Mid-June Getaway!

I've recently returned from a quick trip to West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana. In my 3 full days there I did a loop starting/finishing in Cincinnati, in which I played the Pete Dye GC, the Old White TPC at The Greenbrier, Valhalla and Victoria National. It was a very busy couple of days (particularly the first day, when I played an early round at Pete Dye GC, drove 3 hours to Old White for an afternoon tee off, and later drove into the night to arrive in Lexington)!

This, along with trips to Scottsdale in January and LA/Palm Springs in February, has pointed out a huge flaw in my blogging: the heading "Playing Canada's Top 100 Golf Courses". When I started this blog a few years ago I was still quite early in my university career, and was very limited with travel. Consequently, the realm of possibility seemed quite narrow in the immediate future. I thought Canada's top 100 courses was an achievable goal, and set my sights on this near-sighted target.

I am still placing a large emphasis on the Canadian top 100 (for the purposes of this blog), but will be broadening this emphasis as I catch up on course write-ups. This seems only fair, as I have been making 2-3 golf trips in the USA for every trip I take in Canada. The posts in this blog don't reflect all of my recent travels, but I will keep with the current format for the time being so I can find a proper way to document my American adventures! For now, I will just provide a brief write-up on this last trip of mine, in which I played the #1 private and public courses in West Virginia, along with the #1 private courses in Kentucky and Indiana.

PETE DYE GC

Front entrance of the Pete Dye Golf Club. Bridgeport, WV

As the front entrance indicates, the Pete Dye GC is built on an old mine, and the course is covered with remnants of the old mine. Train cars, tee markers made of the old tracks, and even open mine shafts provide a reminder of the properties previous occupants.

Some of my favorite tee markers...very fitting!

In short, the Pete Dye GC is the best Dye course I have played at this point in my travels, rankings aside. There is a plaque at the bag drop that says "18 of the most exciting and memorable holes I have ever built on one course"-Dye, which gives you an indication of what is to come. My quick take is that holes 1-2, 7-17 are just that: some of Dye's most exciting and memorable. There truly are some stretches of world-class holes. I started on hole 10, but will start from #1 for ease of describing the course. #1 and #2 are good starting holes, the first being relatively gentle, and the second having more teeth. 3,4 and 6 were the most bland on the course, with the 5th being a very awkward and uninviting hole. This is certainly the worst stretch on the course. Hole 7 is where the fun really begins.

The beautiful downhill par 3 7th

The downhill 7th, and roller-coaster ride par 5 8th are the most dramatic holes on the course among those without water in play. I thought 9 was a good strong par 4 which plays well as an 18th (as I played it). #10 is the most photographed hole, and rightly so!

Severely sloped par 4 10th

The drive and approach are obviously quite intimidating, but much more forgiving than you might think. At around 300 yards, the 12th is one of my favorite holes on the course. The green is out of sight from the tee, but there is enough room around the green to allow an aggressive play from the tee. The fairway is wide and encourages a layup, but a huge bunker on the left side of the hole obstructs the view to the green from a poorly positioned tee shot. The hole is both beautiful, and strategically interesting!

From right of the fairway on the awesome short 12th

While I really liked the 13th and 16th, and had no issue with 14 and 15, I'll skip ahead for now. The closing stretch is brutally difficult, but I really enjoyed 16 and 17, a long 3 and shorter 4. The challenge of 17 is the approach; the green is one of the toughest I've ever played. The green has a number of humps and ridges, and falls off on almost all sides. As I can attest to, the green is receptive and playable.. but I wouldn't want to put myself out of position!

The WILD 17th green

The closing hole is really unfortunate. It is far too difficult, bordering on unfair. The hole demands a long, straight drive over water, which will leave a mid-length, blind approach to a narrow green with bunkers on both sides, and water close to the left edge of the green. The hole is gorgeous... but almost unplayable. It was my least favorite on an otherwise incredible course.

After finishing I grabbed a quick lunch and drove 3 hours south to The Greenbrier, where I had an afternoon tee time at the Old White TPC. My first Macdonald/Raynor course!

Old White TPC

Simly put, it was love at first sight.

Within 2 weeks of visiting, the course was flooded, causing a cancellation of the PGA Tour's upcoming Greenbrier Classic. Devastating! Fortunately I had ideal conditions, and an amazing experience!

