Up on Deck: Wildhorse

I will be trekking out to Gothenburg this week to enjoy what I think is arguably one of the most sensible designs and operations in the business: Wildhorse. You have all heard and read a million things about it, but I'll try to capture a few new elements on this cult classic settled on the initial edges of the Sandhills region of Nebraska.

This is exactly the type of course that LC truly appreciates...there's no b.s. about this operation. Its all about the golf. If you want fancy outside service, GPS carts, and a fully-stocked clubhouse, you'd better head somewhere else my friend. Don Graham and his staff do a hell of a job giving you the ultimate core-golf lover's paradise.

Reality Bites

Rock Outcroppings on the 12th at Stone Canyon

It is a harsh reality for our industry to swallow that golf is in a desperate fight for survival. In addition to the modern day challenges of disposable time for both the avid and recreational customer, the opportunity for new courses to appear within the landscape came to a screeching halt over the past 4 years with the downfall of the credit market that in prior times blindly doled out cash for ill-fated projects using golf as a catalyst to build real estate developments.
You all know what I'm talking about. Take a drive through any large community and see green fairways paired with empty lots and deserted parking lots. You may even see a few trailers operating as a "temporary clubhouse" and even a gravel parking lot as a former sign of a transition period before "things get better."

Well, for the case of Stone Canyon in Missouri, it didn't get any better, and now the bank is the proud owner of a busted development and golf course. Its a shame to see projects like this happen, but unfortunately, there's all too many out there with many more on the way to the morgue in communities all over the country. Our industry followed the "build a new golf course everyday" advice that was so improperly given from the industry experts, only to see stagnant player growth, and what is now a sad tale of the piper coming to town calling.

 I joined a friend of mine, Bill Cromwell, who authors a local golf publication for a round at Stone Canyon. The site was the former Jackson County landfill that was a reclamation project from a previous developer and the Greg Norman design group. The original purpose of the project was to provide the area with an upscale residential development with a private club featuring a named-designer.

It sounds sooooo 2000.

Oops. Its 2011.

I won't get into details on the overall rationale behind the project other than this:

1. The developer was not a golfer
2. The area was completely overbuilt in the past 5 years with new daily-fee facilities in a market where the average household income does not exceed $60,000.


3. They were trying to get $15,000 (well over 5 times market price) for their new masterpiece.

4. The golf course was to be a "core" experience with the majority of houses located adjacent to the lay-out.



A great opener at Stone Canyon



In this area of the country, the natural limestone outcroppings, creeks, foliage, and elevation change offers a lot of intrigue for which I see the Norman group liking in exchange for working on a former landfill site. As I mentioned, the overall operation was to be a private club with a core golf experience featuring residences close by. After playing the facility, the one thing that truly struck me was the space between holes. The developer gave the group a TON of space to work with, and it still featured a cart-only course (walking would KILL you) that had 400-500+ yard breaks between holes. Other than not knowing the environmental challenges, I simply don't understand why the lay-out was provided in such a rugged fashion for what was going to be a members-only course. Who wants 7,000+ yards from the back with massive breaks between holes that only offer a challenged "hike" during the transition? Sherpas for hire? It just doesn't make sense.

So we fast-forward to today. The Club opened in 2009 as a private facilty and is now in the hands of the bnk just a short 24 months later. It is being operated as a daily fee facility, and it will be a tough road ahead. A difficult golf course with highly undulated greens, elevation changes, extensive bunkering, and forced carries will decimate the average golfer's scorecard. Yes, there are some pretty holes out there, but the reality for the new owner is staggering: You are buying a difficult golf course with no clubhouse in a market that will not support you at a sustainable fee level.

Holes of Note:

Hole 1:  A great opening hole by any standards. The downhill, dog-leg welcomes the player with an elvated tee shot and a solid approach as you arrive to the green. The fairway is nestled in a valley surrounding by native trees and limestone outcroppings. Its a great opportunity to start your round off with a birdie.



Green-side at Stone Canyon's 12th

 Hole 5: Although simliar to many of the par 3's throughout the layout, the mid-length hole features a very strong-set green site with a ton of undulation and a smart bunker on the front right.

Hole 12: Its a pretty hole, but suprisingly short. This par 4 features a green settled amidst a limestone-wall amphitheature and a punishing green which is surrounding by ominous bunkers.

Hole 18: The only question I have is WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?? The driving range is located right next to the hole completly un-protected giving players a view of a largely un-finished range...not the impression you are looking to finish on.

Overall, the course offered some interesting features, but gave me yet another working example of the nightmare for which 1990's golf offers....a graveyard.

VERDICT:  Whoever is inspired to purchase this property next will have a tough road. In addition to needing to build a clubhouse that will be able to accomdate group events for business (add another $1million+) and a difficult lay-out, Stone Canyon's fate may be unclear for sometime. There are some good holes out there, I just couldn't make sense of the routing and wasted space.

