This is a review of The Ridge, in Auburn, that I wrote for friends. As many have mentioned, the Ridge is pure fun, and a very good golf course on a tight piece of property.
The course is defined by large bunkers and green complexes that have a side with an obvious advantage -- play to the wrong side and get penalized, play to the proper side and a poor shot might be rewarded. Water does come into play, but not so much that it becomes tiresome. Lakes, for example, come into play on the approaches of 2, 9, 10, 16 and
17, and on the tee shot of 18. The water is spread out enough to be a pleasant encounter, not a burden.
The bunkering is very solid, if not predictable in shape for those who know RTJ Jr. courses. What's new, however, is some of the placement. Often bunker are well short of putting surfaces and in the middle of fairways; holes often look shorter than they are. There is even a series
of cross bunkers on number 11, a par 5 that blows most long holes out of the water.
The greens are the strength of the course, wildly sloping with false fronts and lot's of rolls. Like Boulder Ridge, knowledgeable golfers can use the greens as backboards and ramps. My only question here is the slight monotony; I would have like to see some crowned greens to go
along with the many bowls. The routing works on almost every level, flow is very good. Two and nine
are par fives of similar ilk that detract a little, as does the fact
that you have to cross nine tee to get to the 2 tee, and the opposite. Besides that, I have no complaints.
1. A very good if difficult starting hole that gives great introduction to the course. Slightly uphill par 4 of 433 yards through a few old oaks, played to a green with a large redanesque bank on the right. A shot I left out there that I thought was off the mark ended up 10 feet from the hole; introduces the golfer to the strategic aspects to the
course.
2. An okay par five that parallels number nine. A rock-strewn canyon guards the right while large oaks guard the left. A lake by the green, which has three tiers, comes into play on long second shots and third shots. Not much to rave about, but not bad either.
3. A really nice par three that fits the land. A bunker 25 yards short of the green deceives the golfer; all of us came up short of the flag. Green is long and narrow with a ridge down the middle.
4. Very difficult hole with an awesome green. Drive is uphill to a fairway that is wider than it looks. Second shot, which will be anything from an eight to a wood, must carry a creek and fronting bunker to a double-bowl green with a false front. Lot's of big numbers here.
5. Par three that suits the land better than one would figure. Rides a natural ridge, green is wildly sloping with bunkers front both right and left. From back tees, 208 yards. Very exposed to wind. A good hole that contradicts the courses strategy, there is no clear advantage to either
side.
6. Really good short par 4 (344). Carry bunker 180 out, more bunkers at 300. One lone pot bunker directly in front of middle of green must be avoided (think 10 at Maderas). Green slopes away from golfer, and is shallow and wide.
7. One of three straight short par 4's(6,7,8), seven is the weakest of the three. 360 yards uphill, this fairway is clearly too tight, one of the squeezed holes. Green is great, however, with a false front and very cool bowl front right. Bunker 25 yards short of green creates a really nice chipping zone.
8. The third short par 4 in a row, plays only 356 yards downhill. Tee shot is the point of interest, bunker sits about 280 out on the right side. Golfer who carries the bunker will hit a speed ramp and possibly drive the green. Fairway narrows on the left at the same point, so golfer that hits a long ball but steers away from the bunker will end up
in a deep hollow of rough. Neat strategy here, again, obvious safe route vs. risky reward. Green is small and well-bunkered.
9. Like number 2, an okay par 5. Rock canyon is on the left here, while water appears by the green. Easy hole for three shots, and green is pretty good with a ramp from right front to back left, but one of the weaker holes here overall.
10. Long and straight par four with water right off the tee and by the green. Green has a huge collection area to the left for those who steer away from the water. Well done in that regard, as golfers must cut hazard somewhat close to find the small green.
11. A world class par five (517). Fairly level tee shot must avoid four bunkers off the tee, three of which create a cross hazard at 280 yards out. From that point, it's 230 yards uphill to a wild green split into tiers with a backboard that spins long shots back at the pin. Deep bunkers right and left. Some will reach this green while others will do
what my father did, who found the bunker in the middle of the fairway. He made five by dunking a 75 yard shot.
12. A pretty par three awkwardly routed, as one has to walk backwards for 75 yards to find the tee. Setting is great, however, as green is wedged in some beautiful old oaks. One large bunker fronts the green, which is bigger than it looks and holds shots very well. 195 yards.
13. A brutal par 4 of 416 yards straight uphill. Three bunkers short of the green make the second shot all carry, which is a long iron for most. Green is narrow and sloping. Birdie here felt like eagle.
14. The weakest par three, 180 yards downhill. Three bunkers guard a modest narrow green. Little here to say.
15. Neat par five that is reachable at 550. Tee shot is blind and downhill, right side will add 25 yards. A series of bunkers start 50 yards short left of the green and go all the way to the putting surface, making most golfers who try to reach the green carry it all the way. Very narrow ramp on the right.
16. Tough tee shot on a long par 4 (433) must thread narrow opening of oaks with hazard to the right. Green holds well, but has a bunker on the right and large collection area to the left. Much like ten in that golfers who don't challenge the hazard (here it's the bunker) will end up in a chipping zone.
17. Curious par 3 over water at 178. Bunker splits the bail out area to the left, creating two paths to bounce the ball on the green. Most will try to carry the ball to the center of the green, which holds well. Bunker works, as golfers will have to think hard about the safe route.
Neat concept in not offering a free ride to the timid.
18. The requisite cape hole, doglegs left slightly around a large lake. Target bunker on the right for those who bail out. Very cool green split by a ridge that runs from the green to thirty yards short. Lot's of chipping options here, though both times I played here the area short of the green was very wet, unfortunate considering the design.