Through The Clouds, McLemore

 When you open the McLemore website a large quote flashes in front of you ' The Best Finishing Hole in America since 2000' as quoted by Golf Digest.  My first thought is - "there are so many golf courses in America, so many great courses in that, if this tops the list, I am in." 

 While the 18th hole is the talk of the town at McLemore the full 18 holes are a great golf experience, though 18 certainly takes the cake. The course sits in Rising Fawn, GA  (though the scorecard says Lookout Mountain, GA) at a elevation of 2,000 feet.  A sign in the clubhouse speaks to how most mornings clouds cover and then lift from the course at sunrise, truly a special view to start every morning I am sure. The course was designed by Reese Jones and Bill Bergin and has golf holes in and around rugged mountains and towering cliffs. The scorecard describes three primary types of holes; canyon, highland, and cliff (the ones you come for) holes. I was blown away by some of the canyon  and holes and they were some of the most memorable of my round. 

I had never heard of Rising Fawn, GA;  the closest city is Chattanooga, TN, which is no more than a 40 minute drive from the course. There is not much between McLemore and Chattanooga.  You could choose to stop by Ruby Falls and Rock City en route, but I would keep going to spend as much time as possible at this property. McLemore broadcasts three avenues to play the course:  as a member, stay and play as a guest on site, or through there McLemore and Friends program (which is an online booking platform). It appeals to golf enthusiasts like myself and groups from around the country. There are a number of rental properties designed for large groups on site.  It didn't take look to realize what all the hype about this place is about and was formerly known as Canyon Ridge for a reason. 

Opening views at McLemore let you know you are in a special place before you even get to the first tee

McLemore has a beautiful clubhouse with a well maintained driving range, putting green, and a short six hole course where the longest hole is probably no longer than 65 yards.   A restaurant within the clubhouse know as The Craeg (cool name) provides overlooking mountain views and is a great spot for post round meal or drinks. I had the privilege to play on a big blue sky crisp fall day.  I would imagine a day with thick cloud cover may not provide the same experience so I was very thankful for the great weather I was given.

From the tips the course plays 7,005 yards. There are six sets of tees known as I (the tips) , II, III, IV,V, VI.  The slope rating from II is 138.  I played the member tees which rotate between II and III and plays 6,332 yards. The opening hole is a sight of things to come at McLemore. First views of the course come from above as you look  down a large cliff to the opening tee boxes. 

Hilltop views from the opening hole at McLemore 

McLemore opens with a dog leg par five carrying 548 yards from the II tees. It falls under the label of a cliff hole and it plays fairly open. Make sure you keep your tee shot far enough right for your approach which carries left back towards the hole. The first green gives you the first great down cliff view. 

Following the opening tee box views, the first green also gives you a special view

I got my confidence up with a par on the first hole only to run into a incredibly difficult second hole. The first Highland hole is the number one handicap on the course. It's a long fairly straight par four with water on the right and trouble on the right. I was fortunate to escape with a double bogey only with a fortunate chip in.  I agree with the handicap that this is the hardest hole on the course. 

McLemore stiffens the golfers spine early with a difficult par 4

Following a short downhill par 3, McLemore sets up its first real blind shot of the day which will not be be the last. A good drive will leave you with a relatively short approach and a good shot at birdie or par, keep the ball on the right side of the fairway on this hole. 

First blind tee shot of the day comes on number four 

The fifth is a long uphill par three continuing the early trend of course elevation changes. Number six was my favorite hole on the golf course outside number 18. A par five, which dogs right calls for a drive up the left side of the fairway. After a good drive, you will be left with a blind shot over a large canyon. You have to approach the edge of the canyon to see anything that sits below and get an idea of where you want your shot to land.

One of the great shots at McLemore is your second shot off the canyon on six into the distant mountain sky

My second shot was nothing but fun; I hit a mid iron and watched it fly into the blue sky and then completely disappear. If you are left with a long second shot you run the risk of not clearing some of the canyon hazard that sits below.  Anything that clears the hazard will leave you with a very manageable approach shot or short wedge into the green. 

Make sure you clear the hazard on your approach at six, though you won't know your shot result until you come down canyon

Number seven was another deceptive par 3. I mis-read the downhill grade and hit the back hill at the green. Understanding  and correctly evaluating elevation and slope changes at McLemore is one of the keys to success. Playing the course a second time you would have a much greater idea of how  iron shots play as well as where the many blind shots on the course take you.  

