It’s not terrible by any means, and there are definitely some fun holes. It probably didn’t help that it was so windy since any subtlety on an upwind hole was lost as driver was 100% necessary. First complaint has nothing to do with the holes themselves, but there’s a bunch of 400+ yard cart drives between holes which I never really like, and feels like it breaks up some of your rhythm. It seemed like they got disconnected chunks of land to build a few holes within the housing development. It might also have been because the trees don’t have leaves yet or aren’t mature, but the houses seem a lot closer to the course than other places like it.
As far as the course goes, a lot of the par 4s were just brutally long, and I was playing from the two up tees and am a pretty long hitter. A few of them were memorable, but a lot were just “long” as their defining feature. The two par 3s on the front were cool, but both on the back just felt like nothing, connector holes to use up a chunk of space before having to drive another quarter mile to the next tee box. Lastly, 18 doesn’t suck by any means, but could be way cooler in my opinion if they put the green right by the water instead of surrounding it with bunkers. As it is now, going for it means hitting it into one of the bunkers or blasting it right since it’s such a narrow approach from 220 yards over water.
This hole (9) also didn’t stink, but it’s basically the 6th hole from Bay Hill, just with houses in the middle instead of a lake. I believe it’s like 375 from the back tee straight to the green over all the houses, but plays as a 550+ yd par 5 which always feels very contrived.
Lastly, I’m not sure what the land agreements were (what land is for houses, what land is for golf), but I don’t get why there’s nothing in this area of the property. The land looks pretty interesting and includes this lake. It doesn’t look like roads are going in there. I feel like there’s potential for something more interesting that could also eliminate some of the long drives between holes.
Again, I don’t think it’s a horrible course or anything. If you get the chance to play it, go for it. I just have no desire to join and play there every day which is a bummer since I live like 5 minutes away. I thought Shadow had a much better mix of par 4s instead of a bunch of them that were long for the sake of being long.
Appreciate the breakdown. #9 does look like 6 at Bay Hill. Looks like if you play it just right might just get a kick off the roof of that corner house and can maybe kick it on the green lol. I assume the condition of the course is pretty good?
I saw a few spots where some strips of sod were either just laid and hadn’t grown in, or was going to be cut out and replaced soon, but no major complaints regarding conditioning. I feel like it’s hard to really stand out in March when the course has zosiya fairways. The greens rolled pretty good for this part of the season too. Thinking about the greens, I can’t really recall many interesting green complexes either which may have contributed to me not loving it.
Speaking of green complexes, I don’t recall much talk about Fred Arbanas GC here on this thread but it is a great public course in KC. I feel like the layout has some good holes and the greens to me have some good undulations compared to a lot of other area courses. Curious to what you all think that have played it? Was there a few times this past summer and condition was really good with all the rain we received last spring. Playing there tomorrow afternoon with my brother actually and will see if it’s still in good shape.
Love the Fred, i played there a couple weeks ago and it was in good enough shape. Didnt hurt that i shot 72. I think it’s one of the best public courses in town and it doesnt get enough love.
It probably won’t end up happening considering every other sporting event is getting cancelled, but I’m on the list of local caddies for the KC KFC Tour event. Last year they needed 24 local guys, and I’m 3rd on the list, so I should end up getting a bag if the tournament goes ahead.
As far as I am aware LCC is still open. We’re doing to go and carside dining only I think.
Maybe I’m nuts but I’d prefer to play with no flags than with flags and you have to keep the pin in. I tend to think the majority of people play better without pins anyway, because they don’t try to take on more than you are capable of.
Both Blue Hills and PD are closing inside dining, curbside pickup only. Courses are open sans divot fill, rakes, water. BH is single rider, PD is no cart but free push carts. Both pro shops closed. Lodges closed at PD is painful. BHCC just sent a notice that Korm Ferry event is canceled.
Private clubs will be hurt but there are enough well heeled people most will be ok, but if there aren’t carts at courses everywhere? Think of how many places are unwalkable. Not good.
The cynic in me thinks that while courses may go to single rider and wipe down carts, I don’t really trust the kid in the barn to disinfect everything to a great degree. Considering how many ways someone could get the virus, it’d be impossible to trace it back to a round of golf vs. a trip to the grocery store, so the clubs would be in the clear from a legal perspective. Zero chance a number of “modern” clubs/courses could stay open without carts, so unless they’re forced to, I’m guessing they’ll stay open with them as long as they can. I can’t imagine a government would distinguish between “walking golf” and “riding golf” in determine what’s allowed to stay open.
Creekmoor is open, cups 1 inch up and no rakes, water or ball washers. Bar and restaurant closed and only doing curb side pick up. Although this course is not the easiest to walk, then good thing is that most people have there own carts. So I at least know where it has been and who has been in it.
I worry about LCC a bit. The majority of our membership are small business owners. Then there are people like our family who might have someone potentially drop out of the workforce to provide childcare now. I would hate to do it, but on the list of monthly expenses that can be jettisoned, the CC is in the top 3 or 4. And it is also the largest of those…
National & Deuce are single rider/walk only. No gym/tennis/dining of course. They are doing curbside pickup and also doing delivery in the neighborhood, which is cool. Looks like I am going to get real comfy putting with the pin in for the foreseeable future, ha. Good thing is it should force me to walk more, busted out the old Cleveland TA1s and walked the back yesterday to give me an idea of how out of shape I am.
@tnord any ideas when the cabins at PD will be back open? Supposed to go down mid April, I assume I can stop looking forward to that?
