Everyone,
I played Bayside in Ogalala, Nebraska while out in the western part of Nebraska earlier this week. I could only find one old photo essay of the course and it looks like many of the links no longer work, so I thought I would post some photos. My entire collection of photos can be found at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benjaminvoelker/sets/72157626757802742/I was very impressed by the course. The collection of par 5s are really, really good. I know 11 is a lightening rod, but I thought it was a great par 5. The greensite is SCARY and my 100-yard third shot (straight downwind) was probably one of the hardest shots I had to hit the entire round. It seemed to me that only a perfect shot would be rewarded, but a bad shot is not penalized nearly as badly as it would appear from the fairway. The 5s may be a little bit too similar on each side (both are short and into the wind on the front, long as hell on the back).
The front nine in particular is great as a collection of holes. It is on the gentler portion of the property and the tees are without exception just steps from the previous greens.
With the exception of 17, the 3s all felt similar to me, but they all have varying wind conditions which makes them all play somewhat different.
Its been a number of years since I have played Wild Horse, but if my recollection is correct, Bayside should be in the conversation, I thought it was that good. A few places where I'm sure some people would have some gripes:
1. The carries off the tee seemed to be a little excessive, especially for the second and third tees from the back.
2. The back nine is not as easy a walk as the front, but the terrain is much more severe. The only walk I really had a problem with was the 10-11 walk, which was quite long and uphill due to what looks like a future housing project.
Anyway, on to the photos (yardages are from the blue tees, second from back)...
1st - 481 par 5
Straight into the wind and certainly not an easy drive for the opening shot of the round. The carry from the tips is 60 additional yards, which seems really tough with a big headwind
The second shot is what makes this hole IMO. The hole offsets to the right about 100 yards from the green. To get a view of the green for the third, you have to carry the tall grass or challenge it out right (first photo). A straight layup near the bunker leads to a blind approach (second photo).
4th - 448 par 5
Quite short for a 5, but playing straight into the wind makes it quite a bit longer. No visual cues off the tee, but right of the mound leaves you in a huge depression with no view of the green. There's also a massive dropoff long and left of the green, so those too aggressive going for the green in two will have a tricky up and down on their hands.
From behind the green, one can see the contoured nature of the 4th green
The aforementioned view of the task from long and left
6th - 458 par 4
Longer than the par 5 4th, but downwind, there is plenty of room in the fairway, but a gully cutting through the fairway effectively narrows the driving area. The preferred angle to the green is from the left, but I like the deception offered by defending the right side
The approach from the left
Looking back down the wide fairway. I think this hole would work quite well into the wind as a par 5 as well.
7th - 286 par 4
Half par hole straight downwind was easily reachable and I'm not a long hitter. As with most tee shots, there is way more room than it appears from the tee. It's pretty hard to run a drive up to the green between the bunkers because the ground slopes left to right more than it appears and you will end up in the front right greenside bunker. You really have to carry the centerline bunkers to get the ball to run up onto the green. A layup needs to be out left for the best view of the green.
Looking back from the green, it can be seen how much room there is left of the centerline bunkers and the slope of the land back to the right.
The contouring of the green from the left front bunker.
8th - 160 par 3
My favorite one-shotter on the front. Into the wind, it was 3 clubs more. The tips are 220 and I doubt I would be able to reach with driver.
10th - 340 par 4
Another great hole that was hard to figure out with the wind. A bomber could probably go right at the green with considerable risk of coming up short in the junk. Probably a 200 yard club off the tee is the most one can take downwind. The fairway has a huge slope back towards to tee to help slow balls down going downwind.
Approach, no pics from the green because I left my camera and bag up on top of the hill.
11th - 600 par 5
This was my favorite hole on the course. Downwind tee shot with a cape quality over the bunkers on the right. It is a huge carry, but there's more fairway out to the left than it appears. The hole gets progressively narrower as one nears the green.
Love this approach from 100 yards. I played a PW to land just past the mound and tried to run it on, but pulled it left. One of the scariest shots I have ever had to play downwind.
13th - 184 par 3
My favorite one-shotter on the back and another visually intimidating hole. I missed short, but it looked to me once I was on the green that long is not as bad as it looks from the tee. I wonder now, looking at the photo, if the play downwind is to hit the ball into the rough left of the green. The slope will kick the ball on and the rough should slow it down a bit.
14th - 358 par 4
A short par 4 that seemed to lack strategy, but which has a really cool punchbowl green.
15th - 594 par 5
This one is back into the wind (but downhill after the drive) and a bear to play. The drive has to get as far right as you dare to have some idea where to layup. I think this hole works better without the wind as its probably reachable downhill without fighting the wind.
Finding the layup area is partially blind as the hole heads way downhill, which is most easily seen from behind the green.
16th - 293 par 4
Another really good half-par hole. There are lots of options off the tee. At first glace, left is the safe option with an approach over the bunker, while right of the centerline hazard provides the ideal angle but a tight driving area...
However, the best angle into the green is had from far left, over the left side fairway bunker, with a view of the putting surface and no fronting hazard. But its a tough shot to get a drive over the bunker into the wind. A right side drive is still open in front, but blind from below the green level.
Right side of the fairway
Left of centerline hazard
Far left side of the fairway
All in all, I thought Bayside was an excellent collection of golf holes and for $40 walking on weekdays, I think it is a bargain that is right up there with Wild Horse. I look forward to getting back to Wild Horse as soon as I can because I don't remember it that well anymore. Since WH almost universally thought to be better than Bayside, I would like to see it again to compare.
Lastly, if anyone wants to buy any land, there is plenty of it out there...
