Roll Call - MN contingent? (Part 1)

RCGC from a 9 GHIN’s view:

Hole 1 - straightforward comfy Par 4 opener. More room than you think to left. Mega miss right short of green can bring small pond into play. Green has a ridge running across it so being on right tier makes a difference.

Hole 2 - have to hit fairway on this Par 5. Difficult second shot - lots of room to lay up to right after fairway bunker. Danger lurking if you go for green in 2. Shot in to green is critical as left or long are dead and bunkers/long rough to right. Back pin is mean and can be a tough putt.

Hole 3 - mega tiered green with runoff on front. Short probably better than long because hill behind draws weird lies.

Hole 4 - looks longer than it is Par 4. What looks like the 150 stick is actually 100. Driver or 3w and wedge to a green that is on a hilltop. Easier to attack green from left side of fairway.

Hole 5 - throw it through the tree chute par 4. If you catch the hill all the way down, should have a comfy number in. Bunkers not really in play unless you’re insanely long or come up short on approach.

Hole 6 - back through forest par 4. Definitely chippy 3w or hybrid or less. Too long and you run all the way down hill for an awkward approach pitch. Best shot probably like 220ish from tees leaving 100ish in. This green is wild if you miss left and pin is on right.

Hole 7 - par 3 with narrowish green. Right pin is a bit of a sucker pin with bunkering and pond. DJ Pie it and hit to center of green IMO.

Hole 8 - big par 5, lots of room off tee. Water lurks on left all the way to the green. Elevated green, short is bunkers, long is usually over with blind shot back from 10th hole.

Hole 9 - back to the clubhouse par 4. Left side of fairway better angle in. Giant backboard you can use to funnel ball to green depending on pin. Right is dead on approach.

Hole 10 - par 5 opening on back. Right is dead with pond and bunkers. I’ve had success here with drive up left, then lay up left short of big bunker where fairway runs out with good angle for 75yd wedge where you can go at pin.

Hole 11 - can’t see landing zone but lots of room over bunkers with driver. Bunkers protect opening to green but if you fly them not too much trouble. Unlikely for you, but if you slice one OB right, you may be hitting into a pool party.

Hole 12- beautiful par 3 but trouble all around, especially with right pin. Make sure you check out the house that @tbruhsch is building that overlooks the green.

Hole 13 -par 4 with two forced carries. probably less than driver off the tee is the play here. Looks more intimidating than it is.

Hole 14 - hardest par 4 on the course. Need a big poke off the tee. Can’t see hole from tee but it is to the right and tucked behind a steep bunker and pond. Trouble isn’t really in play off the tee but the shot in can be overly long or awkward if you’re not in fairway.

Hole 15 - straightforward par 3, not much trouble, need to be on correct tier for putt.

Hole 16 - par 4 in front of you, big drive here gives you not too much in, right approach to green brings that front bunker into play. Lots of room up left side of fairway.

Hole 17- cut the corner par 4, decide how much you want to take on with bunker at elbow if you’re short. Lots of room on left past trees even if you’re in rough. Approach uphill to skinny green with couple bunkers in front. Tee shot on this one probably most important shot.

Hole 18 - big par 5 around lake, suggest you ask @kirkeide1 how to play this hole

@Billy_Baroo probably has some good tips for a more skilled player than myself.

Good luck @Daniel hope you tear it up

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I’ll explain the way I did it, and then the way I would play it in a tournament.

My way:

  1. Hit the fairway.
  2. Be really stupid and aim at a random spot on the horizon with a 3-wood. Just guess where the green and the flag might be.
  3. Hit an extremely low bullet that skim the reeds on the way by and somehow (?) ends up 40 feet away.
  4. Walk in and fist pump the eagle putt but instead of the ball going in, it 360 lip outs.
  5. Tap in the bird.

What I would try to do in a tournament:

  1. Hit the fairway, or at least keep it between the trees and the water. The tee shot asks a pretty simple question: Can you hit it dead fucking straight?
  2. Probably lay up. It’s really dumb to go for it on this hole in my opinion. From what I remember, you can’t see the flag, green, or anything around it. Going for it also depends where you are in your round but I remember @mplsgolfer saying almost no one ever hits the green in 2. Lay up is at the shortest bunker on the right.
  3. Hit a wedge in.
  4. Make the putt for bird.

Good luck man! You’ve definitely got the game for it from what I’ve seen. Just make a shit-ton of pars like you did at Keller and sprinkle in a few birds and you’ll be fine. Simple right?

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FIFY

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I’ll be in Fairbault this weekend. I usually play legacy across from Shattuck. Anyone around to join or have other track recommendations in the area?

If only it were next weekend, I’ll be there on Monday the 26th. Played the Legacy once and quite liked it.

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Anyone trying to go to the 3M? My buddy’s wedding is that weekend, but I might try to sneak out to Sunday.

I am trying to go Sunday as well but it’s up in the air. I went a couple years ago and it was a blast, the field is actually pretty strong too.

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Field is posted, I’m most looking forward to watching Bubba and Oousiterhazen

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I’ll be out there on Sunday - trying to get out EARLY to follow a group for 18, if possible.

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Will be there Friday, looking forward to it, field is better than I thought it might be

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Nice! It’s gonna be a gametime decision for me, I think. I’m a groomsman in the wedding Saturday, so we’ll see how we’re feeling in the AM.

Side note: I could’ve sworn Koepka was committed to it, but now it looks like he’s not on the list. Bummer he backed out, if that was the case.

Girlfriends family is up here. I play it 5-6 times and it’s the only track I’ve played up here. I’ll be sure to post when I’m up here again, hopefully can get a loop in.

I’m volunteering at the 3M. I’m doing walking scoring, which I did a couple years ago as well. I walk around with an iPhone and press a button every time a player in the group I’m assigned to hits a shot. I’ll be out there Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.

It’s a sweet experience to follow a group inside the ropes for 18 holes and watch them play their ball.

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Anyone want to play Friday 7/23 morning? I need to do daycare drop off at 7:30a in Edina and then can be on the road. Flexible with location, just need to be home by 2.

Got space for 2 at Rush Creek tomorrow at 4:30. Any takers?

I’ll take one of the spots if one is still available

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I’m headed out there Friday as well. Haven’t gone in the past.

Any under rated viewing locations you would suggest?

Planning to walk with players but wouldn’t mind posting up in the afternoon.

If you’re slightly behind 9 tee, you can see 2 green and some shots come in on the par 3 8th. A decent spot depending on what you’re looking for.

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I haven’t been there for the tournament yet, but just from playing the course a few times in the past couple months, I think there’s a hill behind 3 where you can see like 4-5 different holes? 3,4,5,6,7 I think is the most interesting stretch of the golf course. Approaches from 3, tee shot on 4 and maaaybe 5, approach on 6 and tee shot on 7, which is my favorite hole on the course. Not sure what the infrastructure is like over there though. Behind 9 tee is good too.

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No big tips, your plan is sound. I think 9 is maybe the best hole out there.

I do enjoy watching them hit shots on the range, which I think is an underrated part of attending a tourney.

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