Jet Lag Open: Talking Stick Golf Club



Talking Stick Golf Club: South Course: April, 2011
A Classic C&C Bunker

 

Good Friday came in early under the darkness of the morning as I hopped in my partner-in-crime's car at 5:15am and cruised to the airport getting half-buzzed with a strong cup of early morning coffee. We were heading down to Phoenix for the day to play 36 holes of golf at Talking Stick Golf Club with a return to Omaha later in the evening.

"Let's do this," I muttered to Dave as we rolled up to the airport still waiting for our caffeine to kick in.

And away we went.



The Fixer:
The Infamous "Wild Bill"

 Our "Fixer," an esteemed golf junkie himself who we call "Wild Bill" hooked us up with not only a ride from the airport, but tee times at Talking Stick, and a great stop on the way home for some local margaritas and guacamole....but more about that later.

Talking Stick Golf Club is located in Scottsdale roughly 20 minutes from Sky Harbor airport. Its a 36-hole complex located on a reservation owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community which also includes what appears to be a hotel/casino. Designed by Coore-Crenshaw, I came in with certain biased expectations given that I have always enjoyed their designs I have played. The prevelant patterns you seem to find with C&C designs feature wide fairways with multiple strategies and angles to holes, unique bunkering, and open green complexes that promote the ground game along with a variety of shots.

I have to imagine that when the tribal leaders brought Coore & Crenshaw out to the site to design both courses, their first response had to be "Are you crazy? This land is an absolute piece of sh&t!"Let me tell you. If you have ever come accross a more featureless and bleak plot of land to design a golf course, speak now. Ok, maybe a cruise west on Interstate 80 through my home state can provide an equal delivery of poor drama, but that's how bleak this land was.

And that's how good these guys are at designing great courses.

Prior to checking in, we were made aware that a large golf outing was taking place on the North Course and we would be relegated to the South. If the average golf award-snob received this news, they would normally throw their arms up in disgust by not being able to play the "best new modern" list winner.... (more on the overall golf publication award system later)but hey...this is C&C's work on what appeared a tragic property. I was interested to see what they could do with such a handicapped site.

The South course gave us a great taste of strategic golf ala C&C design principals as I mentioned above. Wide fairways and minimal rough provided you with the chance to make poor shots and recover with heroics. To me, the most challenging aspects of the lay-out were the numerous false-front green presentations along with depressions prior to the green that were often deceiving from the 120-yard and in approach game. The bunkering featured on the lay-out provided players with the rustic look you are always looking for in their design, but without the common "eye lash" look over the top-lines of the bunkers which are becoming all too popular in golf. The design maximized angles off the tee to provide variety and challenge. In addition, the size of the greens (or lack thereof) really demanded accuracy form 150 yards, and punished poor shots with trips to steep bunkers or pitching situations to undulated greens.The back 9 was by far the stronger set of the lay-out, and will provide the golfer with some good options. Overall, the course design worked other than a few items:

First, the conditioning. Now, I know that the western world has a perennial infatuation with green turf, but this course wasn't mean't to be soft and lush. The ground game options that C&C were trying to provide the golfer were consistently eliminated throughout my round. In numerous attempts to bump and run an 8 iron to an open green site, the ball consistently met over-watered turf which killed the execution of the shot. The management company prides themselves on providing world-class course conditions...just think if it actually honored the design and gave people a unique links experience as the deisgners intended....what an idea! Its amazing to me that people have to travel accross the pond to play links as it is intentioned when a modest change in maintenance practices could give guests a unique opportunity to hit different shots and enjoy the course as it was designed. An opportunity missed in my opinion, but a course that is giving the public what they want: green, predictable, and boring.

Second, fake water features piss me off. You need to have water retention ponds at golf courses, but when they collide on 1-2 holes when the rest of the experience provides a tranquil desert setting, what gives? Having he 16th hole named "Wee Burn" with an imitation burn running across the fairway during the approach was classic cheese at its best and totally un-needed. Hole 17 and 18 felt like a bad trip to Florida and were a disappointing finish to say the least.

HOLES OF NOTE:
Hole 4: "Right is Right"At 327 yards, this hole was a great short par 4 (Have I said yet how much the short par 4 is missing in golf?) with a centerline bunker roughly 215 yards out and an inviting green without bunkers. The entire hole is hugging the barbed-wire on the right hand side out of bounds. Playing a mid-iron off the tee provides you with angled options around the bunker with some tree obstruction for those who take it off-line on the right. The driver is an excellent play for the daring....and who the hell is laying up after flying 1,000 miles in the morning with another 1,000 in return? Lay-up another time my friends!

Hole 5: "Fortress"Just when you got done celebrating your birdie on hole 4, "Fortress" comes around and slaps you in the chops. At 471 yards, this beast gives you a greatest hits of C&C's design in a single hole. Light elevation change on a horizon tee shot with a preferred angle of approach on the left. The open green features a severe decline in front along with a false front and plenty of bunkers to devour errant shots.



