I was attending a conference in Vegas, and decided to arrive a few days early for some golf. I called a friend, who was into it, and we booked a package and played four courses in 3 days; 18 on Saturday, 36 on Sunday and 18 on Monday. And it was awesome! Such beautiful views, and friendly people, as you’ll see.

Our first round was at Conestoga Golf Club, in Mesquite, Nevada. We got off the plane, hopped in the rental car, and hit a little traffic; ouch. We were going to be a little late, and called the course which was very accommodating; great group in the pro shop. We were able to bump our tee time back a half hour. Conestoga had plenty of length, with the Blacks playing over 7,200. We played the Golds, which were 6,751 yards.

The first hole is a straightaway par 4, playing 388 yards. Here’s a shot from the back of the green looking towards the tee. Forgot how beautiful it is out here; what a beautiful start!

The second hole is only 162 yard par 3, but it is severely downhill. Only on the second hole and already significant elevation change (which is a running theme in Mesquite.) I hit it a little long and ended in the bunker behind the green. Almost got up and down, but happy with a bogey.

The 5th hole is the next par 3, this one playing 188 yards from the Golds. As you can see, there are bunkers surrounding this green. Luckily I play a fade (most of the time), and aimed towards the left bunker and faded it right in, two-putting for a par.

The seventh is a 285 yard par 4, and plays as the second easiest hole on the course. I recommend hitting an iron off the tee, and giving yourself a 100 yards or so into the green, as there’s trouble around the green that’s tough to see from the tee. It might be worth driving up and taking a look before your tee shot if you have time.

The ninth is a long par 5, and rated as the hardest hole on the course. It plays 564 yards from the Golds, and a whopping 595 from the Blacks. Here’s a look at the tee shot; beautiful place.

Even with a good tee shot I was left with much more than 300 yards so I laid up. Here’s a view of the green. There is water left, and lots of bunkers so be careful. I ended up in the bunker on the right and bogeyed.

The tenth is another long par 3, at 186 yards from the Golds, with all carry over water. There is room to bail to the right but I went for it, and ended up a little long (which was fine.) Good chip left me with a 3-footer for par.

The 11th is a long, tough par 4 (460 yards), but if you get a bigger score then expected, you can make up for it on the 12th, which is the easiest hole here; a par 5 playing only 513. After the twelfth is an on-course restroom, which was clean and appreciated.

The 14th is a short par 3, playing only 136 from the Golds, but the wind was definitely in play, changing the hole dramatically. My advice is to play the wind, and aim for the right tier on the green. I ended a little short but had a good chip and had a gimmie for par.

The 16th is another long par 5, playing 550 from the Golds. The tee shot only needs to be left of the bunkers; lots of room so let it fly.

After the tee shot, I laid up to a decent distance, especially once I saw the green. Again, surrounded by bunkers. For me, it was the right choice.

The 18th is a long, strong finishing hole, playing 444 yards. My tee shot was great, but I hooked the approach, ending well left of the green. Had a great pitch but missed the putt for a finishing bogey.

As part of our package, our lunch was included with this round of golf. As I said, we were running late, so they let us use our lunch tickets after the round, which was great. Beautiful clubhouse, and a hearty meal and a few beers to finish the first day in Mesquite. Thanks GolfMesquiteNevada.com for setting up the package!

Related posts:

1. Royal Links Golf Club Review located in Las Vegas, Nevada
2. White Deer Run Golf Club Review – Vernon Hills, IL
3. Redtail Golf Club Review – Lakewood, Illinois

In July of 2012 Kate and I were coming up on our 7th anniversary, so we decided to take a 7-year Itch Tour to London. We started looking for plane tickets and found that during the week of Thanksgiving, they were cheaper (apparently because nobody from the US goes to UK during Thanksgiving, because they don’t celebrate it.) Knowing that the trip would be expensive (exchange rate: £1 = $1.61; owie), saving money any way possible was preferable, so Thanksgiving week it is! I had our travel department at work find a good rate at a local hotel and we were ready to go!

A quick note: This is a LONG read, and it includes a lot of pictures, but keep in mind that I took over 300 total, and all of them are available here if interested.

There is so much to see and do in London, we quickly realized that we would have to pick and choose. We made lists of must-see, probably-see, and hopefully-see. We had a full week (landed Monday at 6:30 a.m., left following Monday at 9 a.m.), so lots of time to plan stuff, but we didn’t want to over-plan. Having to run around from place to place and check them off a list wasn’t appealing, so we left a few afternoons open, as well as most of the weekend.

We wouldn’t have been nearly as prepared as we were without the help of the TripAdvisor London Forum. Seriously, if you ever go to London, spend some time there beforehand. Some of the most helpful people I’ve had the pleasure to interact with online.

We landed at Heathrow at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, November 19th. We went through customs (about a half-hour wait) and bought two one-way tickets on the Tube from Heathrow to Green Park (about an hour trip). From a cost perspective, this was easily the least expensive. That being said, it was a Monday morning on the Tube, so it was packed. I ended up standing the entire way while Kate sat, both of us repositioning our luggage as more and more people got on. We got off at Green Park and caught a cab to the hotel.

We stayed at The Langham, mainly because I got a corporate discount from work. It’s across the street from the BBC, and on the north end of the shopping district (corner of Oxford and Regent Streets.) Our room was available so we dropped off our bags and headed to a nearby CarPhone Warehouse to buy a phone. We both have iPhones and weren’t interested in “jail-breaking”, so we bought the cheapest international phone they had (£12) and an International calling card, with a cost of 6p/minute (about 9 cents.) We loaded £20 on the calling card and were in and out of the store in 15 minutes; thanks again TripAdvisor!

Then we caught a bus to Victoria Station to get our 2-4-1 cards. Essentially, there are a number of London attractions that participate in 2-4-1 deals, but you have to buy the pass at a train station. The cost for both of us for two 7-day 2-4-1’s was around £60. The 7-day cards also allow the bearer to ride the Tube or buses all week for no additional cost within Zones 1 & 2 (which is where all the attractions are.) If you ever go, I cannot recommend this enough. We kept track and we ended up saving £90 on entrance fees, and we rode the buses 10 times each (so 20 trips total.) Easily paid for itself, and then some.

London Victoria Station

On the bus, London

We used the restrooms at the train station, which cost us 30p each. It was odd having to pay to use the restroom, but Kate found out that the cost is mainly to keep vagrants out.

30p? That’s an outrage!

We headed back to Regent St. to meet a coworker from the London office for lunch. When I had previously been to London for work, we went to an Indian restaurant called Masala Zone, and it was great, so thought Kate would enjoy it. We got there about noon and I ordered a thali, which includes a bunch of different items. The butter chicken was great!

Mmmm; butter chicken

The jetlag hadn’t kicked in yet, so we went to Fortnum & Mason to poke around (more on F&M later.) After about a half hour we decided to head back to the hotel for a nap. When we woke up, it was about supper time so we walked down Regent St. to a pub (Shakespeare’s Head), where I ordered a venison and blueberry burger and a couple beers (Kate had bangers and mash.) All the Christmas lights were up, so we walked down Carnaby St. to Piccadilly Circus, then back to the hotel. 2012 is the 50th Anniversary of the Rolling Stones, so they highlighted Carnaby St.

Carnaby Christmas

Looking N. on Regent Street

Tuesday we started at Le Pain Quotidien, which is a healthy chain restaurant I had been to before. They have great bread, and considering we were eating out every meal for 7 days, thought it made sense to start with something healthy, so we had breakfast here most days. I ordered the prosciutto with organic scrambled eggs.

Way better than I anticipated

Our first stop of the day was Westminster Abbey (where Kate and Prince William were married.) We were feeling spry enough to walk (rather than take the bus), so we walked through Piccadilly Circus, past Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery, and past Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Here are some pictures from the walk; all of the wreaths at the foot of some of the statues are from Remembrance Services for lost soldiers, held a week earlier.

Kewl

Also kewl

Entering Trafalgar Square

History!

Note Big Ben in background

The Cenotaph, London

We took the Verger Tour which was recommended by the TA London forum, and for £3 extra each, easily worth it. It allowed us to go places most visitors don’t get to see, including sitting in the Choir box, just to the right of the Queen’s seat. You’re not allowed to take pictures within the Abbey (or most other attractions, for that matter.) What I remember most is that Westminster Abbey is full of history (there are roughly 1,300 people buried here) and that it is a working church, with multiple daily services. Also, the coronation chair is here, dating back hundreds of years. Finally, you have the ability to light a candle and say a prayer, which was nice. I’m not going to provide history lessons here, but if you ever go to London, this is clearly on the must-see list.

