THE
HUNTERDON COUNTY NEWS |
TITLE: GOLF REVIEW - BEAVER BROOK - an old friend has grown into a great challenge FRONT NINE
DESCRIPTION:
Time: 11:51:43
HUNTERDON COUNTY - Before there were condominiums all over the hillside I took my first golf swing at beaver brook country club, located just off of route 78, 31, 22. That was many moons ago. About ten years ago I was a fairly regular player at the Brook, but it had been three years since I had teed it up when we arrived at the first tee Monday afternoon.
And before we get to the Golf we have to give a nod to Maria McKinley, the Asst Gen Manager. Not only was she helpful but she was decisive. We explained to her how the review process worked and she saw it as a great marketing tool for her company. In no time we were set up and ready to go. If you are looking for a person to run your golf club you may want to give her a call, 908-735-4200 ext 227 - You won't be sorry.
The first thing I noticed about the course was that they have grown rough. BB used to be a place where you just gripped and ripped and no matter where the ball ended up you had a good lie with a chance to go at the pin. No longer. And this is a great tip for a lot of golf superintendents. The rough can be tough when it's three inches deep. There is no reason to grow it 6, 8, 10 inches high. It only makes the place of play long, especially on the weekends when we weekday warriors shudder to think of the 6 and a half hour rounds. The rough at BB was perfect. It was hard to hit out of, but it was not impossible and you could find the ball.
The next thing that was obvious was the trees. They have matured into severe impediments. They define many of the holes like they never have. The first hole was a good example. It’s a par five and you used to be able to blast it down the hill and have little concern. That's no longer the case. The trees create a funnel and if you get stuck in the midst of them you are playing back out to the fairway and taking the idea of the flag out of your head.
The third thing that defines BB from some of the other public courses in the area is the undulation in the greens. A lot of places have pretty flat green and they are cut so you don't get a true break. Not Here. BB has some serious bending greens and it's not unusual to be playing two or three feet of break and on several if you are above the hole you can find yourself putting off the green, which will prompt that frustrated frown. So leave the ball below the hole at all costs.
BB is a good blend of challenge, risk reward and side hill lies. There are easy holes and there are some bears. It's a fun day of golf. Our foursome of varying handicaps, including a player who was out for the first time of the year, all enjoyed it and commented that they would definitely go back.
So to the course. - We played the black tees and they were all set up to the backs of the tee boxes so there were no gimmies, everything played to the fullest.
The first hole is a par five, downhill. We were playing into a pretty stiff breeze so going for it in two was out of the question but on a clear day two good smacks could get you home. YOU MUST hit the fairway. Here's your first tip - if you didn't have the chance to warm up get a three wood out of the bag instead of driver to keep it in the short hairs. You can easily get a second shot with a five wood or three iron well passed the one fifty stick. This is one of the flattest greens on the course. There are bunkers short right and middle left, but they shouldn't be in play with a nice smooth swing on shot three. This is a birdie hole if you are warmed up. If not you should be able to get a par on your card to get moving.
Hole two is also par five, this time heading up the hill parallel to number one. There are traps right and left but the fairway is generous. Aim at the left bunker and fade it back in toward the middle. This leaves you a straight shot up the hill. If you can hit the driver off the deck do it., if not give the three wood a rap and see if you can run it through the opening in the front of the green. There are deep traps to either side but they are not impossible. If you are hitting a third from around 100 take note of the elevation change and hit one more club. The green is big and getting up into it is important. The break from the top, left to right, is severe so play an extra six inches from what your eye tells you.
Hole three is a par four dog leg to the left. You have to carry a ravine that is intimidating to the eye only. The left edge of the right fairway bunker is your target. If you are left off the tee you will not be able to see the green. The second shot in will be about 125-150 but again it is uphill so take another club. This green, which used to be wicked, has been redone and is flat and tame. Take a moment to look at the view of Spruce Run Reservoir, it’s gorgeous.
Number four is a par four that plays about 150 yards. So why is it tough. Ouch, the visual distractions are everywhere. Pull it left and you are in the trees. A little short you are in the bunker. A little left you are in a steep bunker. A little right and you are behind the big tree that protects a high shot into the right side of the green. If you execute the shot onto the green you are not done. If you are above the hole and it's playing in the middle of the green hold on. This is a slick breaking putt that can go anywhere, including in the bunker if you get to frisky chasing the birdie.
Hole five starts the decent toward route 78. This hole has a small creek on the left side that comes into play off the tee and three big bunkers on the right grab the sloppy slicer. With that said the fairway is huge. Jam it right down the middle and leave yourself a hundred yards. The green slopes right to left so take that into consideration. There is a sneaky bunker just short on the right, which you can't see on the approach shot. Anything long is dead, but if you hit a high shot to the front it will bounce on and trickle toward the pin.
Hole Six - On a dry day with no wind the creek is in play. What creek? At the end of the fairway it slopes directly down to the Beaver Brook, trust me, it's there. There is a pond left which is not really in play unless you unleash an ugly hook. Deep right is also in the river. If you hit a nice three wood or a 3 or 4 hybrid, the one fifty stick on the top of the hill is the ideal spot as it is flat and leaves you a nice look. The second shot is downhill, over the creek, to a green that has a fall line directly down the middle. Small bunker to the left is an easy out. The bunker on the right leaves you a much longer shot and you will be lucky to get up and down.
Hole seven is an uphill par 3. It plays about 175. There is a creek that runs through the front but it is 40 yards from the green and is no factor unless you really choke one. There is a bunker to the right that you should avoid as the entire left side is wide open. If you are a little short it is an easy uphill chip at the pin. The only danger to not making par is getting above the hole. This is a step slope back to front and you can put it by 8 feet no problem. On the tee take the first club you think of. If you take on more for the uphill you may find yourself on top and that is hoping for a miracle putt to fall in the hole.
Hole 8 - Hold on - this is the number one handicap hole and it earns its ranking . Straight up the hill 400 yards plays like 475. Your most likely inclined to over swing, trying to get that little bit extra, which will most likely leave you with a bit of a pull that leaves you in the trees on the left side., or if you really come out of your shoes the condos on the right come into play, there is a net but believe me, I've seen a few balls cascading off the siding.
Unless you kill the ball off the tee the second shot, again drastically uphill, is blind and tough. There are bunkers up the left side before the green that swallow balls. The right side is OB and dead, more condos behind the tree line.
And once you huff and puff up the hill the treachery has only begun. This is one of the toughest greens on the course, slanting drastically from left to right. Be below the hole on the right or start thinking three putt. It’s a great hole. In your head play it like a par five and you won't be so disappointed when you finish.
Hole 9 - As punishing as 8 is 9 gives you that sense of exhilaration. On a windless day in the middle of the summer when the ball is running hard you grip it and rip it and go for the green. It's a short par four, and though there is a bunker guarding the left side where the pin is usually stuck, it's worth giving it a mighty blow, how many chances do you get to drive a par four? For most of us we are left with a short pitch in to the green, but beware, the left pin position is a slight ledge that is hard to hold. You can easily turn that gimme birdie into a five with a pitch shot that rolls off the back. But go for it, posting the three on the card always feels good before the turn.
