The New Liberty Lake Course

The New Liberty Lake – Walking the course – May 9, 2010

It opens May 28, 2010.

Last weekend, with permission from Pro Kit DeAndre, I walked the entire new course, and took a few notes. The clubhouse/pro shop remodel is splendid, with more usable room, a lounge area with two wide-screen TVs, much outdoor seating, new rest rooms, and a remodeled pro shop – all first class!!

General comments on the new course: Gorgeous, subtle, wet and sandy. I need to be perfectly honest and say that if the south tees on # 3 (yes, there are eight tee boxes on that hole) are in use, that the average golfer will be in the water twice and in the sand six times every time he or she plays the course. I love that challenge, but many may not. Most fairways are wide and “half-piped” (basin channels with both sides sloping to the middle), the greens are immense (get very ready to hit 50-foot putts) and elegantly sculpted. The tee boxes are all laser level and rectangular, and the traps are generally very deep. The sight lines are utterly beautiful, and yes, some of them are hugely intimidating (like #7 !!!).

Hole-by-hole:

#1 “Aw shucks, no short cuts!” There is a big fairway bunker on the corner, and a cart path past the bunker (mixed blessing.) Water is left of the large green, but the green falls away from it. A deep trap fronts the green, but there’s a narrow approach on left side. A mounded ridge separates the fairway from #10.

#2 “Where is the machine shed?” The new fairway perimeter hills (all over the course) here protect the shed and keep balls in the fairway. But this hole is now a dogleg right!!! There is an unmowed rough swale just past the tee boxes, extending maybe 125 yards out from the white tee. The green is over the right-side fairway trap and is slightly elevated, like the original. There is a deep trap left fronting the large two-tiered green. Notably, depending on how tightly they are mowed, the slopes defining the tiers, here and elsewhere on the course, are not so steep that a ball placed there or rolled there will roll back – well done!! Tough, fantastic hole!

#3 “Gulp!” Two sets of four tee boxes mean that either you hit over water all the way to the green or along a narrow fairway from the north tees. The back tees will make this hole pretty long from both sides. The north tees place the left tree in play, and the north fairway slopes to the water, as does the green! There is the usual trouble long (trees). Major changes here!

#4 “Gentler slopes.” There is still a fairway bunker right, but the steep slope in front of the green has been knocked down somewhat, and balls will stop on it, leaving downhill approaches from a long drive. The green slopes to the front, but is not so steep as before – looks like it will hold a shot anywhere. No false front – run up shot will work.

#5 “Where is the pump house?” It’s been replaced with a long fairway trap. The left side of the fairway has a long hillside protecting it from #6; there is a big trap right front, but run-up shots are possible on the left side. Large green has a tempting tournament hole placement on the top right which would be very tough.

#6 “Does this hole ever end?” The blue tees are right on the fence. For the second shot, water is in play on the right (both in front of and behind the tree). There’s a deep trap guarding the right front, more water behind it and trees left. The approach is narrow, but the green is huge. Second shot placement will be key.

#7 “Omigod.” This is a brand new hole. There is big water all along the right side, traps front and back, and another tiered green. There is a cart path and water if you hit it long. The green is long and narrow and almost invisible from the tee…it has a hogback on the left and a back bench. There will be some treacherous lies in the back left trap (will be hard to stop it from running into the water.) It’s a gorgeous, intimidating hole.

#8 “Where am I?” Tee shots are over two bodies of water from blues and whites. The fairway is basined, but there is a medium sized fairway trap in the center. The upslope is steeper than before and you won’t recognize the hole as you walk up it. Otherwise, the traps are as before around the green, tree still in play.

#9 “Aw c’mon.” This fairway has been moved left and a mature tree is dead center; a fairway trap is on the right side near the practice range fence. Like many, this green slopes to the front, and should hold shots well. It has a small top tier.

#10 “How far to the trap?” This will be a question as you tee it up – the fairway trap is menacing at the far end of the dogleg. There is water short and right. The ridgeline protects this fairway from #1, but there is a drainage swale left and center. A huge, deep trap protects the left side of the green, and another, long. This green has two large tiers, and trees, long.

#11 “Is this longer?” There are traps left and front, like before. The large green slopes to the front with a hogback on the left side.

#12 “More traps!” The blue tees are right at the machine shed, and there is a long set of fairway traps at about 210-240 yards out, on the left. There is a cart path at about 420 yards out, and the green is well-guarded except on the right front. The large kidney-shaped green is shared with #14!

#13 “This looks familiar.” This hole had few changes, except the green is larger (still tiered), and I think the tees are farther back.

#14 “Cool rocks.” The elevated back tees are surrounded by huge granite boulders – very attractive. The fairway trap on the right not really in play unless you fly the healthy trees.  No huge changes except sharing the new green with #12!!

#15 “Can driver reach the trap?” There is a trap long and straight, and the fairway is built up on the right to channel short shots back into play. The opening to the green appears larger, and the fairway slopes up to the far trap. The green is two-tiered, trap right.

#16 “New tees and more room.” There is a new set of tees west of the originals and lower, offering a wider approach. The old right-side traps are larger. The green has two hogbacks, but is pretty level, will hold shots everywhere.

#17 “Not so steep” The tee box has been elevated and the tee shots will not be quite so challenging, and the fairway is sloped to the center. The contoured fairway slopes to the tee for a longer distance, however. The elevated green has a large trap on the right. The green slopes to the front, likely to hold shots better.

#18 “Yikes.” This hole is now a dogleg right. There is water for 90% of the fairway on the right side. A hilly ridge separates the fairway from #17, but the entire fairway slopes to the water!! There is a trap long and left, but none on the right, and the tree is no longer really in play. The green is long and two-tiered, also sloping to the front. There is serious trouble long, like before. Gorgeous looking hole!

The practice green has slopes which mimic those on the course. Can’t wait to play it!

New USGA ratings:

Men’s: Blue: 71.1 / 128

White: 69.3 / 124

Gold: 66.4 / 119

Women’s: White: 75.1 / 136

Gold: 71.9 / 130

Red: 68.2 / 114

Final yardages are being lasered this week, and the new scorecard is being printed.