Major Moment

Omaha's Major Moment: Omaha Country Club & the 2013 US Senior Open

Links Confidential will be exploring a local gem in its community: Omaha Country Club. Designed by Perry Maxwell and recently renovated by Keith Foster, this parkland-style gem features rolling terrain, outstanding bunkering, and a throwback design that makes you yearn for hickory.
The "Big Show" ala 2013 Senior United States Open is coming to Omaha. We'll take a tour from the tips and preview the challenge ahead for Freddie, Watson, and the boys next year. Likewise, LC will give its readers an insight into the preparations made on the course to handle what will be epic attendance for a town that is sports-crazy and quick to support the big events.

Ancient Family Lands: Royal Dornoch

Ross's Homeland: Royal Dornoch

LC recently caught up with fellow golf enthusiast and Royal Dornoch member Mike Munro prior to a recent return-trip to his Club to talk about links golf, family heritage, and his experience as a member.


Tell me about your first trip to Royal Dornoch
In 1997 I was on a vacation in Scotland playing a number of Open course locations. Part of my trip also included a Munro Clan gathering. The gathering was not to far away from Royal Dornoch and had Munro’s from all over the world attending. While I was there, I wanted to play Royal Dornoch. I knew about Dornoch due to the exposure it received when Tom Watson spoke of it during previous Opens.

Your family has a personal connection to the area where Dornoch is settled. Tell me about it.

The Munro Clan's Family Heritage and its link to Dornoch

The Munro ancestral homeland for our Clan is on land located roughly 20 miles south of Royal Dornoch. The land was given to the Munro Clan Chief for the Clan’s assistance in fighting off the Vikings during the 11^th century. To this day, they have a castle Foulis where the Clan Chief has a working farm.

The area itself has such a mystical quality about it from afar.
Royal Dornoch’s isolation is it's strength. The rural setting combined with the mountains to the west and the views of the North Sea is beautiful.

Many of our readers are very familiar with RD’s Championship Course. As a member, what are some of your favorite spots?
First off, I must say that the ground game at Royal Dornoch is profound. The Ross greens are simply beautiful. Holes 2-6 in my mind are as good as it gets. Many of the holes feature inverted saucer-style greens which make the approaches both calculating and strategic. The third hole reminds me of Sand Hills. It’s an elevated tee shot where the entire course opens up into view along with the North Sea and the mountains.

Much has been written about the golf course itself. What do people reading from afar not know about Royal Dornoch?
The town’s connection to the course. Although it is only 2,500 people, everyone in town is aware of its importance and they do not take it for granted.

The fact that there is a trailer park that is prevalently located off of the Struie course is always a shock to first-time visitors. With that said, although the Championship course gets the credit, the Struie course layout is very highly regarded and its flatter terrain reminds me a lot of Carnoustie.

Finally, the other item that has struck me after my trips was the culture of walking while playing golf. Shame on us Americans. At RD, you will walk the golf course unless you have a medical problem. It amazes me to see how many 60-70 year olds out there walking and not thinking anything of it. As a result, it has motivated me to maintain a level of fitness.  It is a mind-set for them and expectation to stay active and walk the course, or simply be out walking your dog on the course when not playing!

Why did you join?
I sat down and asked myself “where do you want to play the rest of your life?” I love links-style golf and wanted a reason to go to Scotland based on family-roots and the quality of links. In addition, many of these clubs are looking for new members, and offer opportunities to join that are very modest in comparison to American standards.

Do you have any recommendations on accommodations in the area?
For a group, I would highly recommend the Greenskeeper’s House at the Club. It is a small home that has 5 rooms and can sleep up to 6 people.
The Royal Golf Hotel is also a great choice. It is reasonably-priced, has great food, solid location, and a wonderful bar.

Jet Lag Open II: Colorado Golf Club

Rustic Perfection: Welcome to Colorado Golf Club--Home of Jet Lag Open II

As I drove through the gates at the Colorado Golf Club, I couldn’t help but gawk at the sheer massiveness of this property. As the road winded through what are some truly magnificent homes constructed over-looking the Coore-Crenshaw course, one gets a sense of true space when you realize that this cozy little enclave covers more than 1,800 acres.

It’s big. It’s grand. And so was the driveway of the home that I pulled up into waiting to unload my bags when I realized that it wasn’t the Clubhouse.  As I got back into my car and continued down the path towards the real clubhouse, the moment I just had was eerily symbolic of many of the Clubs developed during the latter-part of the previous decade. It represents a period where developers were making bold gambles in the belief that the game of golf and robust economy would continue down its explosive path of growth and would be forever-sustainable.

