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Brian Clark
Three Rivers
2023-06-29
$16 (cart included), played on Thursday, June 2023 at 8:30 AM
Drove by here a couple of weeks ago to check this formal Country Club and found out about their Thursday special of $18 for 18/cart. ($38 normally) I took a quick view of the Front 9 and decided it was worth getting a couple of friends to take the 1.5 hr drive.
Sauganash CC was originally established in 1924 as a nine (9) hole course and the Back 9 was added later on the "other side of the tracks". Some twenty (20) local businessmen got together a couple of years and invested to ensure that it could celebrate 100 years of fine golfing, and I believe it will pass that. Though it's short on yardage, it holds its own with rolling terrain, fast small greens, narrow fairways, and well-placed sand traps. The Blues play 6,157yds / 70.7 /132 down to the Reds at 4,615yds / 67.4 / 117 with four (4) other options in between on this Par 36/36 wooded/ rolling layout.
The Front 9 starts out with an uphill blind shot, dogleg right that has you hitting down to a hillside shelf green on this 316yd Par 4. The #2 is a Par 3 water carry to a elevated large green with O.B. Road 10' pass the green. The #3 at 394yd Par 4 protects its Hcp 2 by being narrow and treelined to the raised green. The #4 is a 332yd Par 4 that has your elevated tee hitting to a 50yd wide deep valley with trees left, pond right, and a 50' elevated blind green at the end. The #6 is a flat 536yd Par 5 that has OB/railroad tracks down the entire RH side, so favor LH side. The #8 Par 4 may be short at 233yds but the 30' steep front/sides on this elevated green makes playing 50 yards short, not a bad plan. The #9 is an easy 267yd Par 4 if you stay left of the BIG righthand tree, so it will run right up to the small, fully sand-bunkered blind green.
The Back 9 has you crossing the railroad tracks to a wooded layout with five (5) true doglegs that are all to the left, sorry Fade players. The #11 is a sweeping left 513 yds Par 5 with O.B. on the entire left side and tall trees to the right. The #12 is a hard dog left 414 yds Hcp 3 Par 4 with 230-250yd drive to see the green and stay to the outside. The #14 is a 212yd Par 3 to a narrow elevated green with trap left and bailout right. The #15 is their 417yd Hcp 1 hole with a LH dogleg and 220yds to view this elevated RH trap protected green. The #17 is a long and narrow 536yd Par 5 with O.B. down the LH side. Conditions here today were great from tee to greens with sand traps well placed and maintained.
For the price today, it was a steal and worth the $38 during regular play days. Worth the stop and playing a 99-year-old course that can still defend itself with style. I ended up shooting 85, Dennis had 89, and Mark 91, All with 33 putts, crazy first time for this.
Would travel: 60-120 Miles, Vacation Worthy
Bottom line: I would play again, Better than average course for the area, 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, Staff, Layout, No Houses on Course
$16 (cart included), played on Thursday, June 2023 at 8:30 AM
Drove by here a couple of weeks ago to check this formal Country Club and found out about their Thursday special of $18 for 18/cart. ($38 normally) I took a quick view of the Front 9 and decided it was worth getting a couple of friends to take the 1.5 hr drive.
Sauganash CC was originally established in 1924 as a nine (9) hole course and the Back 9 was added later on the "other side of the tracks". Some twenty (20) local businessmen got together a couple of years and invested to ensure that it could celebrate 100 years of fine golfing, and I believe it will pass that. Though it's short on yardage, it holds its own with rolling terrain, fast small greens, narrow fairways, and well-placed sand traps. The Blues play 6,157yds / 70.7 /132 down to the Reds at 4,615yds / 67.4 / 117 with four (4) other options in between on this Par 36/36 wooded/ rolling layout.
The Front 9 starts out with an uphill blind shot, dogleg right that has you hitting down to a hillside shelf green on this 316yd Par 4. The #2 is a Par 3 water carry to a elevated large green with O.B. Road 10' pass the green. The #3 at 394yd Par 4 protects its Hcp 2 by being narrow and treelined to the raised green. The #4 is a 332yd Par 4 that has your elevated tee hitting to a 50yd wide deep valley with trees left, pond right, and a 50' elevated blind green at the end. The #6 is a flat 536yd Par 5 that has OB/railroad tracks down the entire RH side, so favor LH side. The #8 Par 4 may be short at 233yds but the 30' steep front/sides on this elevated green makes playing 50 yards short, not a bad plan. The #9 is an easy 267yd Par 4 if you stay left of the BIG righthand tree, so it will run right up to the small, fully sand-bunkered blind green.
The Back 9 has you crossing the railroad tracks to a wooded layout with five (5) true doglegs that are all to the left, sorry Fade players. The #11 is a sweeping left 513 yds Par 5 with O.B. on the entire left side and tall trees to the right. The #12 is a hard dog left 414 yds Hcp 3 Par 4 with 230-250yd drive to see the green and stay to the outside. The #14 is a 212yd Par 3 to a narrow elevated green with trap left and bailout right. The #15 is their 417yd Hcp 1 hole with a LH dogleg and 220yds to view this elevated RH trap protected green. The #17 is a long and narrow 536yd Par 5 with O.B. down the LH side. Conditions here today were great from tee to greens with sand traps well placed and maintained.
For the price today, it was a steal and worth the $38 during regular play days. Worth the stop and playing a 99-year-old course that can still defend itself with style. I ended up shooting 85, Dennis had 89, and Mark 91, All with 33 putts, crazy first time for this.