Westminster Abbey, taken from within the courtyard

Westminster Abbey

After making the mandatory stop in the gift shop (bought a bunch of Christmas presents while in London), we walked across the street to St. Stephen’s pub for lunch. I chose St. Stephen’s purely because it’s a Grateful Dead song, of which I have a fond memory. A couple pics from the short walk:

London Eye in background

Winston Churchill

I ordered a couple beers (pretty much required in a pub, amirite?) and a chicken and leek pie. Kate went for the Steak and Tanglefoot pie. Gut bomb!

Yummie; for realz

Yummy, but not as yummy

We then walked back up Whitehall to the National Gallery.

Walking up Whitehall, Nelson’s Column in distance

Love the lightpost

Trafalgar Square, from the steps of the National Gallery

It would be easy to spend hours in the National Gallery; easily the biggest museum I’ve ever been in. We decided we wanted to get some Christmas presents here, and see a few of the more famous paintings. Specifically, we were interested in about a dozen, including works from Monet, Cezanne, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Michalengelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Degas and Picasso. My favorite was Picasso’s “Portrait of Bibi la Puree“. Seriously, all heavyweights. I printed off a map of the interior of the museum, and highlighted the rooms (totaling 66+) where the paintings we wanted to see were located. It made for a quicker and more fruitful trip.

On the way back to the hotel we stopped at the Leicester Arms for a few beers. This was probably our favorite pub, not because the interior or ambiance was more impressive, but as is often the case, the person working there was great. Very personable and talkative.

Inside the Leicester Arms pub

 On Wednesday our first stop (after breakfast) was the Churchill War Rooms. These were the actual rooms where they lived (worked, ate, and slept) during the war. The most impressive part to me was a cutaway section showing the 10′ of concrete above their heads, and the actual location where Churchill slept. Again, no pictures allowed, but a fascinating look into what it must’ve been like to live underground during the bombings.

We then walked to an adjacent park, where we saw these HUGE birds. Not sure what kind they were, but seriously, HUGE! In the pic, note the size difference between them and the other birds on the rocks. Buckingham Palace is in the background.

HUGE birds!

 It wouldn’t be a trip to London without Afternoon Tea, and we had 1 p.m. reservations at Fortnum and Mason. Most places offer the sweet version of Afternoon Tea, but F & M actually had a savory option, so we decided to try it out. The best part was the mushroom tart, by far; so good we ordered 2 more. Also, the “sweets trolley” at the end had the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had. It was too rich for Kate (two bites and she was done) but was perfect as far as I was concerned.

Afternoon Tea at Fortnum and Mason

After tea we shopped, and bought a lot of tea for Christmas presents (I’ve read that the Queen gets her tea here, so one would think it’s the best.) The lag from the jet had caught up with us, so we took it easy afterwards, having dinner at the hotel. The highlight were the oysters; seriously, I could eat these very day!

Thursday we started at the Tower of London. I’d be remiss if I didn’t include a few pictures taken along the way.

Waiting for the 15 bus

Cool Building

Cool statue, right in the middle of the street

Following suggestions from the TA London forum (thanks again!), we got there when it opened and went straight to the Crown Jewels. No line, no hassle. Again, no pictures allowed, but very impressive; more then I was expecting. We walked around the Tower for awhile, realizing that portions of it are hundreds and hundreds of years old.

Inside the Tower of London

Inside the Tower of London

These faces lined the top of one of the buildings; very cool

After the Tower, we exited and were facing the Thames, so we had a seat on a bench and just enjoyed the weather and surroundings for a bit. Saw a group of uniformed schoolkids entering the Tower:

Then we walked a short ways to get good pictures of Tower Bridge. It was still early, so we needed to get an angle where the sun wasn’t in our face; I think we succeeded:

Tower Bridge

Looking at the time, we were about 20 minutes away from the next Thames Boat Tour, and only 10 minutes away from the Pier. We also had the 2-4-1’s for the tour, so it was a no-brainer. We decided to take a round trip from Tower Millenium Pier to the London Eye and back. I took a lot of great pics on the tour; here are my favorite four:

London Eye and the Aquarium

HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge

We got off at Tower Millenium Pier and went for lunch to a pub called Hung, Drawn and Quartered. Seriously; how do you NOT go to a pub with that name? Kate had an awesome cheeseburger, and I ordered Toad in a Hole (sausages and mashed potatoes served in a Yorkshire pudding.)

Toad in the Hole – London

Hung, Drawn and Quartered pub – London

We then took the bus back to the hotel. Of course, I took loads of pics but my favorite was this one, which was an African consulate building (or something like that.) If you look close you’ll see three different gazelles, two in stone.

Friday was for St. Paul’s Cathedral, which is where Princess Diana was married. St. Paul’s Cathedral was the highlight of the trip for both of us. Entering the church, and seeing the ornate carvings and the famous dome literally brought tears to our eyes. We’ve both decided we’d rather spend our money on experiences rather than things, and walking through St. Paul’s was one of the most moving experiences I’ve ever had.

We both walked the 250 steps up to the Whispering Gallery, and I decided to go the next 150 to the Stone Gallery.

I was able to take some of the best pictures of London from this level. Here are a couple of my favorites:

Millennium Bridge and Tate Modern from the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral

Top of St. Pauls Cathedral, London

We had lunch at Madison’s, which is known for it’s proximity to St. Paul’s Cathedral. We had to take an elevator to the 6th floor, and one of my favorite pics of St. Paul’s was taken on that elevator. We’re inside a mall, but can still see the church.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

From the Observation deck at Madison’s

We then walked from Madison’s all the way along the Thames to the London Eye. One of my favorite pics of the trip was taken when we crossed the Millennium Bridge, and looked back at St. Paul’s. The cloud formations were perfect for pictures.

St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Millennium Bridge, London

We also had our only celebrity sighting as we exited the Bridge. Malcolm Gladwell walked past us. Maybe not an A-lister, but still a celebrity in my book! During the walk, I stepped out onto a pier to get this shot. Again, clouds were great and you can still see St. Paul’s Cathedral on the right.

The line for the London Eye looked long but it moved much quicker than expected. Once you buy the tickets, then you stand in line again to enter the ride. Thankfully, it went by quick too. The trip on the London Eye takes a half hour all the way around. This is also a great way to see London.

On the London Eye

Getting near the top

At the top of the London Eye

After the London Eye, we were basically exhausted, so it was a room service kind of night, which was fine with both of us.

Saturday was a huge shopping day in London; so much so that they closed down Regent St. to traffic, making it pedestrian only. We spent most of the day aligning presents with people, going to Fortnum & Mason’s one last time for forgotten gifts, and a few other stores. It was a great idea to leave this day completely open; we didn’t feel rushed, we didn’t have to be anywhere at a specific time, etc. A great way to spend the day as the vacation draws to a close.

The umbrellas make this picture

Sunday (our final day), we decided to go back to St. Paul’s Cathedral for the 10 a.m. service. It included the boys choir, which is basically a waterfall generator. We weren’t too bad until the end of the service. As we exited the church, the bells were ringing and we both lost it. Seriously, one of the most moving experiences of my life. If you go to London, this is my suggested must-see.

We stopped in The George for one last lunch at a pub, and both ordered fish and chips with mushy peas. The trip wouldn’t be complete without it. Here are a few shots form our last pub visit:

The George Pub, London

Fish and Chips, London

Located next to the pub. The Thames in the background.

On the bus ride back to the hotel I got one more shot, which shows the walkway between Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace.

We then headed back to the hotel, stuffed our already overstuffed luggage, and got ready for the 5 a.m. wake-up call.

