Long Shadow (pics)

[Daryl David]

Long Shadow has been mentioned on a few threads recently.  I was there last week and had a chance to play.  Kudos to Mike Young as he has done a wonderful job with the course and it is a ball to play.  It is playing lightning fast part due to drought and being new.  They hope to maintain it as firm as they can even as it matures.  There are plenty of ground game options and the green surrounds and bunkering are very interesting.  The pictures are not great as they were taken at midway through a blistering hot day.  I had the course to myself as even the mad dogs and Englishmen thought it too hot.

[Peter Pallotta]

Daryl - thanks for posting.
Mike - congratulations! To my eye the course looks just lovely: expansive and open and with very nice bunkering and greens. (I hope you don't mind: I'm focusing on the 'visuals' both because I think that aspect important, and because I'm particularly bad at trying to see/understand 'strategy/playing options' from photographs.)  

Peter

[A.G._Crockett]

The pictures do a good job of capturing the greens and browns of the native grasses.  What can't really be shown are the cool little hidden bunkers here and there, the elevation changes, and the expanse of the place.

It is wonderful; get there as soon as you can.

[Daryl David]

I meant to call out the 5th picture from the top.  Thats the par 3 13th.  Very scary shot that seems similar to the 12th at Augusta National.  Bunker in front, very narrow green that has two levels, bunkers in back. When the wind is swirling a little it can be a tough shot.

Not sure it that is what Mike Young had in mind, but it sure made that impression on me.

[A.G._Crockett]

I meant to call out the 5th picture from the top.  Thats the par 3 13th.  Very scary shot that seems similar to the 12th at Augusta National.  Bunker in front, very narrow green that has two levels, bunkers in back. When the wind is swirling a little it can be a tough shot.

Not sure it that is what Mike Young had in mind, but it sure made that impression on me.

I told Mike the same thing about that hole after I played it.  By the way, if you look really closely at the bridge, about midway across there is a little platform extending out off the side of the bridge.  There is a sign at the beginning of the bridge pointing to the "forward tee", and when you get there, there is a driving range mat on the platform.  As best I remember it is about a 60 yd. shot.  A very good sense of humor.

BTW, a buddy of mine who lives in the adjacent subdivision pulled an 8 lb. bass out of that pond!

[Daryl David]

That forward tee gives you a chuckle when you see it.  Too big a follow-through and splash!

[RJ_Daley]

BTW, a buddy of mine who lives in the adjacent subdivision pulled an 8 lb. bass out of that pond!

Hey, if we don't have an evening hickory club 9 hole scramble, can we have a sundown fishing tournament?    Is it a private pond, no license needed?  Catch and release won't do no harm.

I can't wait for the DC.  

[Mike_Cirba]

I played there yesterday and will be reporting more in the coming week or so once I'm back from my summer vacation.

All I'll say right now is that the Dixie Cup participants are in for a very, very special treat.  

[A.G._Crockett]

MikeCirba,
Man, did you pick a great day!  Yesterday was one of the coolest, driest July days in Georgia that I can ever remember.  I played my home course in a dark shirt and dark hat just 'cause I could!

I'm glad you liked the course.  I agree with you about the Dixie Cuppers having a treat in store; Long Shadow is just very, very cool, and the people that hang out on this site are going to be blown away.

[Michael Christensen]

It was a great day at Long Shadow yesterday...being able to walk 18 in July in Georgia is a special treat.  The wind was mild, but did affect some shots.  I liked a few holes on the front especially #6, but the back nine is where Long Shadow shines.  #10 is a great down-hill par 4.  #14 and #15 were my two favorite holes....they looked very timid from the tee, but you were confronted with challenges on the 2nd shots.  There was so much trouble surrounding #14 I didn't know where to bail out.

People are going to be wowed by #17...it has a huge bunker in front and the green is huge.  There are limited pin positions because of the steepness of the green, but for a 200 yd+ par 3 it holds up.  #18 is a good finishing par-5.....they had the sucker pin there yesterday...front right.  There is no way to go at that pin.

All in all a great round on a fun course.  There is still some growing in needed on the fairways, but the greens are smooth.  They are not fast yet, but if you hit the correct line, you will make a lot of putts.

I expect to be back before the Dixie...actually looking into seeing what the membership options are.  Only 70 miles from house and less from work.  Considering the $$$$ options in Atlanta, this one could be a keeper!

[Jason Blasberg]

All I'll say right now is that the Dixie Cup participants are in for a very, very special treat.  

I must agree with you Mike, I got out to LS on Friday with GCAer Ken Banks and we had a great day.  

The course reminds me of Royal New Kent in many places and  I found both the green and fairway shaping to be boldly creative.  The grass bunker down the left of 18 is an example.  

The greens have lots of internal contour to them and I'll post some photos later.

The turf needs to grow in big time but even in a youthful state it's blast to play

[Chris Cupit]

I told Mike the same thing about that hole after I played it.  By the way, if you look really closely at the bridge, about midway across there is a little platform extending out off the side of the bridge.  There is a sign at the beginning of the bridge pointing to the "forward tee", and when you get there, there is a driving range mat on the platform.  As best I remember it is about a 60 yd. shot.  A very good sense of humor.

I too noticed the forward tee on this hole.  I looked at the hole and the required carry if you didn't play that "tee" and it would be an unplayable hole for many ladies.  I didn't think it was a "joke" but a less than ideal solution to help the "forward tee players" be able to finish the hole.

ABout my only nitpick with the course (particularly from my wife's perspective) would be that the hole is not very enjoyable if you have to hit off a driving range mat.

