Blackwolf Run-River Course

Posted on July 7, 2011 by moegolf

This was the first of the championship layouts created by the Kohler people in this remote area of Wisconsin that have helped define this place as a major golf destination resort. Pete Dye put the full force of his creative juices to work in creating this parkland gem that weaves among the tributaries of the Sheboygan River. For three years (1995-97) the World Championships Match Play was played here and in 1998 the USGA held the Women’s U.S. Open on this course which was won by Si Re Pak in a memorable playoff over an unheradled amateur Jenny Chuasiriporn in a 20 hole playoff on Monday. The Women’s U.S. Open will return here in 2012. Truth needs to be told-the course for these championships was made up of nine holes from the River Course and nine holes from the Meadows Course that shares this property.

As with all the courses at Kohler it is extremely important for each player to play at a tee length that is comfortable to them otherwise the task at hand becomes impossible. The Blue Tee works nicely for a 6 to 14 handicap who can carry their drive over 200 yards. Par is 35-37-72-only one par 3 on the front which makes for an odd sequence rhythm. If the wind is blowing this course will be incrementally more difficult.

5th Hole Par 4 (www.wisconsingolf.com)

In typical Pete Dye fashion lots of psychological havoc being presented-but a very playable and definable line of play on each hole if you pay attention and can ignore his attempts to intimidate you. You will have to be on your game to score well but a reasonable score is attainable with proper restraint from trying to do more than you are capable. Put your ego away-there are doubles and triples that will appear on your card-but the satisfaction of good scores on particular holes should be enough gratification to make this a golfing experience to remember. As we do on links courses-play a match-that way no matter how bad your medal score you can still have success out there in beating your opponent.

9th Hole Par 4 (www.wisconsingolf.com)

The greens are very undulating and quick-you have to carefully consider where on the green to hit your approach or you will be three-putting you score away. Driving areas are often confined by hazard on one side or by harrowing topography so it will take some articulate driving-with a bit of bravado to get the best angle of approach to some very challenging green settings. The bunkers are deep-deep so you have to have real trust in your 60 degree and play for the putting surface not the flag out of the greenside bunkers.

There are major distances between greens and tees but they do provide shuttle service in season. I think this is a course to walk if for no other reason to take in the full flavor of the asthetics of the course and have proper time to plot the strategy of your next shot.

Kohler, Wisconsin

Architect: Pete Dye (1993)

Tees Par Rating Slope Yardage

Black 72 74.4 148 7011

Blue 72 72.6 139 6607

White 72 70.2 129 6110

Red 72 70.1 124 5115

(Click to see complete River Course hole-by-hole descriptions)

Waterville Golf Links

Posted on July 6, 2011 by moegolf

The Southwest corner of Ireland is one of the most temperate places on the island since it is saddled by the gulf stream and as a result this area attracted the attention of an array of interlopers over the centuries. The British introduced golf to this area as early as 1889 under the aegis of the Waterville Athletic Club in the form of a crude 9 hole golf course. But the area did not prosper into a real golf destination until the 1960s when an Irish born American named John Mulcahy decided to introduce the most testing golf links in Ireland to the Ring of Kerry. He teamed with Eddie Hackett, the most accomplished links designer of his time, and Claude Harmon, a past Masters Champion and head professional at Winged Foot in the United States.

(Photo from http://www.1golf.eu/en/club/waterville-golf-links/#gallery)

The front nine was reconfigured and expanded to create the current outward half and inward nine was built on the more exposed and rugged ground which gives this links it’s unique character.

#12 Mass Hole (Photo by Aidan Bradley)

The course flourished under Mulcahy’s direction over the next fifteen years as well as the influence of their long driving professional Liam Higgins. The sixteenth is named Liam’s Ace for the distinction of him having made a hole-in-one on this testing par 4. The seventeenth is called Mulcahy’s Peak for the back tee on this panoramic par three gives one the sensation of being on top of the world.