This was clearly a trip of a lifetime for us, and if you ever have the opportunity to go, here are my tips:

1. Visit the TripAdvisor London Forum, and ask questions. There really is no such thing as a dumb question here; very helpful, patient bunch who saved us time, money and frustration. Do it.
2. Learn the buses – We anticipated taking the Tube everywhere, but once we got on our first bus, it was a no-brainer. You get to see so much more of the city. I was a bit hesitant, because sometimes figuring out bus routes, schedules, etc., just seems like a hassle. It’s not. London has it down to a science. Buses are clean, safe and frequent. Do it.
3. Spend all your change… almost – If you throw your change into a bucket at the end of the day (like I do), you’re going to end up with a lot of it, especially because they use a one pound coin, so the bills don’t start until 5. Visiting the main attractions (St. Paul’s, National Gallery, Westminster Abbey, etc.) there are plenty of change buckets to donate to, and I suggest you do. I would also suggest keeping a little (less than a pound) in case you need to use a pay toilet, but other than that, give it back.
4. Look both way before crossing the street – The traffic goes in the opposite direction then you think it should AND the drivers are some of the most aggressive I’ve seen, and I’ve been to NY. When in doubt, wait.
5. Buy the 2-4-1’s – We easily saved over $100 buy purchasing the 2-4-1’s at Victoria Train station. I fyou’ll be attending a bunch of the main attractions, take the time to research it; it’s worth it.
6. Try some new food – England used to get a bad rap for having tasteless food; in our experience, that’s not the case anymore. There are so many options regardless of tastes, there’s no reason not to.
7. Finally, leave wiggle room – Don’t pack every waking second with an activity. We were exhausted, and we had a pretty mild schedule. Decide what you must-see, and leave cushions of time around it. Also, try to leave a full day at the end of the trip open, to explore the spots you didn’t have time to see earlier. We did this, and the Sunday service at St. Paul’s was the pinnacle of our trip. If we had planned a packed Sunday, we would’ve missed out.

If you made it this far, thank you! And if you ever go, I hope this London trip report helps spawn some ideas for you to make some great memories too.

Related posts:

1. Walking Tour of London

Bentwater Golf Club is located in Acworth, GA, about 45 minutes to an hour north of Atlanta. It’s one of the 20+ golf courses in the Canongate stable, of which I’m a member. I’ve played here about a dozen times, and consider it our home course. Also it’s very female-friendly, with reasonable chances for par from the Red tees, and two on-course restrooms. My wife has joined me here about 8-10 times, and she is a big fan too.

Playing from the Blues, Bentwater measures 6,517 yards, which is definitely in the wheelhouse. Golds are 6,869. I’ve played them once, but found the course more enjoyable for my game at the Blue tees, so that’s where the measurements will come from.

The layout of the course is well done. After you park and put your clubs on a cart, you can drive to the pro shop and check-in, then down the hill to the range. At the end of the range is a short-game area, with a bunker and chipping green. After a few chips, head back up the hill to the practice putting green, directly adjacent to the first tee. If done correctly, all three can be done is a half hour or less, and you’re ready to go!

Bentwater Golf Club starts with a 546 yard par 5, with an elevated tee shot. The right is OB (as it’s the backyard of a number of on-course homes), and the left is also trouble, with a large bunker and a sloping fairway. Think accuracy over distance here!

Your second shot will most likely be a lay-up to a comfortable distance. I normally hit a hybrid here, and it’s more often than not the right choice.

Your approach should be 110-125 to a green with a large hump in the middle. Review the pin position, and get it close for a birdie opportunity.

The second is a 383-yard par 4 that plays completely downhill. If played correctly, this is a potential birdie hole. I use a 3-wood off the tee for two reasons; it leaves me with about 140-150 for an approach, and it also keeps me from hitting it too far. Starting at about 140 yards out, there is a small creek that runs up the left side of the fairway, and hitting a driver unnecessarily brings this into play. You can’t see it from the tee but trust me; it’s there.

Your approach will be downhill, so use one less club. Also, better short than long here, as the green backs up to another, larger creek. Here’s a shot from green to tee; it shows the downhill slope as well as the creek running through the fairway.

The third is a wonderful risk/reward hole, which is mostly reward if your short game is on. It’s a par 4 measuring only 291 yards and yes, you can go for it with driver and possibly reach it. There is a large bunker in front of the green, and a river running up the left side but for the most part, it’s pretty open. If you’re on with the driver, let it fly!
I usually tee off with a hybrid, leaving myself about 85-90 yards, which is a perfect lob wedge for me. This is also a potential birdie hole (two of the first three holes), so try to take advantage if you can! Here’s a picture from about 125 yards out, showing the placement of the bunker.

The fourth is a straightforward par 3, measuring 169 yards. One word of caution; if the flag is on the far left side of the green (behind the bunker) it requires a perfect shot to stick the green. Feel free to bail to the right of it; although it will give you a challenging putt, it should help you avoid taking a big number here.

The fifth hole is tough, and when I say tough, I’m not joking. In the dozen times I’ve played here, I’ve yet to par this hole. It’s a 430 yard par 4, and the #1 handicap hole on the course. The elevated tee shot is over a chasm, and the safe play is to the left as the entire fairway slopes left to right. The right side of the fairway falls off dramatically to OB, so better left than right for sure.

For me, a well-struck tee shot will still leave me with about 180 yards to a two-tiered green. The lie is always sloping to the right, so be wary that the ball flight is going to change. There is also another small creek running between the fairway and the green. I’ve seen smarter golfers play this as a par 5 from the tee. They play hybrid, iron, wedge and 2-putt for bogey consistently. It gives them a slim chance for par, but also removes double bogey or worse from the table. Considering I’ve never parred this hole, I think I’ll try it next time.

The sixth is a 383 yard par 4 that doglegs slightly to the left. If you play a fade (like I do) the shot from the tee is to hit it directly over the lone pine tree on the left side. This should leave you with a relatively flat lie, and only about 130 or so for an approach. This is another potential birdie hole. Also, the green has a large ridge on the right that forces everything remotely close to roll left so be aware as you align your approach.

The eighth measures only 353, which is short for a par 4. The entire hole plays uphill, so it definitely adds some yardage. With a good tee shot, this is also a potential birdie hole. For a fade, aim between the bunkers on the left and the 150 yard marker (both visible in the following photo.)

The approach should be 110-120, but with an uphill lie and the hole uphill, you may need to take more. I’ve never hit it long on this hole so don’t be afraid to be aggressive. The odds are it will be left short. The flag in the following photo is directly over the bunkers; another reason to hit a solid shot.

The ninth is a 519-yard par 5. Like the first hole, I’ve never had a viable opportunity to go for either of these par 5’s in two, so it’s all about setting up for the approach. Luckily the fairway is very wide here, so feel free to give it a little more if needed.

The second shot may or may not have to carry some water, depending on how far right your tee shot is in the fairway. Either way, I usually hit hybrid here, leaving myself about 100-110 to the green.

Again, with an uphill approach to a blind green, don’t be afraid to hit it a bit long. The green is large, and there’s lots of room on all sides so be aggressive and you’ll probably be rewarded. Here’s a shot of the green looking back towards the tee.

The tenth is another par 5, but this one measures 560. The tee shot is very elevated, so prepare yourself for a great view. There is a bunker in the middle of the fairway that’s reachable to the longest of hitters (or the perfectly struck shot). I’ve only hit into it once, so don’t be afraid to give it a strong hit. Be wary that the right is trouble, and the rough left is pretty tough to get a solid hit from; again better to be accurate than long, as you won’t be going for it in two anyway.

Your second will be a layup for your third. Keep in mind that the green is around a corner, so better to hit it a little long than short here. Your approach is to a green contoured like a turtle shell, and anything short and to the left makes for a very difficult up and down. Don’t be afraid to bail long or to the right. Here’s a view from the bunker in front of the green looking back towards the tee; great views here!

The eleventh is another potential birdie hole. Measuring 128 from the Blues, this par 3 is the easiest hole on the course. The green is relatively flat and very receptive. Also, the surrounding trees have a tendency to block out the wind, making this a great wedge shot.

The twelfth is a 418 yard par 4, with an uphill tee shot. Clearing the hill is somewhat of an accomplishment here!

After reaching the top of the hill, the approach is directly downhill, and usually 180+ yards. There is trouble left and right (no wonder this is the #2 handicap hole.)

Thirteen is a potential birdie hole with a good tee shot. A well-struck drive should leave you with only 100-120 yards to the green. The fairway slopes from left to right so aim it at the left edge and let it fly.