Understanding slope adjusted yardages is key to success at McLemore  

With the exception of 18, I found the front nine at McLemore to be a better overall nine hole. 10 through 17 felt like it had somewhat less character, but had some good golf holes built in. 

I am going to jump right into one of the best golf holes I have ever played because it eclipses anything else I could write to on the back nine. 

Number 18 at  McLemore is consistently in articles and ranking list for top finishing holes for golf. I would consider paying a full greens fee to play 18.  Every great hole that was just played on 1 through 17 falls short of 18.    As my group was on 17, I could feel the anticipation building. The whole round has been leading to this. The initial  views when you crest down the hill from 17 are spectacular and proceed to get better and better throughout the hole.  

First views of 18 will make your jaw drop

Number 18 is a par four, from the II tees it plays 417 yards. The hole sits around 1,200 feet above ground level with  a sheer drop of cliff running to the left side of hole. It's an incredibly difficult hole and ranks as the second hardest handicap hole on the course.  The first thing to consider on the tee box is how everything will move from right to left. Large hills line the right side of the fairway which was my aiming point. A drive down the center  with any form of miss left presents the risk of taking a ride of the cliff.  Without course knowledge from previous rounds, your line of sight up the fairway from where the tee box sits is somewhat limited. 

I hit a great drive up the right side of the fairway off the tee it looked even further right than I was aiming, which is not a bad place to miss on this hole. Once we moved into the fairway from the tee box I really my  first views of the center of the fairway and the famed 18th mountaintop green. 

The further you move up 18, the more the rugged beauty of the hole presents itself

Initially I could not find my ball which naturally created the thought that it had fallen victim to the large cliff that literally sits lining the entire left side of the fairway. As I ventured forward I was fortunate to find my ball probably within the last few feet of the left side of the fairway. I had landed my tee shot probably fifty yards or more right of the fairway and it ended up on the very right edge.  I wish they displayed a counter at the end of the hole with golf balls lost over the cliffs on 18.  I would venture that on a full tee sheet day number of golf balls lost to the cliffs on the left side of the hole may venture into the triple digits. 

The famous view McLemore is known for, thankfully pictured with my golf ball still in play 

With the tee shot in the books, now it was time for the money shot. I was left with around a 120 yard shot. It was a fairly favorable pin placement with the pin in the front of the green, centered. This allowed for a safe place to aim on the right side of the green. Once again, the theme of 18 is don't miss left. Even though I was not in competition and I was competing against nothing more than my individual score, it was a very memorable approach shot filled with intrigue, adrenaline, and excitement. It was the type of shot that you might get once every few years. I hit a well-struck wedge and landed fifteen yards above the hole and was able to two put for par. Cocktails tasted extra good. 

McLemore is an excellent golf course; it lives up to the hype. I would say 18 exceeds the hype. The course and some of the hole design is a true accomplishment to build a golf course in this rugged mountainous landscape in northwest Georgia.  The property is very well maintained; though it only has one course McLemore caters well to large groups. 

The views on 18 are nothing short of incredible 

Tobacco Road, Coming Back for More

 The sand hills of North Carolina is a region of the country unlike any other when it comes to great golf courses. Courses that come to mind are Pinehurst and it's eight famed courses, Pine Needles, and Dormie. The top course list in North Carolina always starts and is carried throughout by this region. While Pinehurst is usually first off the lips of a golfer for this region, one course that gets brought up early in the conversation for this area sits just 25 miles northeast of the Pinehurst campus and may be one of the more unique golf courses anywhere in the continental United States is Tobacco Road.  

If you are in the area, Tobacco Road is a must play course. The course sits in the middle of nowhere.  Are you sold yet? While it's close to the Pinehurst area, you won’t find anything within several miles of the course.  A relatively new course established in 1998 by the late course architect Mike Strantz it has drawn some comparisons to Pine Valley by some in terms of design and play.  Tobacco Road lives up to the name as it was constructed land that was once used by Tobacco farmers and the course is shaped in the rolling sand hills of North Carolina.  Per Tobacco Road’s website it was Strantz’s goal to test ‘a player’s eye, determination, and wits. While no two shots in golf are unique, that statement really rings true at Tobacco Road. If I had to tell someone in one sentence what makes Tobacco Road unique, I would mention a combination of visual intimidation, deep bunkers to the tune of twenty feet, blind shots over massive dunes, and sprawling greens.

