Lassing Pointe Golf Course (Union, KY)

I don’t seek out Hurdzan courses that much anymore. I’ve played so many of his that I rarely find anything new or exciting. Don’t take this as a put down, Hurdzan’s work is solid, it’s just I think he’s too generous off the tee which eliminates one of the most exciting aspects of golf. His bottleneck philosophy where it gets more challenging the closer you get to the green is a popular one. The longer hitter has an advantage since he can drive comfortably and hit shorter irons. 

Lassing Pointe opened in 1994 to rave reviews. This was right before the Tigerboom when a gluttony of new courses was being designed every year. Lassing Pointe was instantly accepted and hosted several big tournaments in its early years. The Kentucky Open was played here in 1996 and 2000, and the NCAA Regionals followed in 2002 and 2004. From the tips, it’s not a very long playing only 6724 yards. 

(The 555/524 yard opening hole plays downhill before going uphill to a split level fairway…
…there’s several options for the second shot. The biggest blunder is hitting it in the rough between the two fairways…
…longer hitters can reach the green in two. Most players should take the lower route and hit it as close as possible. It’s a good birdie opportunity.) 

(The 185/179 yard par three second is a solid hole over a valley. There’s a lot of room on the left to avoid challenging the bunker short. Certain pin positions are gettable but usually a par is a good score.) 

The front and back mirror each other with a 5,3,4 start on both nines. This unusual feature is great for tournament and league play as one nine is not stronger than the other. The front nine has three par threes mixed in with a couple short par fours. It would seem this is the scoring side with the par five eighth the key hole with water guarding the green. On the back, thirteen and seventeen are strong par fours where par is a good score. The par three fourteenth over the water gets most of the attention. The eighteenth is the only hole worth discussing architecturally. The green is 100 yards long with a small narrow handle in the front. The rest of the green feeds into the back with water all along the left. How often does one see a seven club green?!!

(The heart shaped 162/140 yard fifth can give up a deuce but care must be taken not to over club or leave it out to the right. The water tends to make players bail short so two putting us typically from long range.) 

(The 196/173 yard par three seventh plays to a slender diagonal green across a valley. This may well be the most difficult hole on the front. Trouble both short and long can lead to some crooked numbers.) 

It should be noted that Lassing Pointe still graces the best municipal courses list. There is a master plan to redo the bunkers next year which should help reinforce its position. Being close to Cincinnati, it’s often referenced as a Queen City course. It joins Blue Ash and The Vineyards as municipals designed by Hurdzan. 

(The 183/167 yard par three fourteenth is similar to the seventh except this time one is hitting over water. I guess it’s possible to play from the hazard short of the green. It’s more of a rocky subsoil there.) 

(The 422/388 yard par four seventeenth plays uphill to a green set diagonally against the ravine. The player will need to hit two quality shots to reach it in regulation…
…looking back one can see just how narrow the entrance is. Shooting at todays flag requires a confident swing!) 

Lassing Pointe is a fine choice for those playing in Cincinnati but that’s more of a referendum on the quality of courses in southern Ohio. (Ironic since Lassing Pointe is in Kentucky) Truthfully, Lassing Pointe looks like every course I’ve seen of Hurdzan’s  in Columbus. Royal American, Cumberland Trail, Walden Ponds… they’re all the same. Like them, Lassing Pointe is also a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play). 

(The 441/407 yard par four eighteenth is the best hole on the course. This is one time you’ll wish you had a rangefinder. The green is 100 yards! Obviously all the pin positions against the water are tough to get close, but how cool would it be to have the flag stuffed in the back right or left corner.) 

(Look at the back tee rated a full stroke and a half higher than par.) 

[I played the black tees at 6256. I hit the ball very well off the tee and had many short irons into the greens. While 75 is a great score, I felt like it should’ve been lower. The putter was so inconsistent. All my 15-20 footers never even sniffed the hole. Both of my birdies were inside three feet. On the par three fourteenth, I hit it up by the bushes and hit the nicest little chip to tap in range. I proceeded to birdie the next hole and closed out the round -1 on the last five holes.]

Moon Brook Country Club (Jamestown, NY)

I’m not one to believe in hyperbole but I took note when golf architect Ray Hearn called Moon Brook’s greens some of the best in the world. He was specifically speaking about the eleven original Willie Park Jr putting surfaces. They’re optical illusions and are very difficult to read. You swear they break one way until the putt goes the opposite direction. It’s a masterful design full of obvious and subtle nuances. 

Moon Brook was designed in 1918. The course underwent drastic changes when several holes were lost to the I-86 expansion however it did retain nine original Willie Park holes and eleven greens. (2,3,4,5,8,9,10,15,16,17,18) While the greens rightfully get most of the attention, it’s the ability to work your tee shots either against the slope or with it that will determine your chances to shoot a good score. Have a strategy, hit your lines and you’ll be in play all day. Sounds easy but should you miss your line the ball will scoot into the rough or trees. 

