Columbia- League Week 12

We had been fairly strong on the back 9 lately so we entered into this week hopeful for our chances this week.  I blew up with an 8 on the first hole though.  Luckily Michael played it well and we ended up winning the hole with his par.

From there we went downhill, similar to the fairway on hole 11.

You can see here the damage from the flooding that occurred in early July.  We pushed the second hole and then lost on the third hole.

Next we came to the dreaded 13th.  This hole always seems to be our downfall.

I hit a great drive with a 3 wood right down the middle and then an iron onto the front of green.  I proceeded to hit a firm putt that hit the hole but had too much speed that ran by.  I hit a good comeback putt that didn't move like I thought.  I ended up with a horrendous bogey after 4 really good shots.  Ouch.  We ended up losing the hole and thus the front half 2 to 1.

On the back half of the match we ended up pushing every hole.

Here you can see the greenside bunkers on 15 are being expanded quite a bit.  This is the general direction of the course lately, with larger greens and larger bunkers.

I just missed a bird on 17 so 18 was the last hope to win a hole and split the points.  I made par but one of our opponents made bogey, with a stroke, for a push.

The total ended up being 2 holes to 1 for the match.  We received a single point and gave up 4 points.  Had I made my putt on 13 and my putt on 17 we could have walked away with 4.  Grrr.

Playing the Summit Golf Course

I made my way down to Cannon Falls, 45 miles south of the Twin Cities today for a round of golf at the Summit Golf Course.  Built in 2002 this is a great course that does not offer a lot of amenities, other than a fun round of golf.

Featuring what might be the smallest clubhouse I have seen, don't expect to find a big bar or fancy food for sale here.

The Summit is kind of a tail of 2 nines. The first 9 is generally pretty open, while the back 9 gets pretty tight amongst the trees.


The tightest holes on the front are probably the par 3s, along with the par 4 4th hole. 

I think the 389 yard 4th hole is the one hole they need to change.  They should trim back the trees on the right and the bushes on the left.  Especially from the forward tees, there is just nowhere to aim off the tee.

The front nine is relatively open, with holes like the 426 yard par 4 7th hole shown here.

The Summit also features probably the best looking tee shot in the Twin Cities, on the 552 yard par 5 13th.  As you can see above it features a tremendous elevation change from the tee boxes down to the fairway which then doglegs left around a grove of trees and the bunker in the distance before rising to an elevated green.

Driving from the tees down the steep hill, there is a warning sign due to the grade of your descent.

The 13th is followed by another white knuckled tee shot on the 397 yard par 4 14th that rises uphill to a back to front sloping green.  The entire right side, and most of the left is tree lined, requiring a straight long ball.

Not to be outdone, the 15th hole is the hardest of this three hole stretch.  A 589 yard par 5, is a double dogleg right hole in the shape of a C.  Driver off the tee can find the trees through the fairway unless you can move the ball left to right.

The par 3 16th offers a bit of respite before the 17th.

The 17th offers a fairly wide open tee shot.  You want to get your ball as close to the aiming stick you can see as possible.  That stick is the 150 yard marker on the hole.

From the 150 yard marker the hole falls away into a gully before rising up to a large green.  If you cannot carry the 150 yard distance, you are going to face an uphill blind approach to the green.

Here you can see that uphill approach shot.

And one view back down the hole past the green.

To finish off the gauntlet that is the back nine, and your round, the par 4 18th arrives with a narrow fairway to hit with trees lining the left side and water down the right.  The 390 yard hole doglegs  around a pond and features a large green in front of am old barn.

All in all I played well.  My wife played good too, especially on the back where she shot a 43.  This was her first time playing the course.  My dad didn't play too good and struggled with the tree lined fairways.  I hit the ball really well on the back, with 7 our of 9 GIR.  Only problem was that I three putted 6 of those!  Still I managed to get around with an 80.  If I could have putted I would have gone seriously low.

Columbia- League Week 11

My wing man was missing this week, since Michael is up north camping at Cross Lake.  So I had to face Mitch and Darren on my own.