Early views from the Tobacco Road clubhouse provide the visual of a special place

Tobacco Road plays a very manageable 6,532 yards from the back tees with a slope rating of 144 with four unique tee names the Ripper (the tips) Disc, Plow, and the front tees are known as the Cultivator. While the tips do not sound like a long yardage, Mike Stranz’s goal and well thought out visual intimidation can make it seem much longer, particularly the first time playing. If you have a chance to play it more than once, try the course from different markers as it will provide a different view and outlook on some of your tee and approach shots.

The opening hole lets you know on first view that you are at a unique lay out. The opening hole really sets the tone for 18 holes of the roller coaster design of Stranz's gem. The tee boxes sits up looking down onto a fairway with rising hills slopping on both sides. While the landing zone looks tight from the tee, it’s actually very wide and if you clear the two hills, you are in good shape. Your approach shot requires a similar shot where you must clear an opening between two smaller hills and should be left with a manageable wedge shot to the green.  Like your opening tee shot, your approach shot is mostly blind, setting up a early theme that holds true for much of the course.

An opening hole tee shot the golfer will not soon forget

The second hole carries a similar theme to the opener, a visually intimidating tee shot where not much of the fairway is visible, but in reality, is a large fairway and plays forgiving to errant tee shots. Again, playing this course more than once is a huge benefit because you understand many of the landing areas and where you do or do not have room for error.

Stranz wants to distract the golfers eye early and often with bunkers even if they aren't necessarily in play

The third hold is a fun downhill par three. Trouble to either side of the hole, but a large tiered green and a short yardage make this a very manageable hole, just don’t leave yourself with too long of a put.

The fourth hole is a fun strategically designed par five. From the tees it looks like a straight forward hole, but once you arrive for your initial approach shot you are confronted with a large bunker the size of Michigan running the entire left side of the hole. Faced with a decision a long hitter may be able to cut distance off the hole and go for the green in two, however a miss means a somewhat treacherous sand shot. The safe play is up the right side of the fairway which curves back ninety degrees left to the hole. Stranz provides options.

The fourth hole fairway bunker can easily turn into a party if you are not careful

The fifth hole is another decision hole for a long hitter. A big drive carries you over a massive waste bunker area, the fairway plays up the right side of the hole, a decent tee shot should leave you no more than 130 yards. The hole doesn’t play long from the fairway, but again Stranz gives you options and for a good golfer makes you think on the tee shot.

For big hitters who are feeling aggressive, Stranz provides a way to the green off the tee all be it a high risk high reward decision 

The sixth hole is a short par three which gives way to a downhill par four which requires a good tee shot and some carry over sand (imagine that) to another two-tiered green. 

Approach shot on six to one of Stranz's many two tier greens

The eighth and ninth holes are two challenging ones to close out the front nine. Number eight is a long par three with trouble pretty much everywhere except the tabletop green.

Number nine is a trademark Tobacco Road hole. A long par four with a green perched way up on top of a hill. The approach shot is one of the hardest you will take all day and requires precision to hit the green. To the right is a massive drop off with a bunker with a large built in stare case. Miss short of the green and you are probably rolling back down the hill and same with long. A miss to the left is in tall grass. Stranz closes the front nine just the way he started with visual intimation, though in the case of the ninth green and approach shot, there is not much room for error.

The back nine opens with a generous fairly open par four with large sand lining the entire length of the fairway as is the case of many Tobacco road holes. Number eleven is almost a replica of number four, just flipped.  A large open fairway with sand lining the entire right side, it’s important for the golfer to stay in the fairway on this hole. The green banks hard right (number four is hard left). 

4 and 11 are two of the most critical holes to stay on the fairway

Following the par four twelfth, the thirteenth brings you to a really fun stretch of golf holes. It starts with a dog right par five that works it’s way uphill throughout the hole. The approach shot is one of the most unique on the course as the green it almost completely blind (another blind shot imagine that) and the green rises above and then sinks into the sandy hills. Depending on the pin placement you might have a slight view of the top of the flag. Don’t forget to take the view in on this approach shot as it is a great golf hole.

One of my favorite approach shots on the course is on the par 5 13th hole

The fourteenth is the signature par three on the course. A downhill chole with water on the right with a two-tiered green. This happens to be the only water hazard on the entire course. The property guest cabin also sits on this hole, more to come on that later. Fourteen is a great golf hole.

