Second Best / Golden Horseshoe Green course

  Williamsburg, Virginia, United States
Sunday, June 29, 2008

The Golden Horseshoe Golf Resort actually has two 18 hole championship caliber courses and a executive course.  As part of the golf package we get unlimited play on the executive length Spotswood course, but we did not take advantage of this.  However, Mike and I did play the Golden Horseshoe Green course.  Unlike the Gold course which was designed by Robert Trent Jones, the Green course was designed by Rees Jones...as far as I know the only place in the world to have courses designed by a father and son combination.  The design difference was readily apparent on the first hole.  Rees (like other modern course designers) laid out the holes with a lot of mounds and rolls trying to force a links like course in the middle of a forest.  In my opinion I think this type of design philosophy appears forced and artificial.  Hands down the Gold course is a better layout.

Mike's preference for the Gold course was based on something entirely different.  He did not like the rental clubs provided on the Green course.  The course attendant did not help matters.  Mike requested stiff shaft clubs.  The attendant claimed they had no rental clubs with stiff shafts.  When Mike asked if it was possible to used the rentals from the Gold course, the attendant claimed that the Green course has the same clubs as the Gold course and neither courses carry stiff shaft clubs for their rentals...BS.  When the attendant brought out a bag with Callaway Big Bertha irons, we challenged him with the fact that Mike played with Callaway X20 irons yesterday.  At this point the attendant said they do not carry X20...considering all the lies so far I bet he did not want to go back to the club house to look for a bag of X20.

My score was all over the place.  On the front nine I had two holes where I carded a snowman (8), but I also made three pars.  The most memorable par came on #6 par 4. 

#6 green

It was the number 1 handicap hole at 402 yards.  I hit my drive on the fairway about 220 yards.  I nailed a 3I stiff to within a make-able birdie putt distance from the pin.  Unfortunately, I did not make my birdie putt but I was happy with a 4 for a par.  I finished the first nine with a par on the 153 yard par 3 and a total of 50. 

I could tell Mike was not enjoying hitting with the Big Bertha's, so I suggested we stop at the car so he can get his regular clubs.  Mike decided to gut it out with the rental clubs...big mistake.  He carded a nine on the #10 and #15 hole for a back nine of 57.  On the other hand I was starting to get into a groove and scored a par on both the #10 and #11.  As usually when I start congratulating myself on a good couple of holes (3 pars in a row), I posted a nice fat EIGHT on the #12 hole.  I quickly regrouped myself and with a par on the #17 hole; I was in good position to break 100...I should known better than adding up my score prior to finishing.

#18 hole

The #18 hole was a gorgeous, uphill, 488 yards par 5 with a tee shot over water.  Even though the beautiful view from the tee box was pictured on the scorecard, I decided I need a photo for myself.  I hit a great drive on to the fairway on the other side of the creek.  All of a sudden the golf gods showed up and punished me for my insolence of expecting a sub 100 round.  I sliced the next two shots out of bounds to finish with a monster 10 on the final hole.  My total for the round...102.