Visually deceptive bunkering



Hole 9: "Saddle"This is what I love about C&C-- if they see a site for the ninth hole and its a par 3, THEY DO IT. In addition to sticking with the integrity of what's given to them (and once again...NOT MUCH!), the 177 par 3 played short due to a southern wind, but gave you plenty to think about with bunkers that visually intimidate you and another false front green site that has a ton a pin placement opportunities.

Hole 14: "Dylan's Ravine"One of the only natural features of the property was a desert wash that C&C integrated perfectly into this 541 yard Par 5. Bust a drive out 260+ and you will be faced with a decision to go for the open green in 2 over the wash, or to continue to play up the lateral fairway to improve positioning for your third. The open green site provided me with a ton of options when I missed the approach short. I ended up bumping a 7 iron onto the open green, which then treated me to a 3-putt experience on what continues to be small ans subtle greens...what a great defense. I muddled some various curse words before being interrupted by the course host.



"Trouble on the 15th"

 Hole 15: "Gauntlet"By far the strongest hole on the course. The 443 yard par 4 provides a dictated left-side draw navigating around bunkers that will KILL any chance of par if you decide to take a quick tour...believe me...I didn't enjoy the vacation. The long approach shot will come into yet another green that is open with a false front. Once again, a failed bump and run from 80 yards was cut due to wet turf--a damn shame.

As we stood ont he 18th hole, a "Guest Assistant" aka "I volounteer for free golf and don't do anything to help pace of play guy" stopped and informed us that we were were late for our turn time for the second round and could pick up and head to #1 otherwise they didn't know what to do.

You've GOT to be freaking kidding me.



The Kilt Lifter: A Solid Local Brew

 If I haven't said it before, golf marshals/guest assistants are THE most wasted position in American golf. They do absolutely nothing for the pace of play and absolutely EVERYTHING to piss people off....but this rant is for another time.

So, we decided to play an additional 9 and have Wild Bill take us to a local spot called the "Salty Seniorita" for some margaritas, homemade guac, and tacos. Yes, it was perfect. She was one fine senorita for a post-round meal and I highly recommend the outdoor area. And oh yeah...I can't forget to mark off my checklist another wonderfully quaffable local brew: The lovely "Kilt Lifter." A beautiful Scottish Ale that quenched my thirst in the desert sun and paired wonderfully with my Alec Bradley Tempus robusto...no complaints here!



The Holy Trinity: Carnita Tacos, Guacamole, and Maragaritas.



I strolled off the airplane and had a few more laughs with Dave about our adventure for the day. In 18 hours, we flew 1,000+ miles, played 27 holes of golf, enjoyed some great food/drink, and made it home safely. Talking Stick South was a great example of a successful course design with little to work with. It can give everyone an enjoyable round of golf--I wish they could fix the turf conditions, but the American fixation on green tiurf continues. Scotland/Ireland...you're safe. We haven't figured out what "real" golf is over here yet except for a few places.

The Verdict:A horrible site with minimal features showcased C&C's true creativity and gives the customer a fairly decent exposure to their design philosophies. It was priced fairly at $140 for 36 holes. Not too bad when you consider their course at We-Ko-Pa gets $200 consistently. If you are in Phoenix looking for a quick round prior to hitting Sky Harbor, I'd say go for it.I would love to play it in the summer with firmer conditions and would also like a swing at the North course which I am told is even more minimalist but presents additional links-style strategy. Check it out for yourself and let me know your thoughts.
I do miss those carnitas tacos and Kilt Lifters.

Jet Lag Open

Talking Stick Golf Club, North Course

What happens when a buddy of yours calls you with a free plane ticket to Phoenix with a desire to play 36 in a day and fly home? Hell yes-- you take that ticket and run!

Next Friday, we will be "wheels up" at the crack of dawn to Phoenix to play 36 holes at the Talking Stick Golf Club designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore. Its a minimalist design amidst residential over-builtville that I am looking forward to reviewing. Although it does hold one of the elusive "Best Modern" titles from the inner-circle golf media, I'm looking forward to seeing if a desert course can truly deliver intrigue. No development, wide fairways, multiple strategies on each hole, and a focus on the ground game will hopefully match up to thoughts which have been shared on other sites along with other positive experiences I have had with C&C courses. Stay tuned for more info from our Jet Lag Open.

Welcome to Links Confidential



Ballyhack Golf Club
Roanoke, VA

 I've had enough. It's been 9 years within the golf business and its time for someone to be real. On any given day, there are a lot of great projects providing amazing experiences to their guests on a daily basis who aren't necessarily on anyone's "Top 100" pre-paid marketing lists. These stories may not be getting pumped into your monthly read in Golf Digest or various architectural blogs, but they need to be told. I'm here to find the real people who are doing the hard work 80+ hours per week at minimal pay. To share difficult behind-the -scenes moments from course operators to keep their businesses going. I'm here to show you amazing places to play that are truly available to the average person who is passionate about great design, sustainable course conditioning, and honest service. In final, I'm here to create a discussion on critical items within our industry that need to be changed in order to keep our traditions moving forward into the 21st century.

Links Confidential is all about rogue. If you are interested in challenging the predictable normalcy that is golf, then welcome to my blog