Hole 16: Liam’s Ace – Par 4 (www.watervillegolfclub.ie/)

Over the years great champions like O’Meara, Woods, Stewart, and Els have played this course in preparation for the Open Championship. Payne Stewart in particular took interest in the place and was named Captaincy of Waterville just before his tragic death in 1999. The life size bronze statue of him stands behind ninth green as testimony to the special bond created with Waterville.

In 2003-04 the club commissioned Tom Fazio to do some major changes to the course. The major change was replacing 6 and 7 with two new, far more interesting and challenging holes. A number of greens were re-sited-including 16-Liams Ace-and new dunes and shell bunkers were woven into existing landscape to make a number of the holes more tactical and interesting to the eye. Actually looks quite original and makes the course that much better.

This is one of the windiest golf courses you will play in Ireland but the weather is usually temperate so the conditions are always tolerable. Because of the temperate climate you actually will see a few Palmetto trees adorn the course-it seems like an aberration but the warm gulf stream wind is part of the weather patterns. But weather aside this is one of the most challenging links courses in the country. It has everything you want in a links layout-serpentine holes wending through tall, intimidating dunes. Severe fall offs in the green complexes and large, swift, undulating putting surfaces that will challenge your mind. I do not think you can appreciate the severity of the terrain until you get into the more rugged ground on the back nine. But the walk down the fairway of the par five 11^th-called Tranquility-will make it very evident to you how sublime and intimidating this course can be.

Don’t miss the memorabilia on the walls of the clubhouse or the bronze putting figure of Old Master next to the practice green. It all part of the pure links ambiance of this wonderful destination.

–

Architect: Eddie Hackett (1973) (renovations by Tom Fazio 2004)

Tees Par Yardage Rating Slope

Middle 72 6781 72 139

(Click to see complete Waterville Golf Links hole-by-hole descriptions)

Lahinch Golf Club

Posted on July 5, 2011 by moegolf

This is a blue collar quirky links course that is nothing short of enchanting. As with so many of the old links courses Lahinch is embedded in a quaint summer resort town-complete with the “vacation trailer park” and probably a carnival midway if you come in the right time of the summer. It sits just a few miles down the road from the famed Cliffs of Moher, Ireland’s version of Mt. Rushmore without the faces.

The village has that quaint Irish seaside character and the course holds a very special place among the great links of Ireland. This is not a rich man’s golfing ground-it is everyman’s golfing ground where all are welcome as long as they love to play golf.

18th Hole and The Town (Photo from http://www.golfclubatlas.com)

The collection of holes is quite remarkable-the original routing was done by none other than Old Tom Morris at the end of the 19th century. But what we see today are the refinements done in the late 1920’s by the esteemed Dr. Alister MacKenzie who designed Augusta National and Cypress Point. There are simply holes here the likes of which you will not see elsewhere. Largest sand hills in Western Ireland except for the back side at Tralee-when my wife first saw the golf course from the edge of town her response was “what golf course”- the players and the greens just seem to be dwarfed by the grandeur of the hills. Now add to the mix windswept hard undulating greens, real Mackenzie bunkering-strategic and intimidating, exposed windy conditions, and an occasional rain squall and you are in for a day of golfing challenges that will thrill and enthrall.

6th Hole Par 4 (www.lahinchgolf.com)

There is certainly no pattern to the routing of the course, you play a five par with a mountain in the middle of it followed by a three par where the green is hidden between two mounds that will remind you of some Grand Old Opry cleavage. Pay attention on this tee because the driving area of the finishing hole literally crosses the driving line toward this green. The next hole has a bunker in the middle of the driving area in which you could hide a herd of very large circus animals (6th hole shown above). And so it goes-one very interesting, very quirky, and very challenging hole after another. When you are done playing this course the first time you cannot sort out the holes in your mind-it is like a Rorschach Test with grass.

New Par 3 (www.dochara.com)

The course was renovated in 2002 and they have added and substantially changed a good number of holes. To my eye a brilliant rehab job-the new holes are a wonderful fit-you would not know the additions were not original if you had not played it before. The modifications just strengthen the character of an already strong test.