While it may not get the visual accolades of some of the other holes, 14 is a well designed beautiful par 3

The fifteenth and sixteenth holes are great par fours with once again built-in blind approach shots followed by a short downhill par 3 before the closing hole on the course.

Much like the opening hole starting out with a very memorable tee shot, the 18th hole does much of the same. Standing on the tee box of 18, you may question if you are still on a golf course as visually you stare down a rising canyon with no view of the fairway. Your tee shot requires carry over the canyon between trees lining both sides of the slot. A good drive leaves you in an open fairway and your closing approach shot to a guarded slightly visible but guarded green, an appropriate finish at Tobacco Road.

Similar to 1, 18 provides a tee shot Stranz ensures you will not forget

An appropriate final approach shot requires a slightly hidden green with sand banking either side 

The on site structure at Tobacco Road fit well with it's quiet location. A large cabin shaped clubhouse sits in the middle of the property along with a maintenance shed and a cabin for guests on thar par 3 17th hole. We stayed on the 17th hole cabin which was a great experience. Once the gates to Tobacco Road close, it’s all yours at night. Step out on to your back porch and get some night putting in on 17th green (which is lit) or better yet take up some night golf with light up balls and play closest to the pin.  

Tobacco Road by day and by night

Tobacco Road in summary, is a blast. Spend an entire day on the property, you will not regret it. You may not find as many blind approach shots of initial visual intimidation on a golf course anywhere out there but as you peal back the onion that is Tobacco Road during the course of a round you come to realize Mike Stranz gives you options as well as provides overall forgiveness in many areas and segments of his golf course. Don't miss out on this North Carolina gem.

What the TV Broadcast Might Not Tell You About the Old Course

The Old Course is set to host the 150th British Open starting tomorrow. Considered the oldest golf course in the world, The Old Course at St. Andrews is at the top of every golfers bucket list.  While I have not had a chance to play the course, I did visit the course and the St. Andrews grounds which an incredible experience, I learned a lot about the course and surrounding area that I never would have picked up on a Sunday broadcast. If your watching the coverage this week and the broadcasters are looking to fill air time, there are likely areas they will not cover.

On 1, A Miss Left is Better Than Right

Okay you can figure this one out watching the broadcast so I am off to a slow start. The first tee on the Old Course runs parallel to the 18th hole. Roads and pedestrian walking paths line both sides, along with crowds of people. No pressure coming off the first tee or anything. 

The Old Course is also a Sunday park

While it won't be the case this Sunday, on most Sunday's, the St. Andrews Old Course closes and turns into a 18 hole public park. You hear me correct.  I would have never expected it, but fully appreciate it.  We saw kids playing, dogs running and frisbees flying  everything you would expect from a park, but certainly not one of the most famed courses in golf. Can you imagine the outcry if all courses in the United States closed on a Sunday? The Old Course believes in a break from the sport for a day of leisure and activity and I fully respect it

The St. Andrews Ladies Putting Club

If your looking for a easier course to get on than The Old Course, Founding in 1867, The St. Andrews Ladies Putting Club is a soldi options. It's also a pretty fair price at only a pound per putter. A nice leisurely alternative ,situated next to one of the most famous courses in the world.

A Weeks Worth of Courses

While the Old Course will steal the show, it is one of seven courses that are a part of St. Andrews Links. Come for the show, stay for the other great courses the area has to offer. 

                                                  Traffic Crossing On the Course

One thing that I had never noticed through the years is that a road passes directly through 1 and 18.  These holes are known for the streets lined with cars next to them, but not through them.  Between  golfing groups, they open the road for cars to drive through. Clearly the road closes during the tournament, but this is a caveat that I would have certainly never picked up through a television broadcast.

Errant Shots on The Road Hole Are Real

As someone who has hit my fair share of errant golf shots through the years, I had so much appreciation for this warning sign which is found in the St. Andrews Hotel on the 17th Road Hole. 

The St. Andrews Hotel follows the fairway of 17, known as the Road Hole. Your tee shot is blind and carries over a building. A very errant tee shot could send customers of the St. Andrews Hotel scrambling. 

The Land of Dreams, Torrey Pines

Torrey Pines is a bucket list course. It should be visited and played by every serious golfer or golf fan. It is a destination that has always been on my short list and was  fortunate to have a chance to play there this past March.  Torrey Pines is a short drive due North from downtown San Diego. From the San Diego airport it is door to door around 30 minute drive. During our visit, we traveled south coming in from north of the Los Angeles area. The last few minutes of the drive were truly spectacular as we crossed a long flat stretch of Pacific Coast highway and climbed up past Torrey Pines State Park and onto the property. 

