Hat tip to Sal Johnson, editor emeritus. We’re actually approaching that “shoulder season” I wrote about. Halloween is just around the corner, so if you have any thought of playing 18 holes and then skiing in the same day, here’s your chance.ÂÂ
Part one is here . Part two is here. CHIP SHOTS AND TAP-INS  Luckily for golfers, Spann’s visit to Tobacco Road inspired him to throw away the rule book. The course is as un-Jones/Fazio as can be. All the hackneyed tricks slick marketers and conventional designers use are absent and all the strategic elements and sharp natural features and severe...
Part one of my Black Mesa piece is here, along with my ratings for the course. Back already from reading that? Good. Here’s part two. Part three to come tomorrow. ON THE COURSE             The course is inspired by Strantz’s work at Tobacco Road, but first hole is eerily reminiscent of number one at a...
BLACK MESA GOLF CLUB 115 State Road 399 Espanola, NM 505.747.8946 www.blackmesagolfclub.com  Architect: Baxter Spann Par – 72 Excitement Level – 10/12 Difficulty – 9/12 Cost – weekend $64, add $18 for cart, M-Th, $55, twilight $35 shoulder seasons offer bargains Yearly Memberships – None Design – Seven stars Natural Setting...
My article on Black Mesa Golf Club in New Mexico will run shortly over at Golf Observer. In the meantime, I found something fascinating right after I turned it in, so I’ll share it with you. Click on this picture of the 16th hole, then click on this picture of the 16th Green. Look particularly closely at the green contours. Back already? Good. Here we go, this...
Red Tail Golf Club by Brian Silva was awarded the 2009 Women’s Amateur Public Links. Built on an old army base in Devens, Mass, just minutes west of Boston, the course is named for the Red Hawks which inhabit the site. My detailed breakdown of the course is here. My interview with Brian Silva is here. Part 2 is here. The article announcing...
I’ve said on numerous occasions that Black Mesa outside Santa Fe, New Mexico is one of the three most important public golf courses to open in this country since Sawgrass. (For those of you scoring at home, the others are, of course, the Bandon Dunes resort and Tobacco Road.) Black Mesa is more than ready for her close up. She’ll not only be featured in...
With a full article to follow soon, Black Mesa GC in La Mesilla, NM takes home the Jazzy Award for Best Public Round of the Year. Design: Seven Stars. (All Ratings out of Seven) The Mona Lisa has no eyebrows (did you know that?) As Nancy Carpenter likes to say “if a person is perfect, then that’s their flaw.” However you want...
With apologies to Shakespeare for cribbing, now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by Coore and Crenshaw. We-ko-pa Golf Club, fast becoming the flagship of Scottsdale golf, will open the Saguaro Course by this minimalist tandem on or around December 16. The Scott Miller course is now named the “Cholla” course, after a small sausage...
THE RAWLS COURSE at TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY 3720 4th Street Lubbock, TX 79415 806.742.GOLF www.texastechgolf.ttu.com Architect: Tom Doak Par – 72 Excitement Level – 8/12 Difficulty – 7/12 Cost – $35 M-Th, $55 F-S Yearly Memberships – $3,000 single, $3,300 single & spouse, $3,500 family Design – Six and ½ stars Natural Setting...
I’ll post reviews after I return to Manhattan, but both the Rawls Course at Texas Tech U. and Black Mesa outside Santa Fe are easily two of the best golf values in the country. For around $50 any time, you can play a top 100 course (as rated by Golf Magazine, the most important ranking rankings in the game). We played the Rawls in a howling 40 mph wind. It was...
TALKING STICK (NORTH COURSE) 9998 E. Indian Bend Road Scottsdale, AZ 480.850.7302 www.talkingstickgolfclub.com Architect: Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore Par: 70 (35-35) Price: $125-$170 in high season, $75 in low Excitement: 8/12 (11/12 for purists) Difficulty: 6/12 Design: 6-1/2 stars (out of 7) Conditioning: 5-1/2 stars Natural Setting: 5 stars Overall: 6 stars Value:...
Those of you who watch the British Open regularly or play in the UK will be familiar with the term “Biscuit Brown.” Loosely translated, that’s the UK term for brown baked, fast, firm links style fairways. They are not green and lush, but play just fine. Those of you who watched the final round of the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock saw the concept...
Here are some recommendations when you are booking your trip to the Valley of the Sun and points beyond for your golf vacation. They are in no particular order. High End: 1) The Boulders Golf Resort, Carefree, AZ Price: $298 and up for unlimited golf and one nights stay in a casita. Setting: 7 stars Value: 5.5 stars Golf: 5 stars The Boulders is a must play and stay...
Seen left, Palo Verde (left) and Ocotilla (right) are just some of the interesting vegetation Jim Engh had to work with along with Saguaro Cacti to frame the edges of Blackstone C.C. in Peoria AZ. Played Blackstone today with friends. We were the only ones on the course all day. I’ll have longer piece on my website shortly. The course opened in Sept, is par 72...