Shepherd’s Rock Nemacolin Resort (Farmington, PA)

Shepherd’s Rock is one of a handful of new courses that opened in 2017. This Pete Dye/Tim Liddy design transverses rugged terrain while showcasing the beautiful mountain views of the Laurel Highlands. 

(The 214/188 yard par three fifth plays to an angled green that is well contoured and well defended. The lake captures the eye and makes it seem as if the green extends to the water.)

It’s interesting to me to see how architects handle property that isn’t particularly good for a golf course. Shepherd’s Rock fits that description aptly. This course covers 244 acres of falling, twisting, rolling terrain that will force the player to hit the majority of shots from a hanging lie. 

(The 590/553 yard opening hole sweeps left around the rim of the valley, ascending uphill to a wildly undulating green.) 

Dye and Liddy employed very wide fairways to combat the severity of the land, but often much of the fairway is unusable, and the short grass works to catch the ball and direct it towards the middle. The middle results in sidehill lies. Now there’s a preferred side where a level lie can be found, but that means driving the ball on a more challenging line. 

(The 619/589 yard par five fourth is a stunning three shotter that features a split fairway. The upper fairway on the right shortens the hole, but it requires a very precise tee shot...

...for those playing down the left or lower fairway, and choosing not to challenge any of the bunkers, this view awaits for the third shot. The railroad ties really make an impression and one intimidating shot!) 

The greens are a tale of two cities. On the front, they are very undulating with big rolls and bi-levels. The back nine is more traditional Dye with greens that have rippled contouring. I’m not sure why they are so vastly different, but it definitely influenced my enjoyment. Several pin positions on the front were placed in difficult spots where three and four putts could be achieved quite easily. 

(The seventh hole plays alongside the lake. The beauty of the area is in full bloom with mountain views and immediate views both vying for your attention. 400/380 yards) 

(The 443/408 yard par four eleventh is one of the best holes on the back as it doglegs left around scrub. Players have the option to carry the hazard or hit a hard draw and work it off the slope...
...the approach must then be hit to a green fronted by sand. There is plenty of fairway right of the green for those bailing out. It’s a strong par four unique to this terrain.) 

There are a couple drawbacks that keep Shepherd’s Rock from being highly ranked. The par threes as a group don’t move the meter much. Granted, the fifth is a great hole, but the other three do little which I find surprising since rugged terrain usually lends itself to grandiose carries. The second is specifically ten and seventeen. 

Ten features a huge left to right slope where players try to position the ball for a short iron approach. Not seen in above photo is a hazard in middle of the fairway. At 388/339 yards, it’s not a drivable par four, so one wonders why the architect incorporated all the slope both off the tee and into the green.

This pic of seventeen is a better indicator of the amount of slope in the fairway. A draw will hold but a cut may very well run into the rough or hazard. Even if one finds the short grass, odds are a hanging lie below your feet will need negotiating. 

Overall, Shepherd’s Rock uses much of Dye’s trademarks. There’s angled greens, railroad ties, and steep faced flat bottom bunkering. However, it’s very different than anything I’ve seen from him. It seems like the views were the number one priority. The way the holes stay atop the hill makes me wonder if it’s more Liddy than Dye. 

(The view of the par five thirteenth from sixteen fairway. Long views of the mountain range in the background is spectacular.)

Shepherd’s Rock does a good job complimenting Nemacolin’s and Pennsylvania’s top rated public course Mystic Rock. It’s already hosted a few big tournaments itself too. In today’s world when more courses are contracting than being built, it’s awesome that the Hardy family is investing money into the game. I give Shepherd’s Rock a 6 (very good)(worth driving two hours).  

(The 455/406 yard eighteenth is a classic Dye finisher doglegging around the lake...
...this view from the clubhouse shows just how nasty the hole can play. Par is a great score!)

Sidebar:

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one of the main atttactions when visiting the Laurel Highlands. It is said to be one of the top 100 things in the USA to see or do. 

Fallingwater is a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece and should be seen at all costs. The cantilever design will make any fan of architecture awestruck. 