Fourteen is a 507 yard par 5. This is the only par 5 on the course where I legitimately have a shot at going for it in two. Of course, the tee shot has to be perfect, but that does happen from time to time. Also, this tee shot is one of the most impressive on the course, especially in the fall. Check it out:

For a fade, better a little right than left here, as you’ll need to cut it over the trees on the left for your second shot. If you can’t go for it in two, try to lay up to the 150 marker, or just in front of it, as the fairway runs out into a creek at the bottom. Here’s a picture from the 150 marker:

The green is surrounded with trouble, with a bunker left, creek right, and a steep slope behind it. Luckily the green’s larger than most, so if you’re feeling good about your long irons/hybrid, go for it!

Fifteen is very much like thirteen; a potential birdie hole with a good drive. They also both dogleg slightly to the right, and both have trouble right. Aim towards the left edge of the fairway and let the slope bring the ball to the middle and you should be rewarded with a wedge approach to a relatively flat green.

Sixteen is a 175 yard par three, but it plays slightly uphill and into the wind, so take an extra club here. There’s also a large bunker in front of the green and nothing behind it so better a little long than short.

Seventeen is a 403 yard par 4. Play your tee shot to the left; the right side is all bunkers, and then it’s all OB. Also, the hole doglegs right, and the approach is severely uphill, so the further left your tee shot, the better your approach.

The approach is 1.5-2 clubs uphill, and usually over a few bunkers. If you look closely, the flag is behind the bunker on the right. There’s lots of room behind the green so again, better a bit long than short.

The course finishes on a 378-yard par 4. I usually screw this hole up; there are so many opportunities for error (at least for me.) The goal is to land at or near the 150 yard marker (visible in the image below). Note there’s a large tree up the right, a bunker, and houses further right. There’s lots of room left, but beware on going too long. If hit too hard, the ball could trickle down the hill (near the middle and middle left) and roll into trouble.

If hit a bit longer than the 150, you’ll be left with a downhill lie, which can be good or bad depending on skill (for me it’s usually bad.) The approach needs to carry a small pond; again, note from the picture below that there’s lots of room long, so better long than short here too.

I actually had a good tee shot here, and hit a 9-iron to only a few feet (so glad I had my camera for this!):

Bentwater Golf Club offers plenty of birdie opportunity holes, but also a number of holes where the smart play is bogey. I enjoy the views, the challenge, and the conditions are usually exceptional. As I said, it’s part of Canongate and for the most part private, but if you ever get a chance to play it (or you’re a Canongate member at a different course), it’s definitely worth the trip.

Related posts:

1. The Frog Golf Course Review, Villa Rica, Georgia
2. Tierra Rejada Golf Club Review – Moorpark, CA
3. Hemlock Golf Club Review – Ludington, Michigan

I have been looking forward to playing Harbour Town Golf Links for quite awhile. I’ve watched the PGA tournament there (currently Verizon Heritage) for years, and was always impressed with what looked like the tightest fairways on tour. Not sure if they are the tightest on tour but they are extremely tight, which made for some interesting tee shots.

We were paired with a couple of guys from the Northeast (Connecticut, I think.) They were average golfers (like I consider myself), so they made for great partners.
We played the Blues (known as the Dye tees), which measure 6,603 but according to the mandatory caddy, play more like 6,800. A little longer than usual, but not out of my comfort zone so let’s go!

The first hole is relatively straight but very tight, with overhanging trees on both sides. It’s a par 4 that measures 392 yards. The room we were staying in at the Sea Pines Resort had a balcony that overlooked the first tee, so I’d seen plenty of people tee off, and it seemed like a large percentage would hit it in the trees on the left. That wasn’t going to be me (or so I thought). Sure enough, I put a tentative swing on the opening tee shot and yanked it left. I did chip out, hit it on and 2-putted for an opening bogey, so no disaster… Moving on.

The second is a 495 yard par 5, with a relatively open tee shot. I let it fly, but was still tentative and pulled it a little left, just over the large bunker on the left side.

Again, I had to pitch out but I hit a confidence-boosting 205 yard 4-iron that just rolled on the green. I missed the birdie putt but did make the come-backer for par; awfully proud of that!

The third hole is a 411 yard par 4 that doglegs slightly to the left. The tee shot of choice is a draw. I play a fade, which brings the overhanging trees on the left side into play. Not a perfect tee shot, but good enough to get on the green in regulation. I then had my first (and hopefully, last) three putt of the day.

The 4th played 187 yards the day we played it. I hit a 5-iron which pulled just enough to drop in the water (sigh). I did hit a decent drop, but 2-putted for a double. Here’s a view of the tee shot and yes, it is as intimidating as it looks.

The fifth is a 511 yard par 5, with a slight dogleg left. The tee shot is pretty open, but if you hit it too far left you may be in the water. Luckily our caddy warned us to bail right and for a change, my swing heeded his warning. Here’s a shot from about 200 yards from the tee; note the water on the left side.

From there it’s a relatively straight shot to the green, which is well-bunkered. I couldn’t go for it in two, but did get on in regulation and then three-jacked again for a bogey. I’ll figure out these greens eventually!

The sixth is a 401 yard dogleg right par 4. I hit what was easily my best drive of the day, and was left with only about 130 to the green. Be careful of cutting the corner too much here; on the right side of the fairway is water that is reachable. Center or left-center of the fairway is good all day long. In the picture below you can see the caddy looking for another player’s ball in the water; don’t go there.

The seventh is a 172 yard par 3 to a green that’s surrounded by sand. A little intimidating off the tee, but I hit a very solid 6-iron to about 10 feet. I missed the birdie, but honestly getting a par on this course sometimes felt like a birdie so no complaints here.

The eighth is the #1 handicap hole at Harbour Town Golf Links and I’m not going to lie; I made a mess of this hole. Knowing this is a 435 yard par 4, I knew that length definitely mattered, so I tried to give my tee shot a little extra and pulled it left. I made it past the tree line on the left, but it was all trouble from there. If/when I play it again, I’ll be aiming more for the big oak in this picture from the tee:

Also, your approach will probably be longer than usual. Although there is water to the left of the green, there is a bunker between the green and water to save you from OB so keep that in mind when you hit.

The ninth is the shortest par 4 on the course (at 332 yards), so you don’t need to be a hero off the tee. Placement is much more important than distance here. To have a shot at the green you must be on the right side of the fairway, due to the overhanging trees on the left. In the picture below, you’ll want to be at or right of where the caddy is standing.

Also, behind the green is a collection of deep, small bunkers so be as precise as you can with your approach.

As expected, there’s a halfway house between 9 and 10. We stopped and found clean restrooms and an average selection of food choices. I grabbed a dog, bag of chips and a soda and was on my way.

The tenth is wide open from the tee. It’s a dogleg left, with water on the left so it gives the opportunity of biting off as much as you can chew.

I hit an almost-perfect tee shot, leaving a short approach to a green that sloped back to front. I hit an aggressive approach that spun back more than expected, but I did two-putt for a par. Good start on the back.

The only thing I’d like to say about the eleventh is don’t go left off the tee, or you will be looking at an approach like so:

By the way, I pitched out rather than trying to thread the needle, and ended up with a bogey; I’ll take it.

Thirteen is only 354 yards, but you have to be on the right side of the fairway (like the ninth hole) to have any shot at the green. If you hit it correctly, you’re rewarded with an approach that looks like this:

I ended up on the left side of the fairway with no shot, so I tried a trick shot and ended up on the right side of the green in the sand. I did hit the sand shot of a lifetime, and got up and down for a par, to the amazement of my foursome and caddy; Yay new sand wedge!

The fourteenth is the par 3 that they always show on TV. It is one of the prettiest holes on the course. I hit the green in regulation but again, three putted for a bogey. This is the easiest hole on the course (#18 handicap), but it is much tougher visually. Good luck on this one.

Fifteen is a 541 yard par 5 that gently turns left the entire length of the hole. It’s also the longest hole on the course. I hit driver, hybrid and still had a full 8 iron to the green. The caddy said that the only person he’d ever seen hit it in two was Ernie Els, and I believe him. Looking from the green to the tee makes you realize just how perfect those two shots must’ve been. How did he get it over the tree on the left in front of the green seen here?

Sixteen is not a difficult hole, measuring 361 with a large green. I, unfortunately, hit a poor tee shot to the left (story of the round) and took a double bogey here.

Seventeen is the par three that is also shown regularly on TV. It measures 174, and almost always plays into the wind. My goal was to finish strong (even though I had a double on the last hole). I’d prefer not to post the specifics of this hole, but I played it almost as badly as the 17th at Medinah, and took a quadruple-bogey. Disgusted, I walked to the 18th tee.

