Weymouth Country Club (Medina, OH)

Eleven years ago I wrote Weymouth was a disappointing course and I still feel the same today. It starts with the mowing lines and the wavy pattern they choose to cut the fairways. Between hitting a good shot and finding the rough or hitting the fairway and being blocked out by a tree, the course possesses a maddening amount of luck. The holes also dogleg in an awkward manner. Toss in a few ridiculous OB stakes where the housing has encroached at the risk of being dangerous, and one can’t help but sigh. Thankfully the greens are really good and provide thoughtful targets.

Weymouth was designed in 1969 by Geoffrey Cornish. Coming from the Stanley Thompson lineage, Cornish understood how slope and tilt could challenge golfers. His large putting surfaces have multiple pitches separating the green into various sections. They’re all contained in a three to five point mounding system. Several greens have handles, or narrow pinnable areas, that make for a testy pin positions.

(The 196/185/176 yard par three seventh shows how the lack of short grass makes this a hit it or else proposition. The green is not particularly wide so it’s an elusive target.)

(The 514/504/484 yard par five eighth doglegs right around a copse of trees and the equipment barn…

…the prudent play is a layup but the long hitter has a large green to attack. Water short and three bunkers protect it from being an easy birdie.)

(The 192/183/156 yard par three twelth is all carry over water. Not too many options so taking an extra club will keep a big number away.)

Cornish reminds me of Jack Kidwell. Both men were budget conscious and did everything they could to design an efficient and sustainable golf course. The way Cornish designed greens; the way he limited the amount of maintained short grass; and the way one bunker provides all the challenge; Everything helps the course be more profitable. Weymouth still has a countryside vibe to it which allows it thrive as a private course. The back tees are over 7000 yards and sets up well for various qualifiers. I’m reluctant to nudge it up one from my original rating so I’m sticking a 3 (average)(worth driving 15-30 minutes to play).

(The 420/405/390 yard par four sixteenth tees off at an angle, begging the golfer to turn the ball over and climb the hill. The shortcut left looks inviting, but failure to carry the yardage will leave you blocked out.)

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Double Black Diamond Golf Club (Ellicottville, NY)

Holiday Valley draws golfers from all over western New York thanks to Paul Albanese’s 2007 renovation. By simply making the back nine more playable, opening up views of the countryside, and ridding the property of a do-it-yourself ridiculous par five, the course has become a favorite of those looking for a mountain golf experience.

Double Black Diamond was originally designed in 1964 by Fred Garbin. The front nine is still his routing but Albanese pushed the tee of the par four seventh up onto the hillside and then made a terrific par three from the driveable ninth to make room for the Tamarack Lodge. (The old green is still there and can be used by guests to play as a little pitch n putt hole) On the back, he used the old elevated tee box trick again at the tenth before tackling what must have been an insidious 360 yard par five where one hit three iron shots to reach the green in regulation. By taking out a ton of trees, it can now be played like a formidable short par four. (I think the fairway is still too narrow (17 yards) but a quality 200 yard shot followed by a 150 yard shot over the ravine makes for a memorable hole) At thirteen, he widened out the hole again, but this time making a split upper and lower fairway. At seventeen and eighteen, he flip-flopped the fairways making them both more playable. It was a well done renovation that brought the course into the modern era.

(The 374/363 yard par four seventh is one of the highlights on the outward nine. By moving the tee up the hill, a slight dogleg was created and the view was enhanced. The drive must be threaded between two lakes before attacking a slightly elevated green.)

(It was easy turning the ninth into a great par three. The mountain stream makes for a perfect hazard. The green is set diagonally behind it with a rise in the middle hiding the back half.)

The secret to Double Black Diamond success is only two holes play across the ski slope. This limits the quirkiness that could have been the defining feature. Starting at the ninth, the player will encounter three par threes in a four hole stretch. This gets them out of the valley and up to the par four thirteenth where the “cascade” hole will give a fantastic view and begin the descent down to the finish. From the seventeenth tee, the routing climbs straight uphill, and then plunges back down on the final hole. While the last two are a bit awkward, they don’t detract from the fun.

(The 170/150 yard par three tenth plays in a natural bowl. It’s all carry with a false front shaved to fairway length. It’s a beautiful hole and a strong start to the back nine.)

(The 220/200 yard par three fifteenth drops significantly from tee to green and features a large putting surface. A bunker catches a miss to the right while one to the left will find trees. It’s another beautiful view of the resort and mountain backdrop.)

(The 480/459 yard par five seventeenth is an absolute slog up the hill but it possesses a really well constructed green that slopes away. Birdie will be well earned.)

As nice as Double Black Diamond is, it’s the town and resort that make it so popular. Ellicottville has multiple shops, a winery, and a brewery that beckon golfers to come. Together, it becomes a great way to spend the day or weekend, and that to me is an organic amenity that is hard to replicate. I give Double Black Diamond a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play).

(The 429/407 yard par four eighteenth plummets downhill to a green fronted by a stream. With how close the resort backdrops the putting surface, I can’t help but think they plugged it here on the fly. It’s a challenging shot especially if you’re on the downslope.)

(My 8:30 am tee time was the first one of the day, and the 35 degree temperature had me second guessing if I was making a mistake. It had rained the day before and the course was very soft. I decided to play the blues at 5,503 yards par 70. It was great decision and I had a fun time.)

(The 548/507 yard par five fourteenth plays across the slope and finishes at this green benched into the hill. Expect to turn the ball over on your third shot with the ball above your feet. No bunkers needed here.)

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