cg13
Addict
So finally got to play here after living in Columbus for 32 years.
To say i was a little nervous this am would be an understatement.
I was playing with a great guy, whos is very easy going and a blast to golf with, so that eased the tensions nicely.
It was also my first round with a caddie - and boy did he know what he was doing! clubbing me up, down, having me hit punches, draws, cuts... but most importantly reading putts - and explaining why they broke the way they did.
I am not a solid green reader - so to see him read and see the results were fantastic.
So as i arrived to the gate this am, the security guard checks me in- hands me a little card saying no cell phones; only in designated areas. i turned it off and threw it in the bag. On 3, Jim said if i wanted to snap some pics, go ahead just dont do it blatantly. So i snuck in a few and will try my best to explain the holes.
First of all, the course is amazing, ive walked it countless times at the Memorial Tournament and always wanted to tee it up here.
The elevation changes and undulations are unique for a central ohio course. There are challenging tee shots and the approaches required laser accuracy.
We played the Blue tees, 6739 yards, 74.1/148. Not too bad distance wise, but definately the hardest slope and rating ive ever played.
I usually enter all my strokes into my golfshot app on the iphone - but since my phone was "banned" i took diligent notes on my scorecard to remember each hole.
Hole 1 - Par 4 - 419
slight dogleg right - nice fairway bunkers at 230-260 - green surrounded with bunkers
I push my drive right off the tee, in between two bunkers - with a decent lie. Hit a 7 iron in - which starts right and hangs right - little short of green. Wedge on - for a look at par from 10 feet - good read - little too firm - hangs right , tap in bogey
Hole 2 - Par 4 - 411
Straight on Par 4 - water running up right side - and around green. I push my drive, maybe a cut, right again - and it hits the rough and bounces towards a red stake. I think im up - Fro (caddie) starts walking that way.
we get down there and hes found me - in the creek but sitting up on a grassy island. he looks at me, and my white shorts and says " you can drop up there, or try a wedge off it, thats a one in a million lie in here."
I said what would you do, he said you're 160 out - id hit an iron at the green, you can pick it, take a little mud. I said ill hit it.
I pull 7 iron - but i look up to follow it and didnt stay down - made decent enough contact to pop it up run it 80 yards up and its rolling towards creek again... but stops on the brick wall.
Fro pulls his phone and says i gotta get a pic of that, never seen a ball sit up like that, especially twice. you are really lucky!
I get free relief - 80 yards to pin - stick a 3/4 56 wedge to 4 feet - drain the par.
Fro says so let me get this straight - off the water, off the wall, par. best par ive seen on this hole all year.
HAHAH - make all the fun you want - i was walking lighter to the 3rd teebox
Hole 3 - Par 4 - 374 - Handicap 1
Definately one of my fav holes. Tee shot has to be over water - through a nice tree line to the seperated fairway. its tight - and a hook is wet, a push is OB.
Then you have one of the hardest approaches out there - over a body of water to a tight green sloping front, bunkers all off the back. pin is tucked right and long.
He recommends a 3w, which i hit straight but not far. leaves me 170 in.. I hit a 6 iron, not high enough - it was real thin. gets across the water with a skip off the surface the last 4 feet. unreal.
I chip up well - leaves me another par look from 8 feet - but i missed the putt. tap in bogey. Which im REALLY happy with considering i almost took penalty.
3rd Hole - Approach to Green
Hole 4 - Par 3 - 189
Wind is in our face a bit, pins tucked back and left - with bunkers obviously everwhere for a long par 3 (208 to pin)
I could hit a 5 iron to the front, but id have a monster putt... i decide hybrid can draw it up nicely to the back left corner of green where the pin is.
I hit it good - its drawing too much - ends up 10 yards left, and probably 10 yards below the hole - i hit a blind 60* wedge up - too hard - rolls to the back fringe.. 2 putt bogey. phew.