Goat Barometer (Photo from JamesT1 flicker site)

And don’t start your day without consulting the town meteorologists-take a look at the goats on the hill above the first tee-if they are scattered about the weather will be fair-if huddled take the umbrella and rain pants. Rain or shine or both, you are in for a real golfing thrill ride this day.

Architect: Allister MacKenzie

Tees Par Yardage Rating

White 72 6559 127

(Click to see complete Lahinch Golf Club hole-by-hole descriptions)

Glashedy Links-Ballyliffen

Posted on July 1, 2011 by moegolf

Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock did a first rate job with a first rate piece of land. This course is routed through the mountainous dunes north of the Old Links course where the terrain offers lots of elevation changes and visual feature. It was a challenge to start and end the course in the flatlands by transitioning up the towering dunes in the middle of the property and then back down to the clubhouse. Both on the front and back ramp up slowly to the dunes through a series of par fours and then bring you down precipitously fast with one abrupt and dramatic downhill par three. It seems to me that the holes have the right proportion no matter the wind direction-it is evident that certain bunkers are upwind bunkers and others are downwind bunkers.

A fan reflecting the Irish Open held at Ballyliffen in 2018

Embed from Getty Images

Much like the European Club the flow of the holes to the land is marvelous-it just seems like the links belong there. Plenty of room to play in, the dunes just seem to frame the holes without being overly threatening like at Tralee or Enniscrone. They demand plenty of penance for the wayward shot so you must carefully choose your shot lines of approach. The bunkering is just stupendous-mostly the curved edge collection type that seem to gather any approach shot played without conviction. The bunkering is not overdone-usually a few framing the driving area and two carefully placed ones around the greens. The greens are sizeable and have plenty of slope so you are going to get those long sweeping breaks whether you like it or not.

Staring down the dramatic drop on the Par 3 7th at the Irish Open

Embed from Getty Images

The difficulty in scoring is primarily in the sequence and proportions of the holes. Just three five pars and three par threes makes for a stiff challenge on those pesky par fours. Only one par three on the back gives you two runs of four long holes on that side. The par threes are visually stunning holes-you will not forget them. Make sure to consider the wind when picking your tee length for the day. It is no crime to play at the whites when the wind is up-and that is pretty much all the time. It is plenty hard and more enjoyable if you do not have to kill yourself with 400+ par fours.

170 yard downhill Par 3 5th with Glashedy Rock accent in the background

If there is any criticism of the course is that the end is not that strong. Back in the flatlands the last four holes are a longish par four, two medium par fours and a medium five. Clearly the wind can make these harder but they are not memorable holes for such a distinctive course.

This is just a jewel in the links tiara of Ireland-a must play for anyone who appreciates links golf. Go out of your way to play this one.

Ballyliffen, Northern Ireland

Architect: Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock (1995)

Par Yardage Rating

Gold 72 6884 73

White 72 6466 71

(Click to see complete Glashedy Links hole-by-hole descriptions)

Old Links-Ballyliffen

Posted on July 1, 2011 by moegolf

The Old Links name is a bit of a misnomer since it actually dates back only to 1973 when the famed Irish links architect Eddie Hackett expanded nine holes into a classic old style links course. What makes it old style is the lack of elevation changes but there is just enough hide and seek of the landing areas to keep you off balance. Distinguishing characteristic of this course are the uneven fairways-there is not a level stance to be found. You get the full washboard effect-rumpled wavy fairways, undulating and full of wrinkles and furrows that will do unexpected and unpredictable things to your bouncing golf ball.

Nick Faldo heaped the highest praise on this course when he first visited it in the 1990s. He fell in love with the course and offered to buy it, but was turned down. The club did employ him to make changes to the links renovating bunkers and moving some tees. The par 5 14^th is his original and it is one of the really distinguished holes on the course.

What this one lacks in feature it makes up for in pure links tactics. Since the land is relatively flat and there are not any high dunes to block the wind you get maximum effect from the winds that seem to blow constantly off the Atlantic. A low lofted club is a must here to keep it under the wind and help manage the length of your shots. If you have an old one iron in the closet, bring it with you for this day because it will serve you well.