I played really well.  Carrying over my play from Northfork, I shot a very steady round.
I made birdie on the first hole with a great drive, a good chip and a 2 foot putt.  I ended up bogeying the third with a three putt to fall to even par.

I had another three-puke on the par 3 fifth hole shown here for another bogey.

Hole 7 I nearly chipped in for an eagle when my pitch from the location of this picture hit the flag stick but didn't drop.  I made the bird though.

All in all it was a fun time.  Great opponents, and even though it was Vietnam hot, our round was fairly quick since we had the first tee time.

I ended up with a one over 36.  My best round in league ever.  It was only enough to split the points for the week at 2.5. I was happy about that, since I was flying solo.

In my last 54 holes I have finally started scoring, with 8 birdies in that stretch.

Golfing Southern Hills- The Ramalynn Open

Last Saturday I was asked to participate in a four man scramble tournament to benefit my niece and nephew's school.  The tournament was held in Farmington, south of the Twin Cities at Southern Hills.

I have played Southern Hills one other time, which was two years ago in late fall.  The only thing I really remember about the course was the aerated greens that made putting a task.

The Ramlynn Open has been held for over a decade and the winners are engraved on the cup.  This year our Team was my brother-in-laws Jeremy and Dave, and Dave's dad.  Despite surprising people last year with a 6th place finish, Dave's team this year was predicted to finish second to last.

The school really does a nice job and gets some great prizes donated.  This year there were lots of tickets for Twins, Vikings, Gopher Football, and Hockey.  There were also some rounds of golf and hockey equipment.

The night before the event we got heavy rains.  In the Shakopee area they got close to 6 inches overnight.  While driving to the tournament I heard on the radio that The Meadows at Mystic Lake, and Bent Creek in Eden Prairie were both closed due to flooding.  Southern Hills was actually fairly dry, all things considered.  We were able to take out carts and not stick to the paths, but there were some areas of standing water, like this puddle right by the ninth green.  Because of the wet conditions the local rule allowed for complete relieve from bunkers, since most of them had severe wash-outs or were flooded.  With the scramble format that never came into play but Jeremy and I both lost a ball when they went into a greenside bunker holding several feet of water.

We started on hole 7, a tight 363 yard par 4.  The fairway slopes go the left and is only around 20 yards wide.  We all hit good drives but all missed the tiny fairway.  here Larry tees off first.  he hit first all day and put a safe ball in play on almost every hole letting the three of us hit away.  We failed to hit the green in 2 and settled for an opening par.

The second hole is a tough 196 yard par 3 with the pin in the very back, uphill, and into the wind.  Dave hit what looked to be a good shot that turned out to be 20 yards short of the green.  I hit a 4 hybrid to the collar that we ended up using.  We failed to get up and down and suffered a devastating bogey.  Not good in a 4 ball scramble!!

 Here you can see the typical state of the bunkers, the ones that weren't submerged.

Jeremy tees off on the short Par 5 ninth hole.  At only 462 yards a reachable green.  Jeremy hit his a bit thin but I connected with a solid tee ball and we had 150 yards in.

A view into the green from our approach.  Jeremy hit a nice close shot which we failed to convert on, but we made a tap in birdie.
 

 Hole 11 is the prettiest on the course, a down hill par 3.  At 155 yards you need to be precise and factor in the wind.  Two bunkers protect the front of the green and one bunker is behind.  This shot was taken from the 9th tee box, showing the green from a side angle.  The green is also bisected by a hump to make any putts from the wrong half more difficult.

 Another view of the 11th, showing the farm fields in the distance.

Hole 12 is a 534yard par 5.  There is no bunkering on the hole at all.  A dogleg right off the tee, the green is protected in front by a hill down the right side.  This makes going for it in two a blind shot to the pin.  Today you can see an extra water hazard appeared short of the green, were a grass hollow is normally.

