Golf Review Blog

I Can’t Get Away Without Some Scatter-Brained Thoughts

smaven — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:50:00 +0000

I think of golf as ranch land gone bad. I guess if you are good at the game it ain’t gone so bad. A good walk not ruint then?

Even though the slam-dunk may be the most dramatic hole-in-one, the “three bouncer and in” is the best shot. It shows more accuracy as to the exact line. This should be executed with back spin for perfection, but three forward bounces will suffice.

MY TOUGHEST DYNAMICS FAULTS:
Front foot comes up at heel on backswing-result is big slice o.b. or worse.
Wrists cock at takeaway-result is shank, probably o.b.
Drop rear shoulder-result is nice straight chili-dip with beautiful divot.
No hip/leg action-result is dead pull out of play*Caution: Do not want hip/leg action in bunkers.

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Then Play on…

smaven — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:07:00 +0000

the hideout, monticello, ut
beaver creek, avon, co, r t jones jr
rio grande, south fork, co
las vegas paiute (sun mt), las vegas, nv, p dye

oops, wrong blog. That’s the title of a great old Fleetwood Mac song. But I guess it does go well for these 25 “More Than Honorable Mention” courses that I’ve been lucky enough to play.
4 above
21 below

sedona golf resort, sedona, az, panks
rolling stone ranch, steamboat springs, co, r t jones jr
saddle rock, aurora, co, phelps
the gauntlet, tigerville, s c, p b dye
vistoso, tucson, az, weiskopf
starr pass, tucson, az, cupp-palmer
pa a ko ridge, sandia park, n m, k dye
cantigny, wheaton, il, north-packard
fairway pines, ridgway, co
hobble creek, springville, ut
lawsonia (links), green lake, wi
broadmoor (east), colorado springs, co, ross (1-6, 16-18)-r t jones sr
bandon crossings, bandon, or
river valley ranch, carbondale, co, morrish
arizona national, tucson, az, r t jones jr
red fox, tryon, n c
sonnenalp, edwards, co, cupp-morrish
las sendas, mesa, az, r t jones jr
coral canyon, washington, ut, foster
keystone ranch, keystone, co, r t jones jr
bear dance, larkspur, co

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T H E E N D

Afterword

smaven — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:14:00 +0000

So there you have it. You don’t believe that I’ve played all of these great courses but I have.
That’s not exactly 50 “Reviews” as promised, but I couldn’t resist putting the 7 private and “guests only” (and the one out of U.S.A. test) on this listing of great courses to come up with LVIII. They were just too good to omit. So there are still 50 public access courses. I’ve been lucky to play these. My apologies for not covering some of the great golf areas in the country. Unfortunately I haven’t been to the R. T. Jones Golf Trail in Alabama, but hope to get there. I blew a chance to play Bethpage Black when I was in NYC. I haven’t been invited to Shinnecock or Augusta. I’ll keep on truckin’ then.

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LVIII Review of "The Ridge at Castle Pines North"

smaven — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:01:00 +0000

THE RIDGE AT CASTLE PINES NORTH, Castle Rock, Colorado: Last but not least is this quintessential Tom Weiskopf concoction near Interstate 25 between Denver and Colorado Springs, situated in the beautiful Rocky Mountain foothills. The 11th. hole is not really “Forever” as it’s called. It is just 600 yards. The course appears on many “Top Courses You Can Play” lists. RATINGS: 73/134 COST: $60 (off-season)-$145 including cart

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LVII Review of "Wolf Creek"

smaven — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:12:00 +0000

WOLF CREEK, Mesquite, Nevada: People rave about this course, and I see why, but it’s too difficult for me. A player who is very accurate and not mortal might handle it. I’m afraid that I have a better chance at the Mesquite slot machines. This course has a well deserved spot on Golf Digest’s “America’s 50 Toughest Courses”, ranked below Spyglass and The Bear (I disagree, I finished those two), which are reviewed previously. It’s described there as a fantasy golf calendar come to life. Yes, true. The landscape is surrealistically superb. From the tips the slope rating is just one point below maximum possible. Maybe next time I’ll try the 4100 yardage. I didn’t record a score as I ran out of balls, so I can’t really say it’s the hardest course that I’ve ever played. If I hadn’t taken my clubs I think I would have loved it! RATINGS: 75.4/154 COST: $85 (summer)-$195 including cart

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LVI Review of "Pole Creek"

smaven — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:22:00 +0000

POLE CREEK, Winter Park, Colorado: Like Eagle-Vail, ditto the “Colorado scenic”, but not so fair. That means it’s more penal if you miss a shot. This one is not as easy on the access either, being 30 miles north of I-70, but worth the trouble. Golf Digest rated it “The Best New Public Course in America” when it was finished in 1985. A couple of hours north of this ski town is Rocky Mountain National Park, for tundra walking (at the Alpine Visitor Center) and wildlife viewing. During golf season the park should be open. Don’t miss that. RATINGS: (Original 18) Meadow/Ranch 73.7/145
COST: $73-$99 including cart
This is now a 27 hole facility; I haven’t played “The Ridge” 9.

