Mud Run Golf Course (Akron, OH)

Mud Run is home to the First Tee of Akron. It was designed by Craig Schreiner in 2003. For a nine hole course that only tops out at 2,514 yards, it offers plenty of opportunities to hit a wide variety of shots. It even has a par five! That’s something that most beginner-friendly (executive length) courses rarely have. Along with wetlands and a roving creek, Mud Run has enough hazards to teach youngsters how to plot their way around. It also has an excellent putting green with multiple slopes in it to practice bending putts. I personally love how the driving range is in the center of the property. It’s isolated from the clubhouse, hidden from view, giving it a unique vibe. My only critique would be the tight corridors on a few holes where a mishit will be a lost ball. The par three third over the creek is a solid hole. Most would probably nominate the driveable fourth as their favorite. The direct line is all carry over an inside bunker. The ninth will wreck your scorecard. Not only it is a narrow fairway, but the green is set against a wetland where anything short or right will find the hazard. I’m not surprised that leagues have found their way here. That is the real testament to Mud Run. (NR) 

Forest Creek Golf Club (Round Rock, TX)

Forest Creek is a Dick Phelps design that shares space with an upscale housing community. This Hill Country course winds through pecan trees and numerous creeks, encouraging players to shape their shots as the tilting terrain offers advantages from the best positions. Together with Star Ranch, another residential course two miles away, it’s one of the best conditioned courses north of Austin. 

I like Forest Creek and enjoy the idea of flighting the ball to the high spot of the fairway. It gives the course some local knowledge. Dick Phelps use of trees defining the strategy is immediately introduced on the first hole where the right half of the fairway allows a straight on shot while the left side must negotiate a tree. There are six dogleg holes (two to the left and four to the right) where being on the high side is the proper play. The low side requires a longer, more accurate shot to gain the angle, otherwise you’ll have to manipulate the approach.

(The 405/378 yard par four ninth doglegs left where the pond in picture is out of view from the tee. A fade down the right will avoid the hazard and leave an uphill approach. This is the toughest shot of the day so put your best swing on the ball. Four is a good score.) 

(The 388/376 yard par four thirteenth doglegs right with a creek flowing in the low point of the fold. The left side of the green is open enticing a left to right approach shot.) 

This is my first Dick Phelps course, and here are a couple things that I noticed. The greens have good variety to them. One or two features differentiate the pin positions, thus very playable. Transition areas into the hazards are natural. A ball in the creek bed can be advanced forward. This feature goads players into hitting shots they probably shouldn’t. There are three 90 degree doglegs, which in my opinion, are the least attractive holes. This could be a housing issue to get maximum value from the property. Both nine and eighteen are tough par fours. You have to play your best golf to finish each side. Speaking of houses, only on seventeen are they in plain sight and influence the shot. The developer did a nice job limiting the impact of the homes. I give Forest Creek a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play). This is one of the better public courses in the Austin area. 

(This is the view 130 yards from the eighteenth green. It’s a 465/437 yard par four that doglegs slightly to the right. Notice how the terrain slopes towards the creek on both sides. Par is a great score!) 

(I played with three men from the UK who told me they haven’t played golf in ten years. The first few holes were tough but they started hitting the ball decently. On the par three sixth, one of the guys hit his ball two feet from the pin. His friend started videoing his birdie putt saying “first birdie” which completely iced his buddy who proceeded to push it five inches right of the hole. Huge laughs got even louder when I holed out my bunker shot for a deuce. “You can’t even beat the guy in the sand trap.” It was a really fun round of golf! We played the white tees 6,026 yards) 

(This is the 200/169 yard par three fourteenth hole)

(Here’s a shout out to Round Rock Donuts! They are home to famous Texas Donut which is literally the size of a half dozen. I got one half glazed, half chocolate. 

“I’ll take the “block O” Ohio State donut please! Fighting words in “Hook ‘em Horns” country) 

Elkdale Country Club (Salamanca, NY)

Elkdale came into my peripheral when I was reading a blog called buffalogolfer.com and it had rated Elkdale as one of the top twenty public courses in the region, a surprising declaration considering I drive by it every time I go back to Bradford. It originally started as a nine hole course (1927) and expanded to eighteen holes (1962) forty years later. I always wondered if a hidden gem like this was waiting for me especially since within an hour, you have courses like Pennhills Club (Walter Travis), Moon Brook (Willie Park), and Conewango Valley (Donald Ross). 