(Photo from http://www.ballyliffingolfclub.com/gallery)

The green settings are pure links as well (see number three pictured above). Generous when they need to be to help control the low struck approach depending on the wind direction. The bunkering is not overdone but landing in them has it’s price to pay so maneuver the ball carefully. What I found more than anything is that the raw distance means nothing here it is a circumstantial shot makers course-you have to carefully consider all the factors before planning each shot. At the end of this round you are mentally exhausted from the tribulations of the day.

This venue is way out there on the end of the Inishowen Peninsula about as northern most as it gets in Ireland before falling off the island, but it is well worth the trek. This is one of two great courses at Ballyliffen and you need to play them both.

Ballyliffen, Northern Ireland

Architect: Eddie Hackett (1973)

Par Yardage

White 71 6612

(Click to see complete Old Links hole-by-hole descriptions)

The European Club

Posted on June 29, 2011 by moegolf

This course is owned and operated by Pat Ruddy and his family and, as one of the premier modern architects in Ireland, Pat has created here his personal testimony to golf course architecture. If you know anything of the man, Pat is a bit obsessed with the a traditional spartan approach to course presentation-no yardage markers on the course, a yardage book without user friendly features, and actually twenty holes to play. When I asked his son who runs the golf shop about the “twenty holes” he simply said, the rest of the world will catch on eventually. He even provides a cursing stone next to the 10th fairway. In Katharine Dyson’s review of this course she explains that legend has it you can put a curse on a person or thing if you revolve the seven small stones on the top of the rock in a counter-clockwise direction. I am guessing an inordinate amount of these have been heaped upon our host.

The yardage book reveals Ruddy’s respect for links golf design. As he says, “The links have been designed to perpetuate and modernize the traditional values of links golf. The combination of rugged dunes, deep bunkers, sea breezes, and large undulating greens calls on the golf to display strength of character, an ability to think, and shotmaking skills.” The design makes generous use of “calculated deception aimed at inducing white knuckles on the club” in an effort to play with the golfer’s mind and impinge his effort to swing out and hit precise shots.

This is a knock your socks off track-very difficult-not for the faint of heart. Breathtaking vistas, cleverly placed bunkers, huge rolling greens, and the links type serpentine tracking along the coast built on true links land. Straight driving off the tee is essential to handle quite a bit of optical illusion created by the tall dunes and long corridor fairways. Proper fairway positioning is crucial to get the most advantageous angle and some very difficult green complexes.

Since over ten of the holes are in breeze shot of the Irish Sea the wind influence is significant. This leads to a couple of weather changes a round so be prepared for lots of dressing and undressing of your fair weather gear. The good news is that like most links courses there is open access to most of the greens. When the wind is up, and that is most of the time, the bump and run becomes a very effective method to getting your approaches close to the flag.

Sometime in the early 2000’s Pat must have intercepted a freight ship full of pressure treated railroad ties because the bunkers have more vertical sleepers than any Pete Dye course I have ever seen. I think Pat has fire extinguishers placed throughout the course in case a contagious sleeper fire should break out and threaten to burn down the course. This look of the vertical sleepers makes deep bunkers even more intimidating by articulating the potential pitfalls to the player from a long way out.

My favorite Pat Ruddy touch is on the scorecard where at the bottom next to the total score he has a huge oversized box which is simply labeled “What My Score Should Have Been”. It is clearly his testimony to the delusional nature of all golfers who love to tell big fish stories over a Guinness after the round.