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LV Review of "Eagle-Vail"

smaven — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:16:00 +0000

EAGLE-VAIL, Avon, Colorado: As the name implies, it’s between Eagle and the famous Colorado ski town. The course is very fair and not too difficult if you are hitting them good. Easy access from Interstate Hwy. 70 (if mountains appeal to you, the prettiest freeway in the country) is included. I’ve entered it on the list mostly for the scenery factor. It’s in very good condition during a short season and not too tough except for a few “tree-tunnel” holes. RATINGS: 70.9/131 COST: $65-$98 including cart

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Other Public Access College Courses Not to Be Missed

smaven — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:31:00 +0000

The only top 20 university course I’ve played is UNM (#17) in Albuquerque, but there are many great ones. In the top 20, (I don’t know what the criteria is, but I wouldn’t be concerned) there’s some by the “Old Masters”, like Yale’s course, finished by C. B. MacDonald in 1926. It comes in at #2, and should just about be mature. Alister McKensie produced and directed two top ten courses, at Ohio State University (“Scarlet” at #4) and University of Michigan (1938 & 1930). Donald Ross gets credit for the Mark Bostick Golf Course (1921) at University of Florida and Orchards Golf Club (1922) at Mount Holyoke College.
More recently some great new products have emerged:
Karsten Creek (#1 and spendy at $300), Oklahoma State’s course by Tom Fazio, as well as the Finley Golf Course at University of North Carolina by the Tom. Fazio is the modern genius with two top ten entries.
The red-hot Tom Doak did the Texas Tech University track, which is the Rawls Course.
Pete Dye was the architect for Purdue University’s Kampen Course.
Coore/Crenshaw did Notre Dame’s green cathedral, Warren Golf Course.
The R. T. Jones’s did some fine institutional work. Senior worked on Colgate University’s Seven Oaks course, U.S. Air Force Academy’s Eisenhower (“Blue”), and Duke University Golf Club. The U.S.A.F. course in Colorado Springs is no. 1 among Department of Defense layouts. Junior was the architect at University (“Ridge”) of Wisconsin.
Jim Colbert checks in at #3 of the best with his namesake course at Kansas State University. Colbert Hills also has the distinction of being on the list of America’s toughest courses, along with Charles Blair’s entry at Yale.

These are some of the finest names in course building, and you can get on most of the top 20 college courses for about a “Benjamin” or less. U. of Fla., Ohio State, Yale, Mt. Holyoke, U. of Michigan, and Tiger’s alma mater (by G. Thomas, 1930) are a problem, if you don’t know someone. If you are not military, you will need to know someone at Eisenhower. The rest of the very best university courses are “public friendly”.

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LIV Review of "University of New Mexico Championship (South) Course"

smaven — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:16:00 +0000

UNM CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE, Albuquerque, New Mexico: College students don’t deserve this kind of course! Just kidding. Anyway they are willing to share it with the rest of us, as a daily fee venue. It’s in the top 20 university courses in the country, and there are some great ones. I hear Yale has a better course, but I’d have to see it to believe it. The South Course ain’t Ivy League, but it ain’t bad.
I hear New Mexico State University, in Las Cruses, has a good course too.
RATINGS: 74.6/133 COST: $60-$70 including cart. THIS IS A GREAT VALUE.

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LIII Review of "Running Y Ranch"

smaven — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:37:00 +0000

RUNNING Y RANCH, Klamath Falls, Oregon: What is this great course doing here? It’s hours from anywhere. Apparently, like the great Bandon, Oregon courses, it has done fine. “If we build it, they will come” is a theory that works for good courses. This Arnold Palmer/Audubon cooperative venture compares favorably with famous courses anywhere. IT’S TOUGH AND AWESOME! RATINGS: 73.4/132 COST: $75 (off-season)-$150 including cart

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