Blueberry Hill Golf Club (Russell, PA)

I heard about Blueberry Hills several years ago, but never made any effort to see it because I thought it had a cheesy name. The Fats Domino song always popped into my head. My view changed when I was reading GCA, and it was referenced as being a hidden gem. I took the time after a round at Conewango Valley to play the twilight special.

(The tenth is a fine par four that takes advantage of the two ponds on the property. I like how the green can accept a running approach but only if it's to middle. Missing to the sides can lead to a big number.) 

James Harrison designed the front nine in 1961, and ten years later Ferninand Garbin did the back nine. Anyone who has played Chippewa in Doylestown is familiar with this dual's work. They do simple designs that sit naturally on the terrain and environs. Blueberry Hill is an opportunity to see how each one views that philisophy. 

(The par four first has excellent grass bunkers guarding the green. The sides of the bunker are the key.  Not only does one have to worry bout the ball resting on the slope, but also having an awkward stance. Note how small the green is too.)

James Harrison's front nine has smaller greens, bold grass bunkers, and pitched putting surfaces. Like Chippewa, there's plenty of room to drive the ball, but the approach shots need to be coming in head on, otherwise the angle tightens up. It's pretty simple architecture. 

(The par three fourth has a long narrow green with deep grass bunkers guarding both sides...

...look how the mounding outlines the bunker. It's really visually striking especially since grass doesn't grow too well on the top.)

(View from behind sixth green. Note how the rear is pushed up, creating the back to front pitch.) 

Ferninand Garbin's back nine has larger greens, sloped putting surfaces, and natural terrain guarding the them. There are some sand traps, usually shallow with slight lips to get over.

(The eighteenth hole plays uphill before doglegging right.) 

Blueberry Hills fits the typical Harrison/Garbin mold. It's very playable, birdie opportunities can be found, but also several holes where par is a good score. I was really impressed with how clean the course was. It was in the middle of October, and leaves were not an issue. I feel that Harrison/Garbin's design principles allow the owner to operate efficiently, so the course is in good shape. 

(The par four ninth plays uphill to a small green. A par is a good score.) 

Is it a hidden gem? Well, on my way there, the paved road turned into a dirt road, so I guess the hidden part is covered. Jokes aside, Blueberry Hill is a solid golf course. I can see why it's popular. I give it a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-45 min). 

(This look from short right of the par five third shows how rocky the terrain is at Blueberry Hill. Look at the mounding containing the grass bunker. It's deep too!) 

 

The Loop (Roscommon, MI)

Ever since Tom Doak revealed he was designing a reversible golf course, the golf world has been eagerly waiting to see what that concept would look like, and more importantly, if it would work. For me, finally the most anticipated course to be built in the last decade was within driving distance. No plane, no passport, and no four digit golf trip!

(Red #11 is a gorgeous 223 yard par three over scrub!) 

The Loop has eighteen greens that can be approached in multiple directions. One day the course plays clockwise, Black Loop, then the next counterclockwise, Red Loop. 

(This is view of Red #4. From this angle, the green has Redan features that the player can use to swing his ball right to left towards the hole...

...while the same green slopes left to right on a very strong par four, Black #14. The hazard short right provides for an entertaining shot, guarding the best leave on the approach. Playing away to the left leaves a "more than most can handle chip." This great green plays well for both loops.) 

I was very interested to see if the greens were going to be receptive from both directions. To me, this was Tom Doak's biggest challenge. What I noticed was they were more receptive for the Red, or at least there were more greens pitched towards the fairway. 

(Black # 8 is a short par three where the putting surface slopes away...

...Black #13 is 222 yards uphill to a green that slopes away...

...Black #15 is another par three where the green slopes to back left where a punchbowl feature makes for an awesome pin.) 

I was also interested to see how crazy Doak would get with some of the greens. The whole point of building The Loop was to give Lou Thompson another great course to go with the highly acclaimed Forest Dunes, so it better be able to keep people's interest. And it better have great holes on both loops! 

(Black #4 has a halfpipe feature running into front of the green with a nasty bunker and mound guarding it...

...while the same green looks and plays about as ordinary as a long par three over a scrub filled valley can.)

(Many people feel Red #6/Black #12 are couple of the best holes on the property. The green sits a little ledge, and are both short iron approaches. This is the Red view.) 

(This Biarritz green is one of the most difficult on the course. The swale between ledges is quite deep, so putting out of it is very challenging. I was in it, and my putt slid past the hole, and drifted far enough where gravity pulled it down the steep enbankment one sees in the photo.)

(Black #6/Red #12 possesses one of the best greens I've ever seen. The golf bag gives depth to the swale. From the bag to pin is uphill, but even more uphill is to the left of bag. That is an unbelievable pin location.!) 

I played Black first, and I had the hardest time not looking backwards to see how the hole looked from the opposite direction. I was so excited to see how it would play the following day! There's so much going on that it's hard to take it all in. I overheard one of the members talking, and he stated he could play here hundred times, and not know all the bounces and local knowledge associated with every green. 

(Red par three #17. Note the tee markers. There are no tee boxes at the loop. There is so much short grass, it's wall to wall fescue, that they can place the markers anywhere they want. It's elasticity at it's best.) 

(Eighteen can be played as a 362 yarder on Black...

...or as a 475 yarder on Red. The green has a large roll, plus several little humps to make the pin an elusive target to get near.) 

The Loop just opened in June, so my visit was a little skewed since the greens were not fully matured, and they did not move the pins on my two plays. This meant that some flags were nearly unplayable. Nonetheless, I dropped numerous balls on different holes, and played shots to places I thought a pin could be. It was great fun! Imagination and short game prowess are strong attributes to have at The Loop. The fairways are very wide, so the course is able to accommodate a wide range of players, however, I would say that the middle of the fairway is not always the best place to be, especially since all the width is meant to give an advantage to a superior angle. 

(The difference between the two approaches is forty five degrees, yet this view on Red #9 makes that central bunker a primary obstacle. Meanwhile Black #9 comes in from the left with nothing to impede a low running shot.)

(Several long vistas across the property will preview holes further in the round.)

I expect The Loop to debut in all the golf publications top 100 public courses list, and I wouldn't be surprised if it cracks the top 50! It's a very different experience than what people are accustomed to, but more importantly, it's going to hold interest and intrigue over multiple plays. It might possibly be one of the coolest designs a person will ever play. I give The Loop an 8 (excellent)(worth spending a weekend). Paired with Forest Dunes, many will say this the premiere golf destination in the Midwest. I highly recommend playing here. 

(Forest Dunes sits on the other side of the road, behind the clubhouse and lodge. It's consistently ranked in the top 20 best public golf courses. Another reason to make Roscommon an annual trip!)