The Course
This course was stunning. Easily the best course I’ve played in Atlanta. I had high expectations for this course and it didn’t disappoint. Starting on the giant putting green, huge driving range, and the massive chipping area, we had a chance to warm up our entire game. The starter was great and the course was amazing. The condition of the course, even in mid-October, was superb. The fairways were still lush, tee boxes trim and full of great clean grass, and the greens were in great shape and rolling true. What is really amazing about this course, is that even though it consists of 18 holes from 15 (or so) different courses, it felt like one solid, cohesive track. Nicklaus used ever piece of the land to perfection. We will definitely be playing here again.
My Round
Casey got us out on this course and I couldn’t be happier that he did … and that he’s actually down here in ATL and we can play golf together. Regardless of the course, its always a fun round. And today was a great day.
Because we were playing this course for the first time, I wasn’t concerned with scoring well. That doesn’t mean I didn’t care about score, it just means it wasn’t a priority. My priority was just having fun and taking in the course. I didn’t score well, but I still hit some great shots. My bad holes were due in most part to rushing. For some reason Casey and I both rushed #6, the Muirfield Village signature par 3. As a result, I went right and short and in the water. My drop from the drop area, also short. When we got finished with the hole, the group behind us wasn’t even on the tee. We rushed for no reason. Same thing happened on #11 and a few other holes. We’re not slow golfers, there was no reason to rush. But that was the issue, rushing led to bad swings which led to numerous doubles.
I had some great swings. A few drives were over 280y, one of which had very little roll out, so that was a big hit for me. The shot I will most remember was off the #17th tee. A 160 yard par 3 downhill. I took an 8i and hit a beautiful shot that hit 8 feet past the hole, checked and even rolled back a bit. But the hit was perfectly struck with great balance, perfect divot and tracked with an ever so slight baby draw right over the flag. I lost it in mid air, but knew it was perfect and just looked at the hole waiting for it to come down.
My misses were a result of overactive hips and right leg and bad alignment. I’m not trusting my alignment and I need to work very hard at that. My right leg and hip keep spinning out and I need to keep them under control. I hit a few hooks and a few pulls. Whats funny is that on the range I was hitting the most perfect little baby draws, solid and long with the 9i and 7i. Even the driver. But I was using a narrow stance, focusing on a full shoulder turn (out over my right leg) and coming through the ball solidly. My right leg staying on the ground and under control. When I carried that feeling over to the course, I hit great shots.
Regardless of the score, we couldn’t have asked for a better day. It was a great round.
My Scorecard
Other Photos
Couldn’t ask for a better day at Bear’s
#11 180 yards completely over water. I ended up long in the bunker left
What a great starting hole. You get a feel for how cool this course will be right from the very beginning
Even the short holes can bite you here.
Black sand in the bunker on #2. Mimics the sand found in PA
The sightlines, contours and features of this course were insane
Looking back toward the tee of this unique but short par 4
We were running up against the clock, but it made for some awesome late day views of the course
Went for it in 2 from 245 out. Ended up flying it in the bunker right, 3 feet left and I roll up and probably thru the green
Each hole had a marker displaying the yardage as well as the original location for the hole such as Scotland
