This is the placard on the wall by the clubhouse. If there's any question how much Jack is loved and revered at OSU, then this should answer it. It says:
Jack Nicklaus
"The greatest golfer ever to play the game."
With praise like that, I think the renovation turned into a remodel, and the Scarlet Course is basically a Jack Nicklaus design now. At nearly 7500 yards, it can host any tournament.
The Scarlet course starts off with three stout par fours. By the way, the member tees are 6600 yards, so a strong game
is needed by everyone to play well here. It literally is one of the hardest courses I've ever played. The driver is very very important here. Anyhow, the first three holes are bruising par fours, and the terrain is relatively flat, so these holes look and feel very long. Par on any of these holes is a good score. The fourth is a par five that Nicklaus moved eighty yards to the right. Mackenzie had it playing down the boundary line, but now it plays out and around the water hazard that was extended. 
It was not well received. The green is oblong to the second shot, making it difficult to hit in two. However, if you layup short of the putting surface, then it opens up nicely for a little pitch.
The front nine is really underwhelming in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, It's championship in every way! But it's repetitive! The greens look too much alike; the bunkering is similar; it's a grind! 
The best hole on the front is this mid length par three across the water. It's has a natural feature, something that sorely lacks (minus the fourth) on the rest of the front.
The best hole on the front is this mid length par three across the water. It's has a natural feature, something that sorely lacks (minus the fourth) on the rest of the front. The back nine inhabits the more rolling terrain of the property. It starts on ten, a long par four whose green sits above a shallow valley. Then eleven starts a three hole stretch of exciting golf. 
The best tee shot on the course greets you on the tee! The wide valley fronts the tee box and guards the entire left side, for once giving the player something extra to think about as he's driving the ball. Then twelve plays back the other way, and the green is fronted by the valley. 
It's a beautiful par five!! The green has some wonderful pinning locations, and getting the ball down the slope short of the creek will give you the best opportunity to attack them. Then thirteen ends the stretch with photogenic par three down the hill. 
I wish the entire course had all this character!! The green slopes from left to right, and depending on pin placement, the desired shot shape changes dramatically. What a beauty!!
The best tee shot on the course greets you on the tee! The wide valley fronts the tee box and guards the entire left side, for once giving the player something extra to think about as he's driving the ball. Then twelve plays back the other way, and the green is fronted by the valley. It's a beautiful par five!! The green has some wonderful pinning locations, and getting the ball down the slope short of the creek will give you the best opportunity to attack them. Then thirteen ends the stretch with photogenic par three down the hill. I wish the entire course had all this character!! The green slopes from left to right, and depending on pin placement, the desired shot shape changes dramatically. What a beauty!!After a couple holes, sixteen plays back towards the valley, and provides a neat little shot to a green placed on the hill. 
It's the only short par four on the course, something any place worth playing has! Then seventeen punctuates an excellent set of par threes with arguably the best one!!
The view is absolutely stunning, and the challenge is first rate! Can you imagine the drama played out here?! All the NCAA championships! Big Ten championships! Open qualifiers!
It's the only short par four on the course, something any place worth playing has! Then seventeen punctuates an excellent set of par threes with arguably the best one!!The view is absolutely stunning, and the challenge is first rate! Can you imagine the drama played out here?! All the NCAA championships! Big Ten championships! Open qualifiers! Eighteen ends it with a dogleg left par four that finishes in front of the clubhouse. 
It's a fine hole. Obviously the pic shows how less dramatic the terrain is. Depending on how much of the dogleg you cut off, the approach is a mid to short iron shot. A birdie would be a nice treat for the members watching from the veranda.
It's a fine hole. Obviously the pic shows how less dramatic the terrain is. Depending on how much of the dogleg you cut off, the approach is a mid to short iron shot. A birdie would be a nice treat for the members watching from the veranda. The Scarlet is consistently rated as one of the top five collegiate courses in the country. Not only does it hold numerous tournaments for OSU, but the Web.com plays one of their final tournaments there hosted by Jack Nicklaus. I'll be honest, I enjoyed the Warren Course more, but I was in awe of the Scarlet. This is home of the Buckeyes! Jack Nicklaus! Alister Mackenzie and Perry Maxwell! I give it a 6 (very good) rating. It almost got bumped up a notch due to it's history. It's worth driving several hours to play.
No comments:
Post a Comment