Compact CROSSROADS: 2024 Helene Interrupted Heart of Dixie Tour

[Sean_A]

The Crossroads at Palmetto Bluff opened in January of this year. I didn’t hear anything about the course while being built, but I happen to read a short blurb by Wardo. His description of this King-Collins 9-hole reversible layout was simple, “akin to being released on a golf playground during recess”. Built from scratch, this new course will be part of a marina development which is in planning. I gather this marina will be part of an expanded inland waterway which connects to Wilson & Moreland villages, both small communities in a vast 20,000-acre estate. I gather another village is planned as well!
 
There is nothing vast about Crossroads…the course sits on about 55 acres. There are a few main man-made features through the middle of the course which effectively provide height contrast and obstacles which fairways run around. There are also several greens set against these features which create smashing backdrops. Of course, there is also water running along two sides of the course which impact three holes on each routing. The Hammer is clockwise around the perimeter and The Press is anti-clockwise. Several holes on each routing also have holes playing through the middle of the property so the balance is about right to encourage play both ways. One of the most interesting aspects of the design is the teeing grounds are spread all over the place. If the course isn’t crowded, it’s even possible to ignore the routing and play to whichever green takes your fancy. The scorecard reflects this philosophy. There are only two cuts of grass, greens and fairways. The longer grass mostly covers the large dune-like features and acts as native areas.

Similar to The Loop in Michigan, the routing switches everyday. On this day, The Hammer routing was in play (perimeter clockwise). Below is a map of the course.



The scorecard 


The one drawback to this design is the opening hole requires a walk to the first tee. The water blocks direct access to the course, but I suppose once a house is built it will have a great setting.


Small centreline bunkers are sprinkled about the fairways. 


The first encounter with one of the large King-Collins mounds.


A closer look.


The low-lying green is an elusive target.


Front right...did I not mention there are two flags on each green?


I didn't properly understand the green until the second round when we played to the other flags. Front centre. 


Left. There are more in your face greens, but this subtle beauty is my favourite of the bunch.

More to follow.

Ciao

[Sean_A]

Crossroads Tour cont

The second is a tough hole to suss out. First, for me at least, the drive is very uncomfortable. The distance to trouble is difficult to know.


The Principal's Nose is more obvious from the forward tee.






My drive from the forward tee rumbled and rattled to this position. I am not sure how to attack either flag. Both are at the base of severe slopes.


A look at the green from the far left, more from the angle of 7th on The Press routing. The reader can see the entire green funnels toward the shed.


A look at the green from near the 3rd tees.


The 3rd has teeing grounds practically surrounding the 2nd green. I like driving over greens. There is a dip in the fairway beyond the left bunker. It may pay to stay on high ground for the approach because the green runs away from play.


A very different look from the left tees. There is a tee well back on the same angle for those who don't mind the walk. 


The approach isn't long, but it is troublesome to master.


The tiers are separated by a humpback...great stuff! 


The view from higher ground.


A look back down the fairway in the direction of 7 Press.


More to follow.

Ciao

[Steve_Roths]

Thanks for this!

[ward peyronnin]

As with most King Collins courses these greens can be massive. Not all are on this course however two should also be considered from the Press routing when one playes back up the hammer third fairway the hole locations no longer fall away from you but have some backstop charcteristics as well as tucked hole options. Options is the key concept at Crossroads; so many of the elements of golf play continuously offer mutiple options. Sorry carry on Sean.

[Sean_A]

Yer welcome Steve.

Crossroads Tour cont

A short hole, the 4th is pretty much what you see is what you get. The water is in play in a similar way as on the 3rd. I think I might have water play a more prominent role if given the chance.  The back tee is up the hill from the 3rd green, but it’s easy to walk forward if that distance doesn't suit.


A closer look. The green does shove toward the water so getting caught out right for the recovery is not a bouquet of flowers.


We break the clockwise routing and play to the interior of the property on 5. Before teeing off it might be noticed that there is a green behind the tee on lower ground. I didn't pay attention to the map before teeing off and I found myself confused. The green combinations are all over the place because there are 10 greens. To confuse things further, one green serves three holes...6 Hammer and 3&9 Press!  Even more confusing...1, 8 & 9 Hammer are stand alone greens. I write all of this not confuse readers, but to showcase the ingenuity of the design. Back to the three-shotter 5th. The hole looks quite linksy as it plays between large mounds. The front of 5 Press green is in the foreground.


The nature of the dogleg and narrow entrance to the green make it slightly awkward to go at the green in two.


Once closer to the green the right kick in is obvious, but don't get caught on the high side of this feature.


The immense green is shaped like a pair of angel's wings. This hole location set on a mound is a tough get with wind off the left.


