Waynesboro Municipal Tour Part 8

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7

Hole 8: 440 yards

This is the shorter of the two par 5's on the course, and if this hole was played over level ground, it
would be a complete pushover.  It's still an easy hole, but the gigantic hill does make the hole play a bit longer.  This is a hilly golf course, but until this point, there was nothing too unreasonable.  This hill is a bit excessive though.  I'm not sure how high it goes up, but it does go up very quickly.  I prefer to hit my drive down the right side simply because the hill is a bit less severe on the right.  There's out-of-bounds left, but the fairway is so wide, it really shouldn't be an issue.  Being able to hit your drive up to the top of the hill is nice, since you get a sort of flat stance and a view of the green.

The hill does keep distance down, but this green is still very reachable in two.  There are two trees
left and short of the green that can interfere with a long iron if you're coming from the left, so again, driving down the right is recommended.  I like to hit a fade at this green, the various slopes around the green will guide it towards the green.  You don't want to miss right, because it will bounce off more to the right, and the shot from down there is not easy.  There is another grass bunker short of this green, but it is not as severe as the one on number 4.  If you do fade it into the green, it helps take the ditch out of play.  There is also a bunker short and left of the green, but it really doesn't come into play very often.

Unlike some of the other greens here, which play more difficult then they look, this green looks
difficult, and plays difficult too.  There is an upper level at the back of the green, which takes up less than half of the green's area, but also manages to separate the rest of the green into two distinct areas.  The easiest hole locations are front right, it's relatively flat, and golf balls like to feed down there.  Front right is fairly easy to get at as well, but putts can break in mystifying ways.  Back hole locations are difficult to get to, and putts back there are even more mystifying, and it can be very easy to send a ball down the slope if you were above the hole and hit your putt even a little too hard.  Luckily, it's not usually back there.  This is still a birdie hole, but the green especially can be quite frustrating.

My Other Blogs
Loose on the Internet
Science Universe

My Twitter

Waynesboro Municipal Tour Part 7

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

Hole 7: 178 yards

This is the longer of the two par 3's, and for some reason, it plays more difficult than it looks.  Maybe it's the lack of having to hit mid-irons on this course, but I do not see this green hit very often.  The hole is almost perfectly flat, and it really isn't that long a hole.  There is one bunker to the right, and some mounding left.  I'm probably stretching here, but this green complex shares some similarities with the 11th at St. Andrews, otherwise known as the Eden, which is a often-copied replica hole.  The original has a bunker left, but other than that, they both have a bunker front right, both slope sharply back to front, and missing both long results in a very difficult second.  This hole even has a line of trees behind the green, a very rough analogue of the Eden Estuary.

If you want to miss this green anywhere, miss it short.  You'll have a little uphill chip shot that couldn't be any easier.  Now, that's never stopped me from making a complete mess of the safe play, but that's down to short game deficiency rather than difficulty of the shot.  As I said, long is not a good place to be, and you definitely do not want to short-side yourself, as it is very hard to stop a chip on this green from rolling out.  This green has quite a bit of slope to it, and putts hit from above the hole can get away from you if you're not careful.  Frankly, I'm happy to get past this hole with a par.  It really isn't that easy.


My Other Blogs
Loose on the Internet
Science Universe

My Twitter

Waynesboro Municipal Tour Part 6

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

Hole 6: 310 yards

The hole from the top of the hill.

When you step up to the 6th tee, there isn't a whole lot to see.  All the height gained over the past 5 holes is lost in the first 200 yards of the hole.  Obviously, you can't see the green, so I recommend aiming at the left-most pole of the power-line in the distance.  This is if the tee is on the right side.  If the tee is on the left teebox, just pull out a three-iron or a wood and lay up.  That tree about 50 yards in front of the tee is right in between you and the green, and it just loves to swallow golf balls.  Providing the tee is on the right, this is a fun drive.  Take a nice big swing and watch the ball sail out of sight.  It will get plenty of hang time.  Word of warning, there is a line of trees on the right where this hole shares a border with the first hole which just loves to make golf balls disappear.  I don't know how many I've lost because I hit my drive into what seems like a black hole for golf balls.  There is a ton of room to the left, go over there if you have to miss.

This is the second longest par 4 on the course, but since it plays so far downhill, it is easily reachable by a good drive.  There have been times when even a driver was too much on this hole, and I've had to use a 3 wood.  The fairway slopes off to the right, and drives will roll off in that direction.  I like to hit a little fade that catches the slope and runs out, my younger brother(who is better than me) prefers to hit a draw that fights the slope.  I think I can get more distance out of mine, but I also have to contend with the greenside bunker more.