Following  the crash of 2008, the Colorado Golf Club fought market conditions as it successfully hosted the 2010 US Senior PGA Championship. After the tournament, it soon became victim like many other fine clubs in the states of the economy and went through a transition of ownership.

With this fall came renewal. A stronger ownership group and a commitment to the Club’s health has Colorado Golf Club running to its next chapter. In 2013, the club will host the Solheim Cup, which will allow for the rest of the world to enjoy what is another masterful design by Coore Crenshaw.

As many readers enjoyed last year, LC was on its second annual Jet Lag Open. Its a one-day affair whereby great golf and architecture (and a little work mixed in) is followed by round trip flights in one single day. If you haven't made this type of crazy journey before, I recommend all golfers put this act of defiance on their list.

Split Fairways on the Par 5 16th

It’s a HUGE property. The overall acreage offered at Colorado Golf Club leaves the PGA and any future suitors with limitless options for expansion to continue to improve strategy. The overall yardage from the back shows 7,389, but the elevation will leave the guest from non-elevated areas feeling as if they are playing at 6,800. Make no mistake—Coore and Crenshaw didn’t draw up a little walk in the park. This lay-out demands attention from the first tee to the 18^th green. If you decide to lose focus during the round or do not properly commit to one of the many options presented by the architects, you will pay the price.

The course features all of the familiar sights and sounds of C&C’s designs including drivable par 4’s, horseshoe greens with a bunker stuck in the middle ala Sand Hills #8, plenty of strategic design elements, and a turf management program that is allowing the design to accept shots in the fashion that Coore-Crenshaw intended. Between the layout, the scenery, and the massive amounts of room exhibited throughout the acreage, Colorado Golf Club is a perfect venue for future tour events, and will undoubtedly provide an amazing match-play set-up given the final stretch of holes and the benefits of playing at elevation.

In looking back at my experience, the Club truly delivers a wonderful golf experience. Although the majority of the membership is local, the Club also has on-site guest cottages (ah hem….let’s call them homes!) on site that would make for the perfect setting with a group of guys on a trip. With that said, I really felt that the massive clubhouse which was built goes against the overall look and feel of the golf experience. Although the USGA/PGA demands facilities to cater for their events, I would have skipped the “mega clubhouse” with all of the unnecessary staff running around and rooms for a smaller, more pure setting that matches the intent.

Holes of Note:

Hole 2, Par 3  154 Yards
It immediately reminded me of the 2^nd at Prairie Dunes. The green-site was discovered and shaped perfectly into a hill-site. Classic C&C bunkering along with a massive back-to-front complex makes this shot a stunner early into the round. Take one moment off in our swing and I guarantee you are staring at double.

Hole 4—Par 4, 428 yards
 A blind tee shot over a sandy dune on the right hand side leaves the player with a forced carry over a canyon to an open green protected by a large bunker of the right and a shave down area on beyond. Once again, the overall shot value from 150 is spectacular, with recovery options limitless in creativity should you miss the green.

Hole 5—Par 4, 466 Yards
An absolute beast of a hole. A demanding tee shot into a prevalent south wind will leave the player with a long iron or hybrid into a green that is perfectly carved into a hillside and is properly protected by bunkering. Make par here and give yourself a MAJOR pat on the back.

Holes 8 & 14—Par 4’s, 311 & 329 yards
Both are drivable par 4’s and are absolutely the textbook example of C&C’s fundamental dominance in strategic design. These will be pivotal holes during the Solheim Cup and make for exciting television. The horseshoe bunker of the 14^th with a bunker in the middle is a terrific option given the elevated tee and the salivating 329 yards.

There are at least 6 more holes such as the solid 16^th with dual fairways and a fast/firm approach to a slanted green which were world-class. The Colorado Golf Club not only exceeds expectations for major events such as the Solheim Cup, but will provide its membership one of the better layouts that LC personally feels is superior for match play format.

Old Memorial-- Tampa, FL

The Sands of Iwo Jima? Welcome to Old Memorial

Thank God for rain delays.

I sat comfortably in the leather chair with my playing partners in the men’s locker room at Old Memorial. The ice cold gin slowly trickled down my throat and offered a re-assuring sense of hope after a quick slaughter on the Steve Smyers-designed course prior to getting called in for lightning. We had only played 6 holes of what is a classic examination of penal design, but my interest in heading back out to what is an intriguing design waned as I spent more time in what is a shrine to all things male.

