50 Words or Less

The Highlands at Hampton Cove provides the most scenic views in North Alabama golf.  While not as long as the other Robert Trent Jones Trail courses in nearby Muscle Shoals, it is extremely playable, and replayable!

Introduction

The Robert Trent Jones golf trail is an awesome grouping of 26 separate golf courses and 468 holes spanning the state of Alabama.  The trail is known to have some of the best maintained, longest, and most beautiful courses anywhere in the USA.  Hampton Cove contains three 18-hole courses, and in this review, I’ll be going over The Highlands.  It’s located in Huntsville, and as the name implies, the course is full of undulation and surrounded by mountains. 

Practice Facilities

The practice facilities go beyond simple chipping greens and driving ranges.  Hampton Cove is also home to an entire 18-hole par three course called the Short Course.  Before I played Highlands, it prepared me for the numerous water hazards anyone must contend with.  It also provided some serious fun with 18 different chances at a hole-in-one.  Sadly, this trip didn’t have any for me, but I hope your luck is better if you get to play. 

Besides the short course, the property has a full array of practice facilities. There is a full driving range large enough to accommodate even the longest hitters, a dedicated chipping green with sand, and a spacious green with over half a dozen holes to putt to.  I could act out any type of shot imaginable to be ready for any scenario.

Customer Service & Amenities

The Hampton Cove staff were cordial and helpful. Inside their large clubhouse is a fully stocked pro shop with clubs, apparel, and more. Just beyond that is a full bar and restaurant. While there wasn’t anything overtly unique about the space, that’s what gives it a homey charm.  After all, most of the Trail’s clubhouses were made to look and feel similar!

While Highlands is undoubtedly a wonderful place to play for those who live locally, many people who want to play here will be from out of town, following the famous Robert Trent Jones golf trail.  That’s why it’s so crucial that their golf carts feature awesome GPS units.  Not only did I find that the yardages were extremely accurate, but they also provided precise topical maps of every green.  That helped me to score better, and it also kept the pace of play quick, despite the course being full.

Beauty & Scenery

This course’s visuals are undoubtedly impressive as there is a huge variety of sights that you’ll see.  Stepping onto this course, it is as though you’re encountering a sea of green.  The rolling hills meander and undulate like waves, and while it can lead to some uneven lies, it’s a sight for the eyes, and reminiscent of courses you’d expect to see in Scotland. 

This course’s scenic nature isn’t just related to the layout of the holes though, the surroundings are just as beautiful.  On many holes, including number one, mountains loom large in the distance.  There’s also a ton of beauty in the massive diversity of wildlife I saw on the course, including bluejays, egrets, turtles, and more. 

Tee Shots

I happily report that this course only tips out at 7,428 yards.  That means this course doesn’t quite have the monster-level distances that other RTJ Trail courses like Fighting Joe (review HERE) can boast.  This course’s first shots are not very punishing with many par 4s and 5s featuring large and well-defined landing areas.  With that said, the course does have some dangers to keep it from being a cakewalk including ponds, fairway bunkers, and wispy tall grasses. 

Approaches

One of the defining design features of courses on the RTJ Trail is the heavy presence of bunkers you must navigate around.  In fact, every single hole at Highlands features a greenside bunker to deal with.  That makes every approach shot trickier than it otherwise could be, especially given the amount of hills and valleys that can make many stances uneven.  This is in stark contrast to Hampton Cove’s sister course called River, which is the only course on the trail that doesn’t have even a single bunker to contend with. 

Greens & Surrounds

The aforementioned bunkers are not the only defense around these greens.  Long grasses, trees, and water hazards are each present around some of the greens, although not all at once.  The greens themselves are large and relatively flat, noticeably smaller than those at The Schoolmaster’s (review HERE).  In my time playing the course, I would describe the greens as the easiest aspect of this course if you can start the ball on your intended line. 

Overall Design

The design of this golf course is multifaceted.  Most holes feature a links-style design, some feature water hazards, and several are tree-lined.  The one commonality is that every single hole features at least one bunker.  It means that playing here is fresh from hole to hole, and despite only playing the course once, I imagine it’d be fresh playing from visit to visit, too.

Favorite Holes

#5 – Par 4 – 412 yards

While the hole itself isn’t the most unique, this par 4 features one of the more memorable landmarks on the entire RTJ Trail, The Old Mule Barn, on the right side of the hole.  Make sure that if you get to play the course, you end up on the left side of the hole.  If your tee shot goes too far right, you’ll have a tricky shot going up and over the building that obscures the green.

#6 – Par 4 – 435 yards

This hole rewards pinpoint accuracy and demands a tee shot that finds the fairway. It forced me to try and pull the throttle back and artfully shape a tee shot down the middle. The hole is made even trickier by a relatively small landing area and a large group of tall thin trees to the right of the hole that can block out your second shot. The approach shot is just as difficult and requires the same level of precision with a bunker to the left and a small pond to the short right.  Scenic.  It’s a hole that I wished I could play over again immediately.

#9 – Par 5 – 526 yards

Often the holes that stick with me start high and drop down low.  This hole is the opposite.  The tee box is low and, as the hole doglegs to the left, it climbs higher and higher, getting steeper by the yard.  Due to that rising elevation on this hole, it plays more than the 526 yard number would indicate.  It’s all worth the challenge when you see the view from the top of the green, but avoid the bunker by aiming right to make getting through this hole easier.

Conclusion

When venturing out to play the renowned RTJ Trail, Highlands is a great place to stop and play in Northern Alabama.  The trio of Short, River, and Highlands makes Hampton Cove a complete destination.  Highlands is a beautiful course that is a joy to play.  While certainly not the longest or most difficult on the Trail, it provides pure fun in golf course form. 

Visit Highlands at Hampton Cove HERE

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50 Words or Less

The Furnace Creek Golf Course at Death Valley is one of the most unusual golf courses you’ll find.  Demands accuracy off the tee and into the greens.  Thick rough and slower greens allow for bold short game play.

Introduction

With almost 16,000 golf courses in this country, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd.  The Furnace Creek Golf Course at Death Valley does not have that problem.  As the name implies, this course is located inside the largest national park in the contiguous United States.  It’s also the lowest elevation golf course in the world at 214 feet below sea level.  Matt Meeker and I trekked to California to see if we could survive a round in this extreme environment.

Practice Facilities

The Furnace Creek Golf Course at Death Valley has a small putting green and no driving range.  The climate should take care of getting your body warm, but it would be good to be able to hit some shots given the premium this course places on accuracy.  Do make sure to stop by the putting green to get used to giving your putts some extra oomph.

Customer Service & Amenities

The Furnace Creek Golf Course is part of The Oasis at Death Valley.  The complex includes two hotels –  The Ranch and The Inn – as well as numerous restaurants and amenities.  This is a marvelous destination, especially for those that love nature.  For an in-depth look at the resort, check out Matt Meeker’s feature HERE.

At the course, you’ll find the Wild Rose Golf Shop and Wild Rose Tavern.  In the golf shop, you’ll find everything from hats, gloves, and shirts to water bottles and cigar cases.  Much of the merch features a skeleton golfer and the phrase “Lowest Round of My Life.”  It’s tough to leave without a couple items.

Throughout the resort, the staff is extremely helpful and enthusiastic about the property.  There’s an obvious sense of pride about this place that every employee shares.

Finally, it’s worth noting that the pace of play at Furnace Creek is impeccable.  If you like to play quickly – and the heat can make that a very fine idea – you’ll love this course.

Exclusive offer: Book your stay at the cottages at The Ranch or at The Inn by December 31, 2024 and travel by March 31, 2025 to receive a free round of golf and Oasis golf towel simply by showing them this article at check in.

Beauty & Scenery

Being located inside Death Valley National Park, you’d expect Furnace Creek Golf Course to be your prototypical desert course.  It’s not.  To start, it’s remarkably green.  There are numerous spots on the course where you could completely forget that you’re in the desert thanks to the Tamarisk or Salt Cedar trees.  This beautiful, invasive species lines several holes, sometimes impinging on your views from the tee box, if you’re playing the tips.

What brings you back to the reality of your environment are the mountains that background almost every shot.  They’re near enough that you can see the incredible details of each peak.  The mountains’ browns and oranges contrast beautifully with the azure sky and lush course to create unforgettable images.

Finally, Death Valley is home to loads of wildlife, some of which ends up on the golf course.  During our round, we were observed by a young coyote.  We were informed that the older coyotes generally steer clear of golfers, but the younger ones will get curious and occasionally steal a golf ball.

Tee Shots

Furnace Creek Golf Course tips out at 6,236 yards, but it’s not nearly as short as that number indicates.  First, it’s a par 70, so you can bump that number up 300 yards or so.  Second, at 214 feet below sea level, it’s the world’s lowest golf course.  Just as playing at high elevation adds distance to your shots, playing at low elevation cuts your distance down.  Unless you’re an extremely long hitter, this course will give you all you need.

The other thing that makes Furnace Creek Golf Course tough is that it’s quite narrow.  By my ratings, it has four fairways that are below average in width and just one that’s slightly above average.  Moreover, of the 28 fairway sides, eleven are unplayable shortly off the fairway and twelve have substantial trouble.  If you’re not hitting the ball very straight, you can be in for a long afternoon.