Wicklow, Ireland

Architect: Pat Ruddy

Tees Par Yardage Rating

White 71 6690 72

(Click to see complete European Club hole-by-hole descriptions)

(Check out the Renton Laws travel video on The European Club from The Gallery section)

(Read a wonderful article about Pat Ruddy the owner/architect of this fine links)

Somerset Hills Country Club

Posted on June 28, 2011 by moegolf

Somerset Hills represents the old and traditional with a discrete clubhouse and civilized and understated approach to everything. At Somerset Hills, they don’t have to try to impress, because they are the genuine article. The small clubhouse, pro shop and outdoor deck fit perfectly into the New Jersey small town landscape and have an aura that can’t be bought and only develops with age and a respect for the past. The course has a number of perfectly manicured grass tennis courts, confirming its gentrified and genteel approach as a private club. Even the halfway house is just some bottled drinks, ginger snaps, crackers with add your own cheddar cheese or peanut butter. Pick up the yardage book-it is a collectible relic all to its own.

An appealing aspect of A.W. Tillinghast’s work is, strangely enough, the lack of identifying characteristics. The player would be hard pressed to tell that the same architect designed the courses at Winged Foot, Baltusrol, San Francisco Golf Club, Bethpage (Black) and Somerset Hills. Think of the striking features of each: Winged Foot (West) with its length, raised, severe greens and deep bunkers; Baltusrol (Lower) with its low-profile look; San Francisco with its flashy bunkers stylishly spread at all sorts of angles in the broad fairways; Bethpage (Black) with its huge, sprawling scale and Somerset Hills with its terrific set of greens and its charming layout. Tillinghast’s style (or lack thereof) is an indicator that, unlike many of today’s architects, Tillinghast was not hell-bent on leaving his ‘mark.’ He fit the course onto the available land without forcing his imprint onto the land.

Variety is the key to Somerset Hills- variety of terrain, variety of length of holes, variety of approach shots and variety of greens. With the fairly open front nine laid out on and around an old racetrack and the back nine through rolling wooded terrain with streams and a pond, one would think the course would have a Jekyll and Hyde character. However, the course flows well, the par threes are perfectly balanced at 175, 220, 145 and 165 yards while the par fours have several big two-shotters (the 1st, 4th, 7th and 13th), several short ones (the 5th, 17th and 18th) and those very appealing ones in between. Par fives may be the weakest holes but they are not without feature interest themselves.

These greens are unlike anything we see today-they are severe, almost random in their severity-full of odd humps and bumps and an occasional unplayable section. To play well here a player must pay attention to the specifics of each green and know where to leave it and where not to leave it. If the greens are carrying any speed the day you play them this goes double.

For the really discriminating golf mind this is a very special place to play. It is just a delightful sequence of interesting golf challenges and it is totally playable even the first time out. It is simple, unchanged from its original intent, just a bottled piece of the past.

Bernardsville, New Jersey

Architect: A.W. Tillinghast (1917)

Tees Par Yardage Rating Slope

Blue 71 6659 72.2 132

White 71 6235 70.1 127

Red 72 5643 73.8 138

(Click to see complete Somerset Hills hole-by-hole descriptions)

Crooked Cat-Orange County National

Posted on June 28, 2011 by moegolf

This place is a real golf factory facility with two championship golf courses, a 360 degree grass driving area the size of Nebraska, and a golf shop that will make you feel like you are in Nordstroms. The place has hosted the final stage of the PGA Qualifying School a number of times. Coupled with how many pros and wanna-be pros living in the Orlando area you are going to see lots of sticks out there practicing and honing their games.

The fare is reasonable for a facility of this quality and the golf and related accommodations are very much what you would expect. The golf shop is humongous with every major line of apparel represented-if you cannot find something memorable to add to your wardrobe you are either blind or too picky.

This course is one of two that were designed by the team of Phil Ritson, Dave Harman, and Isao Aoki. They moved a lot of dirt to get the sculpting and landscaping they were after but the result is a course that is very challenging but totally playable. The variety of the holes is it’s strong suit. There are the typical Florida holes with adjacent water or environmental areas but there are even a few with an Irish lilt thrown in. The handicapping of the holes is very realistic-three of the five pars are the 16th, 17th, and 18^th handicap holes and two of the par threes are the 4^th and 5^th handicap holes. They put real thought into which holes needed the handicap assistance rather than just looking at length to determine it.