Mike,

What is the forced carry over the lake from the closest tee behind the lake?  I thought it was at least 100 yards or so and if that is the case I understand the forward "tee" but I just don't think a lot of ladies will like it so much.

[Craig Sweet]

Were some of the fairways sodded?

[A.G._Crockett]

I would love to see LS today; at the time that I saw it in May, we had gone for a long, long time without any rain here in GA.  In the last couple of weeks, there have been some typical afternoon summer storms, and the bermuda on most courses has just gone crazy!  I would bet that the "grow-in" after the last 10 days or so is much farther along than most of us would have imagined.

[KBanks]

Longshadow is an outstanding golf course, with a decided emphasis on fast playing conditions. The bunkering style and, for the most part, absence of trees in the playing corridors, give it a distinctly British feel, which distinguishes it from other courses in the area. (The 150/directional markers, which are barber poles, help impart a links flavor).

There are is a lot of the smaller contouring in and around the green complexes which provides consistent interest. Several short par fours contain significant undulation in the approach areas, adding to the interest and challenge for the golfer.

The par threes as a set are particularly strong. I especially liked the seventeeth, with the cavernous bunker challenging any tee shot to a pin position on the right portion of the green. This hole is striking visually and strategically as the golfer surveys the prospect from the tee: the  huge bunker combined with the strong tilt of the "backstop" rearward portion of the green. With any kind of breeze, it would become even more interesting in play.

The Dixie Cup has a very worthy venue this year.

Ken

[Anthony_Nysse]

Craig,
  Everything was sodded except for the greens. They were seeded with L-93.

Tony Nysse
Sr. Asst. Supt.
Long Cove Club
HHI, SC

[Mike_Cirba]

Michael Christensen and I played Cuscowilla for the first time in the morning and Long Shadow in the afternoon.

Given the July heat in GA we rode Cuscowilla and walked Long Shadow....36 on foot would have been just a bit much for an out of shape Yankee.

Cuscowilla has been discussed here quite often, but for now I'd just say that there was absolutely no diminishing of architectural quality from the morning through the afternoon.  

[A.G._Crockett]

Cuscowilla has been discussed here quite often, but for now I'd just say that there was absolutely no diminishing of architectural quality from the morning through the afternoon.  

Mike,
This is well put.  I know it must sound like we are blowing smoke here, but I think Long Shadow is simply that good.  I hope (and believe, I might add) that the recognition of that fact will follow.  It is a special golf course.

[ed_getka]

Congratulations to Mike Young and the continued praise of his fine effort at Long Shadow. I look forward to getting out to GA to see it some day.

[Mike_Cirba]

I know it must sound like we are blowing smoke here, but I think Long Shadow is simply that good.  I hope (and believe, I might add) that the recognition of that fact will follow.  It is a special golf course.

A.G.,

I've been trying to avoid hyperbole and I do prefer to err on the side of understatement.  

I also like to let a few days and weeks pass to fully digest what I've seen before blowing the trumpets.

But, you're right...it is that good.

[Mike_Young]

Thanks for the kind comments.....I hope it proves worthy....
Still got to tweak a couple of holes b4 satisfied.....#6 and #9 for sure...

[ed_getka]

Mike,
   What do you feel needs to be done on #6 & 9?

[Jeff Doerr]

Mike,

I love to see a GCA tweak and tinker with the course. I think for too many years we had courses that were drawn and built and that was that. Eventually the super or committee would slowly make a few changes...

I love your 'ownership' that I read into your short post.

I hope to play it in the years to come. When I finally get down to see my friend in Dacula, it WILL be on the list.

Cheers, Jeff

[Mike_Cirba]

Mike Young,

If you touch the unique 6th green I'm going to take back everything I said!  

Ed,

I certainly don't want to speak for him but I think Mike feels that the 6th green is too severe for the length of shot played into it from the back tees.  The 6th green is tiny, set on a front right to back left diagonal, and is really just an extention of the fairway, running front to back and right to left.   Just in front of the green on the left is a humpy knob of broken ground with some smallish shrub trees growing from it.  Behind the green a few feet is death in the form of swampy grasslands.

I think Mike feels this green should be receiving a flip wedge and the hole should not be longer than about 350 or so.   That's probably sensible, but I definitely disagree.   In my mind, I love the idea of tempting the better player to flight the ball there on a full aerial shot with a mid-iron only to find that unless they execute perfectly they are probably hosed.

Instead, the proper play for the mid-iron shot is trying to chase it in there with a right to left running shot, which lands short and then just crawls up there, much like the 17th at St. Andrews, where an aerial attempt is simply folly.

In my mind, it was the best, most unique approach shot on the entire course, simply because it was so unusual.   Think of the 15th green at Kingsley Club for a good analogy.

[Mike_Cirba]

From my perspective, the hole that needs to be tweaked, or added to, is the 7th.

It's a long par four, thought once to be a par five, with a green that hugs a wetland area all along the right side.

For such an imaginative course, this hole stands out as much too modern conventional.

I thought the green should have been built up on the hillside on the left, probably 30 yards or so shorter than the current green.  

It would make for a stern, uphill approach on a course that doesn't have many of them, and something like Bethpage #15 could be built there.   Plus, it would totally avoid the whole messy wetlands issue in that area of the course.

Or, because it's an out of the box course, how about alternate greens, keeping the one next to the wetlands and building a wild, tiny, gravity-golf one up on top of the hill?

I think Mike said there might have been some roadway considerations with the left hillside, but if it's acceptable to the owner and regulatory bodies, I'd just blow up the lower green and build a new one up on the left.

I'm also curious what Mike would change about the 9th.   It's an unusual hole, certainly, but we liked it just fine and it might tempt a lot of power hitters to have a go at the green.