In the early 2000's, Virginia was in the process of building the Sam Snead Golf Trail, just like the RTJ trail in Alabama, and Ed Carton's Poplar Grove was the first course. Snead's death a year later halted the projected but Carton had made his mark, and soon was retained to design Spring Creek.
(The beautiful par three thirteenth is not only well bunkered, but has excellent internal contours.)
Ed Carton explained in an interview that Snead said greens should be like mitts. If your approach shot hits it, then the ball should stay on. I think many of the greens at Spring Creek reflect this. The sides are pitched up and/or the green is set in a hill where the slope will gather the ball onto the putting surface.
(The bunkering stands out, and against the green grass, the brown natural areas, and hues of the trees, it frames each and every hole while dictating the line from to tee to green.)
(Carton worked for Tom Fazio a number of years. The way the creek, brick wall, and bunker converge at the green illustrates the artistry that Fazio obviously instilled in him. This is the approach on the third.)
(The par three fifth plays uphill to a well bunkered green. Most of the pin placements are accessible until it moves to the left. Visually striking hole that probably looks more so in the summer.)
(Carton said he "designs courses with a Fazio touch but without the Fazio budget.")
The par fours are the strength of the course. The bunkers do a great job framing the holes, and create a palette of color from the tee.
(Beautiful tee shots abound at Spring Creek. This is six where golfers can carry the sand guarding the right, or hit to the left where trouble awaits a pulled or hooked shot.)
(I love the tenth! The pic doesn't do it justice. The uphill drive is accentuated by a large slope and the bunker on the right. The second shot is also uphill. A par is a very good score. )
(Yes the eleventh does look like it was plucked from North Carolina. Also it's one of two holes that play straight uphill from tee to green, which I believe is a testament to the routing since the topography is very hilly.)
(No bunkers needed on fourteen! The hole drops from the tee before climbing up to the green. Note the cut n fill on the left side of the fairway. This happens three times (14, 16, 18). I'm not a big fan of this feature, especially since my drive landed in it, but it can be avoided.)
(Look at that green and bunker complex! Fifteen might be a short par four, but the approach has to be precise to get close.)
(Sixteen is the second hole with the cut/fill feature that is visible right side of pic. The forty yard green is open in the front with a drop off on the left. A little draw is the preferred approach shot.)
(The eighteenth is a par five with water all down the left. The first half of the hole had so much slope, Carton cut/filled it to keep the ball from rolling into the water. The result is atrocious. I feel it ruined a grand hole. The pro told me he lays up off the tee to avoid the rough that separates the "split" fairway. With very little to challenge the layup, the eighteenth loses much of it's drama. Still, it's a picturesque finally.)
Ed Carton did a superb job at Spring Creek. It won Golf Digest's "Best New Affordable Public Course" in 2007. Then it made Top 100 Public in 2011 at #70.
I really liked the course! The bunkering is just fantastic! I wanted to play another round here on the wknd, but the rate jumped to $125(!) compared to the $30(!!) I payed to play on a Thursday.
Soon it's going to be private, as soon as they get over 400 members. I can see why it's #3 in Virginia. I give it a 6 (very good).
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