The Blue tees on the 18th at Harbour Town were at 420 but as a group, we decided to play it like the pros, and hit from about 470.

I hit a decent driver that had a bit of a tail on it, and it ended up in the fairway (barely) on the right side. I hit a full hybrid pretty pure, and ended about 30 yards short of the green. I pitched to the right edge of the green and just missed the par putt for an easy bogey. After the dejection of the seventeenth, I was pretty proud of my finish.

I’ve played a few of the golf courses the pros play (Riviera, Medinah, Whistling Straits), and I can say that Harbour Town Golf Links was the least-expensive by a pretty good margin. This in no way means the course was a slouch, or that it wasn’t a challenge. It had everything I expected except a painful price, which was a welcome change. If you’re looking to play where the pros play and not break the bank, this is a rock-solid choice.

Even with a double-quad-bogey finish, I ended up with a 91. Not the most respectable score, but it gives me something to shoot at when I return and honestly, I can’t wait.

Related posts:

1. Pinehurst 4 Golf Course Review – Pinehurst, North Carolina
2. Mirror Lake Golf Review – Villa Rica, GA
3. Highland Woods Golf Course Review, Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Was thinking of all the good times I had at the Pubcon In-House SEO event 2 years ago, and thought we should do it again. Considering how busy everyone gets at Pubcon, it makes sense to get together on Monday night to watch the football game. Cincinnati is playing Pittsburgh, so it should be a decent game. Here are the details:

Place: Race and Sports Bar Lounge, The Wynn
Time: I’ll be there at 4:30 – 5 p.m. to meet and greet; game starts at 5:30 Pacific. If you don’t know me, I’m the In-House SEO Director at Turner Broadcasting; here’s what I look like:

The Lounge is adjacent to Zoozacrackers deli, serving lots of good NY deli food at a decent price, including pastrami sandwiches and matzo the size of softballs! Here are reviews from Yelp and Urban Spoon.

So if you’re interested (and you should be), please leave a comment with your Twitter username below, and follow me (@danperry) for updates. Looking forward to seeing you there!

UPDATE: Jessica Bowman of SEO In-House has graciously offered to provide the first few rounds of drinks, so c’mon in-house folks; what are you waiting for?

Related posts:

1. Pubcon in-house marketers event
2. In-house SEO and Twitter
3. Google Personalization and In-house SEO

We heard good things about Mirror Lake Golf Club (specifically the condition of the greens, which were impressive) so I took a Friday off and we drove down to Villa Rica to play. Mirror Lake has 36 holes – the Lake course and the Mountain course. We played the Lake, but enjoyed it so much we may have to try the Mountain.

I chose the Golds, which measured 6,486 yards; a great length for me. Not too long (considering this was the first time I was playing here), but not too short to take the challenge out of it. OK, let’s go!

The opening hole is a 478 yard par 5 that doglegs to the left. If I had been better prepared, or had some local knowledge, I would’ve tried to cut the corner by going over the bunker on the left. Instead I flared a driver to the right, making the hole that much longer.

I had the opportunity of going for it in two but as you can see, the green is well guarded with bunkers. Plus, I’m breaking in a new 3-wood (Ping G-15, love it!), and don’t have the confidence in it yet, so I hit a 7-iron to 100 yards instead. If this hole is played correctly, it’s potentially a birdie hole.

The second is also a dogleg left, although this is a par 4. Again, hit your driver over the left edge of the fairway if you play a fade, or draw it around the corner if that’s your shot. You may have a downhill lie, but it should be 100-120 yards max to a receptive green, so this is another chance at birdie.

The third is the #2 handicap hole on the course. It’s a relatively straight hole, but with trees on the left and a huge bunker and OB on the right, the tee shot is critical. The approach is over a small creek, so the shorter the club for the approach the better.

The fourth measures 385 yards so it’s not the longest of par 4’s, although there are a few fairway bunkers looking to swallow tee shots so be aware of them. The real challenge is in the approach. Not only is this green surrounded by bunkers, but it is truly a two-tiered green, making club selection paramount to attaining a birdie putt or a par. Make sure you’re on the correct level; you’ll thank me later.

The fifth is a relatively short par 3 (167 from Gold tees). It’s a straight-on shot, and a little downhill. The flag was on the left side when we played, making it a club shorter than normal.

The sixth is an uphill par 4 measuring 361 yards. Off the tee, the visual trouble is the collection of bunkers on the left side of the fairway. This is a pretty wide fairway and even if you hit it too far right (like I did, into the second fairway) you still have a shot at a GIR so let it fly!

The sixth green slopes back to front, so don’t be afraid to hit it right to the pin, or you’ll be left with a pretty long putt.

The seventh is an interesting par 5. It only measures 450 from the Golds, making me think I could easily reach it. I hit an almost-perfect tee shot, and almost ran out of fairway! I wouldn’t be too concerned if I were you, but this is probably still a three shot par 5 for 80% of those that play here, so consider a 3-wood off the tee if you like. Here’s the tee shot:

The green borders the lake, making a long second shot a risk for sure. I decided to go for it, but sprayed it to the left, making for an interesting flop wedge or my third. I did hit the green and two-putted for par but if I played here again, I think I’d have layed up to a 100 yard shot, and tried to get a better shot at a birdie.

The ninth is a 361 yard par 4, with a carry over water on the tee shot. The hole then turns to the right, and the approach is to a relatively flat green. With a good tee shot this is a potential birdie hole. If you’re a regular reader, you know I love golf course bridges. This hole has a great one:

Ten is a lot tougher than I originally thought. The tee shot has water up the entire right side, then the second shot carries over the water to a green with large bunkers behind it. This was one of the toughest holes on the course for me, so give the tee shot more respect than I did. Here’s the approach; the flag is on the far left side of the green:

The eleventh is a definite birdie hole, if you plan for it. It’s a par 4 that only measures 318 yards from the Gold tees. I hit a three wood off the tee, got a great bounce, and only had 70-75 yards to the pin. The flag was on the left side, which took the bunkers out of play. I missed the birdie putt, but did give myself a great chance and you should too.

Twelve is the #1 handicap hole. It’s a 590 yard par 5, so plan on a three-shotter from the tee. Feel free to hit a driver but try to keep it to the left side of the fairway as the hole gently fades. Hit your second to a comfortable distance (100-120 yards) as there is junk between the fairway and green. Here’s my view of the third shot:

Thirteen is a rock-solid par 3, playing uphill and measuring 187 yards. I hit a 5-iron pin high, but squeezed it a bit to the right. I chipped to 6 feet and made the par putt; felt pretty good about that one!

The fourteenth lined up perfectly for me, with a bunker on the left side of the fairway and the right side open. Of course, my tee shot decided not to fade so I ended up in said bunker, but I did hit a great 8-iron to the front edge of the green. I then up and downed for a par (Yay!) Here’s the view of my approach, from the bunker:

The sixteenth is a 177 yard par 3, and when we played the flag was tucked on the right side behind the bunker. This is a downhill shot so club accordingly.

The seventeenth is a 526 yard par 5, but you have the opportunity of cutting the corner if you like. I decided to try it, and hit my tee shot directly over the trees on the left. I play a fade, hit it well, and was left with 224 to the flag. Here’s the view from the tee:

With 224 left I considered going for it, but decided not to mainly because the green borders the water (much like hole #7.) I hit an iron to 100 yards, then wedged it in. If I played it again I might consider going for it, as there is a big bunker behind the green to collect errant shots.

The finishing hole is a stunner. The smart play is left of the bunkers, which will leave you a clear view of the green. My tee shot had a little tail on it, and faded over the bunkers on the left. It stayed in play, but caused me some trouble on the approach. Here’s the tee shot:

My second shot looked like the picture below. I hit a 5-iron out of the rough, caught it pretty clean, but it ended up a little short and I put it in the water. Someday I’ll finish a round of golf strong, but not today.

We were lucky enough to play Mirror Lake with perfect weather, and the greens were in perfect condition. I finished with an 86, and considering this is the first time I’ve played here I’m pretty happy with that. If you have the opportunity, play it. I’m looking forward to trying out the Mountain 18.