Two things that work in the golfers favor are the minimal movement of the fairways and the thicker grass on and off.  There are only two significant doglegs on the course – most holes play straight away.  Within the fairways, the undulations are minimal, leaving accurate drives where they belong.  Both the fairways and rough are thicker than average, which does hurt your distance, but it also keeps your stray shots from running further into trouble.

Approaches

There is a substantial edge given to players who keep their drives in the fairways of the Furnace Creek Golf Course.  The thick, fluffy grass almost tees up your ball for your approach.  In contrast, the thick rough wants to swallow it up.  The rough isn’t so long or sticky that you can’t play an approach shot, but it will cost you some distance and control on your approach.  On or off the fairway, you will have almost exclusively flat lies and stances.

While Furnace Creek doesn’t have dramatic elevation, the thick grass necessitates an aerial approach to the greens.  A low, running shot is only going to get one or two strong bounces before the grass gobbles it up.

The same thing that makes the tee shots tough gives the approach shots their difficulty: the size of the target.  The greens at Furnace Creek Golf Course are never more than average in size, and some are substantially smaller.  You need to have strong control of your distance and direction to rack up greens in regulation here.

Greens & Surrounds

With minimal natural elevation, the surrounds at Furnace Creek Golf Course are subtle.  Gentle mounds and swales can add a little challenge to your pitches and chips, but you’ll never be dramatically off balance.  Additionally, there are just a few bunkers.  The ones that exist are fairly deep, so skittish sand players would do well to avoid them.

The primary challenge in the surrounds is the rough.  That same thick, heavy grass that will stunt your drives grows all the way up to the edges of the greens, hoping to add stress to your short game.  Its not sticky enough to grab your club, but you do need to be prepared for a variety of lies.

What makes the short game at Furnace Creek Golf Course less stressful is the speed of the greens.  These are some of the slower greens I’ve played – a necessary compromise with the brutal environment.  Because the greens are slower, you can pitch, chip, and putt boldly.  The green speeds are consistent around the course, and the ball generally rolls smoothly.  Though there isn’t any extreme undulation on the greens, we found a lot more break than the speed led us to expect.

Overall Design

Furnace Creek Golf Course at Death Valley manages to balance playability for the recreational golfer with plenty of challenge for those more skilled.  Because there aren’t too many hazards and the length is reasonable, even a high handicapper can get around the course without too much frustration.  That said, you need to have strong control of your ball striking to score well.  Players whose ambition and ego outpace their talent can pile up penalty strokes for lost balls.

The other thing I appreciate about the design of Furnace Creek is the way that it balances length with green size and difficulty.  On the longer holes, the course gives you larger, more gentle greens.  The drivable par 4s, however, have greens the size of dinner tables to provide a balance of difficulty.

Favorite Holes

#2 – Par 3 – 178 Yards

Arguably the prettiest hole on the course, this mid-length par 3 is also one of the most penal.  Water runs up almost the entire left side of this hole, and the left side of the green is steeply banked toward the hazard.  Play your tee shot to the right center of the green, and enjoy one of the most undulating putting surfaces.

#17 – Par 4 – 310 Yards

On a course that’s largely straight, this curvy short par 4 really stands out.  Off the tee, one of the course’s few fairway bunkers wants to push you to the left side of the hole.  Don’t let it.  Gather your strength and bomb your drive straight over the trap.  If you play up the left, your approach will be blocked by a pair of trees short of the green.  Bold shots to the right – even those in the rough – will leave a short wedge to a tiny green.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a unique golf experience, you’ll be hard pressed to find anything better than Furnace Creek Golf Course at Death Valley.  The harsh yet beautiful environment is unforgettable, and the course offers up plenty of opportunities for memorable shots.

Visit Furnace Creek Golf Course at Death Valley HERE

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50 Words or Less

The Schoolmaster at The Shoals is the Robert Trent Jones Trail at its most enjoyable. It’s long, scenic, and strategic. The tree-lined course demands accurate drives and shot-shaping abilities to succeed.  

Introduction

The definition of a “Schoolmaster” is simply a man who teaches in a school.  It’s an appropriate name because playing the RTJ Golf Trails’ Schoolmaster felt like I was being taught a lesson or two, or three.  The Schoolmaster at The Shoals is shorter than its sibling course, Fighting Joe [review HERE], but it is still a massive track that stretches nearly 8,000 yards from the tips.  It’s not just long though, it requires precision, planning, and proper execution to succeed here.

Practice Facilities

The practice facilities at The Shoals are what you would expect from destination golf.  There is a big grass driving range that can facilitate the longest practice shots you can imagine, which is needed on both courses The Shoals has on offer.  In addition, there are devoted chipping and putting greens to get used to the speeds of these RTJ courses.  There are no launch monitors present though, which would make the space even more enticing. 

Customer Service & Amenities

Not only did the Schoolmaster teach me the ways of Northern Alabama golf, it also taught me about great regional food.  Specifically, I learned about a dish you must try at the turn, the Trail Dog.  As a Chicagoland native, a huge part of my culture is an appreciation for meat-in-tube form; this dog doesn’t disappoint.  It’s not just a normal hot dog at the turn. 

The Trail Dog is a red bean chili, cheese, and onion-topped Conecuh Sausage with Wickles pickles.  For those who may not know, it’s a local delicacy: a pork sausage that gets its signature flavor from being hickory-smoked.  It’s fatty, spicy, smoky, and has a wonderful snap from its natural casing.  I had to keep myself from ordering two or three of these. 

Along with great food and drinks at The Grille, the facility also has plenty of space to enjoy them.  Inside there’s a large seating area with several tables, enough for dozens of golfers after a group trip or a tournament.  Outside there’s even more seating that overlooks the scenic Tennessee River.  The course also has a large and well-stocked pro shop that features all types of gear, accessories, and other merchandise that highlights the RTJ Trail. 

The Highlands at Hampton Cove is another must-play on the RTJ Trail.  Learn more HERE

Beauty & Scenery

Northern Alabama has a ton of natural beauty to offer.  In fact, the staff told me that birders come out to this course for the wildlife.  The final hole is the true highlight of Schoolmaster’s beauty.  It’s a par 4 that mirrors the 18th hole of Fighting Joe.  It’s a dogleg right that has a bit of an elevation change as you ascend up to the clubhouse for both courses. 

Tee Shots

Even when playing from the correct tee boxes for your skill level, Schoolmaster will play long or very long.  While not as long as its sister course, Fighting Joe, the tee shots are more difficult because the fairways are not as wide and forgiving.  Instead, Schoolmaster features a tighter design that feels even more narrow given that most holes are lined with trees.  That means the most important shot on most of these holes will be your first one. 

Approaches

To call the greens at Schoolmaster well-defended would be an understatement.  All 18 holes have at least one bunker by the green, but the majority feature more than one.  While only some of the bunkers are very deep, the soft sand presents a unique challenge that will undoubtedly make the hole harder if you find your ball in one. 

Water is also present near the greens on five holes which adds another layer of difficulty.  With that said, if you put yourself in the proper positions off the tee, you’ve done the hard part.  

Greens & Surrounds

The greens on Schoolmaster are guarded by a multitude of bunkers and often by trees and water hazards.  While similar in speed and slope to Fighting Joe, the bent grass greens are decidedly smaller.  This gives you shorter putts, but the greens are harder to hold on approach.  If your ball does run through, the rough is not particularly punishing, but the bunkers certainly can be.  With many holes featuring more than one bunker and extremely soft fluffy sand, finesse will be needed to be successful.

Overall Design

The design of this golf course is distinct from its sister course at The Shoals.  While both are undeniably long, the Schoolmaster is more punishing from an accuracy standpoint because trees surround it.  In contrast, Fighting Joe is a wide-open, links-style course with big fairways and big greens that won’t be as punishing to offline tee shots or approaches.  Schoolmaster prioritizes your first shot, while Fighting Joe is a second-shot course.

Schoolmaster will put your shot-making abilities to the test, too.  Many of its holes will dogleg or snake back and forth.  It means that draws and fades will be needed to play the course as it’s intended, especially with pins that can be tucked behind the copious amount of greenside bunkers.

Favorite Holes

#18 – Par 4 – 393 yards

As a drawer of the golf ball, I don’t love that this hole all but forces you to hit a cut, but it’s worth it for the view you’ll receive.  As you climb up the hole following your tee shot, you’re treated to a breathtaking vista of the Tennessee River with homes, greenery, and even another golf course visible on the other side.  Remember to take some photos before heading back to the clubhouse for drinks and another Trail Dog.

#2 – Par 3 – 238 yards

Everyone who knows me, knows I’m a sucker for a good water feature so, of course, one hole I have to highlight is the second hole.  It features a waterfall and pond shielding the hole from errant shots.  It’s gorgeous and can play a lot more difficult if that pin would be moved to the corners of the green.

#14 – Par 4 – 417 yards

I could have mentioned this hole when discussing this course’s scenery and beauty.  It embodies everything this course tries to do, a microcosm of Schoolmaster.  It demands that you think and be strategic, calls for a specific shot shape, and is lined with trees and a dramatic water hazard. 

Conclusion

The Schoolmaster at The Shoals is a punishing, difficult, lengthy, golf course that asks you to think every step of the way.  It wants you to do your homework and think critically like any school teacher.  It certainly taught me about the kind of stellar golf you can find in Northern Alabama and on the RTJ Trail.  It should be a course you play when you find yourself in this part of the United States. 

