George,
The only thing that rubs me about that course are the Powerlines on 4 tee. Is that supposed to be some kind of sick recreation of the the 18th tee at Augusta??
Other than that I do really enjoy that course. A few things to note.
They changed the first to a par 5, which I think probably a good idea considering the brutal start when was as a par 4. The second hole is really a challenging hole all the way around. Formerly the 3 and 1 handicap to start the round.
I wish they would remove the trees, or maybe cut them back left a little on 11, if only to open up the back of the green for some viable pin locations, as it seems they refuse to stick one back there. I have never seen a pin back of center in 10 + rounds. I wish they would remove the trees in the wetland / marsh on 13. I think a longer player should have the option of an attempted carry / chance to drive the green. I have been able to negotiate it twice and it's not really worth the risk if one is concerned about a total score. It would still be risky without the trees and with them it's really a stupid play. The dense tree coverage around that green also causes maintenance issue and stuggles to conform with the other greens as a result.
As mentioned before the power lines are a joke on the 4th tee, I guess you could say that it's unique. They should either bury them, which I think originally was their intention, or build a new tee somewhere else. I would say this was a major error and really takes away from the course. If I can find a picture I will post it. For those of you trying to visualize, the wooden pole holding the line sits just off of center, it's definitely in play, and have hit several draw shots around it. Obviously if it interferes we play it as a free re-tee but who wants that. There are several other poles in play in the distance if a shot a.) successfully navigates the pole on a direct line right, or who plays a cut shot / fade / slice starting well left of the initial pole and just inside the tree line left.
The itself does tend to be very penal to a player who is having a less than average ball striking day. Be sure to bring an exta sleeve of balls just in case!!
Overall I do like the course a good deal. It's not overly long, and does have some good architecturally interesting holes. I do really enjoy the closing stretch of holes beginning with the short par 3 15, playing to a yardage of about 115 from the back tee. A pretty easy tee shot to navigate, but a difficult green to putt from. Anything outside of ten feet is hardly a great chance for birdy. The short 16th par 4, plays around 280 from the back tee, with marsh land right. The hole doglegs at about 250ish right where the green sits. A cluster of bunkers sit on the outside of the leg, up the hill, and the green is protected short and right with bunkers. The slope of the fairway feeds balls toward the green at / within the dogleg strectching toward the green. It's definitely possible to drive this green with a well struck drive on a line just left of the green. The 17th hole par 3, plays generally, 210-215 (They have a tee that stretches 240) to a large barittz style green. After a good birdie opportunity at the 16th, this hole is a tough par. Finally the 18th, a par 5, that starts elevated from a narrow feeling teeing ground. Longer hitters can carry the nasty area of native vegetation that sits about 230-250 left to middle of fairway. From there the hole opens up and then again narrows toward the green. The green itself is benched into a the bottom of hill sitting left of it. From about to 150 and in, the fairway / green sit on a different level from the right side of hole which falls away about from 2-10 feet increasingly toward the green. If you can navigate the tee shot, a 5 is no more than a modest task. But birdy and even eagle are a possibilty with a second short played up toward and even into sometimes the hill left.
All in all a good course at an exceptional value. As George said it is easily walkable, I think anyone (students get a steal) can get 18 holes walking for 25-30 dollars. When the greens are good out here, it is one of the top 5-10 values in golf that I've experienced. Now if we could only get the weather to cooperate
P.S. I'm sick of the dome, architecturally speaking, it's less than impressive.
