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Wild Horse Golf Course
Played On 05/23/2018Prairie Golf at its Finest
I made a point of driving through Gothenburg specifically to play this track, and it didn't disappoint.
I teed off as a single at 7:30, and was finished by 10:15. There's nothing finer than walking a great course, and WH is designed to be walked. No long walks from green to tee ... in most cases, it was a few steps to the next tee box.
The greens were as pure and true as I've seen anywhere. The variety of holes was excellent.
I think the SSE wind was coming in the opposite direction of the prevailing wind ... all of the short par 4's were downwind, and all of the long par 4's were upwind. Still, a great track.
This course is for golf purists. If you're looking for cart paths, go elsewhere.
Colorado National Golf Club
Played On 05/22/2018Good Track Ruined by Houses and Poor Maintenance
I was very much looking forward to playing this course, given that it has hosted NCAA Regional Championships and the CU golf team.
What I found was an unfortunate ode to 1990s golf ... the era when courses were designed around the golf cart, and thus made unwalkable, and weaved through houses for reasons that still baffle me.
The houses are too close to the course on many holes, and block any view of the mountains.
The course itself is fine - the greens were true, if unimaginative - but the bunkers had not been maintained, and a lack of care for the course was evident.
This may once have been a championship course, but it's now a glorified muni.
Panther Lake at Orange County National
Played On 02/19/2017Outstanding Track
Panther Lake is a vastly superior design as compared to Crooked Cat. My one quibble is that it doesn't have a good short Par 4 ... but I could play this course every day and not get bored with it.
Greens are in excellent shape, fairways are pretty good (but a bit trampled down, with all the cart traffic), but I'm not one to quibble. Here's my hole-by-hole review.
Hole 1 - Great starting hole. It plays really, really long at 7:00 AM, as you get no roll ... but I like opening holes that aren't too penal off the tee. The approach shot is everything here.
Hole 2 - Love this risk-reward Par 5. You get rewarded for hitting a long drive along the trees on the left - shorter hole, and better angle to the green. Then, you have a decision to make - go for it or lay up? Outstanding Par 5.
Hole 3 - Again, you get rewarded for skirting the trouble on the left, as it shortens this hole considerably. Green is more forgiving than the fairway.
Hole 4 - Excellent Par 3 that forces you to make a decision off the tee. My recommendation: Hit the middle of the green and two-putt. Lots of trouble.
Hole 5 - My least favourite hole on this course, but it's still a great one. You can hit it long off the tee, but you have to pay attention to the approach to this long, narrow green.
Hole 6 - OK Par 3. Nothing to write home about.
Hole 7 - Another outstanding, risk-reward Par 5. If you lay up, you have to do so carefully, and a slight pull can put you in the hazard.
Hole 8 - A long Par 4, which is open, but not so open that you can just bomb away.
Hole 9 - Among my favourite holes anywhere. If you go left off the tee to avoid the trouble, you have a long approach to a demanding green. Easy bogey, difficult par.
Hole 10 - This Par 5 is all about the green complex. You'll go for it in 2, but if you miss, it's a difficult up-and-down on a sloped green.
Hole 11 - Visually intimidating Par 3, and always some wind blowing here. Don't miss short.
Hole 12 - Solid dogleg left. You get rewarded for skirting the trees on the left, but if you hit them it's a sure bogey.
Hole 13 - This is how to make a great uphill Par 4. Nice tight green.
Hole 14 - Risk-Reward Par 5 that is all about the tee shot and the approach to the slick green. You can;t miss the green if you want a birdie.
Hole 15 - The front bunker makes this Par 3 look much more demanding than it is - great course design.
Hole 16 - Open off the tee, very demanding approach shot to an uphill green. Solid Par 4.
Hole 17 - The least exciting Par 3 at least has a great two-tiered green. Be on the right tier.
Hole 18 - What a great finishing Par 5. It looks open off the tee, but you can't just bomb away - you have to pick a line. Then, the approach is more demanding than it appears visually. Not an easy up-and-down from any side of the green.
Course is in terrific shape! Not sure you reviewed the correct course.