Shoreline views from Torrey Pines State Park which sits adjacent to  the Torrey Pines golf course property

The property sits on rugged cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, majestic is an understatement.  California is known for it's pleasant weather and clear days which holds true for the San Diego area. We arrived at the property right around dusk and had the opportunity to explore the grounds for a few minutes with the remaining daylight. We were treated to grand first views with a sunset over the two golf courses and Pacific Ocean.  

First view of Torrey Pines came at sunset, truly a sight to behold 

During our visit we stayed on property for a night at The Lodge and it was an excellent choice. The Lodge at Torrey Pines is a five star experience. The nightly rates are expensive, but you get what you pay for. The lodge has a wonderful rustic feel, as you enter  it's as if you've stepped into a cabin in the woods with high ceilings and a fire cracking in the background. The staff was attentive and the rooms were spacious and well done, I could have not played golf the next day and been truly content. Well, that may be a stretch. 

The Lodge at Torrey Pines is well worth the stay if you are in the San Diego area

Torrey Pines is home to two golf courses the North and the South course. The South Course is longer and more difficult than the North Course. The South Course has  also hosted two US Open's, 2008 and most recently 2021. The 2008 US Open is regarded of one of the great Opens of all time. Tiger Woods won a gritty performance in a Monday playoff against Roco Mediate. The most impressive part of Tiger's victory was the state in which he did it playing on basically one leg with two stress fractures and a torn ACL. As I wrote that I had to try and stop and try and comprehend it, and it is difficult. In addition to the two majors, Torrey hosts a annual PGA tournament with the Farmers Insurance Open which utilizes both courses throughout the four day tournament.

Torrey is a municipal course and one of the finest in the country.  A 2021 Golf.com ranking listed had it at number 5 behind courses like Beth Page Black and Chambers Bay. The course is very accessible, residents of San Diego are able to play for very affordable rates and can play either course between $50 and $70. I paid around $220 for non-resident green fees. Torrey gets a lot of traffic, the South Course gets around 92,000 rounds per year played.

I had a mid morning tee time  on the North Course and was up bright and early hours before I teed off. This gave me plenty of time to further explore the grounds and observe the course operations.  The tee time process at Torrey Pines is a fine tuned machine. The pro shop sits in the front center of the property with easy access to holes 1, 10, and 18 for the North and South course. Golfers are asked to report in ahead of their scheduled tee time. A loud speaker echoing across the outside of  the pro shop announces each tee time and also calls out golfers who have not showed for their tee times. There is a wait list and if a golfer does not show, the spot is quickly filled. I did not see any groups go out with less than four people.  The 92.000 rounds annual rounds on the South Course makes sense now.  Once I hear Markham called over the loud speaker, it was time to give it a go.

The North Course has five tee boxes. The blacks are listed as permission only and carry 7,258 yards. I played the middle green tees which play 6,343 yards. The front nine opens with two straight forward but long par fours providing early tests with long iron approach shots without a sizeable drive off the tee. 

The first hole opens with a long straightforward par 4

The par 3 third is another straight forward hole that provides the first distant views of the Pacific Ocean in the background and a small taste of things to come on the back nine. I found the front nine to be a very solid opening nine but did not think there was any standout or memorable holes I would find myself pondering over ten years later. The ocean views were very limited as holes four through nine stretch more inland and finish back by the clubhouse.  I finished the par 5th ninth with a birdie which was a nice way to head to the back nine.  From everything I had heard and read, I knew the front nine really sets up  to a spectacular back nine holes which offers expanding views of the Pacific and plays closer to the high cliff ledges that Torrey Pines was built.  

The back nine opens with a  506 yard par 5. From the tee box, you can see the blue of the Pacific in the distance. A good tee shot carries over a small hill and you are left with the first special view of the round. This is also the first hole where you have to deal with paragliders which gleam their  way across the outskirts of the course over the Pacific and provide for a memorable approach shot.

