Brian Huntley designed it in 2000 (six years before he did The Quarry) and it occupies what can only be described as dramatically rolling terrain. The holes roll, twist, and bend all throughout the property, and it absolutely blows your mind how good the golf is! Obviously on land like this, finding playable corridors is essential. Too much slope can make shots more difficult than intended. 
The first may fall into that category as it's 451 yards tumbles downhill before climbing up the other side. However, the second hole is an excellent short par four that makes great use of the terrain both visually and strategically. 
I love how the direct route to the green is over the falloff, while the smart short is long to the far side of the fairway where the angle opens the green up.
The first may fall into that category as it's 451 yards tumbles downhill before climbing up the other side. However, the second hole is an excellent short par four that makes great use of the terrain both visually and strategically. I love how the direct route to the green is over the falloff, while the smart short is long to the far side of the fairway where the angle opens the green up. The par fives on the front really shine at Deer Ridge starting at the fourth. 
Reachable in two for long hitters while short hitters try to set up a pitch short left of green. The sixth is really good as the second shot goes over the knob in the hill, making the player judge how much run the ball will have once over it.
Reachable in two for long hitters while short hitters try to set up a pitch short left of green. The sixth is really good as the second shot goes over the knob in the hill, making the player judge how much run the ball will have once over it. The heaving terrain has a couple terrific par threes. Three is a cool one shotter across a small pond to a two tier green. The back right makes for a tiny target from the tee, but the bowl shape left side is probably tougher to putt. Then eleven is a long one shotter across the valley to a large plateau type green. 
The rear half slopes away to the back where Huntley has some short grass to chip from. It's a very good par three.
The dramatic terrain was always going to have the more memorable holes. The valley holes was the key. How interesting could Huntley make these? At first glance they look boring, and maybe the first couple holes are just mildly intriguing, but fourteen has a very well designed green complex that accepts running shots from thirty-forty yards short. Then fifteen is an excellent uphill par four with another great green complex.
The last three holes are fine. A decent par five followed by a tough par three over water. However, the last hole finishes on a low note, not surprising when you consider what goes down must eventually go up. The uphill approach is too much uphill, and the green is terribly designed for the shot coming in.
I gotta comment on the most interesting hole Huntley tried to make work, an uphill blind par three. # 7. At first one thinks of the dell hole at Lahinch in Ireland, but this idea is fifty feet straight up the hill, with a tree encroaching so the shot has to cut into the green. End result is disappointing.
Deer Ridge is, in my opinion, a must play course in Ohio. It's easier to get to than Black Diamond, and is more playable too. I give it a 6 (very good) rating. The clubhouse is one of a kind too. 
No comments:
Post a Comment