Beer of the Week

The beer: Matchplay IPA

The brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company, Hampton, New Hampshire

Description (from Untappd): "Born on the 19th hole, and made for your next round, Matchplay IPA is a crisp and crushable ale that you’ll never again tee up without. Soft and refreshing, yet packed with bright and bold hops, our newest IPA is a sure gimme on a hot day."

Would I buy it again? The latest entry in my long-running series "Buying beer because there's golf on the can/bottle," this beer is a simple and juicy IPA. Hoppy, but not bitter. Which makes it pleasant to drink instead of a chore. Exactly the sort of beer you'd want on the golf course on a hot summer day. Of course, I don't really drink beer while playing golf, but I'd still buy this beer again.

Review: Black Rock Golf Course (Part 2)

It's time to check out the back nine at Black Rock, go here to see the front.

The tenth hole is 375 yards and plays over slightly rolling terrain. The fairway bends right around some trees, then drops slightly toward the green, which is medium sized and protected by a large bunker left. There's also a steep dropoff left and past the green, so really the key on this second shot is not to miss left. A pretty simple way to start the back nine.

The tenth hole.

The tenth green.

The eleventh hole is the longest par 4 at Black Rock, playing nearly 440 yards. It's not as tough as the yardage might indicate though; while the fairway does sort of do a double dogleg S shape, the corridor is pretty wide and there are no fairway bunkers. A good drive will leave a short or mid iron up the hill slightly to a slightly punchbowl-like green with a big bunker front right.

The eleventh hole.

Approaching the eleventh green.

The eleventh green.

The twelfth hole is a mid-length par 4 that really could stand to be a little shorter. As the hole is currently, the back tee is about 10-15 yards away from the fourteenth fairway, and while there are trees blocking the tee from incoming shots from that hole, you do feel rather in the line of fire. There's no particular reason this hole needs to be 390 yards, it could easily have been a shorter drive-and-pitch par 4. Anyway, the hole is straightaway, and while there aren't any hazards on the tee shot per se, the hole runs along the top of a small plateau, so beyond the containing mounds on both sides, the land does fall away on both sides. This is a fairway you want to hit. A solid 3 wood will leave a short iron into a medium-sized green flanked by bunkers.

The twelfth hole.

Approaching the twelfth green.

The twelfth green.

I think the architect was in a real bad mood when he did the thirteenth hole, a 430-yards par 4 — at least when it came to the green. The tee shot here is quite wide and inviting, though the fairway does bend pretty sharply to the right. You do need to be mindful that the fairway ends about 275-300 yards out, so longer hitters definitely need to reel it in. A good 3 wood will leave a short or mid iron over a pond to a small, very shallow green wedged between three bunkers. It's easily the toughest iron shot on the course, made even more so by the extreme back-to-front tilt of the green. You miss the green long, and getting the chip to stop on the green is a tall order to say the least. It's a tough hole, made even more so by the fact that no other hole at Black Rock comes close to this level of difficulty.

The thirteenth hole.

Approaching the thirteenth green.

The thirteenth green.

The fourteenth hole is the longest hole at Black Rock, playing 540 yards to a semi-blind fairway. The fairway is more open than it perhaps looks, with nothing to worry about on the tee shot other than a few trees. And while most people wouldn't be going for this green in two anyway, the decision is made for you, as the green is cut off from the fairway by a large front bunker. Actually, this is one of those holes where it's best to be conservative and leave yourself a full wedge third, as not only does the green demand an aerial approach, it's also quite shallow. You really do need spin on the ball to get an approach close to the hole.

The fourteenth hole.

Approaching the fourteenth green.

The fourteenth green.

The fifteenth hole is 185 yards, though that length is mitigated somewhat by the fact that the green is 40 or 50 feet below the tee. While the pond in front is obviously something to think about, it is easy enough to avoid. The green is long and fairly thin, with a bunker (sort of) wide right. 

The fifteenth hole.

The fifteenth green.

The sixteenth hole is 515 yards, but it's more reachable than you might think since the tee shot plays significantly downhill and you can easily shave some distance off by cutting the dogleg. That first tree in the corner can be hit right across easily enough, and doing so will leave a long iron or fairway wood slightly uphill to a small green with a large bunker front left. If you can hit a draw, that will help quite a bit at getting the approach close.

The sixteenth hole.

Approaching the sixteenth green.

The sixteenth green.

The seventeenth hole is 170 yards, and while that's a bit on the long side for a par 3 with a shallow green and a gigantic bunker in front — no ground game on this hole — somehow I don't mind this one. This may be a case of a hole that's specifically more difficult for higher-handicap golfers, people who struggle to carry irons consistently. The green is at least receptive and quite wide, so as long as you cover the right yardage you should have an easy time making par, even if your aim isn't great.

The seventeenth hole.

Approaching the seventeenth green.

The eighteenth hole is a fairly long par 4, almost exactly the same length as the twelfth at 435 yards. The fairway is wide open, but driver is not something you necessarily want to reach for. For one thing, a pond cuts across the fairway about 325 yards out, which is a long way, but when you pass the 250-yard mark the fairway runs significantly downhill toward the water. That's really what you're contending with if you hit driver, a second shot from a steeply downhill stance. Laying back leaves you a mid or long iron into the green, but you'll have a flat lie. The green is medium sized and backed by three bunkers, with the pond present but not really an issue unless you hit the world's largest chunk. Not a hugely difficult finisher, but one of the tougher holes on the course.

The eighteenth hole.

Approaching the eighteenth green.

The eighteenth green.