The topography on the front nine is really good and the way the architect used the high points to locate his greens is excellent. I love 1,7,8,9 as the holes artfully played to and from the ridge. The views are beautiful on this side too, and looking south, one can make out the valley where the hills rise from. The back nine is a bit different, mainly there’s less sand traps, and the greens, while larger, are crowned. The terrain is gentler, and the holes gracefully move up and down the hill. The fifteenth (555) and sixteenth (220) are the two monster holes where length is the main challenge, otherwise, one is negotiating the treelined fairways to be in a position to score.  

(The 392 yard par four opening hole gently flows uphill where the top of the flagstick is the only thing visible from the flat.)

(The 318 yard par four seventh climbs the hill where the green sits atop a plateau. Any mishit will make for an awkward recovery…
…this view from behind shows just how isolated this green is. Yes it’s just a wedge, but the player must accurately judge the lie, stance, and elevation change to have an opportunity to make a 3)  

(The 157 yard ninth is a shortish par three with a bunker guarding the front left and a drop off that leads to this devilish trap on the right. The grille sits off to the side and adds extra pressure as everyone watches you finish up.) 

Many of the things I like about Elkdale have nothing to do with playing golf. The solitude and quietness of the valley is soothing. I even love how the kid washing the carts is the only one running the place. I can see why the course is so highly rated especially if you’re driving an hour south from Buffalo. I’m sure for those guys it’s a really nice experience. I give Elkdale a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play). 

(The 387 yard par four tenth plays uphill to this crowned green. The slope, grain, and mountain effect are not always the same, thus putting can be quite confusing.) 

(Many would consider the 346 yard par four seventeenth to be the signature hole. The player must work the ball to hold the left to right canted fairway and then hit a precise approach shot from a sloping lie…
…note the hidden fairway short of the water where a flat lie can be obtained. I’m sure many matches are won or lost on this little beauty.) 

(I played the back nine and was able to drive around the front nine in a cart. They were playing high school matches which prevented me from playing all eighteen. Elkdale does max out at 6,132 yards, a statistic that probably turns off really good players, but makes it a great course for the rest of us.) 

Rammler Golf Club (Sterling Heights, MI)

Rammler is a modest municipal course that plays in the Clinton River Valley which stretches from Rochester to Mount Clemons. It’s a terrific natural feature that is the main green space for everyone in the northern Detroit area. For golfers, especially beginners and those looking for a relaxing time, Rammler provides another activity that makes good use of the river. 

Rammler is the old Clinton Valley Country Club, a 1929 design that was done by Arthur Ham, a local club professional and field supervisor for Donald Ross. The heart of the course is the greens. Besides being on the smaller side, they have nice movement, often times having false fronts in various spots. This gives the course a solid defense, especially since many bunkers have been grassed over. For the better player, a good round, or even a great round, is available if you can hit your short to mid irons well. The two holes that stand out both feature shots over the river to reach the green. The ninth is a short 311 yards with the putting surface above the fairway on the high ground over the river. Golfers have to refrain from hitting driver, creating a longer shot than desired. The 536 yard par five seventeenth is the other. This is a strong hole that doglegs left and demands two strong shots to get a clear view of the green. 

(The 161 yard par three eleventh reveals a familiar view, one that looks like a green sitting in an open field. Unfortunately, this is a common trait among city course, especially older ones where financial decisions determine to keep things simple.) 

(Possibly the strongest hole on the course, the 438 yard par four twelth doglegs right before finishing at a green with a hazard down on the left side. This view shows how a shot that draws too much might could find the penalty area. A ridge that angles from the right rough does block the sight line into the green, making the approach semi blind.) 

Rammler’s penchant to grow the game can be seen from the road where a par three course occupies the property in front of the clubhouse. Holes range from 82-170 yards. It’s the perfect place to bring your kids or teach a friend how to golf. Together, both courses help Rammler make a solid contribution to the community. I give it a 3 (average)(worth driving 15-30 minutes to play). 

(The 536 yard par five seventeenth can be a card wrecker if you’re not careful. The river requires a full carry to reach the green. If you find yourself out of position, laying up even on the third shot will limit the damage.) 

(I only had time to play nine holes and choose to play the back nine which is over 400 yards longer than the front. The three longest par fours are on this side including the 438 and 435 yard twelth and sixteenth holes. Rammler ends with a long 220 yard par three.) 

Sand Hollow Championship Course (Hurricane, UT)

#33 Top 100 Public  (Golf Magazine)

#44 Top 100 USA Resort Courses (GolfWeek)

#54 Top 100 USA Public Courses (GolfWeek) 

#1 Best Courses in Utah (Golf Magazine)

 

Even as I’m writing this a few days later, I still can’t believe I took the picture above. What a setting!! The five hole stretch (11-15) on the back nine at Sand Hollow is pure exhilaration. There are simply some places that must be seen to be believed, and this is one of those places! 