The Orchards Golf Club (Washington, MI)

Consistently rated as the top public course in the Metro Detroit area, The Orchards was on my short list when I was visiting my daughter. Robert Trent Jones Jr designed it in 1994, and it’s been hosting big tournaments ever since including the 2002 USGA National Amateur Public Links Championship won by Ryan Moore. 

(The short par four sixteenth plays downhill with wetlands guarding the green. A series of bunkers guard the right side of the fairway where the best angle is found for the approach.) 

The Orchards rests on an expansive piece of land with campground road dividing the front and back nines.  RTJ II strayed a bit from his usual “hard par, easy bogey” philosophy and left a particular side open for a running approach. He kept the forced carries from the tee to a minimum, and focused on position rather than length. It is very playable, and different from the last course I played of his, Heron Lake’s Great Blue Course in Portland. 

(The par three second can’t play any easier than the pin in this picture is located. Look at all the short grass too.)

(The par five sixth is a risk/reward hole. It can be reached in two shots if one challenges the turn off the tee, otherwise players will layup to this view.) 

(The seventh illustrates the beautiful tee boxes and driving lines found here...

...with the hazard crossing the fairway and the hole doglegging to the left, the drive must be accurately placed to have a good angle to the green.) 

I really enjoyed driving the ball here. The driving lanes are presented very well with the grass lines and bunkering. There is never a doubt which way a hole moves. I particularly like how the tee boxes feel isolated with the wetlands just in front. 

(The drive on the uphill ninth needs to be hit far and straight...

...the approach is to a green where the flagstick is barely visible from the fairway. It’s a difficult hole and possibly the toughest on the course.) 

(The tenth plays uphill to well positioned green. A good drive up the right side leaves a nice angle in while the left side forces you to come over the bunker.) 

Every green is well bunkered at the Orchards and the pin can be tucked behind the sand on all of them. While a running approach can be played, it’s not always at the flag. Thankfully, the greens have a nice tilt to them, and not portioned into bileveled sections. It gives it a  classic look! 

(The par five eleventh perfectly illustrates the presentation of the driving lines. It’s just beautiful!!) 

(The uphill par five fifteenth is well defined by bunkers. The long grass in the background is not in play but it frames the hole in a golden hue much different than the vivid green and white.) 

(The eighteenth hole plays downhill and a good drive will catch the speed slot and  propel forward...
...it’s the only green anchored next to the water. Hopefully the drive reached the bottom, if not then it’ll be a slightly downhill lie which is the perfect recipe for a push. It’s a lovely finishing hole with many numbers in play.) 

I came away impressed with The Orchards. It challenges the accomplished player yet is still playable for the high handicapper. My girlfriend was able to play it while only losing one ball. Add in the excellent conditioning, and it’s easy to see why the course gets all the accolades.  I give it a 6 (very good)(worth driving two hours to play).

Firestone Country Club South Course (Akron, OH)

Firestone South has long been one of the principal courses of the PGA Tour. Every summer for the past half century, television viewers have seen the very best golfers play here. If the adage that the cream rises to the top at the best courses is true, then Firestone South must be held in high esteem since the greatest players in the sport have all won here. 

(The par four third is a dogleg right with water fronting the green. Finding the proper position off the tee is key to have a straight shot at the pin.)

As much as the pros love Firestone South, the gca pundits dismiss it as lacking variety and strategy. It’s true the course has many similar holes. It’s routed up and down a hill with eight going uphill and six coming down. Only the par three fifth and par four sixth play east and west. However, Firestone’s greatness comes from the slopes in the fairway, and how you attack them. It comes from the ability to hit sidehill lies to a set of greens that play smaller than what they really are. 

(This is a view of the par three seventh.) 

(The par four eighth is one of my favorite holes. The fairway cants to the right and a drive hit down the left will crest the slope and race down the fairway. It plays shorter than it’s listed yardage, but the approach will be hit from below your feet.)