Hole 5 - Par 5 - 505
Jack really knows how to make some challenging par 5's. There is not an easy birdie out here.Those that have seen it - its the dog leg right - with two fairways. sepereated by a creek running down the middle. which then protects the whole front of the green.. short and you're wet, long and your in sand (jail), hell mishit your layup and you could be wet in the middle of either fairway.
I cut the driver right again, punch out to the 2nd fairway which is over water ( i cant stay on the right side, where you want to be) so my next approach is going over the water. I have an 8 iron distance - but i dont hit it hard enough or high enough, into the bank, into the water. I drop, with penalty - hit a pitch up, and FRO lines me up for a 12 footer that i Hole for a tough bogey.
Hole 6 - Par 4 - 383
Another tough hole - tee shot is tight - fairway bunkers guarding both side of the fairway - and the appraoch again has a body of water protecting the front of the green.
I hit my first fairway with the driver, to leave me a good distance in - PW, but i again hit the bank and end up wet. This pitch up is not too good - 15 footer, i miss, tap in double bogey. my first double of the day.
6th Hole - approach
Hole 7 - Par 5 - 548
A long damn par 5 - thats slightly elevated making it longer.
I hit one of my longest drives of the day, right down the middle. Hit a 5 iron to layup - leaves me a wedge in. Wedge pushes right... make a good chip up - for a look at par from a 6 feet - but i miss the breaker. bogey.
Hole 8 - Par 3 - 160
Protected all around with sand - and its DEEP. the deepest bunkers ive seen - if you are in them its literally 12 feet high to get out. yikes. Good yardage though - just hit a nice easy 7 iron to the front - made a really nice lag putt from 40 feet - and they gave me the 3 footer for par.
8th Hole - par 3 - 160 yards
Hole 9 - Par 4 - 387
Downhill on the approach - i draw the drive - to the first cut left. 8 iron in - but it starts right and stays there - get the GIR - but its gonna be a long birdie putt. i hit it too firm - and make the 6 foot come backer for par (which i give FRO all the credit in the world for, he lines em up great!)
9th hole - approach
9th hole approach 2
To say i was a little nervous this am would be an understatement.
I was playing with a great guy, whos is very easy going and a blast to golf with, so that eased the tensions nicely.
It was also my first round with a caddie - and boy did he know what he was doing! clubbing me up, down, having me hit punches, draws, cuts... but most importantly reading putts - and explaining why they broke the way they did.
I am not a solid green reader - so to see him read and see the results were fantastic.
So as i arrived to the gate this am, the security guard checks me in- hands me a little card saying no cell phones; only in designated areas. i turned it off and threw it in the bag. On 3, Jim said if i wanted to snap some pics, go ahead just dont do it blatantly. So i snuck in a few and will try my best to explain the holes.
First of all, the course is amazing, ive walked it countless times at the Memorial Tournament and always wanted to tee it up here.
The elevation changes and undulations are unique for a central ohio course. There are challenging tee shots and the approaches required laser accuracy.
We played the Blue tees, 6739 yards, 74.1/148. Not too bad distance wise, but definately the hardest slope and rating ive ever played.
I usually enter all my strokes into my golfshot app on the iphone - but since my phone was "banned" i took diligent notes on my scorecard to remember each hole.
Hole 1 - Par 4 - 419
slight dogleg right - nice fairway bunkers at 230-260 - green surrounded with bunkers
I push my drive right off the tee, in between two bunkers - with a decent lie. Hit a 7 iron in - which starts right and hangs right - little short of green. Wedge on - for a look at par from 10 feet - good read - little too firm - hangs right , tap in bogey
Hole 2 - Par 4 - 411
Straight on Par 4 - water running up right side - and around green. I push my drive, maybe a cut, right again - and it hits the rough and bounces towards a red stake. I think im up - Fro (caddie) starts walking that way.
we get down there and hes found me - in the creek but sitting up on a grassy island. he looks at me, and my white shorts and says " you can drop up there, or try a wedge off it, thats a one in a million lie in here."