The first 2 holes are refreshingly simple par 4s with nice green complexes, leading you to the biarritz 3rd. My first authentic biarritz! Laying eyes on the 3rd was one of my favorite golf experiences in recent memory, it is an absolute stunner!

Biarritz from the tee

The biarritz from just off the back of the green looking back

Having read plenty about Raynor's template holes, I knew exactly what to expect from this gem... but seeing this hole in person was so much better than anything you can read. The green is massively long, it really is like 2 full greens. I can forever say that I birdied my first biarritz with a strong back pin. What a day!

The approach to the 4th may be the most bland on the front side, but whatever it lacks, the approach to #5 makes up for. Huge cone-line mounds obstruct the view of the left side of the green, which is actually much larger than it appears.

The fascinating par 4 5th, one of my favorites

#6 is the toughest hole on the course, while #7 is a birdie chance (a really aesthetically pleasing one at that!). The 8th was my first ever authentic Macdonald/Raynor redan, which also has mounds similar to the 5th.

Redan 8th

So much has been said about the original redans, I don't know what more I can add. All I can say is that this is a really, really good redan.. and that the green was far deeper than I imagined it would be. It is a generous hole if you hit a solid shot. I absolutely loved it.

The punchbowl 9th and principal's nose 10th are some of the prettiest holes on a course full of gorgeous holes. Both are birdie chances, particularly the 9th. #11's main defense is length, and has softer bunkering than most holes on the course.

The 'long' par 5 12th is breathtaking, and strategically fantastic. The green can be reached in 2, but takes a perfect drive, and precise 200+ yard second shot. As a 3 shot hole, it is no bargain either. The cross-bunkers and creek demand a careful layup.

The second shot on the par 5 12th.. Go for it or lay back?

The 'alps' 13th is a very beautiful hole, but I found that the mound fronting the right of the green was unnecessary, as the doglog right has heavy tree growth to the right. As such, it is almost impossible to hit a drive that will cause the small mountain to obstruct the view of the green. It is, nonetheless, a really cool hole.

A really beautiful 14th guides you to the 'eden' 15th. This rendition of the eden is extremely pretty, but I was slightly disappointed that the slope of the green wasn't greater. By no means a bad hole, however.

The 'cape' 16th wasn't a bad hole, but it may have been my least favorite on the back 9. In retrospect, I think this may have been because I found it difficult to identify a reference point/target line from the tee. In other words, I couldn't tell how aggressive I was actually playing. I feel like this takes away from the purpose (risk/reward) of a cape hole.

I loved #17, a long par 5. The classic design includes a series of cross bunkers which must be navigated on a lay-up. None of my pictures captured the feel you have standing there in person. It wasn't until I got up to the green that I realized the plateau-like drop off that lies beyond the green.

Back edge of the 17th green

The slope is only about 2 ft high, but is steep enough to prevent a 'bump-and-run' into the hill, and likely deter the use of a putter. With a green running away, it is a really tough chip. I absolutely loved #17, tee to green.

As many know, the Old White TPC is one of few courses that ends on a par 3. I didn't get to play it from normal tees (due to tournament preparation), so I will not further comment. It is easy to find pictures of the green, which is the main defense, with a large slope bisecting the green.

Of the 4 courses I played on this quick trip, Old White certainly is not the best course, but it very well could have been my favorite. It truly is a classic gem. Raynor's work (the amount of Macdonald's original design that still exists is up for debate) is just incredible. Without exaggeration, there are 9 signature holes. Of the remaining holes, I felt as though 6 were really good, and 3 were okay. If not for the hefty price tag, I would happily play here every day and never get tired of it... isn't that what actually makes a course great? I sure think so.

I intended on including all 4 of the courses from my trip in this post, but I have already written a lot more than I expected I would. Therefore, I am going to end here, and write a supplemental post for the other 2 courses I played: Valhalla and Victoria National. Stay posted for what's to come!


'Til next time, keep your stick on the ice!

