Big Changes To The Home Course

[GolfSpy_APH]

Last year they redid all the bunkers on the 18 hole championship course. It was a ton of work for them and caused a lot of headaches, but the work needed to be done and the end result is solid. It isn't amazing or that much better for the course, but it is good enough I will say. 

The next stage is turning the 6-hole course into a 9-hole course. They are pretty tight on land so I was curious to see the layout and what the plan was and will say I think they are doing a solid job with it. 

The White numbers are the last three holes on the 18 hole course and are the first 2 holes for the 9 hole course if you decide to play that. The teal color is the academy par 3 course which is a ton of fun. In a perfect world I think they would remake some of those as well and use some of that land for the new 9-hole, but looks like they are avoiding that. 

The red is the new 9 called Altberg. 

Hole 1 remains the same. It is a good challenging hole that needs a great tee shot and is just tough. 

Hole 2 is the first change. Normally a par 5, that runs the length of what is now Hole2/3 they are dividing up the hole and adding a par 3 on the end. I will say this is one that makes a lot of sense. The par 5 is maybe the longest on the property and while a good hole, the tee shot is awkward and making it a par 4 I think will help with the flow of the 9. 

Hole 3 is now a par 3 keeping the same green as the old par 5. Good call here and will make for a good hole as the green is perfect for a par 3. 

Hole 4 is the maybe the best hole on the entire property and remains the same. Not a driver and short landing zone par 4 if you go over the corner. Decide how much risk you want because short is hazard and long is in the bushes! This is a great hole and I am so happy it isn't being changed. 

Hole 5 looks like they took the prior par 3 and just moved back the tee boxes to make it a short par 4. The green is long and challenging so this makes sense given the land that they have to work with. 

Hole 6 was the prior hole 5 and used to be a par 5. Shorter and gettable in 2. Was a really fun hole but definitely the easiest of the bunch. This change adds a new green site half way down and makes it what will likely be a Drive and flip wedge from the looks of it, unless the push the tees back which I think they could do a bit. Eitherway another smart play to make use of a Par 5. 

Hole 7 uses the prior greensite of Hole 5 and adds in new tees where there is currently high grass. The water hazard and going over it is a nice touch. 

Hole 8 uses the tee boxes from the old hole 6, but adds a green just over the hazard. This will be a really short 4, as in 7 wood and 60 yard shot? This was a really difficult hole, maybe the hardest on property so it will certainly make it easier, but will be another hole that is more about placement vs just playing long. 

Hole 9 finishes off the new 9 using the greensite of old hole 6 as a nice little par 3 to finish off that kinda mimics 18 from the championship course. Tough green and I would think they rework it a bit to make it more playable for a par 3. 

This is the next change which I knew was coming, but they are going to build a double decker range that is the same as another one at another Migro golf course. Will be trackman enabled and exciting to see! 

[Josh Parker]

I think in your description its hole 4, but it looks like a great challenge with the small landing area and hitting across the grasslands or waste area.  

 

[GolfSpy_APH]

3 hours ago, Josh Parker said:

I think in your description its hole 4, but it looks like a great challenge with the small landing area and hitting across the grasslands or waste area.  

 

It really is just a great hole. I will try and take a photo next time I play it. There are trees on the right of the teebox so it blocks you from going directly at the green. Over that bunker as shown is the proper play and it leaves you about 130 yards from the middle of the green. Further left you go the longer the approach shot and safer the tee shot. 

I wish more courses had these holes because it makes you think, makes you gameplan and determine what is best. I know that if I take 3 wood and hit it over the bunker it is great, but if I go 15 yards left of that it will run through the fairway and be blocked out. Go 15 yards right of that and not sure I clear. Just a great great hole. 

[Josh Parker]

40 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

It really is just a great hole. I will try and take a photo next time I play it. There are trees on the right of the teebox so it blocks you from going directly at the green. Over that bunker as shown is the proper play and it leaves you about 130 yards from the middle of the green. Further left you go the longer the approach shot and safer the tee shot. 

I wish more courses had these holes because it makes you think, makes you gameplan and determine what is best. I know that if I take 3 wood and hit it over the bunker it is great, but if I go 15 yards left of that it will run through the fairway and be blocked out. Go 15 yards right of that and not sure I clear. Just a great great hole. 

Yeah, I saw that hole immediately and liked the layout. I like those types of courses/holes that make you think and either play smart or take a high risk/reward situation. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

18 minutes ago, Josh Parker said:

Yeah, I saw that hole immediately and liked the layout. I like those types of courses/holes that make you think and either play smart or take a high risk/reward situation. 

It is also a hole that can work for all handicaps and abilities. There is no true forced carry, yes the hole is a lot longer and harder if you play very safe, but you still aren't going to lose a golf ball. That is important to me as well. 

For me the smart play is the higher risk play. In this case I am going to take on one long harder shot, it best be the first one off the tee where I have more control over the lie and club, rather than the second which could be a different few things depending on the tee shot. 

[Josh Parker]

19 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

It is also a hole that can work for all handicaps and abilities. There is no true forced carry, yes the hole is a lot longer and harder if you play very safe, but you still aren't going to lose a golf ball. That is important to me as well. 

For me the smart play is the higher risk play. In this case I am going to take on one long harder shot, it best be the first one off the tee where I have more control over the lie and club, rather than the second which could be a different few things depending on the tee shot. 

Agree!  

This one also looks challenging being a lefty and water in view.

[Rob Person]

If you ever get the chance to see in person what reconstructing a bunker or green entails, it's process is quite fascinating. 

I got to witness first hand when they redid our par 3 course here. 

The amount of engineering involved is insane. Shape, drainage,  substrate layering, edge displacement. Etc

Hopefully what they are doing for yours is a big improvement and makes it more enjoyable and challenging too!