Pristine views and a paraglider overhead for approach shot on the par 5 10th

The 11th hole is a short uphill par four. Big hitters may be able to reach the green or come close with an accurate tee shot. Even a wayward tee shot leaves you with a fairly reasonable approach shot, I managed to miss left and find the sand.  The par three twelfth ended up being one of my favorite holes on the course. The hole is a moderate in length par three  which requires carry over a ravine. I hit a shot right at the pin that for about 5-10 seconds after the ball landed and disappeared the thought of a hole in one solidified in my mind.  Even some of my playing partners thought the same.  As I walked to the side of a tee box my shoulders slumped as I saw the ball about 8 feet to the right of the pin. As it would have it, I missed my birdie put.

A near hole in one turned into a missed birdie put on the par 3 12th hole

The thirteenth is a slightly uphill par long par four where staying right to avoid out of bounds on the right. The fourteenth starts in what my mind was my favorite three hole stretch on the golf course.  A dog left par which requires a blind tee shot and then carries back downhill with more ocean views. After your approach shot, the anticipation really starts to build as you approach the signature hole on the golf course. 

An uphill walk carriers you to what I would say is the most spectacular golf hole I have ever played. The tee box looking down provides truly spectacular views of the Pacific and in the distance the surrounding La Jolla and San Diego area.  It was truly majestic overwhelmingly visual golf hole, in a way it did not even feel real. Looking back at the picture, it does it justice in some regard to the true beauty and design of the hole,  but is a golf hole that can only be taken fully  if played. I pulled my tee shot to the left of the green and the green side bunker. The pin was placed towards the front right of the green and I was able to roll a nice chip down close and walk away with a par. 

The signature hole of Torrey Pines North, the par 3 15th, a unforgettable golf hole

 The sixteenth hole carries to another breathtaking view with a uphill dog right. The tips are way up a hill providing a great panoramic view of the surrounding property and peers down right over the ocean. I backed up a nice par with a triple bogey.  Seventeen is a manageable par five followed by a long par four to wrap up the North Course.

Views from the uphill dog right par 4 16th

 It was a spectacular round of golf. The views and temperatures were as nice as you could ask for in a round as a cool crisp morning lead to a warm southern California day with a blue sky that seemed to stretch for miles.  While it wasn't my most crisp round, it really doesn't matter in a place like this.

Torrey Pines is a special place. So much to take and and reflect on from around a twenty period hour in the property: The Lodge, the dinning, the accessibility of the course to the public, the world class golf,  world class views, the majesty of the par 3 15th,  perfect temperatures, paragliders in view on approach shots, and laid back California vibes. Having only played one of the two on site courses, I now have the perfect excuse to return. 

Breaking 80

 If I have figured out one thing about golf, it is that you can always improve. It doesn't matter what skill level you are, there is always get better. Improvement can be measured in a single aspect of the sport like improvement in consistency in chipping or working on a mitigating the number of three puts in a round. It can also be measured in terms of the golfers score.

As I have played more and more golf over the last few years, I have learned about myself specifically that I cannot go out and expect my score to drop every round. I may go out one day and shoot a 88 and then shoot a 95 the following weekend. 

When I am playing frequently, there is typically a score range I shoot between. During the summer of 2021 and into the fall of that year, I saw my score range make some progression moving from a similar aforementioned range of upper 80's to low 90's to a refined range of low 80's to mid 80's. This was really a huge step for me. I didn't come out and shoot 83 overnight, but noticed over a string of rounds that my median score dropped. Looking at five rounds in September/October timeframe, I posted scores of 84, 86, 85, 85 and 81.  As the scores dropped during this period of time, I found myself with personal bests on the score card as the summer went on. First it was a 85, then a 83 and finally something I never thought may happen as a amateur golfer, breaking the 80 barrier. 

While hours of practice certainly helped lead to this personal best 79, there were a number of other factors and observations from this round that were important takeaways on my way to crossing the 80 barrier for the first and hopefully not the last time.

Going Lower Than Normal On Troublesome Holes

If you play a specific golf course enough there are certain holes that may give one trouble. For me on  The Highlands course at the Atlanta Athletic Club, one of my troublesome holes is the par four third. For a single digit handicapper, number three should not present too many challenges. My first challenge is that it plays as a long par four, for me. Playing 407 from the whites, but always seemingly feeling longer than that, I find the fairway a low percentage of the time and I always seem to be between a four to six iron on the approach shot. Even if I find the fairway, a long iron is putting my odds of a green in regulation at a much lower mark. The higher the iron on a approach shot, the higher percent change of finding a green in regulation. 