Related posts:

1. The Frog Golf Course Review, Villa Rica, Georgia
2. Prairie Isle Golf Review – Crystal Lake, Illinois
3. Manistee National Golf Review, Canthooke Valley, Michigan

I’ve played Pine Meadow 4-5 times in the past, and have always been impressed with the conditioning. It costs about $100 to play (with cart) which is a bit more than most, but it is an above average layout, so worth it once in awhile. Since I was only in Chicago for the weekend, and only had time to play one 18-hole round, it was a pretty easy choice.

On this visit, I had to rent a set of clubs for the first time. I will say that the rental set was probably one of the nicest sets I’ve seen in a long time (since Vegas for sure). The cost was $40, but all the clubs matched (King Cobra), all were relatively new and most importantly, all of the grooves were clean. It’s surprising how many golf courses let their rental clubs continue to collect dirt in the grooves and never clean them. That’s not the case at Pine Meadow golf course; much appreciated guys!

I was playing with my father-in-law, and decided on the Blues (almost 6,600.) I was willing to play Whites to accommodate his shorter (although more accurate) game, but he decided Blues were fine. We played with a single that turned out to have a pretty good game, and we were off.

The course starts out with a slight dogleg right par 4, measuring 351. All of our tee shots were in play, and we were all left with less than 150 yards to the green. I hit it a bit long (blame the rental club differences in distance), and chipped to 3 feet and parred the hole; good start.

The second is a par 5 (523 yards). The tee shot is a little blind if you’ve never played before. My suggestion is to hit it over the trees and/or cart path on the right side of the fairway. It’s a very wide fairway, and allows room for error so let it fly.

Hit your second so you’re left with a comfortable distance for your approach. This is the #1 handicap hole on the course, and a lot of the challenge is on the green.

The third is one of my favorite holes on the course. It’s a 422 yard par 4 dogleg left, with water up the left side. The safer you play it, the longer your approach to the green will be. So, if you bail out to the right (like I did) you’ll be left with a 180+ yard approach. Here’s the tee shot:

It may not look like it, but it could be the most challenging tee shot on the course. It’s the first water hazard on the course, and the water is much more top-of-mind when standing on the tee than the picture shows. Here’s a shot towards the green standing near the left edge of the fairway:

The fourth is a straightaway par 5, with a reasonably wide fairway and no fairway bunkers, so let the tee shot fly. As you approach the green, the bunkers really start to show their teeth. Here’s what my approach looked like the day I played:

Six is another very straight hole, measuring 401. The difference is that there are fairway bunkers here (on both sides), so be wary. I ended up in the bunker on the left but was far enough from the lip to get an iron about 25 feet in front of the green.

The eighth is a par 3, measuring 148 yards. On the day we played, it only measured 135. There are some deep bunkers in the front left, and one that runs the entire length of the green on the right. The green slopes from back to front, so it’s pretty receptive to well-struck irons. I missed a birdie putt here, but had a great chance; you should too.

Heading back to the clubhouse, the ninth only measures 362 from the Blues. I normally would hit a 3-wood here, but I can’t seem to find the perfect club that I can hit off a tee AND from the fairway, so I took driver. Luckily I hit it well but really, a 3-wood would be fine. There are bunkers left and right, but the green is relatively flat and visible. If you look close (or blow the below picture up to full size) you can see the group in front of us on the green.

We quickly stopped at the turn for a few drinks and a restroom break. As we approached the tenth tee the foursome in front of us waived us through, as they were finishing their hot dogs and brats. After this, we didn’t have anyone in front of us and we finished 18 holes with three people in 3:40. Awesome!

Pine Meadow golf course has one of the strongest back 9’s in the Chicago area. For an upscale daily fee, the challenge combined with the scenery on the back is impressive, as you’ll see.

The tenth has a downhill tee shot, and water on the left bordering the green. If you hit your tee shot far enough up the right side, you may not even cross the water on your approach. With a good tee shot, this is a potential birdie hole for sure. Here’s the tee shot:

And my approach (missed a long birdie putt here, but definitely an opportunity):

The eleventh is a slight dogleg right, with a bunker up the right side of the fairway. Be wary, and aim up the left when teeing off. Here’s the view from the tee:

The green is relatively flat and receptive, but impressively surrounded by bunkers. This was taken from the right rough, but you can see 4 bunkers surrounding the green. Because of this, a short iron is much preferred over a long one for your approach.

Twelve is easily my favorite par 3 on the course, and in my top 5 in Chicago. The green is an odd shape (almost like an italic figure 8, if that makes sense), and is well-bunkered. In addition, its 50 yards from back to front, meaning you might hit a wedge one day and a 6-7 iron the next. Finally, the undulation of the green seems to be a bit more than other greens, although that may just be the way I remember it. All in all this is a rock solid par 3, and one you won’t soon forget. Here’s the tee shot (the flag is behind the left bunker):

The thirteenth is a 502 yard par 5. There is water that runs through the fairway that isn’t obvious when standing on the tee, so be aware of it. It’s about 270 out, so unreachable for most but still good to know it’s there. Here’s the tee shot:

And here’s a shot from just in front of the water. Lots of bunkers for miss-hits and those feeling strong. My suggestion is to lay up to the left side of the fairway, which should leave you with an uphill shot and a full wedge.

On the fourteenth you cross back over the same creek you did on 13. The water is potentially in play up the right side. Because of that, it may force you to hit it to the left a bit, which in turn makes for a longer approach to the green (almost the flip version of hole #3.) Here’s the tee shot; the green is to the right:

And here’s one standing in front of the water. Note that the creek actually turns towards the green, making it a very difficult tee shot. Consider yourself warned.

Fifteen is almost two holes in one. Depending on where they place the Blue tees, it’s either a 460 or 551 yard par 5. Either way, it’s a tough hole. It’s a dogleg left, but regardless of tee shot, there is a collection of bunkers up the left side that are waiting to swallow an errant shot. From the tee, you can just barely see them up the left side…

But once you get closer, you’ll see that they’re an impressive bunch of bunkers.

After the tee shot it turns into a downhill approach, with the possibility of going for the green in two. If you look closely, you can see the pin and if you have a strong fade, it’s worth a shot. Really, this may be one of my most memorable views of Pine Meadow. I love this hole.

Sixteen is a 384 yard par 4, with a slight dogleg left. Here’s the tee shot; you’ll eventually be aiming for the huge flagpole on the left.

I took driver rather than 3-wood and hit it in the fairway, leaving myself with a downhill approach. Not my favorite lie, but luckily the green slopes back to front so I got away with a stronger-than-expected wedge. As I said, I aimed right for the flagpole.

Seventeen is the easiest hole on the course, a par 3 measuring 150 yards. The difficulty here is the three-tiered green, putting a premium on your tee shot and distance control.

The finishing hole (405 yard par 4) at Pine Meadow golf course calls for a fade off the tee, due to the overhanging branches on the right, and the hole playing as a dogleg right. Luckily, I have that shot (well, at least on the day I played it I did.)

The approach is over water to a reasonably flat green, with some visually intimidating bunkers behind it.

The cost of playing Pine Meadow golf course may keep some away from it. If that’s you, I might consider looking for a deal, or a twilight rate, or possible walking (or all three.) The lack of houses on the course, the water flowing through it and the impressive amount of older trees on the property make Pine Meadow a must play… at least once.

Related posts:

1. Mirror Lake Golf Review – Villa Rica, GA
2. Pinehurst 6 Golf Course Review – Pinehurst, North Carolina
3. Highland Woods Golf Course Review, Hoffman Estates, Illinois

I played Tierra Rejada on a warm and breezy Wednesday afternoon. I arrived around 12:30 or so, and was able to get on pretty quickly. I rented a set of clubs and paid my greens fees (teed off at 1, getting twilight) with a total cost of $85. Although the rental clubs weren’t the greatest set I’ve ever played, I couldn’t argue with the total price.
I quickly stopped in the clubhouse bar and ordered a turkey sandwich, which was promptly created, and I took it with me to the first tee.

I chose the Blue tees which measured 6,557, which is just about right for me. The first hole is a long par 5 that borders the driving range to the left. As you get closer to the green, there’s a small creek that runs up the left side so regardless of shot, stay away from the far left side.

The second is a slightly uphill par 3, measuring 153. I hit an 8-iron to about 4 feet and birdied it! Feeling pretty good, I drove up the hill to the third tee.