(The ninth is the longest par four on the course. If the drive carries the ridge in the fairway then it will roll another thirty to forty yards. Otherwise the approach will be a couple hundred yards from an uphill lie. The clubhouse in the background is in play, so folks on the patio best be paying attention.) 

To say the South lacks strategy is a little misleading. Several holes demand the approach come from the correct side of the fairway. Three, eleven, and eighteen come to mind instantly. The trees are tall and ancient, so one has to be mindful where they are laying up and what angle they’re try to achieve. 

(The eleventh green has tiers in both the back left and back right quadrants. One should take a peek while playing the front as the opposite side of the fairway gives best angle and avoids working the ball around a tree.) 

(Twelve is a terrific par three. It’s uphill, bunker fronting, and fall aways on both sides. It’s a demanding tee shot to say the least.) 

(The tee box on thirteen is offset enough to make this a slight dogleg right. It’s imperative to be in the fairway to have a good look at the green. A false front along with bunkers front left and right must be negotiated. Four is a good score.) 

In recent years Firestone has hosted the Bridgestone Invitational and not too long ago World Series of Golf, but between 1960 and 1975, it hosted three PGA Championships. Jay Herbert won in 1960 (281 +1) Al Giegberger in 1966 (280 E) and Jack Nicklaus in 1975 (276 -4).  It’s not a coincidence that it was chosen after RTJ Sr lengthened it in 1959 almost 600 yards. He also added two ponds and fifty bunkers. It pretty much emphasizes his philosophy “easy bogey, hard par”. 

(The view of fourteen green from fifteenth tee. It’s a beautiful parkland course and is in impeccable condition.) 

(The par five sixteenth is known as the monster. It’s six hundred plus yards long, and the fairway tumbles and twists all the way to a green fronted by a pond. At least two of your shots will be from a sidehill lie and if you manage to make a five, then you’ve done a great job. It’s considered by many to be one of the best par fives in the world.) 

Being from northeast Ohio, Firestone is a source of pride. It handles the pros very well, and the tournament is one of the best in the world. For a competitive player like myself, a round of golf here is satisfying. It’s a chance to see just how good you are. I understand the criticism it receives. It can be boring. I get it. But when you shoot a good score here, it’s highly rewarding. I give Firestone a 7 (great)(worth driving 3-4 hours to play). 

(Looking down the hill on seventeen. It goes uphill more than one realizes. From the 150 marker, I couldn’t see the bunker that fronts the green.) 

#88 TOP 100 USA (Golf Magazine)

#96 WORLD TOP 100 (Golf Magazine)

#97 TOP 100 USA (Golf Digest)

#99 TOP 100 USA CLASSIC (Golfweek)

(The eighteenth hole is a long brutal par four with an approach shot that must be threaded between the goal posts. The ability to shape the ball is a great advantage. The option to go low is available too but it’s a tough shot to judge. Note the rear left Sunday pin location in photo.)

Chapel Hill Golf Course (Mount Vernon, OH)

Located halfway between Mansfield and Columbus, Chapel Hill occupies the grounds that formerly housed the Mount Vernon Bible College. The chapel was converted into a clubhouse and is one of the more unique nineteenth holes. 

(The view of the eighteenth green and clubhouse. This 429 yarder can be quite challenging if the pin is stuck in the front right corner.) 

Chapel Hill was designed in 1996 by Barry Serafin. He mentored under Hurzdan and Kidwell, and much of his work is down in the Columbus area. Most folks in Cleveland aren’t familiar with him, possibly Black Diamond being the exception, but several of his solo designs have been listed in Golfstyle’s Top 100 Ohio Public list including Chapel Hill. 

(The 440 yard seventh demands a solid tee shot down the left which opens up the angle to the green. Laying up to marker and trying to save par from the hill is a viable strategy.) 

Chapel Hill demands strong solid driving. Even on the holes atop the hill to start the round, Serafin designed interesting and good driving lines for players to obtain an advantageous position to make birdie. The course starts getting good at the seventh, and by then one better be hitting it well. 