Big cocktails. Unbelievable food. A fully-stocked member’s cigar room with humidors. The most beautiful lockers openly complimenting a wide-open room. An expansive bar situated in the middle of the room being hosted by some of the best clubhouse service you will ever see. Sports celebrities in the locker room hanging’ with the boys. Plasma TVs properly placed everywhere providing total sports coverage.


Pucker Factor: The Marvelous Par 3 Third at O.M.

I know that the world continues to move on at its torrid pace outside of the gates, but I don’t care. The setting I was privileged to soak in that day turned its back on the world and let us all truly escape into a nirvanic refuge of indulgence and relaxation.

 Some clubs try very hard to put on a tremendous show. Old Memorial is the real deal, and does it in a way that is subdued, welcoming, and first-class every step of the way.

I ordered another gin and tonic. Is it really necessary that we trudge out of this shrine quietly located between 2 great-sized white doors in the clubhouse? If there was ever a time to hang it up and forget about the other 12 holes, this was most definitely the place. Add in the fact that their on-site lodging is just steps away from the club house, the Club is the ultimate guy’s Shangri-Lah and is absolutely required study by any private club on what is the perfect 19^th hole. I cannot think of a finer place to be invited to a Member-Guest.

Our caddies interrupted our lunch to tell us that we were back on for playing. For the first time in many years, I be-grudgingly got up from my chair and silently wished that I could ditch the golf and stay in the bar for another week. I would die a quick and painless death due to my over-indulgence, but both my wife and family would understand and forgive me if they knew the temple for which I had entered.

And so we trudged back out to the golf course. Four innocent lambs heading into the slaughterhouse.

Founded by Outback Steakhouse owner Chris Sullivan, Old Memorial was designed by Steve Smyers and is located in a quiet setting roughly 20 minutes from the Tampa airport. Drive to it without directions and you may as well waste your time. What seems a non-descript road leads you to a secured entrance that seamlessly winds you through heavy foliage that ultimately unveils an exclusive retreat meant to cater to those who expect both the finer things and life and what is to be an exercise in golf masochism.



Smyer's Bunkering: Artistic Masochism

Make no mistake; they created a great 19^th hole to wash away the bloodshed that will happen to you on the golf course. What is most striking immediately about the design is the visual deception that is provided by over 166 sculpted bunkers throughout the design. As one walks with their group through the round, it is hard not to have the course elicit the same reaction to the bunkers as General George Custer did upon entering into the canyon that fateful day in 1876 to see his group surrounded by attacking Sioux and Cheyenne:

“They are everywhere.”

The bunkers are some of the most artfully-sculpted pieces of work I have ever seen. At times, I truly wondered if Rodin himself assisted Smyers in creating these three-dimensional monsters. The high flashing and massive square area of these penal bunkers demonstrates the immense maintenance budget and expectation as they were perfect….LC properly visited numerous during the war.

The mandatory requirement for guests to use a caddie when playing at Old Memorial is essential. The caddie staff at Old Memorial is truly first-class, and only compliments the experience. The course is designed to confuse, scare, and at times humiliate your sense of confidence with any poorly executed shots. The genius lies within understanding that all of this bark does not always translate into bite. As LC navigated through the course, it was validated on numerous occasions that visual deception was combined with ample landing spaces off the tee if properly guided. Furthermore, the ability to play an aerial game from 150 yards and in is essential to avoid the massive bunkering that surrounds and engulfs each hole. Head into a bunker? Automatic stroke penalty….every time. The greens at Old Memorial offer such a severe level of slope and intrigue that having to navigate massive-flashed bunkers to microscopic targets on greens that are running at 11 is not for mere mortals. With all of that said, it is LC’s opinion that if given the chance to play multiple sessions at Old Memorial, the comfort-level with sight-lines and proper miss-points would be learned and help to reduce the inaugural score of a first-timer.

Did I mention the drinks, greatest hot dog, and the chocolate-covered macaroons?


The Homewrecker

I savored a finely-pulled pint of Cigar City Brewing Company’s Maduro Brown Ale after the round with my playing partners back in the 19^th hole.  Although the golf course is fabulous in its own right, it is the total sum of the Club experience that in my mind leads me to say that Old Memorial has truly defined the word “Destination” when it comes to the Club industry. One should always relish the opportunity to take in a full session at this great Club.

