The great weather at the end of September continued Saturday. Today I went out to the Sawmill golf course in Stillwater, MN. I had yet to play here this year and had 4 rounds on my Common Man card to use. I brought my wife, her brother, and Mr. Vigen.
Since it was such a nice day everyone and their mother was out on the course. The round started out on a sour note when the course let 2 two-somes out in front of us. One of the people didn't want to play with anyone else so the course didn't pair them up. Really? When the course is packed you are going to let two 2-somes out? While we were waiting for the second twosome to be out of range so we could tee off, there were
five groups on the first hole: a foursome on the green, a twosome hitting their third, a twosome hitting their second, us on the tee, and another foursome waiting behind us. Ugh!
Despite the slow play it was gorgeous. The fall colors are really nearing their peak. It was great to get out and play with my wife, I haven't been able to do that enough this year.
The end of our round also ended on a sour note. Despite being only a twosome in front of us, we had to wait on every hole to hit. Finally on the 18th hole after we had to wait to tee off, we did and then a ranger came from the 17th hole and told us we needed to speed up as we were holding up people behind us. He obviously had no idea what he was talking about and we let him know we have waited on every hole for a twosome in front of us, and again had to do so on 18. That seemed to quiet him down. But really? How about how know the situation before you go chastising a group for slow play.
Hole 1- Par 5 (478/469/457/426)
Off the tee you should play short of the tree in the fairway. A creek bisects the fairway here. On this short hole you don't need to cross the creek off the tee so something other than driver is the best club.
Your second shot just needs to advance to a comfortable approach in.
The third shot must carry another small creek running across the front and right of the green.
Hole 2- Par 4 (310/292/296/288)
A short hole with plenty of trouble in the typical landing area. Best play is to hit just short of the bunkers (about 180-190 yards).
Hole 3- Par 3 (176/155/150/145)
A par 3 that always seems to play a little longer than the yardage. The green here slopes back to front and their is a severe slope off the front of the green. Putting the ball off the green is not hard to do.
A deer watched our tee shots from the trees behind the 3rd tee.
Hole 4- Par 4 (393/382/370/346)
A straight away par 4 that has trees down the entire right side. There is hidden danger over the hill left. A pond is on the left side and the fairway runs to the left so driver may not be the best play here.
The fairway falls off at 140 yards before rising to the elevated green.
This turtle stole my ball.
The green on 4.
Hole 5- Par 3 (202/202/138/107)
The prettiest tee shot on the course. There are actually 2 tee box areas. The normal tee box requires you to carry the pond the entire distance to the green. Bunkers protect all other sides around the green. Wind is often into you on this hole as well.
Hole 6- Par 4 (405/371/321/292)
A tough par 4 that requires a precise tee shot and a accurate second shot into a very narrow but deep green.
The best approach off the tee is just to the left edge of the right bunker. THe ball will funnel to the left slightly.
Right on this hole is OB with a road hidden just past the trees.
Missing left of the green offers a deep grass bunker to the narrow green.
Hole 7- Par 5 (562/548/535/412)
An unusual par 5 that forces you to not hit driver off the tee because of a short dogleg right to begin. Once you turn the corner you have the majority of the distance left on the hole.
On your second shot you must be straight as trees down both the right and left will prevent a clean third shot. There is a small pond down the left side as well.
Hole 8- Par 3 (175/156/139/116)
Another pretty par 3. This hole offers danger down the entire length of the hole. A back right pin placement is as tough as shot as there is.
The green is actually quite deep. There is a small area to miss left but bunkers are also placed there.
Hole 9- Par 4 (410/325/320/278)
A nerve racking tee shot requires navigating a chute of trees right off the tee.
The hole opens up past the trees with more room left than right.
From the fairway it is an uphill approach to a two tiered green.
Hole 10- Par 4 (401/384/379/368)
A straight away par 4 to start the back. There is a creek bisecting the hole about 100 yards out. Also there is more water down the left side.
The green is nestled back into the trees.
Hole 11- Par 4 (441/425/390/384)
A blind tee shot to a down hill fairway. Aim right of center as the fairway slopes left.
Over the hill a few bunkers await on the right.
This hole always seems to require a long second shot in.
Hole 12- Par 4 (300/288/281/249)
A short dogleg left hole. The trees here were especially vibrant.
From the tee, cut as much off the corner as you think wise. There is a huge bunker running down the entire left side.
The green is well bunkered and relatively small.
Hole 13- Par 3 (185/159/142/127)
A tough uphill par 3. Trees both left and right will catch errant shots. Anything short will run back down the slope. You must carry a water hazard off the tee but it should not really come into play.
Hole 14- Par 4 (366/361/327/301)
A short par 4, but one with a very tight tee shot. Anything missing the fairway will find the trees.
The trees were brilliant playing into this green.
Hole 15- Par 4 (372/327/303/249)
One of the more open driving holes on the back, as long as you don't go left. The hole turns slightly left.
Another deer laughs at my pitiful attempt at a drive.
The green is protected left and right by bunkers.
Hole 16- Par 3 (134/320/120/110)
A short par 3 that requires a carry over a pond and up onto the green with a sloping front edge. This hole never seems to be in great shape. I think it receives too much shade throughout the year.
The green is wide but not very deep.
Hole 17- Par 5 (536/492/438/435)
The longest hole on the back, this is the most wide open tee shot. The hole is frames down the right by mounds and turns slightly left before running straight to the green.
The second shot is another wide open shot towards the green. The only real danger is left where there are plenty of trees and lateral OB.
Lisa making it rain.
Hole 18 (416/359/344/293)
Playing nearly 60 yards longer from the back tee this hole runs straight east so the setting sun is right at your back.
Off the tee, aim just right of the lone pine. The hole actually has 2 fairways, one to the right of the tree and a lower fairway to the left.
The approach to the green is downhill. A miss right can funnel down the hill to the green. A miss left will find a tough bunker shot back uphill to the green.
Lisa missed left and had the tough bunker shot.
I ended up shooting an 87, adjusted to 85 with two ugly triples. Vigen shot a great back 9 with a 38. He edged me out with an 86.