The downhill par 3 15th.  At 128 yards only one of us hit the green.  A stiff wind into us fooled 3 of us and we ended up hitting long into the water guarding the right and back of the hole.

The green on the 358 yard par 4 16th has water and trees guarding the right edge.  We hit to the right collar of the green here.  I hit a great (and lucky) chip that found the cup for birdie.

The 18th is a par 5 at 490 yards that was playing dead into the wind.  I hit another good drive just down the middle, leaving us with around 220 yards into the wind.  Dave hit an unbelievable 3 wood straight into the wind that landed on the front right corner of the green.  Larry putted first and drained a 40 foot shot for eagle!  He won the longest putt on the hole and got Vikings tickets from Whitney Wheelock's family.

Another shot showing the clubhouse behind the 18th hole.  You can see again the washed out and flooded condition of the bunkers.

We ended up with a par on every par 3, except the 8th that we bogeyed.

We were 5 under on the par 5s, with an eagle and three birdies.  We had an easy chance for a second eagle when I hit our second shot on the Par 5-1st hole to within 10 feet. 

On the nine par 4s we shot 6 under.

Collectively that gave us a -10 score.  We ended up finishing one stroke out of first place.  We lost to a team with 2 members of Hazeltine.  I figure not too shabby.

We shot a blistering 28 on the front nine, and that included a bogey!  That was the lowest nine of any team in the tournament.  Guess the predictions of Dave's team were a little bit off.

The best part of the whole thing was as my prize for coming in second I received a round of golf at Woodhill Country Club with Rama, his brother Ravi, and their father.  I am so pumped for that!!!

Hiawatha Golf Course Closed

This last weekend the twin cities got over 5 inches of rain Saturday night.  I just received word that Hiawatha Golf Course is currently closed due to flooding, as Saturday morning's storms left many holes completely under water. The course will be re-evaluated this week and based on water levels and damage, a determination as to re-opening will be made at that time. The Hiawatha driving range is open for business.

I also heard reports that the Meadows at Mystic Lake and Bent Creek had also closed due to the rains but those courses have since re-opened.

Columbia- League Week 10

So week 10 is in the books and this is my first blog post about the entire year.  Sorry, but I am way behind.  This week we played one of the most fun pairings in the league, Matt and Tom.  This year we have had good luck on the back nine, averaging many more points there than the front.  By we I mean Michael.  Other than a couple of rounds I posted 39s this year has been rubbish city for me.  Michael has gotten a severe hump in his back from carrying me around this year.

 Tom tees off on hole 10.  I hit a great drive then pulled my second shot right which found the cart path and lots o trouble.  I ended up with a triple.  One bad shot can really mess with your game!

Hole 11 flooded again this year with the heavy rains we had.  This was the first week of it being open again.

 The fairway is heavily damaged and finding the high spot in the fairway with grass remaining is a luck break indeed.

Hole 15, the par 5.  After snap hooking my driver all day I broke out my 3 wood and hit a missile right down the middle about 280 down the middle.  On my second shot I thought I would lay up with a 5 iron.  I was 230 yards out but ended up absolutely smushing one.  My second ended up just past the green.  A 230 yard 5-iron?  Hmmm.

The 15th is having the right side green-side bunker extended.  It is becoming longer encircling the front edge of the green and stretching to the back edge of the putting surface.

We ended up losing the front 2 and 1.  On the back we rallied.  I made birdie on 17 to seal the 2 points for the back side.  On the 18th I was the only one to find the fairway, on a 290 yard drive.  My second shot was right on line but 20 feet short.  I made par which was a push, with Tom receiving a stroke from me.

All in all it was a really fun round.  After going 6 over on the first 3 holes I played the others even par.  I played really well and feel like I am striking the ball better and better.  I just need to keep myself out of trouble to take advantage.

The weather tonight was brilliant.  The opponents were fun, and we split the points at 2.5 each.  Right now we are in 5th place with 4 more weeks to go until playoffs.

