It's a week later and I still can't get this course out of my mind. Kelly Blake Moran is the archy and the course hit me hard and hasn't let go. Has anybody played this place?
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I just played it for the first time this past Saturday and with a little wind it was all the course I could handle. I was shocked that I hadn't heard more about it before.
My only criticism is the housing that is prominent and an eye soar and detracts from the overall experience. However, it is not in play on any hole (unless you wildly snap hook it on 2, 10 or 17) and save the 9th you really don't face any housing while playing.
Having recently played Tobacco Road the greens did remind me of TR. They had incredible movement, most had at least three or more greens within a green (save 10 green which only had about 3 possible placements on the right half as the left half was too sloped to accomodate a pin).
I was reminded of Prairie Dunes in a number of places, especially the benched greensite for the 3 par 5th.
The short 14th (115 yds or so) was the best short hole I've played in a great while with a large thumb print swale in the front middle and a false front that makes holding a ball short of a front middle pin very difficult.
The dunes and hills flow naturally over the property even though I understand most if not all of the undulation was created.
There was a ton of risk reward off the tee and even more on and around the greens. There were many times where playing at the pin was not the ideal play but then there were others where it was the only realistic option to make par. For instance, the pins on 12 and 15 were tucked back right and left respectively, atop small back shelves in the green and if you didn't play toward the pins and challenge the bunkering protecting these locations you had at least 40 feet up slopes ranging from 5 to 10 feet or so. I played away from both pins and had two three putt bogeys (and still had lots of fun at that).
The cart paths are sand based and play as an integral part of the course and both times on them I putted off them (once to 10 feet and one to 6 inches).
It's a fun walk and the routing flows well. Overall, it was a great experience that I must say was not really expected (not for anything but lack of discussion about the course).
In closing, it was the firmest and fastest course I've played this year and the greens were at worst tied for the best conditioned I've played this year. In fact, they were almost a little too fast in certain places and could easily create a ton of challenge rolling at 9.5 (I'd say they were rolling at about 11 or so when I played).
If you're anywhere near LI try to make it out to see Laurel Links. You won't be disappointed.