(The 379/366 yard par four second has a diagonal valley where the player lays back or drives to the fairway on the bottom. The green has a central spine in the rear that causes havoc should you have to putt over it.) 

(The 158/145 yard par three fourth is just short enough where a short iron can spin off the front of the green. Note the huge tree in the back. It’s branches extend horizontally twenty to thirty feet. The iconic tree is Moon Brook’s logo.)

(The 532/516 yard par five sixth plays downhill and is reachable with two good shots. For most, this will be the view for their third shot. Note how the front right bunker pushes into the green, sloping everything to the back left.) 

Getting back to the optical illusion greens Hearn referenced, I think it begins at the tee box. I personally couldn’t tell the fairways were as sloped as much as they were, so when the greens were set against them, it flattened them out. A couple times, the green looked like it was pitched forward, but the fairway was falling so fast that the front to back slope was hidden. This type of architecture isn’t seen too often in today’s game. Modern earth moving equipment leaves little guess work to what is demanded for each shot. 

(The 418/396 yard par four seventh is one of the toughest tee shots on the course. Trees line both sides so accuracy is ultra important. The approach is over a shallow valley to a green perched above it. The rear left can be used as a backboard to bring the ball towards front pin positions.) 

(The 445/429 yard par four ninth has a right to left sloped fairway. Even in the picture, it’s hard to see it. Todays pin is where the ball typically ends up. This green slopes to the back left corner. A par is a good score.)

When I was younger, the big four were Jamestown’s Moon Brook, Warren’s Conewango, Olean’s Bartlett, and Bradford’s Pennhills Club. They were all elite private courses and there was no chance of playing them without a member. Fast forward to 2022, and the only one that still retains its private status is Moon Brook. (The other ones are more or less semi private that take outside play) Much of this is attributed to Jamestown’s viability on Lake Chautauqua. The golf course has always been viewed as one of western New York’s best. It hosts plenty of state and regional tournaments. (Jeff Sluman won the 1978 New York State Amateur here) 

(The 219/183 yard par three thirteenth is devilishly difficult. Besides being heavily bunkered, the green has a high section back right, and slopes hard to the front left. The proper play is short but for those who take it on, being long is a definite no-no. A par will win the hole more times than not.) 

(The 162/149 yard par three seventeenth has a saucer like green with the high side on the left and rear portions. While these slopes can be used to bring the ball back to the middle, any shot that stays up there will leave a treacherous putt downhill.) 

Ray Hearn was selected to develop a long range master plan. He’ll be trying to restore some of the original green edges which should capture additional pin positions. The angle of attack from the fairways will be restored too. I hope this means removing many of the trees. The course is on an elevated piece of property and I believe the views can be expanded from multiple locations. This would make Moon Brook even more inspiring. I give it a 6 (very good)(worth driving two hours to play). 

(The 452/440 yard par four eighteenth is a fierce finisher. A draw up the right will take the slope and gain some additional yards…
…the approach will be a long to mid iron. The green slopes from high right to low left so one can work the ball back to middle with a draw. Being above the hole is certainly a three putt and it can even slide off the green if one is not careful. Par is a good score.) 

[we played the course from the #2 tees at 6493 yards. I had a great foursome playing with Ryan, who I met at Cable Hollow, Jason, a solid single digit handicap, and Branson, a young gun who went full out on every swing. Like usual, I was the short hitter in the group, but I kept it in play and was able to shoot a respectable score. Three times I was completely fooled by the break and the ball went opposite of what I thought.]

[ they played a tournament that I never seen before but I thought was really cool. They call it the Steeplechase. It’s only nine holes. The twelve best players start on the first hole, and the highest score gets eliminated. The first two holes have two players eliminated so on the third tee, there’s eight players for the remaining seven holes. Ties are decided by a chip off. Members follow and cheer their favorite player on (or bet on who is not going to make it) It’s a very prestigious club event. ]

Latrobe Country Club (Latrobe, PA)

Arnold Palmer. The King. Latrobe Country Club. A trip here is not about playing golf but rather it’s a pilgrimage to the home of its greatest player. The clubhouse is full of pictures, paintings, memorabilia, trophies, and awards. It’s like stepping back in time when metal cleats and persimmon woods were cool. 

Emil Loeffler and John McGlynn designed the original nine holes in 1921. James Harrison and Fred Garbin added another nine holes in 1963. Arnold tinkered with it after that. Most of the trees on the course is Deke Palmer’s doing. The property was rolling farmland until then. The red covered bridges on the back were Arnold’s idea. He wanted something that would give members protection from storms but also reflect the traditions and culture of western Pennsylvania. 

