Timeless. To me a fitting description Ran uses in his profile of Chechessee Creek Club here on GCA. I'm going with that one as well. This place oozes timeless.
How many places have you played golf where you've used this adjective to describe the golf course? I'm sure there are many, but for me only four places come to mind that I've been to: Pinehurst (in 1982), Pasatiempo (in 1983), Palmetto GC last fall at the Dixie Cup and last weekend at Chechessee Creek.
I haven't stopped daydreaming about Chechessee Creek since the drive home on Sunday night. This place is so Cool, and that's cool with a capital C.
Also, I came away from playing the golf course better understanding what it is that Ben Crenshaw is saying when he talks about designing green complexes and his philosophy of 'letting people in'. The openness of the entrance to the greens was most inviting, but stray a little and you'll pay with an embankment or a bunker now in your way of what looked to be an easy par.
The clubhouse at Chechessee Creek is without a doubt the coolest golf related building I have ever stepped foot in. I would love to live in that house, or rather copy it and live in it. I don't have pictures but I'm told many folks feel about the same.
Our hosts couldn't have been more kind in sharing their club with us for a day and I'm happy to say that we'll be returning to do it again sometime soon. I suppose I was in great shape in the event of any type of dental emergencies out on the golf course as there were
three dentists in our group!
One last mention before we head out to the course: the caddies. The caddies we had were the best caddies I have ever had the pleasure of walking a golf course with. All three of them were excellent company. They do a terrific job in the hiring department there at c3.
Let's play golf...
I missed snapping a shot of the 1st tee. A par 4 with a lot of room to swing away. 372 yds dogleg left where if you're a bomber like our host you can just take it over the trees to end up with a pitch to the green.
Second shot in to the par 4 1st.
Greenside bunker.
Strolling along to the 2nd.
Par 3 2nd. 194 yds. Long narrow green with countless pin positions.
If this wasn't here you could run your putter all the way up to this green.
Tight lies do make for more fun and creativity.
3 is a cool slight dogleg par 4 with a wetland hazard down the right and bunkers down the left.
Our hosts say that in the summer the grass to right of the green is cut nice and tight where balls misplayed will feed into the little creek. Awesome!
4. 408 yds par 4. I thought of John Mayhugh when I got to this tee as it reminded me of the look of some of the holes in his Swinley Forest thread. Maybe also because John was supposed to make this trip with us, but work got in the way. It is a priority for me to bring him along next time.
One of our hosts and new GCAer with a nice tee shot at 4.
Another of our hosts makes the golf ball hurt.
The shaded bench likely qualifies as an example of the "Give Me Something School" to Anthony.
Bunkering left on 4. Notice that little devil of a bunker just beyond this one.
The right side of 4.
Second shot into the par 5 5th.
Tee shot at 6. 436 yds Par 4.
Cross hazard (looking) left before the dogleg.
Second shot.
Easily one of my favorite holes, the par 3 7th plays along the waters edge with long views of Chechessee Creek.
A look back at the tee. This corner of the property with the forest and the water is really cool.
Another little bunker to spice things up.
A fairly severe false front continues to add flavor to the hole.
From the opposite side.
8. 440 yds. Par 4. Mac
'Sneaky Long' Plumart takes a rip at it.
Bunker to the right before the fairway begins.
Down the left side of 8.
One of the member cottages tucked back off of the fairway.
9th tee. At 464 it is the longest par 4.
2nd shot.
I didn't get a picture of the green but it was a fairy long and narrow one with plenty of good pin positions where if you're not close to the hole you'll have some tricky putts.
Back 9 later...