elevated tee hard by on-site accomodations dating from the early 1800's:
OB lurks behind and right of the green where shadows yield confusing reads on the putts (hint: they all break toward the rear of the green). The ground game is very much alive here:
As the photo indicates the club has embarked on a questionable tree planing program (not that there's anything wrong with that, Mr. Blackburn).
The 4th plays slightly uphill at 68 yards and features the only bunker on the course hard by the green's front right:
The owner is on retainer with Merion Golf Club for his bunker surrounds expertise.
The finisher is a tough uphill hole playing 57 yards from the members tee and 111 from the tips.
It should be noted that the fountain is not an architectural element but rather a source of oxygen for the pond - the scorecard has a section devoted to the number of bass, bluegill and catfish caught (and of course, released).
The course opened in 2004 and hosts an annual fund-raiser where four rounds are played in a single day. It is possible I can wrangle invitations for treehouse members if given several years notice.
Bogey