Finding success on  troublesome holes can instil confidence and can help drive a great round

On this warm summer Atlanta day, I happen to hit a good tee shot with and found myself with a reasonable yardage for my approach shot. I ended up  finding the left side of the green. With a pin placement on the right side of the green, I had a nice lag put to card a par on a hole where I often find myself with a crooked number. Flipping the script early in the round on a normal troublesome hole instilled some early confidence and helped keep the scorecard in a good position from the on set of the round.

Multiple Numbers in the Red

At my current handicap and skill level, a birdie on the scorecard is a welcome sight. Stating the obvious, one stroke under par helps reduce a golfers overall score. I consider it a good day if I card one low number in a round. On this day I carded two birdies which was a huge driver to a personal best score. My first came on the par 5 second, which is a scoring hole for a good golfer. 

Take advantage of the scoring holes on the course, par 5 4th of Highlands pictured here

It's a fairly straight forward par five nothing tricky about it.  I found myself with a sand wedge in my hand for my third shot and hit a really nice approach and had inside a five foot put for birdie, which I made. Carding an early birdie and throwing a second one on the scorecard on a hole where I had never made one in the many rounds of Highlands is one of the more memorable moments from this round.

Miss hits turning into gold

One of the signature holes in my opinion on the Highlands course is the par four tenth. It is also incredibly challenging. The hole dogs left and requires a downhill tee shot leading you into a difficult green where anything missed right is in the drink. If I took my average scores from the times I have played this hole through the years, I would be pleased if that average came out to a six. 

Approach shot on number 11 is demanding and carriers  high risk 

I hit a good drive and found myself positioned well for my approach shot. For the most part on this approach shot, I typically aim to the left side of the green which is the safe play on any day no matter where the pin placement. The pin was tucked in on the right side of the green, maybe 10 yards or a little further from the water. I hit a clean approach shot, but found my trajectory on a much different line than was intended. While I thought I was lined up towards the left side of the green, my shot carried over the water and landed just a few feet from the hole. Truly a stroke of luck where 94 out of 97 times that kind of mis hit leads to a ball in the water. It wasn't a slice, as it truly had a great trajectory and my inability to accurately line up for a shot correctly actually rewarded me and did  not hurt me I sunk the birdie put and walked off the 11th green feeling like a lucky man.

Rolling Some Puts

I had six one puts on the round, four of those coming on the front nine which was certainly a driver to 39 on the first nine holes I don't know exactly how my historic history compares with one puts in a round but I would venture to guess I do not have many rounds with more than 3 or 4 one puts.  Two of the puts were over twenty feet with a low probability make.  One puts carry a lot of weight on the scorecard.

18 Holes of Focus, and the Next Shot at Hand

Concentrating for every single shot throughout the course of a four to five hour round is incredibly demanding.  Golf requires your utmost attention at all times. One laps in concentration in can lead to a blow up a hole and quickly turn a good round south. I have had rounds where things were going well and then I throw up a eight on a par four, not a good feeling. I have so much respect for the professionals who go out and throw up scores in the 60's and low 70's for four days in a row all while competing against the best golfers on the planet.

Not thinking about my score during a round is a critical mindset for me when I am on the golf course. If you are playing well it's easy to start counting your score or looking ahead at remaining holes just forecasting what you need to shoot for the remaining holes to card a certain score. Or just the opposite, counting strokes after a rough stretch can take your mind off where it should be, the next shot. This is a dangerous game and the golfer should only think about their next shot at hand. The mind is a critical factor to success in golf. 

The back nine of Highlands requires concentration and precision on every shot

It was a difficult day to be walking 18 as the round got progressively warmer in the sweltering Atlanta July humidity.  My biggest concentration laps came on the 14th hole. I wasn't counting at the time, but entering the 14th hole, I was one under par on the back nine. I hit a good drive and missed the green long on my approach. I had a tough chip shot, skulled it, and left the hole with a double bogey as a result of the mis hit. I found negative thoughts and energy entering my mind after that hole along with fatigue from the humid Atlanta day. 

While the energy factor in tough conditions can be tough to overcome at times, negative thoughts can always be set aside during a round, or in life for that matter. Any hint of a negative thought should be automatically replaced with pure focus on the next shot.  I didn't implode the rest of the round, but also did not finish as strong as I would have liked, finishing the final four holes three over par. I will never know for sure, but maintaining the right mindset for the end of the round could have led to a even lower score. 