(The 447/432/414 opening hole drops downhill to a green that slopes away from the golfer. A drive down the left is gifted a superior view and a funnel to work the ball off the slope and onto the putting surface. Note the giant red rocks next to the clubhouse. From the start, the location grabs your attention.) 

(The 577/556/545 yard par five second brings the red rocks into play as they guard the right side of the green. There’s plenty of short grass to bail out left, especially the long hitter going for it in two.) 

Sand Hollow was designed by John Fought and Andy Staples in 2008. It was constructed in the native red sand of southern Utah and rolls across the topography like a links style course. The fairways are generous with a lot of movement in them while the greens are large with multiple levels. I used the word “levels” instead of the word “tiers” because the change between sections is more cascading and not abrupt. The desert holes play between sagebrush and red sand traps with rock outcroppings in play a few times. (The red sand is firm, almost like it’s wet. You don’t splash greenside shots. The ball rolls out.) 

(This view from behind the fourth green explains exactly what mean when I say levels. Note the little pockets of low areas and higher levels or sections.) 

At most courses, people discuss the front and the back, but here, the conversation is the cliff holes and the desert holes. The desert holes have classic architectural themes to them. There are optimum positions when hitting to specific pin locations. The par five seventh has a punchbowl feature that fronts the green, asking the player to trundle the ball on. The par five seventeenth has Hell’s Half Acre dividing the fairway, demanding you make the carry on your second shot if you want a good chance at birdie. Both nine and eighteen play uphill and have difficult approach shots. It’s solid golf and compliments the cliff holes well where the views and intimidating shots will be the thrust. 

(The 565/535/515 yard par five tenth demands you pick a good line from the tee before tacking your way up the hill. Note the sagebrush outlining both sides of the fairway. It is playable with the question being how far can you advance it?)

(The 190/164/154 yard par three eleventh is a redan where a shot struck to the left will kick to the right and funnel to the hole. A bunker behind the green will catch those who are too aggressive.) 

(Wow!! The 443/432/372 yard par four twelth is as difficult as it is beautiful. Long and uphill, it will take your two best shots to reach this in regulation. Anything left is gone…
…this view looking back shows the splendor of the southern Utah landscape. Note the rock wall. It’s possible to error on that side and hopefully get a fortunate bounce back into play. A bogey is an acceptable score.) 

(Here’s your chance to get that stroke you lost on twelve back. The 320/304/261 yard thirteenth is a driveable par four. A centerline bunker complicates the direct route and forces a decision off the tee. A narrow green awaits your approach shot. Many consider this one of the best short par fours in America.) 

(When Sand Hollow first opened, many were saying the 230/191/158 yard par three fifteenth was comparable to Cypress Point’s famed sixteenth hole. While that is a bit of a reach, there is no denying the pure grandeur of this hole. With multiple tee boxes including one between two rock spires, the fifteenth will long be in your memory after the round.) 

Sand Hollow’s location two hours north of Las Vegas and thirty minutes from Zion National Park makes it a great destination and easy trip with the family or the guys. It’s an unbelievable setting, and deserves to be ranked much higher than #33 on the Top 100 public list. The only drawback is the driving range and clubhouse which are both just average. I give Sand Hollow a 9 (incredible)(worth planning a vacation around).

[I played with a young man from Salt Lake City. He played the yellow tees 6,893 yards and I teed off from the green tees at 6,462 yards. His birdies on both ten and eleven were fantastic. He hit the par five tenth in two shots, leaving himself a fifteen footer for eagle, and then played the Redan perfectly as his ball kicked right and funneled back to within ten feet. The cliff holes were not kind to me and I was +7 for the five holes which included four 3putts. Utah is another new state I golfed in, pushing my total to 31. The cost is $286. It is cheaper in the summer when the desert heats up.]

(Zion National Park is awesome! If you enjoy hiking and/or connecting with nature, then this is a bucket list trip.) 

Riverside Golf Club (Cambridge Springs, PA)

I knew I arrived two weeks too soon when the lady behind the counter only charged me $15 to walk eighteen holes. The course was just coming out of its winter hibernation and the lack of drainage didn’t  allow them to cut their fairways. The greens however looked just fine although they putted slow. Despite the spring thaw, the course had enough interest, especially on the back nine, to warrant my trip. 