If you look carefully at the GPS images of the holes the lines of play are fairly obvious. Most of the sculpted areas of the fairways are still fairway it is just that hitting from them is a less advantageous place to play from relative to the green. As with most good courses, driving the ball on the proper line and in the short grass is the best way to get aggressive places to play from. The greens are plenty large but segmentation and tiering require proper planning on the approach shots to avoid three putts.

The yardage book in the shop is major old school-hand drawn with lots of particulars. Problem is that it is virtually unreadable to a non-tour mortal so you are better off saving the $7 and just go with the provided GPS in the cart.

This is a very enjoyable afternoon of golf. As always, play from a tee length with hole distances that are comfortable for you. The challenge you seek is here at whatever length you choose to play at.

Winter Garden, Florida

Architect: Phil Ritson/Dave Harman/Isao Aoki (1997)

Tees Par Rating Slope Yardage

Green 72 73.7 132 6927

Blue 72 71.4 126 6432

White 72 68.8 122 6020

(Click to see complete Crooked Cat hole-by-hole descriptions)

Bay Hill Golf Club

Posted on June 27, 2011 by moegolf

Bay Hill is synonymous with Arnold Palmer as his winter retreat and the host venue for the golf tournament that bears his name. The facility was built in the early 1960’s by a group of Nashville businessmen who hired Dick Wilson-one of the prominent architects of the day-to build a championship course in the middle of nowhere. Arnold came to the recently opened course in the mid-sixties to play an exhibition match with Jack Nicklaus and fell in love with the quality of the course as well as the reclusiveness of Orlando. In the early 1970’s through the connections of Mike McCormick and IMG, Arnold put together a group of investors to buy Bay Hill from the original Nashville businessmen who put it together.

Winnie and Arnie made sure all the players would not miss their tee times

The rest was history as Arnold began to spend more and more time at Bay Hill with Winnie his wife and her Golden Retriever Riley and they put their personal stamp on every aspect of the operation.

Arnie and one of their Goldens

The casual character of this first class destination facility is clearly a reflection of their personalities and values. Arnold and Ed Seay have continually tweaked the course itself to keep it up to standards to challenge the PGA touring pros that play there every spring. Yet it remains totally playable to the large contingent of members and guests who play it every day.

(Click on any picture to get an enhanced view of the image)

The first impression of the course is that it is not as macho as you would expect after seeing it year after year on TV. The who’s who of winners over the last 30 years shows an amazing diversity of players win here-from Andy Bean, Gary Koch, and Tom Kite to Freddie Couples, Phil Mickelson, and Tiger Woods (6 times).

Wharf arrangement on the Par 5 6th rewards tactical restraint and precise execution.

The course itself is not particularly brutish in length but it is technical enough to require really good management of ball flight and distance. The greens are quick and undulating so it takes tactical planning with approach shots and aptitude with the flat stick to score well.

The Par 4 8th is not long but it is very demanding..especially on the approach.

The topography is actually un-Florida-like so you have your share of up and down holes to deal with. The par fives are not particularly long-at least two are reachable if you crank your driver-and there are not really many stout par fours of 425 or longer. The shorter par fours are the most difficult to me-they all have a good measure of Arnold’s favorite risk-reward thinking to them. The overall variety of holes is it’s strongest suit-no two holes feel remotely alike. Fairway bunkers are sprawling but tactically placed.

Bunkering on the Par 3 7th is, as Goldilocks would say, just right!

You cannot help but notice the artistry of the shaping and vistas of the bunkers-they are in the right places to make you think hard before taking the aggressive line on most holes. Greenside bunkering is not overdone but they are very steep sloped so you can get some very challenging exit paths, especially if you short side yourself on an approach miss.

The iconic rock trim carry into 18 has made many a tour player take pause and reflect

This is clearly a course where knowing when to attack and when to back off make a real difference in your final score. Thoughtful aggressiveness is the mantra here. You have to go for it when the odds are in your favor because you need some low scores to balance the few paybacks you are likely to render through the day.

A locker room with showers, gin tables, and a bar..how old school!