A look at the green from near 2 Hammer tee. It may seem a minor detail, but I appreciate that some trees were left on the course. The tree height sets of the large earthworks quite well. 


More to follow.

Ciao

[Sean_A]

Crossroads Tour cont

Playing adjacent to the 1st in the opposite direction, the 6th moves a bit downhill to a substantial green.


This must have been fun to build.


The approach doesn't fit my eye, at least not yet. I couldn’t determine how to get close to this hole location.


Both of these hole locations are on high ground. I reckon if you want to get close, going long must be risked. Wardo attempts to extricate himself from sand. 


The green snakes right of the white flag to an area used for 9 Press. I can imagine crazy hole locations for special events.


More to follow.

Ciao

[Sean_A]

Crossroads Tour cont

The dogleg left 7th plows into the middle of the property. There is a ton more space blind right than it seems, but the angle for the approach worsens with every every yard one drives in this direction. I wasn't clear on what ths story is with this hole until standing on the 8th tee. 


A look at the approach from out of position on the right.


A much better view of the green. The green is certainly reachable for some, but it will likely mean taking on the left side of the huge hillock.


The green is nestled in earthworks which look like an amoeba with a twinned tail. 8 Hammer tee is on the high side right and the 3 Press tee is on the high side left. The photo below is from 8 Hammer tee.  Another cool hole which is tricky, but not beyond the powers of a mid to high teens marker to earn a par or better. This is a hallmark of the entire course. 


More to follow.

Ciao

[Sean_A]

Crossroads Tour cont

Perhaps my favourite hole on the course, the 8th is a long par 3 which required a driver on my part. The only bunker-free hole, the green has two main hole locations; the high right side is severe shot. The lower left side is much the easier tee shot.


Right of the green.


Right rear of the green looking back toward 7 green and the tee.
 

The home hole is very much a reachable two-shotter for a good percentage of golfers. When the hole is up front as the red flag is, it seems a good play to have a bash because its tough to hold an approach on the front of the green. 


A closer look.


It is clear the green leans heavily toward the water. Note the back right section of the green!


That completes the tour of the Hammer 9. I am smitten by the course not only due to the creative nature of the design, but also because of its playability which includes a great walk and fairways which are ample, but not crazy wide. King-Collins hit on something extraordinary with the Crossroads. I couldn't wait to go back around and play the other pins...I haven't gone from the final green back to the first tee for a replay since I don't know when....I was  that impressed. I didn't get a chance to play the Press routing, but I did run around it...these photos will follow.  It isn't completely fair to rate a reversable course without seeing it both ways, so until that day comes, I will hold steady with a 1* with the notion that a boost to 2* is entirely possible.  2024

The makeshift food caravan under shade does the job remarkably well.


A few Press photos to follow.

Merry Christmas.

[Sean_A]

As promised, a few photos of the Press routing.

Press Map


The first is the reverse of Hammer 9, but to a stand alone green near the water. The bunker placement and the ridge creates a split fairway.


The 2nd plays into the middle of the property to 7 Hammer green. Instead of a short, its a monster par 3.


The 3rd is a shorter version 6 Hammer to the same green.  The 4th plays back up the full length of 6 Hammer to 5 Hammer green.  Many of the bunkers near tees on other holes make sense when playing in reverse.




The long 5th reverses 5 Hammer to a stand alone green. The earthworks funnel the fairway.


6 is the one hole I am not sure works. Playing from the reverse angle to 4 Hammer looks like it would be a testing shot even if the hole is just over 100 yards. I need to play this hole!


The 7th plays Hammer 3 in reverse to 2 Hammer green. Good bunker placement encourages a safe drive left to an unfavourable position for the approach.


An awkward tee shot, the 8th feels more like sandhills golf. Similar to 2 Hammer, there is a feature in the middle of the fairway to give pause.




Playing 1 Hammer in reverse to a wing of 6 Hammer green, the long 9th looks to be a solid way to finish the round.


Its usually difficult to know how a course plays until one sees shots played. In the case of the Crossroads, the entire reverse course concept relies on Hammer and Press being approximately the same quality. I hope to one day play the course and see what is what.

Happy New Year

[ward peyronnin]

We are familiar with Sean's lazer focus and relentless exploring of a golf course when playing and writing his fine reviews so I will call out the sin of omission in this review of Crossroads.
As we stood on the self annointed teeing ground for number seven we paused to update our conversation regarding the greens, views, connectivity and other remarkable features of this course after Sean had, unprovoked, declared wistfully to no one in particular " I'm so happy right now". I had either just struck my tee ball or commenced to I don't quite remember.
What I do remember as Sean turned and walked to our golf cart to rebag his club is standing there just waiting. As he began to sit and saw I had not moved he humbly remarked " Oh yeah i still need to hit don't I"?