Visit The Schoolmaster at The Shoals HERE

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50 Words or Less

Fighting Joe at The Shoals is a behemoth of a golf course.  Tipping out at just shy of 8,100 yards, it’s a course that’s demanding from any tee box and should require every golfer to use their full bag.

Introduction

If you want to play a “scoreable” golf course, Fighting Joe is not for you.  This is an enormous golf course that is generally straightforward but massively long.  It is one of the longest golf courses in the United States.  That means that even if you hit a great drive, great approach, and great putts…you will often have a great par, not a birdie.  Par here stands for “professional average result” as I played with scratch golfers who played well and still were over par.  It will test your accuracy, strength, and confidence with long irons, hybrids, and woods.  

Practice Facilities

Fighting Joe features everything you’d want to see from a practice facility and teases at the size of the golf courses you’re prepping to play.  As you enter the property, you’re greeted with a vast putting green with numerous holes to practice short, medium, and long-range putts.  Also present on the property is a green to practice your chipping skills.  

All the practice greens are well-maintained and offer a good representation of the course’s responsiveness and speed.  There is also a lengthy driving range that features several pins to hit, guarded by concrete bunkers.  This place is old school, with no SkyTrak, Trackman, or similar device to get distances on the range. 

The Highlands at Hampton Cove is another must-play on the RTJ Trail.  Learn more HERE

Customer Service & Amenities

The staff at The Shoals offers that quintessential southern hospitality.  When I went into the pro shop to look around and ask about the course, the staff were polite, courteous, and kind.  They also offered great insight into how to play the golf course and genuinely wished me luck.  That pro shop was also nicely stocked with tons of different merch that focused on their courses and the RTJ Trail including a wall of hats, golf clubs, balls, polos, and more.  

I am thankful to report that the GPS units in the carts at Fighting Joe offer very accurate yardage.  That’s extremely important because I found myself having longer approach shots than I normally do.  Those GPS units show interactive top-down looks at each hole and incredibly detailed topographical maps of each green.  With the sheer size and undulations of the greens, I cannot express how helpful those were in aiding my green reading efforts throughout the round (pictured is the same golf cart I used at the sister course, Schoolmaster).

Beauty & Scenery

Some of the views at Fighting Joe are truly breathtaking.  The most stunning one is undoubtedly the 18th hole.  While the par three is beautiful in its own right, featuring a meticulously maintained green, bunker, and view of the clubhouse, it’s the view just to the right of the green that is almost worth the trip to play.  Simply turning your head reveals an extraordinary overlook of the Tennessee River and the shoreline across. 

Fighting Joe’s beauty isn’t limited to that blufftop view of the Tennessee River.  Interestingly, it feels like this course was actually inspired by links-style golf you’d see across the pond.  While there are some trees and wooded areas, the primary features of this course are the rolling hills and tall grass.  

Tee Shots

Fighting Joe is a driver-lover’s paradise.  This course measures up to 8,092 yards from the tips.  As a result, a driver is often the only choice on the tee box because it is so damn long!  You’re in for a long day if you’re not honest with yourself about how far you can hit your drives.  Luckily, the course features forgiving, open fairways 

Approaches

I know I sound like a broken record, but did I mention that Fighting Joe is gargantuan?  That not only means long tee shots, but also very long approach shots.  That adds difficulty to the course because it’s harder to be as accurate with longer clubs.  On top of that, your trajectory will usually be flatter, so your ball will be harder to stop. 

That’s a treacherous aspect of this course because landing precisely and softly is extremely important.  The greens are fast and hard in the Alabama heat.  There’s some severe danger if you come up short or go long of these greens.  Every green on the course is guarded by at least one bunker, and 11 of the 18 holes also have greenside water hazards. The one saving grace is that the greens at Fighting Joe tend to be quite large.  

Greens & Surrounds

As I hinted above, Fighting Joe’s vast greens mimic the colossal nature of this golf course.  But while they present big easy-to-hit targets, they are not simple to putt on.  Featuring bent grass, the greens played quite fast.  I found them to be tricky regarding breaks, oscillating back and forth between breaking more and less than my instincts and experience would imply.  

North Alabama had an especially hot and dry summer, so unsurprisingly, there were a few spots on greens or on the aprons of greens that looked dry or patchy, but it didn’t negatively affect my experience.  The giant fans by the greens and wet towels given out by the marshals kept us cool.  The bunkers were in immaculate condition.  They had the soft, squishy sand that is a joy to play out of and reacts just how you’d expect it to. 

Overall Design

Fighting Joe was the first course on the RTJ Trail that broke the 8,000-yard milestone.  When a course boasts that kind of yardage, it will lean into its length as arguably the most prominent feature.  While technically not the longest RTJ Trail course, it’s the one that plays the longest.  That’s because Ross Bridge (the longest at 8,191 yards) often plays downhill and is less punishing.  Comparatively, Fighting Joe plays its true yardage since it is very flat and few holes play with any major elevation change.  Despite playing with a group of talented players, we had only a couple of birdies between us.  The pars we had sometimes felt like birdies.  

Check out Fighting Joe’s sister course, Schoolmaster, HERE

Favorite Holes

#12 – Par 5 – 712 yards

Across all 26 courses and 468 holes of the RTJ Trail, there is no hole longer than the 12th at Fighting Joe.  At a jaw-dropping 712 yards from the tips, you’d need to be Superman, Hulk, or some other superhero to even dream of getting to this green in two.  This wannabe Par 6 hole is masochistic because it’s not just long, it’s difficult.  It features five bunkers and a water hazard to boot.  For an unforgettable kick in the teeth, play this one (and only this one) from the tips, just to say you did.  

#9 – Par 3 – 236 yards

This is one of the longest island greens I can ever remember playing.  Luckily, this hole is designed so that going long isn’t as penal as going short in the water.  Long of the green is a wide open area between several trees, so if you’re between clubs, be sure to club up.  Also, enjoy the view, the calmness of the water, and some of the more memorable trees on the course before moving on.  

#18 – Par 3 – 200 yards

Ironically, one of my favorite holes on this course is its shortest.  Playing it felt like finding an oasis in the desert.  After seventeen straight holes of massive length, the sheer relief that washed over me walking onto the shortest and last hole of this course was nearly indescribable.  On top of that, it’s one of the most picturesque holes on the property.  I highly recommend you take a moment after finishing to look out on the Tennessee River and reflect on your round and the beauty all around you.  

Conclusion

The Fighting Joe will make you feel like you went 18 rounds in a boxing match.  You may get a few licks in, but ultimately, you’ll feel bruised, sore, and exhausted.  Despite that, it was a thrill and pleasure, and I left with a smile.  Playing here is a unique experience as it may be the longest course you will ever play.  If you want my advice: give it a try soon, before the golf ball rollback comes and it plays even longer.  Don’t be a hero, stay away from the back tees, but do play this golf course.  

Visit Fighting Joe at The Shoals HERE

The post Fighting Joe at RTJ Golf Trail at The Shoals Course Review appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

50 Words or Less

Black Butte Ranch Glaze Meadow is a beautiful, secluded golf course in central Oregon.  Tree-lined fairways lead to accessible greens.  Can yield low scores.  Excellent conditions.

Introduction

If you prefer your golf and vacations a bit further from the beaten path, Black Butte Ranch is calling your name.  With acres and acres of forest at the base of the Cascade Mountains, Black Butte Ranch feels more like a nature retreat than a golf resort.  But that doesn’t mean they don’t take the game seriously.  After a recent $3.75 million renovation, Black Butte Ranch Glaze Meadow is a course that can hold its own with central Oregon’s best.

Practice Facilities

The enormous Black Butte Ranch is home to two courses – Glaze Meadow and Big Meadow.  Both courses have their own complete practice facilities with a driving range and practice putting green.  At Glaze Meadow, both the range and green are within shouting distance of the first tee and large enough to house a couple foursomes.

Amenities & Customer Service

At Black Butte Ranch Glaze Meadow, you’ll find a medium-sized pro shop with all the soft goods you’d expect to find at a quality resort course.  There’s also the Glaze Grill, which has a convenient walk-up window, for turn snacks or post-round refreshments.

The carts at Glaze Meadow do not have GPS units.  While this is a little disappointing, the course doesn’t demand much local knowledge, so it’s not a big deal.

Learn why Central Oregon is one of the best golf destinations HERE

Glaze Meadow and its sister course Big Meadow are just two of the amenities at the sprawling Black Butte Ranch.  This property has homes, condos, and cabins available for groups of any size to rent.  The list of activities is nearly endless – hiking, bike trails, kayaking, a spa, and a kids activity center are just the start.  Also, they recently added the Little Meadow Putting Course which is a great way to get younger family members interested in the game.

Beauty & Scenery

This section typically focuses on what a course looks like, but Black Butte Ranch Glaze Meadow demands that I start with a different sense: sound.  This is among the quietest golf courses I’ve ever played.  That quiet gives space to a wonderful array of natural sounds – dozens of birdsongs, frogs, woodpeckers, and more.  Even if you love having music on the course, I’d implore you to let quiet reign for this round.