A locker room with showers, gin tables, memorabilia, and a bar..how old school!

Do not miss the men’s locker room-it is a throwback to the days before political correctness dominated our lives. It is a place for men to unwind after a round-have a drink, play some cards, and settle all the bets of the day. The memorabilia on the walls is enough to fill a museum.

Orlando, Florida

Architect: Dick Wilson (1963) Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay (since 1970)

Tees Par Rating Slope Yardage

Green 72 75.4 142 7381

Blue 72 73.7 139 6895

Yellow 72 71.6 134 6437

(Click to see complete Bay Hill hole-by-hole descriptions)

(Click to see the moegolf Bay Hill Charger Nine review)

(Click to see the moegolf Bay Hill Short Game Area review)

(Click to see more photos in a Postcard From Bay Hill)

Caves Valley Golf Club

Posted on June 24, 2011 by moegolf

When this course opened in the early 90’s, close to the same time Robert Trent Jones opened in Manassas, Virginia, it kind of got the short end of the stick for new, upscale private courses in our region. But in many ways I think it better than RTJ, it has less pomp, more character-both in facility and course, and it is an afternoon to remember, right from the bag drop to the final beer after the round.

The bag drop greets you with an atmosphere of understated confidence

(Click on any picture to get an enhanced view of the image)

This place is clearly the vision of one man, it has a quaintness to it that cannot be ignored. All the buildings are low cottages in an rural English tradition creating an understated formal atmosphere that is appropriate for a private club catering to the wealthy and famous who would prefer to enjoy an anonymous afternoon without much fanfare. The locker room is small and has that comfortable sock feeling to it-offering liquid refreshment and some fresh fruit for the road.

Lunch on the veranda-before or after a round-is the height of civility

Lunch is served buffet style on the veranda of the clubhouse-great simple food that is a perfect fuel stop for the afternoon ahead. The golf shop is also small but homey, full of Ralph Lauren looking shirts, jackets, and the like all bearing the cool CV logo. Full grass practice areas are up to the standard you would expect at a place like this. The guys who man all stations, bag drop, caddie room, golf shop, and locker room are just your frat brother types who are there to make sure you have a great day.

The Par 3 eighth is as demanding as it is beautiful

The course itself is pure Tom Fazio-exhilarating to look at and a solid tactical challenge to play. It is a hilly piece of ground that wends its way through substantial woods that will define holes and create tactical considerations on their own. The length is not overwhelming if you pick the right tees to play from and if you want to enjoy yourself err on the shorter length the first time through.

Magnificent #12…just resplendent and about three stories down

The greens are wonderful, lots of pitch and yaw and very swift downhill and with the grain. Caddies are wonderful and will help you deal with the mysteries of putting these greens. Overall conditioning if superb-they spend their money on keeping this top shelf.

Backyard grass practice facility with a Golf Learning Center to boot

Worth noting that in 2021 they did a substantial cosmetic makeover of the course in preparation for hosting one of the PGA Tour Playoff Events. Grassed over vast areas of unkempt native grass to make it look clean for the TV presentation. The bunkers seemed to swell almost 50% in size which makes them much more visually intimidating. One physical change was to replace the super stern Par 4 #11 with a much tamer and more reasonable Par 5.

I recommend hanging around after you are done for an icy cold one on the veranda overlooking the expansive grass practice facility that cascades down the hill from the club house-this is pure serenity as defined by Webster.

Owings Mills, Maryland

Architect: Tom Fazio (1991)

Tees Par Rating Slope Yardage

Blue 72 73.0 137 6908

White 72 71.0 133 6117

(Click to see complete Caves Valley hole-by-hole descriptions)

moegolf

………………………………………………………………….golf unplugged

Category Archives: Road Trips

Blackwolf Run-River Course

Waterville Golf Links

Lahinch Golf Club

Glashedy Links-Ballyliffen

Old Links-Ballyliffen

The European Club

Somerset Hills Country Club

Crooked Cat-Orange County National

Bay Hill Golf Club

Caves Valley Golf Club

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