The Meadows is a high-end golf course that was built upon an existing older course called Lone Pine Golf Course. That course first opened in 1978 as a 9 hole course and expanded to 18 in 1985. In 2002 Mystic Lake was finally able to acquire the course and built the meadows, which opened in 2005 as it is currently designed.
When we played the course it was very wet which made putting on the greens rather challenging. Most of the greens are quite large and it was often hard to get the ball to the hole due to the speed of the greens. Also, with the wet conditions, the carts we took had to stay on the path which is such a pain. Speaking of the carts, they are the most comfortable carts I have ever ridden in. The seats were so well padded I felt like I was riding around in a barco-lounger.
We played from the white tees.
While the course is fairly flat, it offers a lot of water and sand to find. Well placed fairway bunkers come into play on nearly every drive potentially. The holes are named after various native plants or animals. The animal holes all have statues of the animals they are named after. it is worth it to play here just to enjoy these artworks scattered around the course.
Hole 1, Sage, is an easy starting hole that has fairway bunkers left and right Around 220 yards out. Another bunker guards the front of the green. A par 4 at 372 yards it is a good hole to make par or birdie on.
Hole 2, Maple, is a 173 yard par 3. Avoiding the front bunker and positioning your ball on the right side of this large green is key.
Hole 3, Prairie, was redesigned this year to make it more difficult. The green was moved from its original position straight down the fairway, left and over water. This 506 yard par 5 has water left A large fiarway bunker on the left requires a carry of 260 yards or placement right of it. Another bunker to the right does not make the tee shot any easier. The second shot should be played as far left as you can to make your third shot to the green as easy as possible.
Hole 4, Willow is an uphill short par 4, at 284 yards, well protected by bunkers. Water is also in play short and right. To reach the right fiarway landing zone you must carry about 230 yards to clear the bunkers.
Hole 5, Creek, is a par 4 at 382 yards that gets its name from the creek running in front of the green. Right fairway bunkers come into play at 230-270 yards
Hole 6, Bear, is one of the signature hole here. A par 5 at 510 yards. The first shot offers a large landing area. Your second shot offers little hope of carrying the impressive waterfall short of the green. The better play is to hit left of the water to the landing area and play a conservative third shot in.
Hole 7, Eagle, is a 165 yard par 3. Water short and left requires a carry to the green or a miss right. Again a large green, hitting to the correct side is key.
Hole 8, Oak, is a 334 yard par 4. Water is left of the tee and two bunkers left and right collect balls 250 yards off the tee. The smart play is to lay up short of the bunkers, giving a 120-110 yards in.
Hole 9, Buffalo, is a 397 yard par 4. Again, fairway bunkers both right and left are in play. The left bunker requires 250 yards to clear. Play down the middle between the bunkers and you will have under 100 yards in.
Turning the corner, the course offers even more water. 7 of 9 holes on the back have water on them somewhere though often it is not really in play.
The 10th, Meadow, is a 476 yard par 5. Left and right bunkering is in play off the tee starting at around 230 yards on each side. The fairway landing area is large. The second shot really does not offer a lot of danger, just a bunker protecting the green in front. This hole is reachable in 2 and it is tempting to try, with the lack of danger.
The 364 yard 11th, Ash, has water down the left side. Again bunkers can come into play both left and right off the tee. The green here is really large so make sure your second shot is on target. Do not miss right as long gress can get your ball good.
Hole 12, Deer, is 328 yards. No wate ron this hole, just more strategically placed bunkers.
Hole 13, Plum, requires a good carry off the tee. Again, there is no water on this hole only bunkers protecting the green.
Back to the water on 14, Aspen. A 174 yard par 3. Water short and right must be carried, as well as a large bunker past the water. There is room to bail out left.
Hole 15, Sumac, is a 429 yard par 4 that does have water right but it is not really in play. What is in play are more fairway bunkers off the tee. A rather long but shallow green can make hitting close to the flag difficult.
Hole 16, Cattail is a placement hole. The fairway ends about 230 yards out and the green is protected by water and a large beach bunker. The best play is to hit 200 yards off the tee to the middle of the landing area, left of the visible bunkers. Dont hit too far left as marsh is on that far side and then carry the ball 130 yards to the green.
17, Fox, is a short par 3 at 137 yards. Water is in play along the left side of the hole. Bunkering short right, left, and long protect the green.
Hole 18, Moose, is another of the signature holes that is a 562 yard par 5. Your tee shot must carry marsh 200 yards. From there cross bunkers require you to fly 240 on the right or 280 down the middle. The fairway is split into two landing areas here. Your second shot is a positioning shot for your third shot which must carry water to a peninsula green.
I did not play that well when we went. My driver was hooking and the slow large greens resulted in far too many 3 putts. I ended up shooting a 90.
The Meadows offers a players card, which gives you a progressively lower priced round each time you play. The first round is $85, the second, $75, then $65, $55 and the fifth is free. That means if you play here the average price is $56 for the five rounds. If you play only once the $85 is pretty steep, but in line with the other premium course around like the Wilds, Stone Ridge, etc.
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