Have Fun, Be Relaxed

Tension in golf can destroy the golf swing.  For the most part on this day, I felt relaxed and at ease. I wasn't letting swing thoughts overpower my mind and I let my swing guide me through the round with minimal thought.  If I myself tight, nervous or just overthinking during a round it typically will lead to a high score. It sounds so simple on paper, but having fun and playing at ease is a critical part to a succesful round. 

Take It Back for More

On this day July day I accomplished something that I would have said was not feasible a few years ago.  A 79, or whatever your goal may be, do not come over night.  They come through repitive practice on the driving range, sand trap, short game area and the practice green. They come with training and conditioning of the mind. They come with not letting mis hits get to you. They come with time on the course. They comes with failure and doubt. They come with constant study of the golf swing, yet never fully understanding. I know I won't shoot a 79 every round, but I also know if I don't challenge myself to reach the next threshold of success, I might not ever arrive. 

 

Course Review: The King and Bear

In March of 2020, I was in the middle of a job change and had the opportunity to take a week off and enjoy a short period of unemployment before I started my next work venture. For anyone changing jobs, I would highly recommend building in time off after leaving your old post and starting anew. I found the transitional week of unemployment incredibly relaxing and restorative; the only part I would change was more time off if possible.

For the first part of my week off, I mapped out a solo golf trip, working my way through various parts of Florida with final destination being Amelia Island north of Jacksonville. My travels started in Tampa where I headed north to the World Woods golf facility and had a nice warm-up day, getting in 27 holes. From there I cut east across the state and played somewhat of a slum of a course in the St. Augustine area. My golf venture highlight came the following day at the King and Bear Golf Course.

The King and Bear course is located just south of the city of Jacksonville in an area known as the World Golf Village (dreamy right?).  The World Golf Village is also home to the World Golf Hall of Fame. The course was co-designed by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer: The King and The Bear.  Ironically both were inducted into the World Golf's inaugural Hall of Fame class in 1947. It is the only course in the world the two golf legends co-designed together. Between the two they have designed over 600 golf courses across the world. Not a bad resume builder to add for two of the greatest to ever play the game.

Competitors and rivals on the course, Palmer and Nicklaus were great friends off the course (Picture source: Eleven Warriors)

The clubhouse and course amenities were in great shape. It was clear that they continue to put the proper money into the grounds course for upkeep and maintenance.  The course has a great practice facility and short game area with complimentary range balls included in your round, so be sure to get to the course early to knock a few around. There are five tee box options.  From the tips, the course plays 7,279 with a course rating of 141 (though I'm not quite there yet). As always, find the tee box that is well suited to your skill level and game. I played the blues, which carry 6,506 yard with a course rating of 133, which is probably right about where I need to be (my scores escalate when I get into the 6,800 yard range).  

The front nine brings water into play on many hole and offers unique challenges, particularly on a windy day

I played on a perfect blue sky, crisp, March morning. I could have shot a 130 and been pleased just with the perfect spring Florida weather, maybe.  The grounds were quiet and it was pretty evident the tee sheet was pretty clear early on in the round, which is a really nice way to take in a great golf course.  The course is forgiving enough, but difficult at the same time. The fairways are wide and the greens were rolling true and quick.  For the March timeframe, the course was in great shape. The fairways looked good and the greens were in great shape. 

The front nine carries many great views of the famous Spanish moss 

I found water one of the primary hazards to contend with for most of the round. One of my favorite parts of the front nine  design were the number of oaks with Spanish moss, a which is apparently a nod to the St. Augustine Florida area.  The front nine is more of a transporting design compared to Palmer's back nine, which has more of a feel of a traditional Florida course. 

The closing 18th hole capping off the Palmer designed back 9

I don't have too much to pick apart on this course. It's a great layout and can enjoyed by any skill level. It was a great experience to take in two very different designed nine holes within the same course.  While the first course most think of in the Jacksonville area is TPC Sawgrass, The King and Bear warrants playing you are in the area if for nothing else to see course design and characteristics of two of the greatest to ever play the game. It doesn't hurt that The World Golf Hall of fame is down the street. 

I found this quote on the back of the scorecard and thought it was a great outlook of two great golfers with a known rivalry who maintained a long friendship and worked together to design a great course just south of Jacksonville. Go check it out.

"Arnold and I have been good friends for many years we've also been competitors both on the golf course and in business, so I see The King & bear as a wonderful opportunity to bring our friendship together."