Glaze Meadow is no slouch when it comes to visual beauty, too.  The course is tree-lined and lush, painting the entire visual space in shades of green.  Moderate, rolling elevation keeps your eyes engaged, and the course opens up from time to time to provide aesthetic variety.

Tee Shots

Off the tee, Black Butte Ranch Glaze Meadow provides defined lines of play.  Your goal – and the obstacles – are put right in front of you.  This is a tree-lined course, though some holes feel open, others cramped.

The fairways are average in width, though a couple stand out as offering more or less room for error.  They’re also mostly flat, so you can feel confident that a ball that lands in the short grass won’t take a catastrophic bounce.  Most of the fairways are lined with a healthy section of rough before you get to the real trouble.  Should you drive it into the trees, it’s a coin flip whether or not you’ll be able to find your ball.

Overall, Glaze Meadow is straightforward off the tee.  It doesn’t demand pinpoint accuracy, but driving it wildly won’t lead to good scores.  There are five sets of tees from 7,007 yards to 4,909 yards, with four combo sets on the scorecard.  Though many tee boxes are elevated, the fairways are not particularly fast, so you shouldn’t expect to gain too much bonus distance.

Approach Shots

Black Butte Ranch Glaze Meadow rewards accurate drivers with premium approach shot opportunities.  The fairways have very modest movement, so your stance won’t be compromised.  Additionally, the fairways are left at a comfortable length, so those that sweep the ball will feel more confident in hitting a good shot.

Driving the ball into the rough increases the difficulty in two ways.  First, the rough is average in thickness and length and can create a wide variety of lies.  If the ball sits down, you can easily get a flier.  Having the ball sit up can feel like a break, but that can make it difficult to achieve a clean strike.  The other challenge is that the terrain is more uneven off the fairway, meaning the ball can be significantly above or below your feet.

The greens at Glaze Meadow are typically elevated a bit above their surroundings.  This elevation combines with the longer fairway cut to discourage running approaches.  Outside of that, the greens are inviting targets that are mostly conventional in shape without false fronts or dramatic undulations.

Greens & Surrounds

The greens at Black Butte Ranch Glaze Meadow will delight the skilled putter who is looking to show off their green reading and speed control.  The greens run at a quick pace and are extremely smooth.  The undulations are modest but impactful – a stark contrast to nearby Tetherow [review HERE].  You won’t make many putts by simply slapping the ball toward the cup, but this isn’t a course that will force three putts down your throat, either.

The bunkers are the primary defense of the greens at Black Butte Ranch Glaze Meadow.  While they don’t cover a huge amount of square footage, most of them are fairly deep.  The sand is soft and consistent throughout the course.  If you’re a competent bunker player, these won’t cost you any sleep.  If sand traps make your knees shake, do your best to avoid them.

Outside of the sand traps, Glaze Meadow’s surrounds feature the traditional three cuts in the surrounds.  The rough isn’t horribly long or thick, but you can draw a variety of lies in it.  There isn’t much dramatic mounding or elevation around the greens, so basic pitch and chip shots are all you need to save pars after missed greens.

Favorite Holes

#8 – Par 3 – 172 Yards

This Redan-style hole offers golfers a choice: hit your tee shot to the right where the ball can run onto the green or challenge the deep bunker that guards the front and left sides of the putting surface.  The pin placement can change this hole from a fairly easy par to one that’s quite difficult.

#6 – Par 4 – 411 Yards

This is the one tee shot that at Glaze Meadow that stands apart.  You’re forced to play over water, though you get to decide how much.  Choose the right line, hit a club that will keep you in the fairway, and you should set up a reasonable chance at birdie.

Conclusion

In our traveling party, the Black Butte Ranch Glaze Meadow golf course was hyped up by one of the locals as his favorite.  It’s not hard to see why.  Glaze Meadow provides exactly what many golfers are looking for on vacation: scenic views, pristine conditions, and a balanced layout with ample scoring opportunities.

Visit Black Butte Ranch Glaze Meadow HERE

The post Black Butte Ranch Glaze Meadow Golf Course Review appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

50 Words or Less

The Crosswater Club, part of the Sunriver Resort in Bend, Oregon, sits in a sprawling, gorgeous landscape.  Playable off the tee but demanding into the green.  Tough but fair.

Introduction

There are golf courses with generic names and others with fun names, but few are more appropriately named than Crosswater Club.  Sitting on 600 acres of woodlands and wetlands, this course brings you into near constant contact with the Deschutes and Little Deschutes Rivers.  If you’re ready to put your iron game to the test, head to this championship course in central Oregon.

Practice Facilities

On the way to the first tee, Crosswater Club has all the practice facilities you need to get your game warmed up.  There’s a putting green that can accommodate about eight players, and it mirrors the course conditions.  The range is enormous, easily housing two dozen players.  On the far right side of the range, there’s a short game area with a small target green and a couple bunkers.

Something that reflects Crosswater Club’s commitment to their players are the yardage markers at every hitting station (above).  Target greens are only useful if you know how far you are from them, and Crosswater allows you to get dialed in to the exact yardage.

Amenities & Customer Service

Excellent customer service was the norm throughout our trip to central Oregon, but Crosswater Club set the standard.  There were club employees seemingly around every corner, all with tremendous enthusiasm for the course and its guests.  Chief among them was Rusty who was quick to tell us that he was playing a round after his eight hour shift – a testament to his love for the course.

Crosswater is also very serious about pace of play.  There were several marshals on the course – a rarity in itself – and they were actively policing the pace.  They even gave a friendly nudge our group, for which I give them major credit.

Moving to the amenities, Crosswater Club keeps everyone hydrated with two comfort stations, a beverage cart, and a walk-up cafe at the turn.  The pro shop is packed with soft goods.  Finally, the GPS units on the carts are excellent, displaying yardages to the pin and much more.

Learn why Central Oregon is one of the best golf destinations HERE

Beauty & Scenery

Crosswater Club is one of the most beautiful courses I’ve ever played.  The front nine has the look of a mountain course.  The holes are more separated, playing through substantial tree lines.

As you start to head toward the back nine, the views open up, allowing you to see miles in different directions.  These long views with the Cascade Mountains in the background are breathtaking.

The constants across both nines are the Deschutes and Little Deschutes Rivers.  From an aesthetic perspective, they are a constant, welcome companion.  The rivers bring with them other outdoors people, tubing and kayaking on the river.  But, as I’ll discuss next, the water is much more than an eye candy at Crosswater Club.

Tee Shots

Crosswater Club gives players a variety of challenges off the tee.  There are several holes where you’ll hit less than driver.  You’ll encounter a couple slim fairways where you need to be long and straight.  There are also a few holes where you can swing away without too much fear of trouble.  Said another way, this course doesn’t inherently favor distance over precision or vice versa; you’ll need a little of everything.

Speaking of precision, you’ll need to use the GPS or local knowledge to stay out of big trouble off the tee.  On several holes – like the two seen above – one side of the fairway is guarded by a stroke hazard.  There are also spots where you can miss wildly without much penalty, so pick your lines accordingly.

The day we played Crosswater Club, there were four sets of tees (Championship tees are listed on the scorecard but – wisely – were not in the ground).  They measured 7,273, 6,811, 6,138, and 5,723 yards.  There is also a set of Member tees which are a combination of the middle two and measure 6,550 yards.

As you may have noticed in the pictures, Crosswater Club is pretty flat.  This means there are no elevated tee shots that will give you bonus distance.  You need to earn every yard, so pick your tee boxes accordingly.  Also, like its neighbor, the Jack Nicklaus course at Pronghorn Club [review HERE], Crosswater Club strongly favors players who are hitting short irons into the greens.  I’d advise you to feed your ego with birdie putts, not by tipping it out.

Approach Shots

Testing approach shots are the defining characteristic of Crosswater Club, but it’s not unfair.  On the player’s side of the ledger, you’ll almost always have a reasonable stance.  The movement in the fairways is modest, so you won’t be dealing with unusual lies.  That said, there’s enough gently rolling elevation to block clear views of everything you might want to see.  You’ll need to trust your GPS and your yardage book.

Crosswater Club is also fair about doling out penalties for inaccurate driving.  The fairways are cut at a moderate length, making them comfortable for any player.  If you’re a bit off target, the rough is fairly light.  It can be sticky, but it’s not a major hindrance.  However, if you venture into the trees or hazard areas, you’ll find long, patchy grass that’s waiting to snare your club head.  It’s also pretty easy to lose the ball entirely.

The two biggest things that make approach shots difficult at Crosswater are the size and shape of the greens.  Hole #5, above, is the most stark example.  This isn’t a huge green in terms of square footage, and it plays much smaller due to the shape and the angle of approach.  Players are required to hit a high, soft shot with minimal room for error short or long.  And, if you have any interest in a birdie putt, your margin for error left and right is small, too.  Other holes are not as dramatic, but they employ the same principles to demand precise iron shots.

What makes Crosswater Club playable is that it balances those tough holes with some that are more “gettable.”  The green on #16, above, sits square to the fairway.  It also allows players to roll the ball up, negating the difficulty of the firm greens.  But golfers do need to make hay on the birdie holes because only the most skilled ball strikers will walk away from all the tough ones unscathed.

The last thing to note about the approach shots is the frequent presence of stroke or near-stroke hazards.  On nearly half the holes, there is water or a waste area on one side of the green.  Much like with your tee shots, you need to use your eyes and the GPS to be alert for this trouble and make a plan to play well away from it.

