Here's the URL to the Greywall review:

http://www.golfweek.com/americasbest/301448332396090.php

I worked with Mike early on at Marquette.

Brad's article does good at describing the dramatic nature of the Greywalls course. It's very dramatic. And, as Brad points out, Mike deserves a lot of credit for taming that site.

Another respected individual involved with golf course design, construction and maintenance visited some years ago and commented: "You can't build a golf course here!"

I have some aged literature in front of me outlining Golfweek's rating criteria. If things haven't changed though, Brad's "6" overall places Greywalls outside the top-100 Modern.

The rating game is too subjective for me to argue one way or the other. I will say though, Greywalls features many outstanding holes.

I felt the calling while I was on my 6th hole and 3rd Bloody Mary today....

First off, all I have had the priviledge of at Greywalls is spending two days walking the course with Mike D. and Pete C, the super. We identified about 1200 trees to be removed in our two days on the course. I took a mess of pictures even though it was cold when we did this last November.

Second, Brad Klein knows way more than I ever will about golf course architecture, even if my butt stays on a dozer the rest of my life. Mike D. is the consumate teacher, however, so I may make up some ground...no pun intended!.

I have to admit that Brad's write-up sort of appealed to me. Maybe it was the bombastic imagery, or perhaps the off-beat tone for a golf course review. I tend to favor things not of the norm. I don't pay any attention to things like "raters speak". It matters very little to me as long as I'm busy working. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that our pro shop gets most any golf rag that is published, I wouldn't know GW from GD from any other magazine.

I love when a guy like JK asks about a course he hasn't seen. He retains enough of what he is told to be able to compare it to what he reads of someone elses' account of the same course. What my description to him was vs. what he read from Brad might pique his curiosity to make him take a few days to travel through Michigan and see what Mike D. has done. That would be the real benefit of a review by Brad Klein or anyone else who knows the game. Honestly...who read Brad's review of Greywalls and didn't want to jump in a car or on a plane and head for Marquette?


Joe

Just for everyones information, Marquette is about 7 hours from  Minnesota and 5 hours to Kohler according to Mapqwest.

TEP, my 1995 Mazda Protege has only 148,000 miles. Now that the car's air conditioner condenser isn't working, I find myself spending more time flying in the Citation that's parked in the backyard hanger.

yes . . .  a pilot, a secretary and a shrink.

It was great to see Brad's review, especially before the course "officially" opens.  Most of his comments are spot on, although it seemed at times that his enthusiastic commentary didn't quite match the numbers he assigned it.  The one surpise from Brad's write-up is that he didn't emphasize the greens as much as I would have expected, as they look (although I have not played them) to be one of the wildest (in a positive way) sets of greens I have seen.

Greywalls is so impressive that, months after a quick tour of it on a cold, rainy October day and without ever having played it, I signed up for the Club's amazing national membership, surely one of the best bargains in golf. My family and I are looking forward to spending some good time in the attractive city of Marquette and playing this wonderful new course.  The prospect of the Heritage being transformed into something along the lines of Lawsonia makes my knees weak -- what a 36 that would be!

It will be interesting to read the comments of people as they play Greywalls.

John,

There are some wonderful Langford holes at Marquette that could easily be restored (tree removal, green surface expansion, and bunker work). But, turning the Heritage into something comparable to Lawsonia Links would be a mammoth task! For one, the Gill holes would have to be completely rebuilt.  

Hopefully Greywalls will be a major success and the club will let Mike D. have at the Heritage in a few years. That would be cool, no doubt.  

John,

Ross did many 9-holers.  According to golfcourse.com, 28 in all, though add at least one, since Rolling Rock wasn't included, and 9 in Massachusetts alone.  As a percentage compared to Langford, it certainly could be lower.

I think Brad did a good job on the review. I've been itching to see the course ever since I saw the excitement in Mike's eyes as he described what he was doing there. I'm just sorry I won't be able to see it until next year.

John,

Langford laid out 18 holes at Marquette, but only nine were built. The club has the original Langford plan. Perhaps the same happened at other Langford courses that only feature nine holes?  

I believe that West Bend CC, which is NW of Milwaukee, had an 18 hole routing by Langford.  They built the front nine and then Gill added the back nine, but didn't build it the same way -- I think he routed that nine backwards from the original Langford routing.  The disparity between the 2 nines is quite large and the Langford front would be very good, if restored.

If someone can tell me of a free website to host pictures, I have a few that I took late last fall....if Mike doesn't mind!

Joe