This green looks simple, but it is deceptively difficult, and I do mean difficult.  There's a little dip in front of the green, and it is incredibly difficult to get a pitch shot to stay on the green, especially if you're coming from the left.  This is another green that runs away from the player, and like the last hole, you really cannot fly it onto the green with your second if you didn't reach the green with your tee shot.  You have to play use the ground, and that dip makes precision distance control imperative.  If you can get your tee shot in the right place, this is an easy birdie hole, but if not, or if you're not good around the green, you can just as easily get a bogey.

My Other Blogs
Loose on the Internet
Science Universe

My Twitter

Municipal Golf in Washington, DC

East Potomac Park Golf Course in Washington, DC

People in golf wonder why the sport isn't doing so well.  Well, when I read stories like this, it's easy to find the answer.  That article is about a plan to upgrade Washington, DC's municipal golf courses into much more upscale and desirable places.  Now, I've grown up on a muni, I know how they work.  The maintenance is substandard, the golf is often uninspiring, and they can be very crowded.  That said, municipal golf courses don't usually need a full upscale makeover.  Well, my home course does, but that's because it's been horrifically neglected, and it was low-maintenence, even by municipal standards.  I say that knowing that Waynesboro Municipal is going to be completely rebuilt, but in a way that will remain affordable to regular golfers.  A makeover, but not an unreasonable one.

The things they're talking about in this article are unreasonable.  There's talk of PGA Championship course and mini-Augusta National, and that just isn't right.  These are supposed to be golf courses for all the people, not just for the rich people.  These golf courses seem to be in much better shape than what I'm used to, all they need is some intelligent, thoughtful restoration and maintenance.  Maybe a bit of redesign to spruce some uninspiring holes.  They do not need an upscale makeover.  Golf doesn't need a gimmick, it needs inexpensive, convenient, fun golf.  Why is that so difficult to understand?

My Other Blogs
Loose on the Internet
Science Universe

My Twitter

Waynesboro Municipal Tour Part 5

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Hole 5: 240 yards

The tightest drive on the course, but the green is very reachable.

This is the shortest par 4 on the golf course.  It is very easily reachable on the drive, however, this is the narrowest hole on the golf course.  There is out of bounds along the left, and just like the hole before it, I've hooked many, many golf balls into those trees.  Or occasionally, over them.  If there's one thing I'm really good at when it comes to golf, it's missing holes by ridiculous amounts.  This is also one of the flattest holes on the course, and it's a nice respite from a mostly very hilly round.

Not a bad place to hit your second

If you've hit a good drive, the second can actually be quite challenging.  If the course is still soft, then the pitch or chip is not that bad, but over the summer when it gets dry, things get interesting.  The reason for this is that both the green and the portion of the fairway right before the green fall sharply away towards the back.  It does no good to hit it high, pitch shots will run right through the green towards the graveyard.  Yes, there is a graveyard, and yes, I have hit into it.  Anyway, if there's a decent place to miss on this hole, it's left and a little short.  There are a couple of mounds over there, but you don't want to be green-high.  There is a bunker left of the green.  This isn't an impossible green, this is an easy hole, but you have to be comfortable with the ground game if you don't quite have the length to get to this green.

The green from the back.  Note that the back is much lower than the front.

My Other Blogs
Loose on the Internet
Science Universe

My Twitter

Waynesboro Photo Tour Part 4

Hole 4: 510 yards

The drive on the fourth.  Those trees love swallowing golf balls.

We go from the shortest hole on the course to the longest one.  It may not sound all that long, but this
hole plays every bit of those 510 yards, if not more.  The tee shot is the first one of the round where there are really hazards in play (Well, for most people, I can find a way to make even the most out of the way location a hazard), and it's the first drive where the fairway feels a bit tight.  Not that tight, there's about a hundred yards to work with.  But it's enough.  There's out of bounds running all down the left side, and I have launched dozens and dozens of golf balls into the neighboring farm.  Actually, I believe that I have actually visited all 5 of the neighboring holes while playing this hole.  I think that's pretty impressive. 

If you can get your drive here, you are set.

Anyway, the fairway goes up a hill at about 250-260 yards, which absolutely kills drives.  There was
a time when I could hit 300 yards consistently, but I have never had less than 200 yards into green, and I can count the number of times I've hit this green with one hand.  I prefer going down the left side of the fairway, it shortens up the hole a bit, and there's a patch of grass on that side that basically guarantees a great lie.  This isn't a very well-maintained course. 

There are no bunkers on this hole, but when hitting your second, you have to contend with an even more fearsome hazard.  A grass bunker about 50 yards short of the green.  The rough in there is U.S Open caliber, and there isn't a flat stance to be found.  If you end up on the upslope of the ditch, it takes a miracle to get the next shot on the green.  So, I would recommend that if you can't reach the green in two, make sure you lay up well back of the ditch.