The Golfing Canuck

Predator Ridge - Ridge

When I made my first trip to Kelowna/Vernon to play the Predator course, the Ridge course had only just opened to members for limited 'preview' play. It was not yet available to the public. After my first of back-to-back rounds on Predator, I brushed shoulders with Jarome Iginla (hockey royalty in western Canada, and a resident at Predator Ridge.. as are many NHL players). He was just coming off of the 18th green of the Ridge, so I asked him what he thought of it. He simply grinned and said "oh.. better than Predator..". At the time Predator was ranked #59 in Canada, so I knew the Ridge had to be really good.

An aside; if you want some interesting trivia knowledge, look up Jarome Iginla's full name.

Predator Ridge originally consisted of 3 distinct 9s designed by Les Furber. The Redtail/Osprey combo made the famous 18 that hosted multiple skins games, and the Peregrine was the extra 9. After years of this arrangement, Doug Carrick was brought in to make Predator Ridge a 36- hole facility. He added a number of new holes, while altering many from the original Peregrine 9 to create the new Ridge course. As a big fan of Carrick's courses, I was excited to see how this would compare to Furber's Predator course (which I enjoyed but felt was slightly overrated)

I eagerly awaited a chance to return to see the Ridge course for myself, and got that chance a few years later while living near Vancouver. I had beautiful weather, but was disappointed to find out the greens had been aerated just days before. I happily accepted my discounted green fee and headed to the first tee.

With the exception of the hole #1, the first 7 holes play downhill. There is slight elevation gain through the middle of the course, and the closing stretch is almost completely flat.

The start and finish of the Ridge use the original Peregrine holes, with the middle of the round being all newly designed. I didn't play Peregrine before the renovation, but can imagine that it would've played much like the other original 9s. The first hole was not significantly reshaped, but had new bunkers to blend with Carrick's style. A nice way to start the round.

Short, uphill approach to the 1st, with Carrick's new bunkers

As you reach the second tee, the round starts to get really interesting. The original 27 at Predator Ridge was quite hilly, but had very few extreme elevation changes. I don't know exact numbers, but the tee shot on #2 must drop 100 ft. The fairway is more forgiving than one might expect, but finding the left side will obstruct your view on the approach.. which also drops severely.

2nd tee

Approach at the 2nd

If you look really closely, you can see my ball next to the hole, above. As my dad would say, "every now and then even a blind squirrel finds a nut". The 3rd plays much like the 1st: a slight dogleg right with a gentle climb. The slopes are a bit stronger than at #1, so it is quite fitting that hole 3 has no bunkers.

Hole 4 also bends to the right, but with an uphill tee shot and downhill approach. The green, perched high above a hill looks like its hanging off the edge of the earth. Picture an infinity pool. The 5th is often considered the post-card hole on the course, so why not throw my picture into the mix as well. The long par 3 obviously has a huge drop, with a great rugged backdrop. I'm looking forward to getting out to Muskoka, I imagine it looks much the same.

The signature par 3 5th

You can see how disappointing it was to have freshly punched greens, but its still easy to see how exciting and dramatic the layout of the course is. The steepest drop on the course is likely at the 6th. a 400 yd, drive-able par 4. Some love it, some hate it. I was on the 'love' end of the spectrum, although it wasn't my favorite hole on the course.

A drop from the tee at the par 5 7th gives you a chance to attack the hole in 2, but the elevated green is well guarded. Its followed by a long 3 with inviting mounding right of the green.

The short par 5 9th is possibly the most unique hole on the course. The fairway meanders through a number of huge rock outcroppings.

The rugged par 5 9th

A good drive will give you the green light on the second shot, but a poor drive will make you work around the most prominent outcropping which cuts into the fairway from the left. A good birdie opportunity.

The 10th is one of few uphill holes on the course, and is a great one at that. Despite being a short hole, the green is out of reach. The golfer must choose how aggressive they'd like to be.

Uphill 10th, how aggressive do you want to be?

If you lay back to the start of the fairway (150 yds) the green will be mostly out of sight. There is a higher plateau just beyond the first right-hand bunker, which leaves a gentle wedge approach. This is a gorgeous little hole which should be a sure-par if you keep a level-head, but can bite you if you get wreckless.

A long-ish par 5, the 11th is less exciting, and has a narrow green as its main defense. Its very receptive to short approaches, but doesn't welcome seconds shots.

Something about the 12th was extremely appealing to me. The par 3 has a bit of a punchbowl feel with the surrounding rocky landscape, although it is not a true punchbowl green. This corner of the course is evening more beautiful than my picture shows... but here's a look.