Playing Meadowbrook

Saturday I took my dad, my wife, and my father-in-law out to play a little golf for a belated father's day gift.  We ended up going to a local course that has missed my rotation for a number of years- Meadowbrook.

Meadowbrook golf course is in Hopkins, MN. It is actually a part of the city of Minneapolis Golf Course umbrella. It was opened in 1926 and offers a very similar parkland layout to the other Minneapolis courses.  The course is adjacent to storied Interlachen but since this is a muni, it has the typical conditions of spotty fairways and shaggy greens.

I really wish that Minneapolis would spend some coin on their courses.  Most of them have a pretty decent layout but their lack of upkeep is the major downside.  I have not played Meadowbrook for over 7 years.  Really my only memory of the last round was that canoers were traveling down Minnehaha creek that transects several of the holes.

The major gripe of the course is that it offers too many blind shots. The course was renovated in 1995 and it is a little surprising that the layout offers so many blind shots.  The positive side is that almost every hole is dead straight and plaques near the MGA markers tell of any hazards up over the hills and their distance from the tee.  So basically if you hit it straight the blind shots are not a big deal.

We played after several days of strong storms and showed up to the course to find out they were not letting carts out.  A policy I commend for the upkeep of the course but one that meant a long walk over the various hills of the course.  Both my dad and my wife's dad played with us and it wasn't exactly cool, but we all made it safely around the course without any heat exhaustion.  One other bad thing about the no carts- the pull carts the course rents are absolutely horrendous.  They offer no straps to hold your clubs on, which is a crime given the hilly nature of the course.  My father-in-law's bag must have fallen off his cart 10 times during the round!

So muni conditions, blind shots, and wet conditions with no carts.  I must have hated it, right?  Well no.  Actually exactly the opposite.  I really enjoyed playing the course.  I found the elevation changes of the course one of the great things.  Sure there are blind shots because of it, but if you are straight (which I happened to be that day) the blind shots are not that detrimental.

Lets take a look at the course.

The course is not too long.  From the tips it is 6557 yards with a 72.4 rating and slope of 132.  From the forward most tees it drops to a pint sized 4934 yards.

Hole 1- Par 5 (512/497/462/398 yards)
The opening hole starts off with a layout that is straight away.  As I said, almost every hole on the course offers this layout, with only one hole that can be considered a dogleg.  From the tees here, you can see the green in the distance over the top of a hill.  The hill from the MGA markers is around 240 yards. 

Over the hill down the right side is a pond, not visible from this picture.  The fairway cascades downhill before rising again to an elevated green on your third shot.

The green also falls off behind the hole and the course property boundary is close by both left and behind the green.

Hole 2- Par 3 (162/154/144/119 yards)
The second is a down hill par 3 with a mounded green protected in front by a pair of bunkers.

Hole 3- Par 4 (322/306/298/234 yards)
This is a straight ahead par 4.  Here you experience the first of the blind tee shots up the hill. 

Once atop the hill the green has a single bunker left.  As long as you avoid the trees off the tee it is a relatively easy hole.  Hitting from the hill can be tricky to a hidden green.

Hole 4- Par 5 (462/452/441/405 yards)
Again, straight ahead.  From the tee the view is constrictive with trees lining either side of the hole.

 From the forward tees the narrowness of the fairway looks more pronounced.

 The bunker down the right can be carried off the tee.

 The approach to this green is again a blind uphill shot.

Hole 5- Par 4 (442/381/367/354 yards)
A tee shot over a praecipe; this is another blind tee shot.  Markers by the MGA marker warn of water both left and right with the yardage to each.

Once you reach the crest of the hill you can see the hole falls away before Minnehaha creek bisects the fairway.

 A well placed drive just short of the creek will leave 160 yards to the green.  Because of the water this hole plays pretty tough.  Driver is not an option and, if played conservatively off the tee, your second shot can be a long 200 yards into the green on this par 4.

 A view back down the hole.

Hole 6- Par 3 (187/178/167/120 yards)
A longer par 3 with 2 bunkers protecting a wide but narrower green.

