Reviews

Ballyneal - A Hidden Masterpiece

Last Updated on Friday, 02 January 2009 09:11 Written by Matt Hauth Saturday, 08 November 2008 02:35

You may have heard of Ballyneal Golf Club on the web or in a magazine and didn't think anything of it. After playing the course on November 2nd, I can safely say you will want to find some information on it.Currently Ranked 46th in the nation, Ballyneal is a hidden treat. Designer Tom Doak has done something....well that he always does; create a spectacular golf course that lays beautifully on the land.

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Bandon Dunes

Last Updated on Saturday, 08 November 2008 02:35 Written by Matt Hauth Wednesday, 05 March 2008 04:47

Caution, Bandon Dunes is a beast! Bandon Dunes is located on the Southern Oregon Coast in the City of Bandon, which is just South of Coos Bay, Oregon. The Bandon Dunes Resort has everything a golfer could want, Great Golf, Great Lodging, Great Practice Facility and Great Service! Both days that we were at Bandon we received nothing less than 5-Star service. We arrived early to hit a few practice balls on the driving range and a few putts on putting green. We checked in with the golf shop where the Head Professional greeted us. He told use were were on deck to tee off, and maybe to go and hit a few putts, so we did. The Head Professional was starting all the groups, he called us over to the tee. Pretty unusual to have a Head Professional starting golfers especially when it is raining out. He then shared with us a few last minute tips before we teed off. We thanked him for everything and teed off.

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Course Review - Pumpin Ridge - Witch Hollow

Last Updated on Sunday, 04 May 2008 23:47 Written by Matt Hauth Tuesday, 04 March 2008 21:08

Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club Logo So far in my life have I been lucky to play the courses that I have. For starters my home golf course for high school was Pumpkin Ridge - Ghost Creek. Pumpkin ridge is literally a half mile from my house. I can see it from my front door. It was very cool to have Tiger Woods win his final US Amateur at Pumpkin. Since Tiger's Win Pumpkin Ridge has hosted two US Women's Opens and a US Junior Amateur. I was a marshal at the US Women's Open in 2002 and I caddied for the US Junior Amateur. This was quite a treat being inside the ropes for major events.

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Oakland Hills - South Course

Last Updated on Sunday, 04 May 2008 05:44 Written by Matt Hauth Saturday, 23 February 2008 21:32

The Story

On the way back from my internship at the Bay Harbor Golf Club I asked my cousin Paul to fly out and play some courses on the drive back. I had my supervising Professional Rob Fuhrman call Oakland Hills to see if it would be possible to play Oakland Hills. He somehow managed to pull a few strings and had a tee time for 1:40.

Arrival

Paul, Byron Stewart (a Bay Harbor Golf Club Shop Assistant), and myself arrived at Oakland Hills a couple of hours early so we could look at the clubhouse and maybe get out a little earlier. Let me tell you what, Oakland has the most amazing golf shop I have ever stepped foot in, in my life!

Clubhouse

It is huge, not only that it has a club room where they stock I would say 25 plus sets of irons for the membership along with golf bags and other accessories. There are three floors in the clubhouse, each level includes a kitchen. The first floor is unique with the Casino lounge and the Horseshoe bar.The membership was informed that PGA Members were coming at least I would guess, they were so welcoming. They even allowed us to go into the locker room. Every locker was made of beautiful wood with a satin finish. They had plasma TVs all over for the members to watch college football and golf at least during this season. Byron went to hit some range balls, while Paul and myself decided to investigate the clubhouse some more. There was so much history dating back to the start of the club of over 90 years ago!

The Round

We ran out to the range and hit a couple of shots before going to the 1st tee. The first hole is pretty straight forward hit a good tee shot long and straight and have a short iron into the funnel green. Sounds easy enough right? Not, Paul and myself hit our drive far but not straight, I wanted to yell FORE right, okay it wasn't that bad. I had to hit a SW up and over a tree to even get it close to the green, low was not an option. I nicked a branch but came up just short of the green. The chip was a real challenging one, it broke left to right probably eight feet. I hit it on the right line just a little hard. I was sitting with a par putt from 8 feet, Byron was on in two with a 30+ footer for birdie and Paul was on in 3 with a 15 footer. Byron had his wheaties that morning, he ran it by the hole by about 8 feet. Paul missed his par putt, Byron just made his par putt. To tie the hole I had to drain my putt. It had a little right to left break in it oh yeah by the way the greens are running about 13 so nothing to worry about. I picked my line and speed hit the putt and it dropped to take the lead. A little Tiger fist pump for a good putt and what would be the last good putt of the day or it sure felt like that.

The Course

Overall the course was in great shape, I cannot say that enough. The greens were smooth, quick and challenging (just right for an eventful match). The layout of the South Course is phenomenal. There is not one hole that doesn't challenge you. Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones have really created a thing of beauty. The south course has 119 pot bunkers. I can see why Ben Hogan was the only one to "Tame the Monster" My Head Professional warned me about the 11th hole, boy was he right. I hit a hue drive and still was hitting 3-iron into the green. I would have to say it is the hardest hole on the course. If you get to play the South Course remember this hole and be warned.The weather could not have been better probably was 65-70, the course wasn't busy things were great. I was happy to say I did manage to drop a birdie at Oakland Hills!

Overall

I think that they should not allow the use of golf car on the course. With a course that has so much history such as Ryder Cups, US Opens and many others to long to list they should make it a walking only course.