Riverside was designed by Englishman Herbert Lagerblade. (Lagerblade was the first competitor to use steel shafted clubs in a US Open) He completed nine holes for the Riverside Hotel in 1915 and returned to add a second nine in 1923. It originally was a par 69 but they stretched a couple holes bumping it up to a par 71. The front nine is the more difficult side, boasting three par threes over 180 yards including the 236 yard sixth. The 427 yard par four fifth and the 436 yard par four ninth are no slouches either.  Things change quickly on the back as the land becomes more rolling with concepts that demand nuance and strategy. The tenth for instance has a wall of sand that covers most of the hill. Even though the green is twenty yards beyond, the giant hazard will throw off your depth perception. The 128 par three eleventh is cool. The tiny target sits by itself with falloffs on every side. Don’t forget to take a peek at the par three thirteenth as you leave eleven tee box.  The green crashes from the back to front and might be the steepest putting surface you’ll ever see! 

(The 351 yard par four tenth is visually striking as the bunker captures your gaze from the tee box. The green does not extend as far as the sand and is actually smaller than the hazard would have you believe.) 

(The 128 yard par three eleventh is a “Short” template with a serious false front. Any shot that fails to hit the green will leave the player scrambling for par. Long is death! This is my favorite hole on the course.) 


(The 193 yard par three thirteenth is the one hole you won’t believe. The green descends from the side of eleven tee. Note the golfer in picture and how the green rises above him!) 

I’m using the Penn-Ohio Golf Trail as a guide to play courses I haven’t seen yet, and Riverside is the first.  I’m actually familiar with the area, and I have played both Culbertson Hills in Edinboro and Venango Valley in Venango, two courses that are close by. Unfortunately I didn’t get to experience it at its best. Courses of this ilk (110 years old) usually have cool architecture, and while the back nine had its moments, most of it was pretty straightforward. Nonetheless, the layout is solid and a fine challenge. I give it a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-40 minutes to play). 

[I played the white tees at 6,019 yards. Or at least I think I did. They didn’t have any tee markers out. The course conditions were very soft, and you could hear the water draining towards the creek that snaked through the property. I hit some good shots, but the driver is still giving me issues. There were three par fours I couldn’t reach in two. Ok score for the time of year.]

(While not in use today, this halfway house sits where nine tee and eleven tee meet.) 

Sanctuary Lake Golf Course (Troy, MI)

There’s some valid criticisms here but turning a landfill into a golf course is an excellent way to repurpose a piece of property that aesthetically would have little value. The routing is a little awkward, specifically the walk from one green to two tee which is the entire length of the second hole, but overall, there’s plenty of fun shots and good holes. 

The centerpiece is the large hill that once was the top of the landfill. Both one and ten tee off from it while six and eleven bring the player back up. Holes seven, eight, and twelve play off the backside. With seven holes consuming this mountain, there’s a definite sense of community as you’re able to watch play at multiple viewpoints. In the summer, the ball fields are teaming with kids playing baseball below, another reminder of the connection between the golf course and the city. 

(The 417/402 yard first hole plunges downhill to a wide fairway. The green is offset towards the left and favors a shot coming in short of the fairway bunker. The putting surface is wickedly sloped so make sure five is the worst you’re going to score.) 

(The 186/165 yard ninth is a beautiful par three across the water. Anything short will kick back into the hazard. The putting surface is full of bold slopes so don’t play too conservatively.) 

Courses built on landfills have a specific look and style to them, and Sanctuary Lake fits that genre. It’s heavy handed with a lot of mounds and earth moving. If you look at the green complexes, you’ll notice abrupt fall offs, moguls that present terrible lies, and recovery shots that are very difficult to get close. These short shots are where you’ll lose most of your strokes. It also has some very sloped greens that are borderline. (My playing partner said the pin positions are never in the spots we were playing in the summer) I’m skeptical that a mid or high handicap can match their index. It’s a tough course. Thankfully the par fives offer a little relief. All four are good birdie opportunities. I do like the variety in the par threes, especially seven (133) and twelve (215) which look similar but have an eighty yards difference. I can’t forget the driveable seventeenth. It’s at a length that even I would give it a go. It’s only 260 yards from the men’s tee, a yardage that is truly reachable for the majority of players. I give a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-40 minutes to play). 

(The 522/477 yard par five eighteenth doglegs right while playing slightly uphill. There’s a lot of room to maneuver your ball into position to make a birdie.) 

[Sanctuary Lakes has the most elevation change among the metro Detroit courses, a characteristic that makes this a popular choice. It’s also in very good shape. It’s on the higher end of the price scale which is surprising since it’s a muni.]

(The 290/260 yard uphill par four seventeenth has an interesting looking fairway. The tall grass on the right is complete death so it’s risky trying to bomb a driver…
…there’s not a lot of room to run the ball on so laying up is probably the best choice. Regardless, I think it’s cool that you can go for broke so late in the round.)