I said what would you do, he said you're 160 out - id hit an iron at the green, you can pick it, take a little mud. I said ill hit it.
I pull 7 iron - but i look up to follow it and didnt stay down - made decent enough contact to pop it up run it 80 yards up and its rolling towards creek again... but stops on the brick wall.
Fro pulls his phone and says i gotta get a pic of that, never seen a ball sit up like that, especially twice. you are really lucky!
I get free relief - 80 yards to pin - stick a 3/4 56 wedge to 4 feet - drain the par.
Fro says so let me get this straight - off the water, off the wall, par. best par ive seen on this hole all year.
HAHAH - make all the fun you want - i was walking lighter to the 3rd teebox
Hole 3 - Par 4 - 374 - Handicap 1
Definately one of my fav holes. Tee shot has to be over water - through a nice tree line to the seperated fairway. its tight - and a hook is wet, a push is OB.
Then you have one of the hardest approaches out there - over a body of water to a tight green sloping front, bunkers all off the back. pin is tucked right and long.
He recommends a 3w, which i hit straight but not far. leaves me 170 in.. I hit a 6 iron, not high enough - it was real thin. gets across the water with a skip off the surface the last 4 feet. unreal.
I chip up well - leaves me another par look from 8 feet - but i missed the putt. tap in bogey. Which im REALLY happy with considering i almost took penalty.
3rd Hole - Approach to Green
Hole 4 - Par 3 - 189
Wind is in our face a bit, pins tucked back and left - with bunkers obviously everwhere for a long par 3 (208 to pin)
I could hit a 5 iron to the front, but id have a monster putt... i decide hybrid can draw it up nicely to the back left corner of green where the pin is.
I hit it good - its drawing too much - ends up 10 yards left, and probably 10 yards below the hole - i hit a blind 60* wedge up - too hard - rolls to the back fringe.. 2 putt bogey. phew.
Hole 5 - Par 5 - 505
Jack really knows how to make some challenging par 5's. There is not an easy birdie out here.Those that have seen it - its the dog leg right - with two fairways. sepereated by a creek running down the middle. which then protects the whole front of the green.. short and you're wet, long and your in sand (jail), hell mishit your layup and you could be wet in the middle of either fairway.
I cut the driver right again, punch out to the 2nd fairway which is over water ( i cant stay on the right side, where you want to be) so my next approach is going over the water. I have an 8 iron distance - but i dont hit it hard enough or high enough, into the bank, into the water. I drop, with penalty - hit a pitch up, and FRO lines me up for a 12 footer that i Hole for a tough bogey.
Hole 6 - Par 4 - 383
Another tough hole - tee shot is tight - fairway bunkers guarding both side of the fairway - and the appraoch again has a body of water protecting the front of the green.
I hit my first fairway with the driver, to leave me a good distance in - PW, but i again hit the bank and end up wet. This pitch up is not too good - 15 footer, i miss, tap in double bogey. my first double of the day.
6th Hole - approach
Hole 7 - Par 5 - 548
A long damn par 5 - thats slightly elevated making it longer.
I hit one of my longest drives of the day, right down the middle. Hit a 5 iron to layup - leaves me a wedge in. Wedge pushes right... make a good chip up - for a look at par from a 6 feet - but i miss the breaker. bogey.
Hole 8 - Par 3 - 160
Protected all around with sand - and its DEEP. the deepest bunkers ive seen - if you are in them its literally 12 feet high to get out. yikes. Good yardage though - just hit a nice easy 7 iron to the front - made a really nice lag putt from 40 feet - and they gave me the 3 footer for par.
8th Hole - par 3 - 160 yards
Hole 9 - Par 4 - 387
Downhill on the approach - i draw the drive - to the first cut left. 8 iron in - but it starts right and stays there - get the GIR - but its gonna be a long birdie putt. i hit it too firm - and make the 6 foot come backer for par (which i give FRO all the credit in the world for, he lines em up great!)
9th hole - approach
9th hole approach 2
tap in par
