Bump in reflecting on yesterday's round.
Those pictures really flatten out the land. 1 is a LOT steeper than it appears in the albums.
Wow. The surprise of the year, hands down. Thanks so much again, Jason.
This is really, really good. This, IMO, is as good of a test of golf as many of the other more established clubs in the area, maybe more so than some.
As far as modern courses, (and I am not sure where the club wants to be thought of), it's probably in the top two or three.
My group played from the Bronze tees yesterday. About 6700, this was about the right distance--not too many short irons in, but not too many hybrids in, either. Architecturally, there are options everywhere. Lay back off the tee, or go for it. Go left, go right. There are advantages to doing both. There are also penalties. What I find so intriguing here is it's not penal--it's hard, to be sure--one must execute--but there's a way around a lot of the trouble. I think this course, more than most I have seen, has the most opportunity for 'duality', meaning, be very playable for members, but able to provide a completely different test for high levels of play.
A few of the local modern courses seem just hard for the sake of being hard. And yes, some of you know which I'm talking about. This isn't the case here.
There is a really good ebb and flow to this course, a good rhythm to it.
There is a fair amount of local knowledge as well. These greens had more little stuff going on than, say, Sunnybrook, where I was a few weeks ago, and also a Gordon (originally). There were a lot of breaks the player needed to account for that were not completely evident. Cases in point #s 6,9,14, and likely others.
I was thinking I would have liked to see the greens a little quicker, but I am not going to make a big deal because it's August, it was late afternoon, it's been hot here, and the health of the turf is paramount. I'm sure they can be plenty quick.
Couple things came to mind:
The bunkering is very well done. The "hairy" look is most appropriate for this part of the area, and does not appear contrived, as it does on another local course.
4 is similar in strategy to 13 at BSP Red. Which is a good thing. You have to hit the fairway here. My only observation would be possibly opening the green up a tad more from the left, or angling it more than it is now.
6 has that great fallaway greensite. Beautiful vistas from up on top of the ridges here across many of the lower holes.
8 is a lot tougher than it looks, there is very little room to miss. Sort of a "Short" interpretation.
To answer Dr. Joe, 10 is tougher than 1.
11 is GREAT-draw off a cut lie for 2nd shot, but room to miss right (as I did).
I like 12 a lot
13-16 are all very strong.
17 is another great risk/reward.
18 is a strong finisher, for certain.
There are probably some trees that can come down-no big deal. It's a really good walk, also. I was surprised to learn caddies aren't a huge thing here as at a few neighboring clubs.
I hope to come back at some point over the next few months and play it again.