Really cool 12th

The 13th and 14th have similar appearances, both playing through a narrow corridor with rocky mountainsides on either side. The first being a par 5 with a gentle bend right, the second being a par 4 with a gentle bend left. Both are good holes, but neither are signature holes.

By the 15th you've reached the edge of the course where Carrick's new holes meet up with Furber's previous holes. There is noticeable contrast in styles, which is obvious with the forced carries over water on 15-17. Much like #1, #15 is essentially a Furber hole with a Carrick bunker. Not my favorite par 3, especially considering how memorable the others are.

Of the converted Peregrine holes, 16 is by far the best. Playing 290-330 downhill, it is short enough to entice some to go for it. If you heard 295 yds, and saw this from the tee, would you go for it?

The inviting view from the tee on the short par 4 16th

The doesn't seem to be much standing between you and a sure birdie. However, if you take a minute to look at what lies ahead you'd be more inclined to lay back and set up a nice full wedge on the approach. This is what you see as you descend to the landing area...

16th green from 100 yds out

Not as welcoming as you would've first thought? Its a very fair hole which yields birdies... but you must play smart and plan your attack! Carrick changed the hazard lines on this hole, and added 2 new bunkers, but the overall strategy is much like it previously was. Of the Furber holes, this one is not only the best, but also blends with all of Carrick's new holes the best. One of my favorites.

The 17th is a 'tough-as-nails' long par 4. The "cape" template would accurately apply to this hole, as it entices golfers to bite off as much as they can chew. The bunkers are a conservative target, leaving a long approach. Most can carry the water just left of the bunkers (probably 200 or so), but the required carry gets out of reach quickly if you miss left!

The 'cape' par 4 17th

The approach is also no bargain. While Carrick did as much as he could to blend many old holes like this with his new ones, the marshy feel of 15 and 17 just don't fit the rest of the course (the marshy area reaches over to #16, but the 16th isn't dominated by it). The 17th isn't a bad hole, but it's differing feel disrupts the continuity of the round. In my mind, this hole pulls the Ridge course down a few spots in the rankings.

I think the 18th is a really good closing hole. It is by no means the signature hole on the course; it is just a good hole. It is easy to put the ball in play off of the tee, but a strong drive must be hit to allow an reasonable second shot. As you can see below, this is because the uphill approach is not very inviting to long, running shots. You definitely want to be hitting a shot iron into this green.

The final approach

I like how this hole sets up for tournament play. If you build a substantial lead, you can easily lay back off the tee, play conservatively with the second and try to get up and in for par. If you have a narrow lead, you have to hit strong shots; timid play will likely ensue in a bogey+. Similarly, if you are a shot or 2 behind, birdies can certainly be made with bold play. Its not a "death or glory" hole (which I rarely feel suit an 18th). If Carrick's other great BC course Greywolf had this finishing hole, it would rank 5 places higher... but that's just the humble opinion of a washed up competitive golfer (at 24, already reflecting on my 'glory days')

Although The Ridge and Greywolf are quite different courses, it seems only logical to compare Carrick's two best courses in western Canada. I feel as though Greywolf has more great holes, but also more weak holes. Even 1 or 2 ghastly ones. I don't think the Ridge has any terrible holes. Its weakness is the lack of continuity you feel as you play the converted Furber holes. Ironically, I felt as though the Ridge had less of a 'resort course' feel than Greywolf (ironic because of how noteworthy the Predator Ridge Resort is). I also found course conditions better at The Ridge. I must say, however, that I prefer the simple and elegant bunker styling at Greywolf. If I had to pick one of the two courses to play regularly, I would choose The Ridge. For that reason I give it the nod.

A friend from overseas recently told me he had limited time to visit Kelowna, and asked if I recommended The Predator course or Ridge course. I should, therefore, include a brief comparison of the 2 courses at Predator Ridge (although my post on the Predator course is still pending). Predator has stronger contouring around many of the greens, resulting in harsher penalties for poor approaches. I also found Predator to have more blind shots. The elevation changes and vistas are far more dramatic on The Ridge. The Ridge is not easy, but I found it to be more fair (rewarding good shots, and punishing....but not destroying... bad shots). Both are a lot of fun and worth playing. The Ridge is noticeably better in my mind.