(The 412/403 yard par four first hole plays downhill to a left to right sloped fairway. The Arnie rule was keeping hitting til one found the fairway. His record was 7…
…the green is benched into the hillside with a steep slope protecting the front. It’s a stern opening hole.) 

(The139/117 yard par three second is just a pitch to a green that slopes away. This is the view from the tips. The shot is literally over the first green. The road is on the left so an over the top swing might see the ball catch a ride to the next town.) 

(The 509/491 yard par five third hole plays downhill before turning right and climbing up to the green. In 1999, legendary club pro Bob Ford hold out for double eagle in the Palmer Cup. He was -9 through 14 for that round with a legitimate chance to break Arnie’s course record of 60 but politely picked up his ball since his match had ended and went watched Arnold play.)

(The 295/279 yard par four fifth theoretically is driveable but this hole is as slender as they come. Keep it in play off the tee and take a chance with your wedge.)

(The 483/462 yard par five sixth is reachable in two shots but a grass mound provides the perfect defense. It’s a small green so its presence influences many of the shots. I like that it’s rough instead of sand. The unpredictability of the lie gives it a mental edge.) 

(The 450/415 yard par four eighth plays downhill to a left to right slopes fairway. It’s similar to the first except there’s a pond short right of the green. A good drive is a must otherwise you’ll be playing to the left bunker (not pictured). It’s the longest par four on the golf course.) 

Latrobe is your typical rural western Pennsylvania golf course. It goes up and down the hills with a creek coming into play in the valley. I mention this because I have made a point to visit this area frequently the past three years and many of the ones I’ve seen in little towns look very much like this. You can tell most of the Emil holes by their small size. The Harrison/Garbin greens are bigger and have your standard back to front tilt. The bunkering is also on the sides on those holes. I personally felt it was impressive they were able to add another nine. There are a few holes where it is very narrow, like they stuck a hole between two others. When the course drops down into the valley on the back, the driving lines open up and the holes get better. The par threes are the bedrock to protect par. After the second hole, the other three are long and difficult. Back to back par fives at fourteen and fifteen are good birdie opportunities. 

(The 226/203 yard par three tenth starts the back nine in picturesque style…
…it affords great views of the Allegheny Mountains. There’s a pond to the left of the pine tree which is a concern. The green tilts back right to front left. It’s a tough hole.) 

(The 342/333 yard par four twelth has a creek that crosses the fairway which forces all but the longest hitters to layup. The green is elevated on a steep hill and the ball will roll back if you come up short. In the background is the par five fourteenth green.) 

(The 350/342 yard downhill par four seventeenth is potentially driveable for long hitters if it skips through the bunker. Most players will just be hitting a little wedge. The green slopes to the right which makes for some interesting pin positions.)

(Playing parallel to the first hole, the 381/377 yard eighteenth climbs steeply uphill to the green. It’s a very tight driving hole. Note the entrance road crossing the fairway…
…the approach shot is semi blind with only the flagstick visible. It’s three tiered (Arnie I’m sure is responsible for this) and the back half of it is the practice putting green so the pin position should not be unknown. Not many birdies are going to finish the round.) 

“Other players had fans; Arnie had an army.”

“He could par 42nd street. In traffic.”

“He didn’t have a gorgeous fluid swing like Snead. Arnie lunged at it like a drunk at a midnight driving range.” 

All the Arnold Palmer stories make me smile. One of my favorites happened at the Cleveland Open. He asked his caddy for a five iron to which a fan stated would never reach the green. Arnie stared at the man and asked his caddy for a six iron instead. He promptly powered the ball to middle of the green. 

If you love stories than a trip to Latrobe will be right up your alley. All the trophies and awards in the cabinet each have their own. I love that stuff. Here’s another one of my favorites. 

This is the 1960 Sportsman of the Year award. Arnold had won the Masters with one of his infamous charges by making birdie on the final two holes. At the US Open, he drove the green on the first hole, birdied six of the seven holes, and went on to win at Cherry Hills. This lead him to New York for the awards ceremony where Roger Maris asked “what are you doing here?” When Palmer’s name was announced as the winner, he turned to Maris and said “What are you doing here?!” 

Anyone interested in Arnold Palmer should definitely make the trek to Latrobe. You will not be disappointed. Be forewarned. The course is probably a 4, possible a 5 on its best days, but the experience is immeasurable. If you get lucky like me and get to meet Arnold Palmer’s sister because she was playing the same day we were, then the experience becomes even more awesome. 

