Phil --
Spring Valley sounds promising. Do you have any pictures?
Pat:
Here are some photos of Spring Valley, culled from some other threads (mostly from Dan Moore's photo files...)
A view of the teeing area of the 1st hole -- Langford incorporated lots of blindness into his courses, and the 1st uses it to the extent the course has a funky periscope to make sure golfers are clear of the tee shot landing area:
Second shot, 1st hole, 452 yd par 4:
The par 3 3rd, perhaps L/M's version of a Short, it plays 134 yds from the tips (falloffs from the pushed-up green on all sides):
The approach shot (third shot) to the par 5 4th, a 556-yd par 5; from a valley over the pond to a pushed-up green -- the trouble here is that short can be wet but long can be OB; an exacting little uphill pitch. The second shot to here is blind.
Second shot at the 4th:
The par 3 5th, a very good, muscular par 3 that plays 210 from the tips with a carry over the edge of a lake to a very large green (just to the left of the very large willow tree is an island tee area for the par 4 6th hole, which has a cape-lake drive; you can see some golfers on the tee grounds):
This is the 5th green looking back to the tee:
The 6th hole (home of the island tee) green, which doesn't really begin to show some of the green's contouring (411 yds par 4):
The par 3 7th, 181 tips; 155 whites -- a terrific par 3 that would not be out of place in terms of quality at Langford/Moreau's better-known Lawsonia. The teeing area is hidden by the red flag; the tee shot is over a valley to a green with significant slopes. Others may disagree, but I think this is the best hole at Spring Valley. Spring Valley's five par 3s as a set can arguably hold their own with those at Lawsonia.
This is the tee shot on the aforementioned 7th hole:
Par 4 15th, 425 yds. A view of the second shot; probably the best of the back nine par 4s; a brawny hole that requires two good shots to reach the green.
One of my favorite tee shots at Spring Valley -- the all-blind 18th:
The 18th green, looking back up the severely canted fairway:
Spring Valley holds an interesting place in the Langford/Moreau canon; it flies well below the radar of the duo's better-known courses, but it's a very good example of some of their signature design elements, such as significantly perched-up greens, blindness and partial blindness on some tee and approach shots, and exacting in its demands on approach shots to greens. Don't let the lack of bunkers fool you into thinking it's a pushover; greenside recoveries are tough without the sand. It's a bit scruffy; this is a worlds away from the "public" country club set. It's a true cousin to your local muni. But it's well worth seeking out.