As I also mentioned in my Greywolf post, I am also looking forward to returning to The Ridge course. I want to see the course with smooth greens, and see if my opinion of the 'feel' of the course has changed. Similarly to Greywolf, if you are planning a trip to Predator Ridge, let me know... I just might join you!


'Til next time, keep your stick on the ice!

The Golfing Canuck

Greywolf

My first golf road trip was to BC's interior, with Greywolf as the headliner of the getaway. While we played the Springs at Radium first, Greywolf has the distinction of being the first mountain golf course I ever played. A number of years, and even more courses later, Greywolf is still one of the most memorable rounds I've played in the mountains.

At the time of my round, Greywolf was Doug Carrick's best course in western Canada. It's now rivaled by the Ridge course at Predator Ridge, but by many accounts Greywolf is still the best. Having played both, I would say its splitting hairs to pick which is better... both are fantastic. I'm pleased to see Greywolf hold steady in the 20-35 range of the top 100. Here's my take:

Before you reach the first tee you get an accurate preview of the course's elevation change as you drive to/from the driving range. The steep climb is an adventure of its own. Reaching the range almost seems like reaching the summit of Everest.. I can only imagine carrying a bag up the mountain. Despite the extreme elevation changes, the first hole is almost completely flat. It has been criticized as a boring hole, but I think its a great way to get the round underway. It has some teeth too, with a creek running short right of the green and bunkers left.

The second hole is relatively short and climbs steadily, guiding you to the elevated 3rd tee. I felt as thought the tee shot on the 3rd was the first (of many) breathtaking places on the course. My picture doesn't capture the elevation change, but I can assure you it feels much more spectacular in person!

Tee on the par 5 3rd

From the downhill tee shot the climb to the green is steep. As you can see in this picture above, Carrick uses the natural landscape for strategic and aesthetic effect, and doesn't overly dress up the course. There's a great use of bunkers to add to the strategy of each hole, while still allowing the incredible setting to be on display.

The 4th is possibly the steepest downhill hole I've ever played (yes, possibly a greater drop than #18 at Kapalua, although I can't confirm this). At nearly 500 yards it looks daunting on the scorecard, but can be played driver-wedge by many golfers. I believe my cousin played it 4 iron-8 iron.

Another downhill hole follows on the par 5 5th, which I found particularly interesting. A creek around the green makes it difficult to attack in 2, but it is within reach. The green-side bunker to the right is a good target. If you lay-up across the creek to the right, the green is more receptive, but it is inviting enough to encourage aggressive play from further back. Its a great par 5 that creates a lot of options. A birdie opportunity, with bogeys lurking.

Simply put, the 6th hole, aptly named "cliffhanger" could be one of the best natural settings for a golf hole in the world. It is the epitome of a hole that was 'discovered' rather than 'created'. A huge cliff wraps around this near-island green. Its on my short list of favorite holes in western Canada. Despite being one of the most photographed holes around, I feel compelled to through my own into the mix.

"Cliffhanger"... one of world's best 'discovered' holes

While the hole seems nerve racking, the green is actually quite large for a 150-175 yard hole (where most golfers will play from). If you can take a deep breathe and focus on the target, you have a good chance of reuniting with your golf ball. The picture above was taken from the elevated black tee (170 yds), the place from which the hole is most commonly photographed. Few ever play/take pictures from the lower silver tee (200+ yds), so here is a glimpse of the hole as I experienced it:

The famous Cliffhanger from the lesser-played back tee.. A bit more intimidating?!

I should mention, again, that Carrick's use of bunkering is great. As you can see in the above photos, the sand provides a buffer from the cliff's edge, and adds to the strategy of the hole, but doesn't attempt to overshadow the extraordinary setting. I love this hole. I got chills walking onto the green, realizing where I was standing. Yes, it is not #16 at Cypress Point, or #12 at Augusta National.. but I still got chills. Its just a really cool experience.

The short-ish par 4 7th has a very good reverse-redan green. As with any good reverse-redan, the mound on the back left is quite substantial and will redirect approach shots played along the ground. The green is generously large, but well guarded. The pictures on the Greywolf website are better than my own (at the time I played I was unaware of the Macdonald/Raynor template holes, which Carrick certainly has studied)

#8 is a beautiful dogleg right with no real noteworthy architectural merit; its just a really pretty hole. The 9th is another pretty hole. The short-mid length par 3 dares you to take an aggressive line over the water, even though the bailout area to the right is a good place to be.