On Deck: Colorado Golf Club

Links Confidential is heading out west to experience C&C's work at Colorado Golf Club. Originally built, this National Club has held a US Senior Open, and awaits the Solheim Cup in 2013. Although the project possesses a checkered past with its initial beginnings within a tough economy ala 2008, this great design has survived, was injected with new ownership, and is poised for a revivial. More to come.

Old Kinderhook

Artificial features in a natural setting

During a recent site visit for a project in the Lake of the Ozarks, I had the opportunity to enjoy all aspects of the Old Kinderhook Golf Resort. Designed by Tom Weiskopf, Old Kinderhook provides guests with your typical resort layout featuring holes of moderate strategy, some pretty views, and the occasional “head scratcher” from an architectural standpoint.

Playing Old Kinderhook is like going to Outback for dinner—you know that the menu isn’t going to blow you away, but for a few hours, you are going to have some fun and not leave disappointed because they aren’t trying to be something that they can’t live up to.

Located in the Lake of the Ozarks, Old Kinderhook is roughly a 3 hour drive from both Kansas City and St Louis. A major summer destination, the area features a massive corps of engineers developed waterfront, complete with sprawling resorts and seasonal property. The land down this way is jagged. Large elevation changes, plenty of rock, heavy foliage, and a good dose of lake effect humidity makes the area intriguing for golf. As a resort, Old Kinderhook not only provides the golf course, but has guest condos, a pro shop, restaurant and grill, and conference center that are all themed in a Colorado-style log cabin façade. As I stood on the first tee and took in the surrounding jagged hills heavily dressed in foliage and the complimenting architecture, I did get as sense for a moment that I was in Summit County Colorado looking to tee it up at the Keystone Resort. From a resort standpoint, the developers have done a fabulous job with the architecture surrounding the course to make you feel as if you were somewhere else. I would beg to differ with regards to the newer additions on the back nine as both the residential and resort additions are both tacky and take away from the interior feel of the resort that you begin with.

Before we skip forward to the golf course, let me say these two things:
1. Their staff has been trained very well and they know how to properly treat people during all aspects of the stay.
2. For $99 to stay and play, Old Kinderhook is offering a criminally-priced deal. When you take into account the golf course, a 2-bedroom cottage that I stayed in, and the setting, it’s absolutely mind-boggling to me how the operation can sustain itself on such meager prices. With that said, LC was a big winner later in the evening as I enjoyed beef tenderloin stroganoff paired with a few choice services of Pinot…not a bad way to finish off what was a beautiful evening.

The Golf Course

This course is the tale of your typical resort layout:

1. Make it easy to play and limit people’s need to think around the layout….EXCEPT for the rough….This condition presentation was extremely thick for a resort. In playing with one of the staff members, he commented that their course is for “the players.” Excuse me while I just come out and say this, but if you are a resort course to begin and end with, the LAST person you are looking to cater to is the avid “core” golfer. Cut the rough and let the 4 couples or group of guys on a weekend golf bender keep grooving through your layout free of bloodshed.

2. Lush turf conditions in all areas regardless of whether blends with the natural environment

3.  Give your customers dramatic tee shots and views regardless of the architectural merit of the design.

4. No worries about breaks between holes….all players are using carts and you can sell more condos!!!!


Holes of Note

Hole 2: 386 yards, Par 4
Short by today’s standards, this par 4 demands a well-struck positioning tee shot of 230 yards on the right side of the fairway to give the play a solid look at the elevated green which has protective bunkering. A well-placed green site, Weiskopf fashioned both good strategy and aesthetics


Hole 6: 344 yards, Par 4
Get out the bulldozers folks. The hill-side which is impeding the left-side of the fairway and promotes a bind, awkward shot to an overly-manufactured green site is both goofy and appalling.  It serves as a transition hole to the stunning par 3 7^th….remember what LC said about resort courses….get to those beauty shots at all costs when you are playing the resort game. There is plenty of room to the right whereby the green site could have been better routed therefore eliminating such an awkward design, but we’ll never know.