Greens & Surrounds

If you get a green in regulation at Crosswater Club, the hard work is complete.  The greens run at a quick-not-crazy pace that’s uniform across the course.  Much like the fairways, the movements in the greens are generally modest, though there are some sharp shoulders and ridges that effectively segment the greens.  There are very few straight putts at Crosswater, so you’ll need to bring a sharp eye for green reading if you want to make birdies.

Around the greens, there’s a huge variety of trouble.  Regardless of your short game strengths, you’ll find spots that are easy and some that will make your palms sweat.  As you see above, there are some large bunkers as well as tightly-mown collection areas.

There are other greens that have the traditional three cuts – green to fringe to rough – all the way around.  This is mixed with all types of elevation changes, from steep drop offs to gentle swells.  Overall, you can’t rely on just one type of shot to save your short game at Crosswater Club; you need a full arsenal of wedge shots. 

Overall Design

Crosswater Club is a strong test that doesn’t feel overwhelming or unfair.  The front nine is significantly tougher, but if you can keep your score together to the turn, the back nine gives you scoring opportunities.

While Crosswater does have tournament-level challenge, there’s nothing tricky or gimmicky about it.  For me, that gives this course a ton of replay value.  No one in our group scored particularly well, but everyone left feeling like the course was fair and would have given up a good score had our games been sharper.  Also, it presents tons of fun, varied shots that any golfer would be excited to try again.

Favorite Holes

#4 – Par 4 – 413 Yards

Off the tee, you can choose to play a measured shot to the primary landing area or fit a longer shot into a skinny section of fairway.  Bold, successful tee shots will be rewarded with a shorter shot into the shallow green that’s fronted by a hazard.

#5 – Par 4 – 460 Yards

The toughest hole on the course really bares its teeth if you’re playing from the championship, black, or blue tees.  Your drive has to cross the Little Deschutes River then keep to the right.  Playing from the white or gold tees removes the forced carry.  Regardless of your tees, your approach shot must be high and soft to hold the wide, shallow green.

#18 – Par 4 – 456 Yards

The closing hole is a beauty.  You’ll tee off with less than driver, trying to get as close to the water as you can.  Your final approach is played over the river to a green that sits at an angle and has bunkers short and long.

Conclusion

With over a dozen professional and NCAA Division 1 tournaments on its resume, there is no question that Crosswater Club is a championship-level test of golf.  It’s also an undeniable beauty, so whether your game is Tour-ready or not, this needs to be a stop on your central Oregon golf itinerary.

Visit Crosswater Club HERE

The post Crosswater Club Golf Course Review appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

50 Words or Less

The Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus golf course is a beautiful, sneaky tough test located in Bend, Oregon.  Tee shots require accuracy as well as distance control.  Approach shots demand precision.

Introduction

“Resort course” is generally used to describe a track that’s built for the high handicapper on vacation: scenic and easy.  The Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus golf course certainly has the “scenic” part covered, but is the course a good fit for the high handicapper?  I played a round to find out.

Practice Facilities

Pulling up to Pronghorn Golf Club, one of the first things you’ll see is the massive driving range.  It can accommodate a huge amount of golfers hitting off grass tees to several target greens.  Additionally, it checks the critical box of being very close to the first tee.

The Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus course also has its own practice putting green.  In addition to being large, it’s one of the most attractive practice greens I’ve seen.  It’s surrounds by juniper trees with one right in the middle.

Amenities & Customer Service

At the Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus course, you’ll find all the amenities you’d expect at a high end resort course.  The carts have outstanding GPS units which give you the exact distance to the pin on a color touchscreen display.  There’s also a full service turn station and a beverage cart that gets around the course quickly.

Juniper Preserve, the resort which is home to the Pronghorn Golf Club, is similar in having everything you would expect from a premium resort.  We had lunch at the Trailhead Grill restaurant, which was very good.  They have lodging for groups of all types and sizes in their hotel and rental homes.  Activities are outdoor and wellness focused with many offerings for families, too.

Learn why Central Oregon is one of the best golf destinations HERE

Beauty & Scenery

Before we played our round, several people in our traveling party were hyping up Pronghorn Golf Club for its beauty, and the course did not disappoint.  The look is unique – part desert golf, part juniper forest.  At times I felt like I was in Arizona more than Oregon, until I looked at the snow-topped mountains in the distance.

The hallmark of the Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus golf course are the juniper trees.  While the live junipers are beautiful – and they smell great – the ones that have been struck by lightning are unlike anything I’ve seen.  The twisted trunk and branches are right out of The Nightmare Before Christmas, giving the course a genuinely unique aesthetic.

Tee Shots

The fairways at the Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus golf course pinch and swell dramatically, defying my normal rating of narrow, average, or wide.  Additionally, they snake left to right, adding to the difficulty of selecting a target.  Jack is also no stranger to centerline hazards, as you can see above.

One other element that’s harder to appreciate is the elevation, or lack thereof.  This course is fairly flat overall, so you aren’t provided with bird’s-eye views of the fairways.  The hole above is a good example: the GPS may tell you to play over the fairway bunker on the left, but without being able to see the landing area, it’s hard to confidently play that line.

If you drive it wildly at the Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus golf course, you’re likely to lose a lot of golf balls.  It’s possible to find your ball in the desert areas, but you need to know precisely where it went in, which is unlikely during your first round.  There’s a healthy amount of rough between the fairway and the desert but not so much that you can spray your tee shots.

There are five sets of tees at the Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus golf course ranging from 7,397 to 5,256 yards.  There are also three combo tees.  Being humble in your tee box selection will lead to having a much better time.

Where many golf courses beef up their yardage with long par 3s, the Nicklaus course does not.  Additionally, there are two short par 4s.  That means that the other par 4s and the par 5s are all brawny, and because there is so little elevation, there is no “free” distance.  After you read the next section, you’ll understand better why you’re going to want more short irons in your hand.

Approach Shots

While it’s no slouch off the tee, the Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus golf course really tests players on shots into the green.  The level of challenge is not immediately obvious.  There is only modest movement in the fairways, giving players good lies and stances.  The elevation changes into the greens are generally minimal to moderate.  There is meaningful rough, but it’s thicker than it is long.

The challenge starts with the size and shape of the greens.  They are generally no more than average in size.  The shapes are not bizarre, but they’re set up to minimize room for error.  A green might be wide but shallow.  It could be wide at the front but very thin toward the back.  The designs are subtle enough to give players a false sense of confidence then punish them for a lack of precision.

Additionally, the greens at Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus golf course are thoughtfully defended.  The number of greenside bunkers isn’t overwhelming, but they’re placed for maximum impact.  It’s possible to create angles where you don’t need to play over them, but that requires a level of precision off the tee that’s not realistic.  Ending up with an unobstructed look at the green is as much luck as skill.

Finally, the turf at the Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus golf course is firm.  This does open up the ground game, but the aforementioned bunkers close it off most of the time.  All that makes very high, soft shots the required option if you want to get close to the flag.

Greens & Surrounds

If you miss the green at the Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus golf course – and you’ll miss quite a few – you need to be prepared for a variety of situations.  That starts with different cuts of rough.  Around the greens, you’ll find everything from very tight fairway cuts to light fringe to fairly thick rough.

There are some large collection areas, as you can see above.  While the short cut may lead you to think these are the preferred spots, it really depends on your short game strengths.  Putting is an option, but these areas are significantly slower than the greens, so your speed control needs to be extremely good.  If you can’t chip and pitch off tight lies with precision, you might be better off in the longer grass.

If you’re taking bold lines at the flag, you can expect to find yourself in several bunkers at Pronghorn Golf Club.  They vary in size and depth, but the sand is uniformly excellent.  Competent bunker players shouldn’t have much difficulty getting their ball out and on the green.  If you’re scared of the sand, you’ll be forced to play timid lines into the greens.

After playing at Tetherow [review HERE], most greens looked very tame to me.  However, after a couple holes, I recognized that the greens at the Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus golf course are anything but flat.  There are not many eye-popping undulations, but several greens are clearly segmented, and they all have character.  Making long putts here requires strong green reading abilities.

Overall Design

“Sneaky tough” is the phrase that I keep coming back to when describing the Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus golf course.  Nothing here is going to scare golfers away.  There aren’t a bunch of blind shots or insane elevation changes.  The greens don’t look like roller coasters.  For the most part, the course is right in front of you, telling you where to hit it.

The difficulty, which is hard to appreciate immediately, is in executing those shots.  Your targets are much smaller than you may realize.  You might land the ball on the green but without adequate spin or height to keep it there.  A drive can be good and still find trouble.

Additionally, the course is relentless.  The shots are challenging, one after another.  You never look at a shot and think, “That’s impossible,” but you don’t get any freebies either.  This is a fun course to play if you like to challenge yourself, but if you need to go low to have a good time, you should be playing this one from some very short tees.

Favorite Holes

#12 – Par 4 – 342 Yards

This short par 4 is an absolute gem.  The severe pinch of the fairway (above) forces you to make a choice between laying back and going for it.  Driving it onto the elevated green is nearly impossible as it’s shallow and protected by a bunker in front.  There is no easy second shot: laying up leaves a longer club in your hand and getting close produces awkward angles.  This hole may be short, but it’s not easy.