The third has a blind tee shot which goes over a hill, then slopes downward to the green. Keep the tee shot center or center-left, as the right hand-side is all trouble. Once over the hill you’ll probably have a downhill lie to the green, so be sure to club down a bit.

The fourth is an uphill dogleg right par 5, measuring 530 yards from the Blue tees. It’s also the #1 handicap hole, making a par an excellent score.

As you move up the hill, you may have a blind approach to the green. It may be worth driving up (if you have the time) to see what the green looks like. There are some bunkers on the left side to be wary of; here’s a shot:

The tee shot on 6 is all carry. It shouldn’t be too difficult, depending on the direction of the wind. Then the approach is uphill, and blind to the green. My favorite part of this hole was standing behind the green and looking back towards the tee; an unexpectedly beautiful view.

Seven is a short par 3, only measuring 130 from the Blues. The wind plays a role, but the hole also has a visual aspect that plays tricks on you (well, at least for me.) From the tee it looks like there’s nothing behind the green, forcing you to hit it short. In reality, the wind will probably hold it up but that being said, short is not a bad play either.

Eight is also a visually stunning (and confusing) hole. It’s a par 4 that only measures 355, but looking from the tee and all the carry necessary to hit the fairway, it’s a struggle not to hit driver. That being said, I’d suggest against it. I hit one, and although it was on a great line I ran out of fairway and had to drop. That being said, it was one of the best tee shots on the course.

On the front, holes 2, 5 and 7 are the only three holes that are (relatively) flat. The rest have some significant elevation changes which always make it interesting, and the ninth is no slouch. It’s a 545 yard par 5, and the tee shot is a beauty. The first fairway borders the hole on the right, with trouble left so if you have to bail, right is the only choice.

The tenth is only 345 yards, but the uphill elevation change is so significant it may add 50-60 yards to the hole. On the green, there is a slight hill on the back that will catch incoming balls, turn them around and funnel them back towards the middle of the green which is nice. The challenge here is not the green; it’s the uphill climb and blind approach. My tee shot went a bit right, into a bunker. Here’s the view of my approach:

The eleventh is a relatively flat par 3, with a great view from the top of the mountain. It measured 195 from the Blues, making it longer than most par 3’s, but still; check out the view:

Thirteen was probably the most surprising hole on the course. It starts off simply enough; a 400 yard par 4, that moves slightly right.

I hit my best tee shot of the day here, and was left with only a wedge to the green. Once you turn the corner, the hole opens up to a very large green with a waterfall behind it. You can actually start hearing it as you get closer to the hole. Some may think a waterfall on a golf course is overkill or unnecessary, but I think it really added something positive. You be the judge:

Fifteen is a 425 yard par 4, with a blind tee shot. Also if you play a draw, this is a very tough tee shot for you as there are a few trees that make it difficult. I’d suggest driving up a bit and seeing where the fairway is. Here’s a picture of the tee shot:

Sixteen is the final par 5, and the #18 handicap hole on the course (easiest), measuring only 488. Of course, it does play uphill so you can add a few yards to that.

I loved two things about this hole; the bunkering in the fairway and the elevation of the green. Here’s a shot of the bunkers:

And another picture of the green looking backwards to the tee. Truly a stunner.

The seventeenth measured only 105; easily the shortest par 3 I think I’ve ever played from Blue tees. Of course, the challenge isn’t in the distance; it’s the wind but more so, it’s the smallest green on the course and it looks like it from the tee. To be honest, I was a little concerned on this tee, and that’s rare for a 100 yard shot.

Tierra Rejada Golf Club finishes with a 406 yard par 4. The green runs lengthwise, so the distance of your approach is key here. This hole also provides one of the best views on the course; check it out.

I wasn’t expecting much when I stepped on to Tierra Rejada. The course was relatively empty, the rental clubs weren’t the best, and the price wasn’t as high as expected. In the end, it turned out to be a fantastic track and the cost of the round with the rental clubs included was less than expected. If you’re in the Simi Valley – Moorpark, California area, I’d suggest giving it a chance. If you do, leave a comment below and let me know what you think.

Related posts:

1. Big Run Golf Club Review, Lockport, Illinois
2. Bentwater Golf Club Review – Acworth, Georgia
3. Makray Memorial Golf Club Review, Barrington, Illinois

I walked in to Lost Canyons clubhouse on an early Sunday afternoon in August. I was fresh off a 4 hour flight, but determined to get a round in before my meetings started on Monday. I was greeted by a very friendly person at the counter, and chose to play the Sky Course (Lost Canyons has 36 holes, and I had read online that if you must choose only one, choose the Sky.) I got the twilight rate, and 18 holes with a cart and rental clubs came to $125. Not the cheapest round of golf I’ve ever played, but for a Pete Dye/Fred Couples design and with rental clubs, it was less than expected.

I was a single, and picked up my rental clubs and headed to the range. I had my choice of Nike or Callaway (chose Nike), and although they were a bit more beat up than expected, they were good enough. After all, I wasn’t here to break the course record; I was here to spend some time outside, try and hit a handful of good shots, and experience a new course with different terrain than accustomed to. Lost Canyons produced on all accounts, as you’ll see.

I headed to the first hole as a single, expecting to play by myself. After I teed off, another single pulled up and asked to join. Of course I was happy to oblige. As we played and made small talk, he mentioned that he was an actor/screenwriter. Initially, I thought “Right, who in California isn’t?”, but he actually named a few TV shows/movies that I had seen so after the round I went to IMDB and sure enough, he was who he said he was. I’ll keep his identity private, but if you’re reading this, I had a great time and would be happy to pair up again anytime.

We chose to play the Gold tees, which measured just over 6,700 yards. It was a bit long for us, but due to the number of downhill holes and the fact that the Whites were only 6,200 we thought what the heck. The first hole is a good warm-up hole, measuring only 315 yards for a par 4. It was slightly uphill, but not too bad and I hit a great tee shot, leaving only about 50 yards. I pitched, 2-putted (on surprisingly fast greens) and walked off the opener with a par.

The second hole is a 175 yard par 3 that looks like it falls off in all directions. In most cases, it does. Behind and on the right side there’s a “secret” bunker that you can’t see from the tee, so if you’re going to bail right (like I did) be prepared to break out the sand wedge.

The third is another short par 4, measuring 350 yards. It’s also uphill, and the fairway is pretty wide so I suggest going for it. The truly challenging holes are coming soon enough.

Oh yeah, before I forget, be sure to bring lots of balls to Lost Canyons. Normally, if you hit a ball into the woods or scrub brush, you can go look for it but after seeing only one of these signs, I decided not to look for any.

The fourth and fifth holes are back to back par 5’s. Both offer their own challenges, but I found the 4th to be the tougher of the two. Great tee shot (pictured below) but it plays like an “S” curve, with the approach being a blind shot to the green. Believe it or not, I hit my third to about 12 feet and drained it for a birdie. No wonder I like this hole!

The seventh is a relatively flat par 3, but it measures 200 from the Golds, making it pretty long in my book. In addition, the wind was slightly against us, forcing me to play a club I wasn’t comfortable with. I won’t be discussing my score on this hole, but I do think you should see what the tee shot looks like; the term phenomenal comes to mind.

Number eight is the #3 handicap hole on the course, and for good reason. It’s an uphill dogleg left, measuring 425 yards to a massive, multi-tiered green and when I say massive, I’m not kidding; take a look:

Finishing the front 9 with a bang, the ninth hole is the #1 handicap hole. A 455 yard par 4, with a risk-reward tee shot. Feel free to bite of as much as you think you can chew. For the record, I bit off too much.

The tenth is another short (but challenging) par 4, with a blind, uphill approach. With a large, receptive green it isn’t too tough, even with the blind tee shot. On the other hand the tee shot on 11 is a doozie. This hole is at the highest point on the course, with a ridge running up the entire right side. It’s an almost blind tee shot; take a look.

I’m sure you’ve noticed by now, but this course is as scenic as they come. It was one of the main reasons I wanted to play here, and it really seems to come to fruition starting on the 11th hole and playing through to 18. Although I haven’t seen the other course (Shadow Course), the Sky Course was beautiful, and easily worth the greens fees.

Here’s a view of the tee shot on 12 (called Devil’s Slide), a 580 yard par 5; enjoy.

The fourteenth (585 yard par 5) started out as a beautiful hole, but to be honest, I wasn’t prepared for just how impressive this hole finishes. The tee shot is almost blind, but from the fairway it looks like a lot of other holes on the course.

