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mark chalfant

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Wisconsin: Spring Valley (Langford)
« on: May 22, 2017, 08:41:48 PM »

I would appreciate details about the terrain, best holes, and state of preservation at this course in Salem ,Wisconsin.




How do its  routing and its greens  compare to West Bend or Pine Hills (Smead).


Are all these private or daily fee ?


Thank you !




Bill Seitz

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Re: Wisconsin: Spring Valley (Langford)
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2017, 09:03:25 PM »
A lot of people can probably tell you about Spring Valley.  It's daily fee, and if you ask nicely, it's probably literally a fee for the day. I don't think I've ever paid more than $20 to play it.  I would guess it's fairly well preserved in that I don't think they've changed much of what appears to be the original Langford layout.  Greens have shrunk over the years, but the original green pads are mostly still there, such that if someone won the lottery and bought the place, it could be fairly well restored without having to move a lot of earth.  There are no bunkers, presumably because they just never put sand in the bunkers as designed, probably for money reasons.  Dan Moore could probably give you more information.  The conditioning is what you'd expect of a course that's very cheap to play, but the bones are terrific. 


Very similar in many respects is Kankakee Elks.  It's probably had more done to it over the years.  The par three fifth is not original, but the mound where the original green sat is still there.  It actually has a couple bunkers (two, I believe, both on the second hole).  Also extremely affordable, also, a little over an hour from Chicago, and also great bones.

Phil McDade

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Re: Wisconsin: Spring Valley (Langford)
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2017, 09:19:59 PM »
Mark:


I've played Spring Valley a bunch. It's an original Langford, perhaps best known for its complete lack of bunkers, but it bears the traditional Langford look of significant mounding, blind shots, and some pushed-up green sites. It's not at the scale or quality of Lawsonia, but it's a fine course, and still remains the best value for quality golf in the state -- $20 on weekends, less than that on weekdays and twilight.


It's in the traditional parkland style, with tree-lined fairways set on some rolling terrain. Conditioning can be iffy, but it can also play really fast and firm given the right conditions.


To me, the set of 5 five 3s (a Langford trademark) stand out, with #5 (230 yds from the tips and from an elevated tee, over the edge of a lake, to a large, tilted green), #7 (ridge to ridge, over a deep valley, 181 yds with death left), and #17 (190 yds to a large, troublesome green that ranks -- seriously -- among the very best in Wisconsin) the stars. #3 (a true target Short at 138 yds to a pushed-up green) and #11 (170 yds over flat terrain, something of a connector hole) are solid as well.


Other standouts:


#4 is a fun par 5 where the second shot is blind, through mounds squeezing the fairway, and the green sits on the far side of a pond, atop a small hill.


#6, a par 4 with an island tee to a rolling fairway and another very good green.


#14, a Sahara-like sub-300 yd par 4 that could use some tree-slashing, but has options from the tee.


#15, a superb, rugged par 4 of 435 yds that is a favorite of Dave Esler (Black Sheep, among others; he played the course in his youth).


Both nines close with similar, parallel holes over some of the course's most rambunctious terrain, with tee shots that dive into a valley, and approach shots to greens benched against the hillside in view of the small clubhouse.


The place exudes a blue-collar feel; grab a Polish and an Old Style at the bar after a round.


Public, with modest green fees: http://www.springvalleyccgolf.com/


West Bend is private, with a terrific original Langford nine that ranks alongside Lawsonia as some of Langford's best work. Pete Dye is rumored to have played it, walked off after his round, and remarked about the wonderful "Raynor" course he'd just played. The second nine was added much later, and although good, is not as distinguished and not in the Langford style.


Pine Hills is a real unknown gem around here; gets very little publicity among the state's privates, but has a solid reputation among those in the know. It hosted the State Open not long ago, and gave the state's best players fits. The course that Herb Kohler considered buying, for guests at his resort, before embarking on Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits. Private. (I have not played; observations from those who have.)























Joe Zucker

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Re: Wisconsin: Spring Valley (Langford)
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2017, 10:28:34 PM »
I can't add any more to Phil's excellent summary of the course. But if you do go to Spring Valley, be sure to look for a large frame on the wall of the pro shop that shows the routing.  If I remember correctly, this is the original plan drawn by Langford.  A cool piece of history on a course that feels like it has been there for a century.

Howard Riefs

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Re: Wisconsin: Spring Valley (Langford)
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2017, 11:13:07 PM »
"Golf combines two favorite American pastimes: Taking long walks and hitting things with a stick."  ~P.J. O'Rourke

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