#7 – Par 3 – 187 Yards

I chose this because it’s a great example of Pronghorn’s sneaky difficulty.  This is a mid-length par 3 with just one bunker and a surround that’s mostly cut tight.  While that may seem easy, a closer look at the green reveals that the triangular shape requires tremendous control of distance and line.  Additionally, the green is elevated and ready to send short approaches running back toward the tee.

#13 – Par 4 – 378 Yards

The prettiest hole on the course is also one of the best opportunities to score.  It starts with a cape-like drive where you can bite off as much as you want.  Getting closer not only shortens your approach, it improves your angle and takes more water out of play.  After you take a couple pictures, focus on your shots and take advantage of one of the true birdie holes at Pronghorn.

Conclusion

The Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus golf course is a treat for your eyes and a stern test for your game.  Bring a thoughtful, strategic eye and your best ball striking, and challenge yourself against a course that will make you earn every birdie.

Visit Pronghorn Golf Club HERE

The post Pronghorn Golf Club Jack Nicklaus Golf Course Review appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

50 Words or Less

Sedge Valley, the fifth course at Sand Valley in Nekoosa, Wisconsin, offers a more intimate round of golf than its brothers.  While it’s generous off the tee, strategic thought is required on every shot.  A course you’ll instantly want to replay.

Introduction

Just a year after opening The Lido, Sand Valley has added a fifth course to its roster: Sedge Valley.  Playing to a par of 68 it’s a bit of an oddity, but the people behind Sand Valley are not afraid to give the golfing public something new.  After my round there, I’m hopeful that Sedge Valley can be a trend setter the way that Bandon Dunes has been.

Practice Facilities

Sedge Valley shares its practice facilities with the other Sand Valley courses.  Having four full-length courses sharing a driving range doesn’t sound ideal, but this range is big enough to carry the load.  There is also a short game area with two large practice greens.  The practice facilities are a short shuttle ride from the first tee at Sedge, so make sure to leave yourself ample time to warm up.

My visit to Sedge Valley came during a media preview day.  The putting green was not yet open, but I saw the area where it will sit, behind the pro shop and The Gallery restaurant.  Knowing Sand Valley, this green will mirror the course conditions perfectly so you can get your flat stick ready to make birdies.

Customer Service & Amenities

Caddies are an essential part of the Sand Valley experience.  Despite Sedge Valley being brand new, our caddie, Teal, was already prepared to give us the best lines off the tee and impeccable reads on the green.  Regardless of which course you’re playing at Sand Valley, I would strongly recommend taking a caddie.

One of the exciting new things that comes along with Sedge Valley is another Sand Valley restaurant: The Gallery.  The focus is on Italian food, especially delicious thin crust pizzas.  Along with your food, you’ll get views of the golf course, grass tennis courts, or indoor tennis.  At the time of this writing, The Gallery is a dinner-only venue.

The Sedge Valley pro shop is similar in size to the one found at The Lido [review HERE], which I found ideal.  It’s stocked with premium soft goods featuring Sedge’s fox logo.

Beauty & Scenery

Sedge Valley is a gorgeous golf course that shares some DNA with Mammoth Dunes and Sand Valley but is clearly its own creation.  Sedge was inspired by the heathland courses in England.  It has a rich, green landscape with splashes of sand, the inverse of Mammoth Dunes [review HERE].  And while it feels open and airy, it doesn’t have the overwhelming scale of Mammoth.

Among the words I’d use to describe Sedge are “subtle” and “natural.”  Many course designers talk about moving very little dirt, but that actually feels true here.  There aren’t any contrived features screaming for attention.  This allows the player to appreciate the movement of the land, focus on their game, and be fully present in the round.

Tee Shots

Any discussion of Sedge Valley needs to start with the unusual numbers.  This course plays to a par of 68 – just one par five and five par threes – and it tips out at 5,829 yards.  There are three sets of tees plus two combo sets; the shortest tees measure 3,753 yards.

In our foursome, we had a player who drives it over 250 yards, one around 230, and two below 200 yards.  We played from the tips, though I will note that the tees were not all the way back.  I’d like to give a concise report like, “Our longest player hit nothing but wedges into greens,” but that’s not accurate.  Sedge Valley has tremendous variety in its length of holes.  Some holes will tolerate an overly ambitious tee box selection, others will severely punish it.  I think most players will get all they want from the middle tees.

Architect Tom Doak stated that Sedge Valley “may require some compromises from the long and wild hitter,” but that does not mean this is a narrow course.  Most of the fairways are wide, though not as generous as Mammoth and Sand Valley [review HERE].  Being precise off the tee can yield some advantages, setting up preferred angles into greens, but any player aiming down the middle will find ample room.

The one thing that makes Sedge challenging off the tee – especially your first time around – is the inability to perceive the movements of the fairway.  There is a great deal of undulation in the fairways, but they look mostly flat from the tee.  This can make it hard to know where to aim, to perceive distances, and to pick a precise line.  The simple solution is to take a caddie and trust their advice.

Approach Shots

Continuing on the theme of fairway undulations, you’ll be forced to hit your approach shots from a variety of lies at Sedge Valley.  There are some flat, driving range lies, but more often you’ll have an uneven stance.  These rises can sometimes block your vision of the green, which is the biggest tax, especially for the first timer.  There are also at least two instances where one side of the fairway falls off dramatically, making your approach not only blind but more uphill (see above).  When your caddie tells you to avoid a certain side of the hole, listen.

If you leave Sedge’s generous fairways, you’ll find a thin but meaningful cut of rough.  It’s just enough to put a little chance into your second shot.  The rough also serves a helpful purpose of keeping your ball out of the tall grass.  Should you get truly wayward off the tee, you’ll find grasses that range from tall and wispy to “There is no no chance you’re finding your ball.”  The latter is more rare, but it does exist.

The size of the greens is the features that most distinguishes Sedge Valley from its counterparts at Sand Valley.  Though not objectively tiny – they have an average depth of 38.4 yards – these greens feel small.  That’s the result of the contours, the shape, and the way they’re presented to the approaching golfer.  Take a careful look at the pin sheet to discover where there might be unseen green that you can use.

Finally, one thing Sedge Valley shares with its brothers is firm and fast conditions.  The greens are not as firm as those at The Lido, but mediocre approach shots will not stop where they land.  The benefit of these conditions is that they open up running approaches, if you have the precision to navigate the undulating surrounds.

Greens & Surrounds

While Sedge Valley feels open off the tee, the green sites feel intimate.  This feeling comes from the smaller size of the greens and the mounding around them.  What struck me most about the undulations in the surrounds is the balance of help and hurt.  The eighteenth green (above) is the most stark example.  Whether you’re coming from the upper or lower fairway, the banks on either side of the green help to feed your ball onto the putting surface.  However, those same banks can add some challenging break to your putt, and there’s a testy shoulder in the middle of the green.

Despite being brand new, the greens rolled smooth and true.  The undulations are generally moderate in size, but easily noticeable – you shouldn’t be fooled if you’re paying attention.  Running around a 9 or 10 on the stimpmeter, the greens offered a good challenge, but no putt felt impossible.  The smaller green sizes put more emphasis on line than distance, but three putts are always in play if you get careless.

The surrounds at Sedge Valley are mostly puttable, cut to a fairway length, but there are spots of light rough.  The undulations will dictate your approach around the green more than your lie.  If your short game lacks a high, soft shot, you’ll need to be expert in navigating the mounds and judging speed.

The one occasionally cruel element is the sand.  There are not an overwhelming number of bunkers, and most are average in size and easily visible.  Then there are these nasty hazards like the one above, hidden behind #2, or the sliver of sand behind #5.  These are Tom Doak’s way of telling you to think your way around the course rather than mindlessly firing at the flag.

The other way that Doak emphasizes strategic approach shots is with the elevation around the greens.  On numerous holes, one side of the surround is very tame and the other falls off steeply, as seen above.  To avoid these drops, you may need to play dramatically away from the flag.  I can’t fault anyone who says, “This is a bucket list round, I’m firing at every pin,” just know that plan may have unfortunate consequences.

Overall Design

As we walked the final few holes at Sedge Valley, Dylan declared that it was his favorite at Sand Valley.  I balked at this statement; five years ago, I rated Mammoth Valley as #1 on my Five Forever Golf Course list [read more HERE].  However, as I’ve reflected on the round, I find it hard to argue against Sedge.  It gives me everything I want in a golf course.

Off the tee, it’s generous but not boring.  There are choices to make, and great shots will get an advantage over good or average ones.  Into the green, Sedge asks for precision but doesn’t beat you up for being less than perfect.  Thoughtfulness is rewarded, but you don’t need loads of local knowledge to survive.

Ultimately, Sedge Valley is a golf course that’s subtle.  It feels big but plays precise.  Bogeys are easy, but pars and birdies require craft, focus and skill.  And it has the highest golf course virtue: replayability.  Before the round was over, I was thinking ahead to my next time out and the shots I’d like to try.

Favorite Holes

#6 – Par 4 – 294 Yards

There are three par 4s under 320 yards at Sedge Valley, and debating the best one will be a fun part of every post-round meal.  My choice is #6.  From the tee, you can hit a shot of no more than 200 yards into a wide open fairway to the left.  The other option is to challenge the green.  Choosing the former leaves a fairly easy wedge shot that requires some left-to-right precision but has ample room long and short.  Driving nearer the green puts you in a minefield of bunkers with an uphill pitch to a green that’s only 15 yards deep.  The two shortest hitters in our group walked away with par.  The long hitters did not.

