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Brian Clark
Hamilton
2018-09-02
$31 (cart included), played on Friday, August 2018 at 7:40 AM
After reading the write-up on "Grass Conditions" and talking to the Pro at Clearbrook GC, my son and I decided to try it out.
Yes, the fairways/rough are cut to one (1) length which is about like the 1st cut on the rough or 7/8 length. The one nice thing about the longer grass is the ball does sit-up and there are no burn/brown spots anywhere. The fairways have good landing areas and being that the grass is the same, you relax a bit and just hit towards the center.
This Par 36/36 course plays from 6,803yd / 73 / 137 down to 4,520yd / 65.9 / 118 with the four (4) tee box selections. We mixed them up between Blue/White and played 6,455yds making some short Par 4's/5's better challenging lengths. Every tee box has a carry distance/placement plate that was very helpful on choosing your landing areas. I can't say enough of what that adds to 1st time players and speeding up pace of play in making decisions. Yardage sticks and sprinkler heads were easy to find wherever you landed, in the fairway. All sand bunkers were soft and recently fluffed as the ball settled the same when we landed in them. It seemed that every green had a trap in front with some a 2' - 4' lips to blast over and land on the quick rolling (9-10) smooth greens.
The front 9 was mostly open with no real forced carries that made your hands shake or second guess where you needed to land.
The back 9 is where things tighten up and making good landing choices can keep scores in check. Holes 10-13 are fairly normal layouts and then #14-18 the "Ravine" comes into play........and your head. We played them from the Blues today and should have moved up to the Whites on those last four (4) holes as it could have lowered my score by seven (7) shots. With the greens tucked behind at least a corner of the ravine requires full carry or OB awaits you, this I know on #16 and #18. If I play these holes again from the Blues, I'll play for bogie (Big Tip) and be happy.
We paid $32 18/cart and finished in 3.5hrs with the course was loaded up for a great rate on this good conditioned but challenging track. I ended up shooting 41/46 w/36putts and Barry having 47/47 w/36putts also on this sunny but windy morning.
The jury is still out on this one length grass cut (tee boxes too) for me, but it did keep the pace of play moving right along.
Would travel: 20-30 Miles, Vacation Worthy
Bottom line: I would play again, Bargain priced based on quality and competitive area pricing, Fair priced based on quality and competitive area pricing, Ranks with the best in this price level
Condition of Course, Price, Pace of Play, Difficulty, Ambiance, Layout, No Houses on Course
$31 (cart included), played on Friday, August 2018 at 7:40 AM
After reading the write-up on "Grass Conditions" and talking to the Pro at Clearbrook GC, my son and I decided to try it out.
Yes, the fairways/rough are cut to one (1) length which is about like the 1st cut on the rough or 7/8 length. The one nice thing about the longer grass is the ball does sit-up and there are no burn/brown spots anywhere. The fairways have good landing areas and being that the grass is the same, you relax a bit and just hit towards the center.
This Par 36/36 course plays from 6,803yd / 73 / 137 down to 4,520yd / 65.9 / 118 with the four (4) tee box selections. We mixed them up between Blue/White and played 6,455yds making some short Par 4's/5's better challenging lengths. Every tee box has a carry distance/placement plate that was very helpful on choosing your landing areas. I can't say enough of what that adds to 1st time players and speeding up pace of play in making decisions. Yardage sticks and sprinkler heads were easy to find wherever you landed, in the fairway. All sand bunkers were soft and recently fluffed as the ball settled the same when we landed in them. It seemed that every green had a trap in front with some a 2' - 4' lips to blast over and land on the quick rolling (9-10) smooth greens.
The front 9 was mostly open with no real forced carries that made your hands shake or second guess where you needed to land.
The back 9 is where things tighten up and making good landing choices can keep scores in check. Holes 10-13 are fairly normal layouts and then #14-18 the "Ravine" comes into play........and your head. We played them from the Blues today and should have moved up to the Whites on those last four (4) holes as it could have lowered my score by seven (7) shots. With the greens tucked behind at least a corner of the ravine requires full carry or OB awaits you, this I know on #16 and #18. If I play these holes again from the Blues, I'll play for bogie (Big Tip) and be happy.
We paid $32 18/cart and finished in 3.5hrs with the course was loaded up for a great rate on this good conditioned but challenging track. I ended up shooting 41/46 w/36putts and Barry having 47/47 w/36putts also on this sunny but windy morning.
The jury is still out on this one length grass cut (tee boxes too) for me, but it did keep the pace of play moving right along.