I won't mince words about this green.  It's barely even a green, there are so many holes and dead spots.  The water got turned off here a couple summers ago during a particularly harsh week, and this green got the worst of it.  It never recovered, and it's just getting worse as time goes on.  My brothers and I established a rule for it.  If you have to putt over much of the bad portions, if you miss your first putt, then it's an automatic two-putt.  We don't like it, but it save us a headache.  When the green actually has grass on it, it's surprising difficult to hold, considering it slopes from back to front.  Downhill putts can be pretty fast.  It looks flat, but it plays harder than it looks.

My Other Blogs
Loose on the Internet
Science Universe

My Twitter

Waynesboro Municipal Tour Part 3

Hole 3: 125 yards

The third hole is the course's first par 3, and the shortest hole on the course.  The most prominent feature of the hole is the bunker just short of the green.  Unlike some of the bunkers on the course, this one does come into play, and it can be nasty.  The sand can be really soft, and golf balls have a tendency to plug, since you're usually hitting a wedge up high.  Actually, one time when I had a very, very plugged lie in the sand, my younger brother bet me ten dollars I couldn't get the ball to the hole.  It was only a 30 or 40 foot shot, but I had to swing with literally everything I had.  I got it there though.

The green is a bit unusual.  It's long and thin, and it sort of has tiers, but it sort of doesn't.  It has 3 levels, but the levels are separated by long and gentle slopes.  You do not want to miss this green long, there are a line of trees behind the green, it falls off sharply, and the green slopes away from you.  Also, I wouldn't recommend missing left during the summer.  It gets very dry over there, and it is virtually impossible to keep a golf from bounding almost onto the next tee if you go left.  If you have to miss the green anywhere, miss it right.  You won't have any green to work with, but it's better than the alternatives.

My Other Blogs
Loose on the Internet
Science Universe

My Twitter

Waynesboro Municipal Tour Part 2

Hole 2: 270 yards

The tee shot on Number 2

The second hole is another short par 4.  The tee is on top of a hill, and the tee shot plays across a valley and back up another, bigger hill.  The primary hazard on this hole are the two group of trees on either side of the fairway.  There is a good amount of distance between them, but the trees do come into play.  Unlike the first hole, this green is easily reached with the tee shot, especially in summer when the ground dries out.  If you can't reach the green, the left side of the fairway is the better side to be on.

The best place to approach the green

The green can be quite difficult to hit sometimes, as it is elevated and the green falls away on all sides.  It is best approached from the left, as the green falls away the least from that side, and you get the most green to work with.  There is a bunker behind the green, but it doesn't come into play too much.  This green can be brutal if you're not good with the chipping.  I know there have been many occasions where I have had to chip three or more times because the ball just runs off the green.  On the flip side, this hole has seen plenty of eagles.

The green from the back. Guest starring my golf clubs

My Other Blogs
Loose on the Internet
Science Universe

My Twitter

Waynesboro Municipal Tour Part 1

Waynesboro Municipal Golf Course.  It's a short, 9 hole course that isn't maintained particularly well and has a reputation for being kind of a dump.  It's also where I learned the sport, and it's been my home course for many years.  So, I have a bit of a soft spot for it.  This won't be the most impressive photo tour in the world, but hopefully I can give the old place a proper review.

The first hole from the tee

Hole 1: Par 4, 280 yards

The round starts off with what is actually a mid length par 4 for this golf course.  The first 220 yards or so play over basically level ground, but the last 60 are sharply uphill.  As a result, I have never hit this green with my drive.  I haven't even really been close, despite the fact that a 280 yard drive is normally not a problem for me.  The abrupt climb at the end kills drives.  There are no hazards whatsoever except for a line of trees on the right, but the hole does slightly favor a shot from the left side of the fairway, as the green is tilted that way.

View from the fairway

The second shot is usually some sort of wedge up the hill to a two-tiered green.  The hole is much more difficult when the flag is in the back.  It is virtually impossible to keep a ball on top if you miss long.  If the flag is on the lower tier, the slope of the green is severe enough that you can throw the ball past the hole and it will roll back, giving you more room to work with.  This is actually a fairly challenging starting hole, at least for a course like this.  Breaking par at this course is not a big deal for me, but it is not uncommon for me to start off with a bogey.

The two-tiered green

My Other Blogs
Loose on the Internet
Science Universe

My Twitter

I Can Play Golf Again

I'm out of the golf dead zone, and back in a place where the golf is cheap and can be done in less than two hours.  It's always rough starting up again after a long break, and this was no exception.  I'm wildly inaccurate, constantly chunking irons, still have no conception of how to chip, and I have to retoughen my hands, because after an day at the driving range, they were not in good shape.

So, now that I can play golf again, I'll be getting to what I really wanted to do with this particular blog: photo tours.  I'll be starting off with the course that I've played more than any other, the place where I learned how to play golf, my home course.  It should be a real blast.

My Other Blogs
Loose on the Internet
Science Universe

My Twitter