As I approached the green, this hole just got better and better to the point of distraction. To be honest, I have no idea what my score was on this hole, but I do remember which hole was my favorite; this one.

Sixteen only plays 310 yards, but it is completely uphill; take a look:

I hit driver, and still had a full 9-iron to the flag. Had a pure shot, and when I arrived to the top and could see where it finished, I was pleasantly surprised that I only had 4 feet for a second birdie of the day (and yes, I made the putt.) Again, a beautiful view from this green looking back towards the hole.

The Sky course at Lost Canyons finishes with a wonderful, downhill par 4 measuring 445 yards. It’s not an easy tee shot (especially the first time you play it), but I rocketed a driver to 90 yards. Yes, it was downhill and I had a tailwind and conditions were dry so it ran for a long way but still; a 350 yard drive IS something to brag about.

I did my research online, and all leads pointed to Lost Canyons, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to play it. I lost more balls than I had anticipated but in the end, didn’t really care. I got to play 18 holes of scenic, challenging golf, met a new friend, and got lots of great pictures and memories. What more can a golfer ask for?

Related posts:

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3. Big Run Golf Club Review, Lockport, Illinois

We played the Frog on the Monday of a long 4th of July weekend. We are members of Canongate (which is a great organization if you enjoy playing multiple courses), and The Frog is one of the 20+ courses in their stable. It’s located in Villa Rica, Georgia within the Georgian Resort, which is about halfway between Atlanta and the Alabama border on I-20. Took a little effort to get to from NW Georgia, but it was worth the effort, as you’ll see.

The flow of The Frog is noticeable and appreciated. Drop your clubs of at the bag drop, walk in and pay for the round, short drive to the well-maintained range area, then a great practice green just before you meet the starter and the first tee.

I played the Blue tees, which measured 6,239; a bit shorter than I normally play but thought since it was the first (of hopefully many) visits, I’d give myself a better chance for more GIR’s. There are 5 total sets of tees, ranging from 7,018 down to 5,336.

The first hole is a relatively straight-forward 397 yard par 4, with a tee shot that lands in a valley and an elevated green forcing an uphill (and almost blind) second shot. It’s also the #1 handicap hole; no warm-up holes for Tom Fazio! Luckily I hit a decent tee shot, and was left with about 160 to a very large and receptive green.

Standing on the green and looking back towards the first tee, I was lucky enough to get what I consider one of the best pictures of the entire course. You be the judge.

Turning a quick corner, we were on the second tee with an on-course restroom next to the tee box. Was pleasantly surprised to see this, as I’ve discussed many times before (my wife appreciates the on-course restrooms very much.) The second hole is short, at only 305 yards from the Blues. Don’t be too aggressive off the tee; think medium iron/wedge. The green is a bit raised (and again, quite large) but very receptive for wedges.

You can try to go for it with a driver if you like, but the bunkers guarding the front of the green are massive and hungry. Beware!

The third is a 142 yard par 3, with a green that slopes back to front. Hitting it short or left brings the bunkers into play, but going too far will force a downhill putt on a relatively severe downhill slope. Distance is key here.

The fourth hole may be my personal favorite on the entire course. It’s a slight dogleg right par 5 around a small lake, measuring 490 yards. The tee shot is to a wide fairway, and even though there’s water on the right, it might not be reachable for some so go for it!

Looking at the picture below, your second shot will go over the bunkers on the right, past the lake. I pulled it a bit left off the tee, and was left with this view for my second shot:

If you’re feeling strong and you hit a great tee shot (unlike me), you might be able to go for it in two. There is a deep bunker (pictured below) directly in front of the green and behind the green is trouble, so be careful.

The fifth hole is another par 5 (back-to-back) that “only” measures 461 yards, but this hole is so uphill I’d estimate that you can add at least 50 yards to that. The tee shot is to an open fairway so again, don’t be scared to let one rip.

Your second is uphill, but even if you layup (like I did), your third is also uphill. Here’s what my third shot looked like:

Once you’re on the green you are presented with another exceptional view looking back towards the tee; enjoy!

The sixth circles back towards the #2 teevbox, bringing the restrooms back if needed. It’s a 326 yard downhill par 4 and potentially reachable. If nobody is in front of you and your driver’s on, I’d say go for it, especially if you play a fade. Here’s the tee shot; the flag is behind the trees on the right.

Here’s a closer view, taken from about 100 yards out. Note that there isn’t any trouble to the right, and a large bunker bordering the green on the left. Again, when I play here again I’ll probably go for it.

The seventh is a 342 yard par 4, with an uphill approach. The green is long and receptive, but the entire left side of this hole is trouble, so bail right rather than left if needed. Here’s a view from the green back towards the tee:

Eight is a 191 yard par 3 to one of the flattest greens on the course. Yes there is undulation, but for the most relatively flat. The hole is all carry and anything left is dead, so better right on this tee shot. The hill to the right slopes pretty severely to the green so even a miss has the chance of providing a GIR.

Nine is easily the most uphill hole on the course. Measuring 350, it may play more like 390-400 yards. I hit a rock-solid tee shot and still had an approach that looked like this; Yikes!

Bunkers line the right side so center or center left is all good. In addition, the fairway on the left slopes back towards the center which helps.

The tenth tee has a collection of sand shakers which is always good to see. I’ve noticed in Georgia that not every course has these on the tenth tee, which seems odd to me. Anyway, great seeing them here, so I grabbed a fresh one at the turn.

The tenth is a straightforward 399 yard par 4. The tee shot is pretty open, but keep in mind that there is a little creek that runs up the right side of the green that you can’t see until you are almost on top of it.

Twelve is a dogleg right, that also has a creek running in front of the green. It shouldn’t come into play (and is unreachable on your tee shot) so let it fly, but try to end up center or right-center, or your approach may be quite long. Here’s the tee shot:

And the view when you turn the corner for your approach:

Thirteen is the first par 5 on the back, measuring 509 yards. From the tee you can’t see the green, but I’d suggest the right side of the fairway. There are bunkers on the far right side of the hole that may come into play. If you can land your tee shot at the top of the hill it will run down the other side quite a bit, potentially giving you a chance to go for it in two. Here’s the view of the tee shot:

And the potential second shot:

I chickened out because of the water surrounding the right side of the green and bailed a bit left, giving myself just under 100 yards. I actually had a birdie putt here (didn’t happen often enough) but I just missed for an easy par. I was pretty happy with that.

Fourteen looks a lot tougher than it is. It also looks longer than it plays (332 from the Blues). Standing on the tee (with the prevailing wind in your face), with lots of bunkers and water on the right, you might feel you need to hit driver (like I did.) Remember, it is only 332 yards (and the #18 handicap hole!)

There is lots of room to the left and center, and a relatively clear approach from the left side. Don’t be a sucker like me! Here’s the view from the green looking back.

The stretch of holes from 14-16 are three of the easiest holes on the course (rated #18, #14 and #16 handicap hopes respectively.) Be sure to take advantage now, because the two final holes are truly challenging.

Seventeen measures 417 from the Blues (the only par 4 on the course measuring >400 yards from the Blues) and if I remember correctly, the wind wasn’t helping. A long tee shot here isn’t beneficial; it’s a must-have.

If you really bomb it, it should roll far enough to hit a down-slope in the fairway, which could shorten your approach considerably. If not, you’re left with a decent-length approach. If you’re too far right, the tall tree may come into play, so better left or center than right off the tee.

Finally, there is a small creek that runs in front of the green ( a theme here, if you haven’t noticed) so be wary.

The Frog finishes on a par 5 that measures 497. The tee shot is key here, with trouble left (where I went) and bunkers right. I ended up punching out from behind some trees, leaving a very long third to the green. I missed par, but wasn’t disappointed at all; this course rocks.

This is one of the few courses on the Canongate group that isn’t private (according to the website.) I’d suggest playing it if you can. Yes, it takes a bit of time to get there and is probably more out of the way than most are accustomed to driving for a round of golf in Atlanta but believe me, the kindness of the staff, the views and the impressive elevation changes makes this a must play in my book.

Related posts:

1. Mirror Lake Golf Review – Villa Rica, GA
2. Bentwater Golf Club Review – Acworth, Georgia
3. The Bog Golf Course Review – Saukville, Wisconsin