(The 437 yard ninth can be a round wrecker. It’s a very tough hole to make par. My

CGA buddies would love the patio! I can only imagine the ooohs and ahhhs as balls made or didn’t make the green.) 

(The 441 yard eleventh is a beautiful par four. The entire left side is guarded by a hazard and the elevated green makes par a good score.) 

The stretch of holes 7-11 is particularly strong. Par will be a good score on any of these. The course then crosses Johnstown road and holes 

13-17 are located over here.  Each one is a birdie opportunity, highlighted by the beautiful par five fourteenth. 

(The 581 yard fourteenth is every bit as strategic as it is beautiful. The golfer plays to a spot where he can hit an approach head on at the pin. Failure to obtain that angle can result in a problematic third shot.) 

(The 153 yard sixteenth is a lovely hole over wetlands to an open green.) 

The course crosses back over the road and finishes with a strong par four played under the shadow of the clubhouse steeple. 

(The view looking back from eighteen green. Note the beautiful rolling topography!) 

Chapel Hill is a course worth playing, and it is one of the better courses in the Columbus area. Granted, it’s thirty minutes north of the city, but most of the play comes from here. I did play with my girlfriend, and the lady’s tees at 4600 yards is well done. All in all, it’s a really fun course to play. I give it a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour). 

Pine Trace Golf Club (Rochester Hills, MI)

Pine Trace is located in northern Metro Detroit. It’s the sister course of Shephard’s Hollow and is also designed by Arthur Hills. (Now that my daughter lives in Detroit, I’ll be playing up here more.) 

(A great view of the bunkering style employed to protect the greens. From the fairway, one doesn’t see the sand but rather the shadow.) 

Pine Trace provides a nice challenge while being devoid of housing. The interior holes are somewhat reminiscent of northern Michigan with stands of hardwoods and tall pines. Sixty acres of wetlands are present and are incorporated on several holes as well. For a course still in the city, it’s a good golf experience. 

(The 609 yard par five third has an elevated green that demands the third shot to come in high in order to stop quickly.) 

Pine Trace has five par 3s and five par 5s. This leaves eight par 4s, and six of them are short iron approach shots. Hills doglegged many of the holes and employed an unusual tactic where the inside corner leaves the player in an inferior position. Often the view will be blocked or the green will be angled away. The outer corner sets up a great view and gives the best opportunity for birdie. 

(The 337 yard fourth is a good chance to steal a stroke if one can avoid the hazard down the left off the tee.) 

(The 375 yard par four sixth hole has a wonderful green with several exciting places to put the pin. The green is tipped in the front right corner with bunker guarding the front left.)

(The 183 yard seventh is a nice par three over the wetlands. A pine tree forty yards short of the green is the biggest challenge. A draw fits perfectly towards the pin.) 

Pine Trace boasts a stiff slope rating. Much of this is due to the lack of ground game available. Bunkers guard the front of most greens or they’re slightly elevated. Granted, many of the approaches are short irons, but poor tee shots are given little respite.  

(The 340 yard eleventh is a good birdie opportunity.) 

(The 376 yard twelfth showcases the beautiful hardwoods found throughout Pine Trace.) 

(The 543 yard par five fourteenth demands accuracy all the way to the green. Hit it a little crooked and you’ll be scrambling to save your par.) 

(The 363 yard fifteenth doglegs left around the wetlands. This view from the center of the fairway makes every pin accessible.) 

Pine Trace is considered one of the better courses in metro Detroit. I played it on a Sunday afternoon and it was crowded with people. As much flak as I give Art Hills, courses such as this are giving players an opportunity to play and enjoy golf. It has a nice practice facility too. I wish it was more walker friendly. There are some long drives in between holes. I give Pine Trace a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour). 

(Eighteen is the toughest hole on the course. It’s 428 yards uphill over wetlands. The approach is a long iron to a green guarded by water left, right, and short.  A four is a good score.) 

Link to Shephard’s Hollow

https://golfingwithshawn.blogspot.com/2016/08/shepherd-hollow-golf-club-clarkston-mi.html?m=1