Installment #3.…
Grandfather Mountain Springs Course
Attributed to: Ellis Maples 1969
Location: Linville, NC
3225 yds, Par 59
What makes it good: Designed as an executive course to add variety and fun to the Grandfather community, the Mountain Springs Course has been benignly neglected since its design. The original Ellis Maples’ bunker designs still exist with large scale, some amazing flash, and interesting shapes (all of which may give a road map for future renovations on the more famous, full-length “Grandfather course”). There a numerous fun and challenging shots. Natural features and bold land forms are used to make interesting holes. I will highlight my favorites below:
The 270 yd par 4 2nd hole -- Note the bold bunker cut into the hillside on the right. Unfortunately, the trees are now growing over the bunker, highlighting the need for tree trimming:
Uphill 140 yd par 3 6th hole. Note the very boldly contoured large front right bunker:
8th hole, par 3 120 yds:
The par 3, 155 yard par 3 10th hole. Check out the impressive flash of the bunker on the left:
The 275 yd driveable par 4 11th playing substantially downhill. This is such a fun such to play with your ball sailing down the mountain toward the green. There is a house in the trees to the right of the green and the owner begs you to save your slices for another hole
!! The most beautiful view on the mountain springs course:
From behind the 11th green:
The very fun kick-plate short right of the green…hit the slope and the ball will shoot toward the opening to the green:
My favorite design on the course, the 285 yd par 4 12th hole…carry the bunker on the right and the hill will give a turbo kick toward the green:
The bunker-less dropshot 145 yd par 3 15th:
What makes it unique?The 90 yd par 3 7th hole plays over a natural boulder field and mountain stream to a tiny perfectly situated green. I have never seen a hole quite like it:
Tee Shot:
Green Site:
A boulder and the mountain stream short and left of the green:
A view back toward the tee:
What makes it NOT so good?
The Mountain Springs course plays over the more severe property of the community making walking nearly impossible. Massive tree trimming is absolutely a must. The greens appear to have lost some square footage. The course plays extremely soft and is in need of additional drainage. The greens, although having some interesting broad slopes, are a bit slow to highlight the architecture.
Why is this course important?
The bunkering on the Mountain Springs are un-renovated Ellis Maples Bunkers. These bunkers can and should be used for inspiration for renovation of the bunkers on the Grandfather course. Although pictures cannot do justice to the variety, scale and “life” of these bunkers, here is a photo of my favorite…short right of 6 green:
My most recent visit: August 2010
My overall rating: 4.5
Rating Trend: NEUTRAL -- it has the potential to be a truly outstanding short course with some tree-trimming, drainage, and TLC. Even in its current condition it is a premier “executive” length course.
Previous reviews:
Installment 1 -- Fontainbleau -- France:
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,45366.0/Installment 2-- Whistling Straits -- Haven, WI :
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,45417.0/