#5 – Par 3 – 136 Yards

My favorite of Sedge’s five par 3s starts with a carry over a low area, giving the green an elevated look.  The green is very wide but demands precise distance control.  Getting near the flag is essential if you want a realistic birdie putt as the green is heavily segmented.  If you aim for the middle of the green, beware of one of the nastiest bunkers on the course just over the back.

#18 – Par 4 – 318 Yards

The finishing hole at Sedge Valley is going to be the favorite of many players.  Your tee shot asks you to choose between two fairways.  Getting to the upper level provides a clear look at the green and a better angle.  From the lower fairway, you’ll have a blind shot to a fairly small green.  The punchbowl-style surround invites aggressive approach shots and can help you walk away with a closing birdie.

Conclusion

I’ve been visiting Sand Valley Golf Resort since it was little more than an idea.  With the addition of Sedge Valley, it’s truly become the midwest Bandon Dunes.  The five courses here offer golfers the fuel for endless conversations about which one is the best.  If you’ve been putting off your visit to Sand Valley, now is the time to make the trip.

Visit Sedge Valley HERE

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50 Words or Less

Tetherow Golf Club, located just outside Bend, Oregon, is a tough test of all phases of your game.  Immense replay value.  Lots of fun for the creative shot maker.  Beautiful natural setting.

Introduction

Tetherow Golf Club is not the most famous David McLay-Kidd design in Oregon – that’s Bandon Dunes [review HERE] – but, depending on your taste, it might be his best.  If you’re looking for a firm, fast test of your ball striking and strategy, it’s time to head to Bend, Oregon.

Practice Facilities

The practice facilities at Tetherow Golf Club aren’t just excellent, they’re visually stunning.  Most driving ranges stand apart from the course – wide, flat, dull.  When I first got to Tetherow, I thought that the driving range was part of the course – that’s how much effort was put into matching the aesthetics of the range to the course.  Also, the putting greens are elevated, giving you great views to go with all the slopes you need to prep for the course.

On the practical side, the driving range is a adjacent to the first tee, which is exactly where it belongs.  There are two sides to the range, so it might require a short drive to hit balls.  The two practice putting greens – one under construction at the time of this writing – are located just behind the range.  Finally, Tetherow has one of the best short game areas I’ve seen.  This area has all the wild elevation that you’ll see on the course, so you can get your short game truly prepared.

Fun fact: the driving range turns into a par 3 course on Mondays…and it’s free to play!

Amenities & Customer Service

Tethrow Golf Club offers players traditional golf carts – with excellent GPS units – as well as Finn Scooters.  I’m a huge fan of the Finn Scooter [review HERE], and I saw more golfers on Finn Scooters than in golf carts at Tetherow.  This makes sense since Tetherow has the largest fleet of Finns anywhere.

The pro shop is fairly compact and more focused on soft goods than hard goods.  You’ll be able to find a replacement putter but not a full set.  There is also a drive thru turn stand where you can refuel for the back nine.

While the Tetherow Golf Club is a first-tier course, Tetherow Resort has much more to offer.  There are three restaurants – I ate at The Row numerous times and never got tired of it – an outstanding fitness facility, a pool, miles of hiking and bike trails, and much more.  The hotel rooms are spacious and well appointed, and there are rental homes if you want more space.  There are only 50 hotel rooms at Tetherow Resort, which gives the place a great feel – intimate, never crowded.

Learn why Central Oregon is one of the best golf destinations HERE

Beauty & Scenery

Tetherow Golf Club is in a unique spot.  It sits on 700 acres that borders the Deschutes National Forest but is just minutes from downtown Bend.  Both elements are on display, as you’ll see quite a few houses on the course (safely set back from play) as well as the Cascade Mountain Range.

The real star of the show is the dramatic movement of the land.  This high desert landscape was left rough and wild.  What I love about this look is that it’s directly related to the way the course plays.  The slopes and elevations not only entertain your eye, they’re also what tests your game.

Tee Shots

A player might look at the wide fairways of Tetherow Golf Club and think, “This course is generous off the tee.”  Another player could see the forced carries and waste areas full of plants and think, “This course is tough off the tee.”  Neither player is entirely right or wrong.  Off the tee, Tetherow is a mixed bag.

I rated almost every fairway at Tetherow as “Wide” and just one hole as below average in width.  But that doesn’t tell the entire story.  The fairways snake left and right, split and dead end.  There are definitely holes where you can swing away, but most demand that you choose a specific line and distance.  If you’re really precise with your drives, you can gain huge advantages by using the slopes to gain distance.  In our group, one player hit a 400 yard drive on #2.

Missing the fairways comes with a steep price.  While you can find your ball in the waste areas, you won’t find them all.  You might draw a playable lie, but it’s more likely that your ball will be suspended in a shrub.  There are numerous center-line hazards at Tetherow, but, for the most part, you’re better off in a fairway bunker than taking your chances with the waste areas.

Tetherow Golf Club offers players five sets of tees ranging from 7,283 to 5,230 yards.  There are also three sets of combo tees.  The fairways are fast and firm, which can add distance to your drives, but you should also take into account the wind.  While I would not say that length is a major factor at Tetherow, you can make it one by biting off more than you can comfortably chew.

Approach Shots

The fairways at Tetherow Golf Club are firm and fast with undulations that range from subtle to enormous.  Unless you find a divot, your ball will have a perfect lie, but your stance is likely to be less than ideal – uphill, downhill, or sidehill.   Getting comfortable over the ball is just the first part of the challenge.

Next, you’ll need to deal with elevation changes and wind.  It’s rare that you’ll ever play the GPS yardage on an approach shot.  The elevation changes range from modest to “I’m supposed to hit it up there?!”  Beyond adding distance, those uphill shots can take away your vision of the target.

The final piece of the approach shot puzzle is the green.  Tetherow Golf Club has uniformly large greens, but they’re heavily segmented and undulating.  You can easily hit a green in regulation but be a long way from a par.

With the course playing firm and fast, the ground game is available on most holes.  The caveat is that you need to make a choice.  If you’re going to use the slopes and play a running shot, you need to commit to that path.  Alternately, you can play a precise, target golf shot, but it needs to be really high with plenty of spin.  Taking the middle route – average trajectory with no plan for what happens on the ground – is the fastest way to missed greens.

Greens & Surrounds

The surrounds at Tetherow Golf Club are just like the rest of the course: big, bold, dramatic.  There are perilous false fronts, towering mounds, and steep drops off the sides of greens.  Large, wild bunkers protect many of the greens.  Though the bunkers are often the focal point visually, more strokes will be lost to slopes than sand.

While there are spots of light rough, the majority of the surrounds are tight and fast like the fairways, leaving you the ability to putt from almost any distance.  The speed of the playing surfaces and the size of the undulations allows for tremendous creativity on and around the greens.  During our round, numerous shots were played well away from the cup to utilize a friendly slope.

The greens are outstanding, running at a smooth 10 or 11 on the Stimpmeter.  This enhances the effects of the large undulations, making every lengthy putt an adventure.  Putting from one segment of a green to another can feel more challenging than an approach to an island green.  The reads are not difficult, but you need to have your speed under control.

While great shotmaking and precision are always useful, the critical ability around the greens of Tetherow Golf Club is discipline.  During your round, you will face situations where you need to take your medicine.  That might be a chip that’s likely to run back down a false front.  It could be a birdie putt you can’t be aggressive with.  Whatever it is, make the smart play immediately and get on to the next shot.  Trying to fight this course is not going to be good for your score.

Overall Design

Tetherow Golf Club is a litmus test for who you are and what you like in a golf course.  If you like playing the victim, you won’t like this course.  You’ll have ample opportunities to whine when your “perfect” shot rolls off the green.  However, if you appreciate the ground game, creativity, and the natural interplay of luck and skill in golf, Tetherow could easily be in your personal top five.

The day that I played Tetherow Golf Club, the wind was blowing unusually hard, according to the staff.  For me, this just added to the fun.  The course absolutely wore me out, but I had a smile on my face the whole time.  But perhaps I’m a golf masochist.

Regardless of your taste, what you must appreciate about Tetherow Golf Club is its immense replay-ability.  Because the greens are so big and have so much character, a new set of pin positions means an entirely different playing experience.  Couple that with the flexibility in the tee boxes and you can easily see why the members never get sick of this course.

The other thing that makes Tetherow a great home course is the depth of the local knowledge.  Some courses give up all their secrets after one round.  Tetherow Golf Club is not one of them.  Every time around this track, you’re going to find a new wrinkle to avoid or take advantage of on future trips.

Favorite Holes

#2 – Par 5 – 546 Yards

Looking at the flyover, the second hole seems fairly normal – a medium length par 5 with a divided fairway.  In person, the amount of elevation change is jaw dropping.  Depending on the distance and line of your drive, you can have a long, blind second shot or a wedge to set up eagle.  And like virtually every hole at Tetherow Golf Club, getting to the green is only half the battle.