(A red pine was lost between the first and eighteenth holes so renown woodcarver Joe King was hired to make a tribute to Arnold’s father) 

Arnold Palmer Regional Airport

[I played the course from the white tees at 6110. I got off to great start hitting a three hybrid to two feet on the very first hole. I was even for the round heading to the eighth and out of nowhere started hitting horrible drives. I bogeyed five of the next six holes. Then I scrambled for a par at fourteen before holing a chip in putt for birdie at fifteen. This good fortune made me confident and I parred the last three holes for a solid 76.]

Oakland University R&S Sharf Course (Rochester, MI)

Located north of Detroit, Oakland University possesses two very fine golf courses, the Katke-Cousins and R&S Sharf.  The Sharf is the newer one and was designed in 2000 by Warren Henderson and Rick Smith. It plays around the Katke and stays at the south end of the property until the eighteenth hole. It is strictly for cart ballers as there are long transitions between greens and the next tee. 

I have to imagine that Henderson and Smith were chomping at the bit with this project. It is a huge piece of property and it has all the rolling features and hardwood trees that one would associated with a course up north. Each hole is isolated from the next and has a beautiful view devoid of any signs of civilization. A golfer would be forgiven if he forgot how close he was to the hustle and bustle of the big city. 

(The 195/175 yard par three third is played over a saddled valley to a green spread across the hill. A fronting bunker places pressure for a well struck shot as misses left or right will be the most difficult to up n down.) 

(The 413/383 yard par four fourth plays to this green tucked behind the hillside. Note how only a fraction of the putting surface is visible. There is more room right of the pin for the approach.) 

(The 522/472 yard par five sixth has a pronounced high right to low left slope which forces the golfer to decide on his shot shape off the tee. A drive that finishes in line with the bunker in the distance opens up the second shot. Any drive that starts up the left risks finding the hazard that guards that side. It’s a definite birdie hole if you can safely get off the tee.) 

(This picture shows the wonderful driving lines presented at Sharf. The proper play is up the left side but the long hitter can shoot his ball over inside trap and sneak a short iron in his hand. At 421/394 yards, the par four eighth is one of the toughest holes on the front.) 

While there is plenty of width off the tee, the knee high fescue that lies on the outer edges of each hole can only be described as a spirit breaker for the long hitter who has lost control. I have to question the decision to go this route. It’s possible the property is so large that cutting it is difficult. The course doesn’t need it to protect par that is for sure.

(The 278/265 yard par four twelth is a gritty driveable two shotter that forces you to attempt the heroic shot. There’s plenty of room to carry the marsh and leave yourself a little spinning wedge but the play must be on the left. Laying up to the right leaves a poor angle…

…this view shows how much the trap is in play. Worse yet is the shoulder that comes off of it. There’s little chance you can stop the ball close to the hole. Certain pin positions will make par a good score.) 

Henderson and Smith designed the greens to be particularly deceiving. The way they tie-in with the surrounding features block out much of the putting surface. Many times I didn’t know how much room was behind a bunker or ridge. The bunkers, besides being deep and forbidding, have broad shoulders that push deep into the greens. Many of the putting surfaces slope away from the player. I noticed on several holes that feeding the ball to back locations was the play. It takes a solid strike to control the ball and keep it from going too far.

(The 369/321 yard par four thirteenth is another gorgeous driving hole. The left bunker is the perfect aiming point from the tee…
…the approach is semi blind and one is hitting his second based on the color of the flag. Note the short grass in front of the green. I thought it was terrific and it was my favorite hole of the day.)

(The 165/139 yard par three fourteenth is a semi dell hole with the right side hidden behind the hill. You can just see the top of the flag to the right of the bunker. It’s a super fun hole when the flag is there and the anticipation to see how close you are is cool!) 

(The 193/177 yard par three sixteenth is a solid hole. Note how the green is cut in half by the ridge. Club selection is critical to avoid putting over it.)

The Sharf is a very strong golf course. It’s probably the toughest course I’ve played in greater Detroit area so far. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not because I’m always sympathetic to weaker players but when you’re a Division 1 school, having a course like this goes a long way to developing a first rate program. Those who do play well here can rest assure their games will travel well. I find that to be a ringing endorsement. I give Sharf a 7 (great)(worth driving 3-4 hours to play). 

(The 397/370 yard par four seventeenth plays downhill to a green that slopes to the back left. In the background is one of a historic landmarks left from the Dodge family days…
…this is the view looking back to the tee. Note the long grass to the right.)



[we played the Bear combo which is a combination of the Grizzlies and Champion tees at 6328 yards. This round was the perfect example of being patient. I bogeyed the first six holes before making a birdie at the par three seventh. Something clicked on that shot and I proceeded to play the final ten holes in one under par. I mention this because I know so many golfers who give up on the round when the start doesn’t go the way they envisioned.]

(Here is one last view!)