They are polar opposites. Harry Potter on one side and Lord Voldemort on the other. We know all about one and nothing about the other. They may be equally powerful, we just don’t know yet.
David Feherty
June 2011
Rory and Tiger
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Emerald Gems-Links of Ireland
Laurence Lambrecht is one of the most accomplished golf photographers out there and this book is a seminal work on fine collection of links courses in the Emerald Isle. A coffee table book the size of your coffee table features images and descriptives of every one of the 47 links courses in Ireland.
The book organizes the courses by geographic sections of the country so you can get a good sense of proximity of each of the links offerings around the country. Every course has a number of stunning photographs as well as an erudite descriptive of the course by a knowledgeable expert familiar with the course. These supporting text entries are from the hands of people like Pat Ruddy, David Feherty, David Davies, Ivan Morris, and others and they really embrace and enhance the presentation of each course.
Besides being a nostalgic display book for your family room that you can thumb through from time to time, this would serve as a travel resource on links golf in Ireland. This book along with James Finegan’s “Emerald Fairways and Foam-Flecked Seas” is all you need to plan a memorable golf trip with your buddies to Ireland.
You can buy the book from Larry Lambrecht’s website for around $90. He also has a fine collection of related prints, calendars and note cards to choose from.
(Click to go to Larry Lambrecht’s website)
Emerald Gems-The Links of Ireland
Laurence Lambrecht (2002)
Sweet Swingin Rory
Sally Jenkins wrote this piece after the second round of the Open and captured the sense of anticipation that a new star was on the rise. Her simple analysis of his lyric swing captures the character of this player and the comfortable confidence he brings to his game.
(Click here to read the article)
June 2011
Rory McIlroy’s Swing
Wayne DeFrancesco’s website is chock full of incredible swing analysis videos of top line tour pros. This one he did last fall of Rory based on footage from Rory’s huge win at Quail Hollow. As Wayne always does, the makes some very incisive observations about the construct of this swing.
Fall 2010
Caves Valley Golf Club
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.
(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 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 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.
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.
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
If you would like a printable PDF of this posting including yardage book quality hole-by-hole descriptions of how to play the course click the moegolf logo below.
Kinloch Golf Club
There have been a number of “pure golf” club’s created in the area between Baltimore and Richmond over the last fifteen years-their common thread is creating the complete golf experience not just the course itself. All the facilities-visitor cottages, food service, locker rooms, practice areas, and the course itself-are of high end quality and there is a real emphasis on personalized service to enhance the player’s experience. Caves Valley Golf Club, Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, and Four Streams Members Club are all examples of this approach. Kinloch Golf Club just outside of Richmond is the latest of these to come on line and they have certainly accomplished their mission of making a place to fit comfortably among their peers.
The country style clubhouse dignifies the 9th green with it’s presence.
Kinloch is the brain child of C.B. Robertson who originally wanted to create an upscale daily fee facility in a market that he considered underserved with quality golf opportunities. He approached Vinny Giles-a past U.S. Amateur winner from the Virginia area-about doing the design. Vinny initially begged off since he had no real experience in course design, but eventually agreed to act as the primary consultant when Robertson hired Lester George who had done considerable new golf course design as well as significant renovations to established top line courses from Delaware to Virginia. When the team got into the design and routing phase they decided that this piece of land offered a unique opportunity for something really high line and Robertson was convinced to realign his plan from a daily fee facility to an exclusive private golf club.
On an autumn day the first green introduces the grand beauty of this property.
The results of their collaboration is a very special golf club that very few people will get to experience. With only 300+ members-many of them from outside of the Richmond area-they are playing less than 10,000 rounds a year on this pristine layout. The amenities throughout the facility are top of the line-elegant club house with a very cozy interior layout of the golf shop, locker room, and bar/eating facilities that make the player feel like they are in the comfortable surroundings of a friend’s country estate.
Taking in the challenge off the elevated tee on #2 will make you pause for consideration.
The practice facilities are as good as you will see anywhere-acres and acres of driving range, putting greens, chipping greens, and pitching areas that are designed to replicate on-course conditions for effective practice sessions. The target greens on the driving range are cut to course specifications so you are aiming at real targets that respond as the greens would to a well struck shot. The arrangement of the pitching areas allow for shots up to 80 yards and from one spot a player can pitch at multiple targets of different approach configurations which makes shot simulation as real as it can get.
The full feature practice facility replicates short game permutations and combinations.
The attitude of all of the staff at the club is to make the members and guests feel comfortable and the delivery on this is beyond anyone’s expectation. You just never feel like you are imposing on anyone when you ask for something and you never feel that you are spending your money as you partake in what they have to offer.
Pure artistry on display in the composition of the Par 4 6th.
This is a walking golf course-a wonderful stroll up and down an expansive rolling piece of woodland that tumbles out in front of you. The absolute minimum of dirt was moved to build this course-they picked natural tee and green settings to build holes that are very dramatic and visual but truly feel like they belong on the terrain. The money they saved in not moving soil they spent in importing grasses from out of the region. The entire course was sodded with bent grasses for fairways and greens and bluegrass for the rough. This is one of the southern most courses using bent grass but the sod took heartily to the region and their maintenance budget has kept it impeccable.
Elevation change and the setback of the trees fill the canvas on the Par 3 7th.
The trees have been cleared well off the playing area of the course-Warning: everything looks larger or farther than it really is-there is very little frame of reference for distance or size of target. The lack of trees in the playing was compensated for by the use of natural hills and swales, existing environmental areas, and rambling streams to segment landing areas and the give the golfer a wide array of tactical choices in playing the holes.
The finishing hole brings the loch into play…in a big way.
They even included a playable 19th hole for settling bets. This is a nice 160 yard carry of the lake to a green setting just under the veranda of the clubhouse. You can be sure there will be a vocal audience arbitrating the final stage of your competition.
Added bonus of the 19th hole set at the foot of the clubhouse.
At the end of a round you will feel mentally exhausted because this course forces you to play with our head as much as your hands to be successful. The result is a very gratifying golfing experience no matter what your score.
The majesty of the Par 4 16th will revisit you in bed at night (click image for the full dream).
Do not fail to enjoy the bar/lounge next to the locker room. A real Hamish setting for settling the bets and telling big fish stories. I highly recommend the chocolate chip cookies on the bar.
Manakin-Sabot, Virginia
Architect: Lester George (2001)
Par Rating Slope Yardage
Gold 72 74.5 137 6810
Blue 72 72.3 135 6405
White 72 69.9 128 5818
Red 72 71.7 133 5222
If you would like a printable PDF of this posting including yardage book quality hole-by-hole descriptions of how to play the course click the moegolf logo below.
(For more pictures click to see moegolf’s Escape To Kinloch)
Play the Ball Where it Lies
Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots – but you have to play the ball where it lies.
– Bobby Jones
Golfer As A Sniper
A golfer is a sniper. Studying a difficult pin placement and selecting the right club from his bag, he is a sharpshooter coolly preparing to pick off the madman who is holding the first grade hostage on the fourteenth green.
David Owen
My Usual Game
Ground Tells The Truth
When it counts, when something’s on the line just look down-the ground will tell you everything you need to know. Out there, every time you look down, every time your eyes meet up with your divot, you’re lookin’ at a friend who speaks the truth.
Bo Links
Riverbank Tweed and Roadmap Jenkins
Posting A Number
Posting a number. It is a simple concept, but so many players never get the meaning of it. The hard truth is that when it comes to a scorecard, explanations don’t get posted; numbers do.
Bo LInks
Riverbank Tweed and Roadmap Jenkins
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