#6 – Par 4 – 424 Yards

The sixth hole also features a split fairway.  Playing to the right limits how far you can drive it, and it takes away your view of the green.  Going to the left gives you a better shot, but it brings water into play.  You can also hit it perfectly straight and end up in the garbage like I did.  This is a hole that you’ll want to play again the minute you putt out.

#7 – Par 3 – 226 Yards

This hole made the cut for its green and its tee boxes.  It’s only a long par 3 if you’re playing one of the back two tee boxes – it drops to 163 for the middle tees.  This is something more courses should do.  The green is a masterwork, encapsulating everything that’s fun and maddening about Tetherow Golf Club.  To get a great result, you need a solid plan and precise execution.

Conclusion

If you’re up for a challenge and you enjoy putting your creativity to work on the course, Tetherow Golf Club is a must-play.  This is a gorgeous course that’s going to test every part of your game while giving you the opportunity to fashion shots you wouldn’t be able to play anywhere else.

Visit Tetherow Golf Club HERE

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50 Words or Less

The Ocean Point Golf Course at Fripp Island in South Carolina is a beautiful track that will test all elements of your ball striking.  Greens are pure.  Loads of ocean views and memorable holes.

Introduction

There is no shortage of golf courses with the word “ocean” in their name, but few earn their moniker like Ocean Point Golf Course at Fripp Island Resort.  Designed by George Cobb Sr., the man behind Augusta’s par 3 course, Ocean Point will take you within steps of the beach while consistently challenging your ball striking.

Practice Facilities

The practice facilities at Ocean Point Golf Course are very similar to those at Ocean Creek.  The driving range is large enough to accommodate about ten players, all hitting off grass.  There are several targets downrange to keep you focused and help you figure out your distances and judge the wind.  The only negative is that the range is a bit short, so you can’t hit driver.

The practice green is a few steps from the driving range at first tee, exactly where it belongs.  It’s not huge, but there’s ample room for a foursome to roll a few putts before stepping onto the course.  The greens at Ocean Point are wonderful, so you should spend some time here even if you aren’t playing for your personal low round.

Customer Service & Amenities

Ocean Point Golf Course has a high quality, mid-sized pro shop with a large variety of soft goods and a curated mix of hard goods.  Don’t go to Fripp Island expecting to buy a new set of clubs, but if you need a new putter or wedge after one of yours goes for a permanent swim, they have you covered.  On the other hand, you’ll have loads of choices for logoed polos, hats, and more.

Down the hall from the pro shop, you’ll find the Ocean Point Grille.  Our group found this to be a perfect spot for a quick lunch between rounds.  They have all the staples – packaged snacks, drinks, hot dogs, hamburgers – but also some sneaky good choices like the brisket Philly cheese steak.

Finally, the customer service throughout Fripp Island Resort is excellent.  Not only are they friendly and helpful, they’re attuned to what each guest needs and happy to go the extra mile.  If you leave a club behind, they’ll track it down.  In a hurry?  They’ll run your sandwich to the first tee.

Get the full story on Fripp Island Resort HERE

Beauty & Scenery

Ocean Point Golf Course, in my opinion, is the prettier of the two Fripp Island Resort courses.  This is largely due to the frequent ocean views.  Holes 9, 15, and 18 all play steps from the ocean, and you have long views to the water from numerous others.  This is balanced with a handful of more isolated holes that give the round a great visual blend.

The other thing that makes Ocean Point a standout is the wildlife.  We saw at least half a dozen alligators during each round.  In one case we had to create a new local rule – the alligator drop – to make sure Mike got home in one piece.

While the gators were my favorite, there were also loads of interesting birds, turtles, fish, and the omnipresent Fripp Island deer.  These guys had a lot of faith in our accuracy.  Or very little.

Tee Shots

Off the tee, Ocean Point Golf Course bears a close resemblance to its younger brother, Ocean Creek [review HERE].  That starts with a scorecard that doesn’t tell the whole story about its length.  Ocean Point tips out at 6,524 yards, a seemingly benign length for a long-but-not-elite hitter.  There are are six sets of tees which go as short as 4,041 yards.  Regardless of which tee you choose, this course is longer than its scorecard yardage.  The combination of sea level elevation and a heavy, consistent breeze will cost most players 1-2 clubs of distance.  With a driver carry distance over 250 yards, I played from 6,127 and 5,790 yards and still hit all my clubs into the greens.

Also like Ocean Creek, Ocean Point is penal for those that leave the fairway.  The fairways are slightly more generous at Ocean Point, but I wouldn’t call them wide.  Of the 28 fairway sides, 11 feature stroke hazards almost immediately off the fairway and 14 have only a modest stretch of rough before getting to water or dense trees.  This is not a course where you can successfully apply a “spray and pray” strategy from the tee.

There are two things that help the player off the tee.  First, there are no visual tricks.  You’ll be able to see the hazards from the tee and plan your strategy.  Local knowledge is always somewhat of an advantage, but it doesn’t mean as much here.  The other element that helps is that the fairways are largely flat.  If you land your ball in the fairway, it’s going to stay there.  You don’t need to worry about a tee shot hitting the shot grass and caroming into the water.

Approach Shots

While Ocean Point Golf Course is a little gentler off the tee, it’s more testing on the approach shots because the greens are smaller.  This is taken to the extreme on the front 9 par 5s – #4 and #6.  The former is an L-shaped green that is less than 6 paces wide.  These small targets are another reason to play up a set of tees – trying to hit them with a mid or long iron is a tall order.

Sticking with distance for another moment, I need to reemphasize the weight of the wind.  I’ve played at several courses known for being windy and links-y.  When there was a 2-3 club wind, you knew it.  At Ocean Point, the wind sneaks up on you.  It might feel like a gentle breeze, but then a flushed iron shot will come up 15 yards short.  If you’re picking clubs with your ego, you might not hit a GIR all day [mandatory lesson recommendation HERE].

All this difficulty is balanced with lies and stances that are benign.  The fairways don’t move much, so you’ll rarely face up, down, or sidehill stances.  Additionally, the rough is quite thin.  It would take a very bad break to catch a true flyer lie at Ocean Point.  As long as your ball is on solid ground, you’ll get a fair chance to hit the green.

Greens & Surrounds

The surrounds at Ocean Point Golf Course feature minimal undulations and the same light, springy rough that you’ll find around the fairways.  Unless you put yourself in jail behind a bunker, you can play any short game shot from a chip to a flop.  Putting the ball is an option from almost anywhere, too.

Much like Ocean Creek, the bunkers at Ocean Point are fairly large and conventionally shaped.  They’re not visually overwhelming, but every hole has one or two to watch out for.  The biggest hazard is finding yourself at the back of a bunker with a long carry and minimal green to work with.

The real short game challenge at Ocean Point is the size of the greens.  Even when you miss on the correct side, you can feel like you’re short sided.  Being overly ambitious with your chip or pitch can easily lead to ping-ponging over the green.  On the positive side, the small greens do minimize the importance of distance control and the possibility of three-putting.

Once you’re on the green at Ocean Point Golf Course, you can exhale and enjoy the pristine putting surfaces.  The undulations are modest, but they’re enhanced by the speed of the greens.  When we visited, the greens were incredibly smooth and rolled at a quick, enjoyable pace.  Knowing we were going to a get a “true” result gave our group a lot of confidence, and we saw a lot of long putts fall.

Renovations

Our visit to Ocean Point Golf Course (March 2024) came just before renovations that will happen under the guidance of the Dye Designs Group.  The most notable visual change will be 200,000 square feet of grass being traded out for sand-based waste areas.  This is going to give Ocean Point a totally fresh look as well as substantially changing the way the course plays.  The look will be further improved when all the cement cart paths are replaced with crushed limestone.

Additionally, the Dye Design Group will be reconstructing – and in many cases completely reshaping – bunkers on all 18 holes.  Finally, several of the tee boxes will be leveled to restore their condition after many years of play.

This renovation project is scheduled to begin in June with a target completion date in early September.  If you’re headed down to Fripp Island, know that at least nine holes should be open during the first phase of the project, and Ocean Creek will be fully operational.

Favorite Holes

#18 – Par 5 – 481 Yards

Ocean Point Golf Course closes with a flourish of fun and beautiful views.  The eighteenth hole has one of the wider fairways on the course and loads of room to bail out right, so you can swing from your heels.  It’s not a super long hole – even at sea level with the wind – so you can get home in two after a strong drive.  Your second shot plays to the ocean, and, if you’re really talented, you can stop your shot on top of the wall on the left like I did.

#15 – Par 3 – 179 Yards

This is the shortest par 3 on the course, but it’s all carry.  With the pin up front, as seen above, there’s very little room to miss short.  Regardless of where the pin is, take advantage of one of the larger greens on the course, get your GIR, and enjoy the great views.

#9 – Par 4 – 369 Yards

After several inland holes, the ninth at Ocean Point Golf Course brings you back to the beach.  Depending on your length and the tee box you’re playing from, you can opt for a bold line over the water on the left to set up a flip wedge into the green.  Playing it straight isn’t a free roll as your tee shot will need to split the water on the left and the houses on the right.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for a first-rate test of your ball striking or some of the best ocean views you can imagine, Ocean Point Golf Course will not disappoint.  Bring your A game off the tee – or a couple sleeves of extra balls – and precise iron play.  And definitely don’t forget your camera.

Visit Fripp Island Resorts HERE

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