Hole 8: Par 4, 416 yards
Sitting on the highest point of the property, the player gets to enjoy a beautiful tee shot. The approach shot challenges the player with a green site situated over a pond, and a creek meandering between the fairway. All in all, a fairly solid hole except for the fact that they installed the Bushwood CC pond fountain feature. Nothing upsets me more than to see an artificial feature inserted into a course what is trying to encourage the player to enjoy the surroundings. Axe the “pretty-pretty fountain” for a more purposeful bubbler that will also help to eliminate algae while maintaining a more natural look that is commensurate with the rest of the design

Holes 7 & 11: Par 3
If you don’t score well on hole 7, you’ll have the chance to play pretty much the same design downhill on hole 11. You can tell that this is one of Tommie’s favorite designs from his playbook as they are copies from designs I have seen at other works such as The Ridge at Castle Pines. Thrilling, but overdone.

Hole 15, 402 Yards, Par 4
Similar to hole 2, this tee shot provides a little more real estate with a fairly straightforward approach. What’s great about the hole is not necessarily the architecture, but the surroundings. Take in the cottages, clubhouse, and topography….you will find some brief solace in the setting. The hole design is like the rest of the course—predictable and fun. Order up that “blooming onion” at Outback…this meal isn’t going to raise your pulse, but will tickle you while you eat and have you leave with a modest sense of satisfaction and a smile.

Verdict
Old Kinderhook does a fantastic job in the role it is trying to play: the present a resort course in a captured seasonal setting. I wouldn’t schedule an annual trip around either Old Kinderhook or other options in the area as they lack true architectural intrigue, but if you find yourself in the area like I did, enjoy a mindless round and then a comfortable meal and drink on the deck of their restaurant. For $99, it’s a testament to the true brutalities of the industry that one can stay and play at a fun little resort for such a small price.

Talking Stick North

When me made the turn, I was left in a state of despair.

What is so damn special about this place?

Why are all the golf geeks writing about this and raving about the minimalist design exhibited on this course?

So far, the only minimalism that I witnessed was a lack of excitement and intellect that Coore and Crenshaw inserted into this project.

Look. I’m a Coore-Crenshaw addict. I LOVE their work. Just like a destined foodie walking into a restaurant designed and opened by Thomas Keller, you expect great things.

Well, its not all of their fault. The land was so below average with any natural elevation or features that playing a quick round at a dirty truck stop parking lot south of Joplin in the Ozarks may prove to be more interesting.  Yes, the tribe had an abundant amount of money that showed with their new shiny casino hotel, and another Coore-Crenshaw design that LC played during the infamous "Jet Lag Open" back in 2011. I even had our infamous fixer “Wild Bill” accompanying me for what I thought would be an inspired round.

Still, the tequila burned down the back of my throat as we reveled in an ace that was had at the 9^th hole by Wild Bill. From 185-yards, the shot hit the front of the green, took one bounce, and rolled into the hole. It was the lone moment of celebration amidst what was somber disappointment.

It was only 9:30 in the morning, but the deed had to be done considering the feat that was just accomplished. For recovery purposes, I dipped my hand into the cooler of the beverage cart only to come out holding one of my local favorites, the Kilt Lifter. A long draw of this sweet local brew-nectar finalized our celebration and placed my focus back on the design.

The front nine of Talking Stick North initially hit me with closely-mown turf and a focus on strategic angles of approach. Throughout the first nine, a number of holes essentially “hug” the westerly fence-line while providing a “runway” style fairway approach complimented by open green sites. Yes, these greens did promote a wide range of shots it could receive, but the American infatuation with artificially-produced green grass conditions continues as this course is over-watered and does not allow for a player to properly execute a shot for which C&C designed. I’ll mark that strike against the maintenance. Still, I was searching to be inspired.

It wasn’t until the 12^th hole that the pure value of strategic option fully presented itself on what I feel is the stronger piece of acreage. More natural features, arroyos splitting fairways providing the player with options, and views of the mountains not ruined by tacky mass-constructed homes.

From the 14^th hole on, Talking Stick North quickly became one of my favorite desert courses….I would consider it my new ideal desert oasis for golf. It takes a while for the course to validate its architecture, but the overall shot values, angles of approach, and use of below-average acreage is nothing short of incredible. My stroll down the 18th fairway made me truly appreciate the effort it took on behalf of C&C to design such an inspired links on less-than-ideal acreage. The masterful use of strategic design and a demand on the mid-iron game is superior. As mentioned above, both courses could further improve themselves with firmer turf conditions that would only compliment the open-green complexes which BEG for alternative approaches to the "sky and stick" boredom of most American routings. After playing both layouts on the property, LC is confident to recommend not only the North Course, but to play it TWICE to fully understand the greatness of this design.