The tempting par 3 9th

The 10th is a gentle par 5. Not an awful hole. But nothing noteworthy. It guides you to the 11th, which, if not for Cliffhanger, would be the most dramatic hole on the course.

A true golf purist would get nauseous even at the thought of the par 4 11th. It is, admittedly, quite a gimmicky hole. I regret not having good pictures of the 11th, but there are many on the Greywolf website. The huge drop makes the short par 4 driveable, although there is danger all around the green. Its actually a pretty straight forward hole if you have the discipline to lay-up, and confidence in your wedge game. Gimmicky, yes, but not too much to stomach.

The 12th and 13th (a 3 and 4, respectively) are beautiful holes which I don't feel add much strategic value to the course. Hole 14 is a different story! Great risk/reward elements make this hole just as intriguing as it is beautiful.

14th tee, par 5

The hole bends to the right, so its easy to see that you can cut off some yardage with a shot that hugs the right... but if you can't pull off the shot, you'd be much better positioned to the generous left side. From high up the right you can attack, but a layup is still a wise play. It is a dramatic uphill approach from the lay-up area.

Mesmerizing approach to the 14th

The 14th is one of my favorite par 5s in western Canada for both the strategic thought that it demands of the golfer, as well as the jaw-dropping beauty. Just an top-notch place to hit a golf ball!

It seems unusual that the last par 3 comes as early as the 15th, but this is the case at Greywolf. #15 is nearly a mirror image of the 9th (water short and right), with more length, a larger green and a slightly elevated tee.

In my opinion #16 could be the best par 4 on the course. Much like 14, it is real stunner that also has some really interesting strategic components. The green is most easily approached from the right side of the fairway, but as you can see, favoring the right can get you into trouble.

Awesome 16th tee

A huge drive can get you over the hill and down near the green, but for most it will be a downhill approach. The green is redan-like, although the expected aerial attack lessens the need for a significant mound to deflect running shots. With the nature of the green (rewarding running approaches), you can play it safe on the tee and play short-left. Here's a look from an ideal position up the right side of the fairway.

Redan on the 16th (mound is just visible left of trees)

Since Greywolf was the first top course I played, my understanding of its architectural elements was very basic at that time. My knowledge has deepened in the time since, and I can't wait to get back to see the course again, having a better appreciation for its design.

The finish at Greywolf is what keeps it outside of the top 20 in Canada. Along with the 10th, 17 and 18 are among the weakest on the course - 17 being the best of those 3. The 17th turns sharp left, with a downhill approach to a large green. It might be a decent hole if it were located somewhere else in the round, I just don't feel like it contributes to a strong finish that one expects from a top course.

18 is the most memorable hole on the course... by that I mean it is so bland and uninspiring that you can't help but remember it in disappointment. It wouldn't even be the signature hole on a low budget 9-hole muni. Its truly a shame to end such an exhilarating experience on such a depressingly uneventful par 4. I apologize for not including a picture of the 18th, I didn't want it to spoil my write-up. If they set dynamite to the 18th, and replaced it with a championship-worthy closer to fit the rest of the course, Greywolf easily jumps 5 spots and gets into the top 20.

Having played over 100 top courses since I was at Greywolf, my appreciation for its design elements has only grown. It is a really great course. Carrick uses a good mix of nerve-testing holes, with a few breathers; a few subtle rises with gentle declines; a few huge climbs with a few dramatic free-falls; a few forced carries with a number of inviting ground game holes. The entire course has great variety and demands a number of different shot shapes. It has to be one of Canada's most scenic courses, which allows less knowledgeable golfers to be wowed just as much as passionate students like myself.

With a peak season weekday rate of $119 (< $100 peak season afternoon/shoulder season rates) , Greywolf also has to be one of Canada's best value courses - its worth every penny! If you're visiting the Banff area I would certainly recommend driving a couple of hours into British Columbia to see this one. Message me if you have it in your plans, I just might drive out to golf with you!


'Til next time, keep your stick on the ice!

The Golfing Canuck