Hole 7- Par 4 (398/326/319/226 yards)
The 7th is a par 4 that require a good drive to clear the hill off the tee.  If the course were dry I can imagine a lot of balls rolling back down to the base of the hill.  As it was today, the balls stopped on the hill and that was our typical landing area.

 Off the tee you must clear Minnehaha creek.  Not a problem for anything hit well.

 A view from just beyond the creek showing another uphill blind shot towards the green.

 The approach to the green is unguarded but you do not want to go long.

 I hit a lucky shot with my ball on the upslope of the hill and had a 5 foot birdie putt that I converted.

Hole 8- Par 4 (363/326/319/226 yards)
Another dead straight par 4.  Other than the trees, there is also water left  off the tee.

 The approach from the fairway is guarded by 2 bunkers in front of a slightly elevated green.

 The rough in front of this green is pretty thick.

Hole 9- Par 4 (450/440/324/313 yards)
An elevated tee shot to a straight ahead, tree lined fairway.  Like the last hole, water is down the left side.

 From the fairway the green is unguarded.

 A view from behind the green showing some of the storm damage.  All in all there were not too many trees down, unlike a lot of areas in the city.

Hole 10- Par 4 (389/369/343/282 yards)
A pair of ponds must be navigated on this par 4 hole, with the finish rising to an elevated green.

 From the right side of the hole you may need to carry the large oak.  A pair of bunkers are placed short on either side of the green.

 A view back down the hole.

Hole 11- Par 4 (367/356/319/275 yards)
Water comes in play down the right.  Trees cover all other escape routes.

 Another rise to the green completes this hole.

A view back down the hole.  My drive was behind the trees on the right of this picture off the tee and it was very difficult to find an approach to the green.

Hole 12- Par 4 (349/344/309/271 yards)
A slight dogleg left.  Water is in play down the left on this hole.  A small pond just out on the right but a well struck drive should not have a problem with the right hazard.

 The green has a single bunker short right.

Hole 13- Par 3 (126/123/120/118 yards)
A par 3 that has two distinct appearances based on the tee used.  From the back 2 tees you must carry 2 bunkers and the hill in front of the green.

From the forward 2 tees your tee shot is a different angle, providing access to the full width of the green to aim at.

Hole 14- Par 5 (494/487/420/358 yards)
A blind tee shot over the hill on this par 5.  Again, plaques on the ground define hazard distance and location.

 From atop the hill you can see water is in play down the left.  Trees are the hazard down the right.

 The approach into the green is guarded by a flat bunker covering the entire front of the green.  A clever design to protect a run up shot on this short par 5.

 My ball found said bunker, covering the circular green.

Hole 15- Par 4 (416/394/333/279 yards)
The only legit dogleg on the course.  A tall tree blocks the most direct path off the tee.

 A view from the right edge of the dogleg.

 This hole also features a Candyland inspired candy cane forest.

 A view of the 15th green and the three square bunkers guarding the right side on approach.

Hole 16- Par 3 (163/152/107/102 yards)
The final par 3 is visually similar to every other one on the course with two bunkers protecting the front.

Hole 17- Par 4 (409/399/366/328 yards)
Another blind tee shot on this par 4.  This picture was taken a ways up from the tee.

 At the top of the hill, you can see how squeezed the fairway gets between the water hazards.

 The approach is guarded by a single bunker short left.

Hole 18- Par 5 (546/536/449/442 yards)
The finishing hole is a dead straight par 5.  There is water both left and right of the fairway in the first shots landing zone.

 A view down the flat fairway to the green.

 A shot back down the hole showing some of the standing water around the course from the heavy rains.

If you hate blind shots you are going to hate Meadowbrook.  I found the layout fun, if not a bit quirky.  Again with better grooming this would be a more fun experience.  The layout of the course over the hilly terrain makes for more interesting play than a completely flat course, like Minnehaha in South Minneapolis.  However these same hills make for a lot of blind shots, either off the tee or on approaches to uphill greens.