Black Rock is a pleasant place for the average Hagerstown golfer to spend a nice afternoon, and that's pretty much the limit of its ambition. And that's honestly okay ... or it would be if not for a small caveat that I'll get to in a second. This is not a difficult course in any way, shape, or form. It will flatter you about as much as a golf course can. I hit six greens in regulation and still managed a score in the low 80s. And while the architecture isn't really designed to provoke thought, the fact that Black Rock traverses distinctly non-flat land is enough to give it some strategic interest. I honestly don't mind this golf course in isolation.

What I do mind is the price. $70 is way, way too much for what you get. And that's walking, too; they don't give a discount for not taking a cart. Then again, the tee sheet is almost always pretty full. The only way I was able to get out by myself was playing just before the twilight rate started ($50 if you're curious, which is still too much). If it were $30-$40, sure, I'd maybe throw Black Rock into the rotation once or twice. But at $70? Not a chance. It's really not that good a golf course.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Harvest Lager

The brewery: Harpoon Brewery, Boston, Massachusetts

Description (from the website): "Brewed in the spirit of friendship, New England craftsmanship, and the idea that being outdoors is better together. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or an urban explorer, this beer was brewed for all of us who strive to 'be an outsider.' A smooth, crisp, and balanced Amber Lager brewed with Maine-grown malt and balanced with a mild hop spice delivers an easy-drinking finish perfect for any Fall occasion. Gather friends and get outside."

Would I buy it again? I don't know why L.L. Bean decided to collaborate on a beer, or why they went with a brewery in Boston when Allagash is plenty big and also in Maine, but I do know that Harpoon and L.L. Bean made a solid lager. It's easy to drink with a little bit of a hoppy kick to it. I would buy it again, and not just for the novelty.

Review: Black Rock Golf Course (Part 1)

When it comes to towns in central Maryland, Hagerstown, in almost every regard, is significantly worse than Frederick. One merely needs to visit the downtown districts of both places to quickly see the difference. But Hagerstown has the advantage in a few areas: donuts, pizza, and municipal golf. 

That last one is what we're going to talk about today. I've never written about Clustered Spires, Frederick's 18-hole municipal golf course, because there's very little to talk about. I've played it once and I have no desire to go back. It's not a bad golf course, technically speaking, but it's so incredibly bland and uninspired that I simply have nothing to say. 

Black Rock Golf Course is never going to win any awards for being a great and interesting golf course. But unlike Clustered Spires, there is occasionally something to say about Black Rock's design. I know, try to contain your incredible curiosity. 

The first hole is a short par 5, playing 490 yards from a tee set high above the fairway. The playing corridor is extremely wide, and shots hit wide right will often bounce back in to a more friendly position. It's a green light to swing away with driver and get into a position to go for the green in two. That second shot is more interesting, as the green is quite small and well defended by a pair of large bunkers. Even so, this is a great opportunity to kick the round off with a birdie.

The first hole.

Approaching the first green.

The first green.

The second hole is a mid-length par 3 that also plays from a perched tee, and honestly, this green complex is a little weird. The only bunker is behind, and the front portion of the green is pinched in, leaving prime space for flanking bunkers that simply aren't there and never have been, as far as I can tell. That makes hitting the shot really the only challenge here, and while that's plenty for most golfers, this is decidedly not an interesting hole.

The second hole.

The third hole, on the other hand, is pretty arresting as soon as you step onto the tee box. The reason for this is simple: About 75 yards, right where one might want to aim their drive on this 480-yard par 5, is a tree of great significance. If one struggles to hit a fade with the driver, your options on the tee shot here are severely limited and you likely won't be able to reach the green in two. Even if you can hit a fade, you really need a big one (or a smaller fade hit dangerously close to the branches) to bring the green into range in two, as there are more trees lurking just left of the fairway to block out insufficiently curved shots. The rest of the hole is almost banal, though the fairway is quite rolling and the green is shallow and significantly elevated. Is this a good hole? No. Is it memorable? Yes.

The third hole.

Approaching the third green.

The third green.

The fourth hole is 360 yards, with a tee shot that plays uphill to a plateau about 225-250 yards out. If one uses a 3 wood or long iron, you'll have a wedge back down the hill into the green, and you'll be playing from a relatively flat stance. Alternatively, you could hit driver, challenging the corner of the dogleg to try and get close to the green, at the risk of leaving yourself a second shot from an awkward length and a hanging lie. The green is small and has a single bunker right. 

The fourth hole.

The fourth green.

The fifth hole is 380 yards and is everyone's favorite: a 90-degree dogleg. The tee shot is simple, just hit a 3 wood out into the very wide fairway, avoiding the trees left. That will leave a wedge or short iron down the hill to a relatively large green guarded by three bunkers. I do not enjoy this hole, and I don't think I've ever played it well. (Oh yeah, I've played Black Rock several times, though it has been a while.)

The fifth hole.

The fifth green.

The sixth hole is 355 yards and features the same sort of diagonal drive as the third, just without the giant tree in the way. Honestly though, while you can hit driver straight at the green, you may not want to. A good drive will leave just a little half-wedge, and when the approach is to a relatively shallow, elevated green surrounded by bunkers, you really want to have a full wedge in hand. Trying to gauge a half-shot with all that is a recipe for leaving your second shot in the front bunker.

The sixth hole.

Approaching the sixth green.

The sixth green.

The seventh hole is just under 200 yards and plays over essentially flat land to a green angled from right to left hidden behind a bunker, with a second bunker long and right. The shape of the hole is vaguely Redan-like, though of course without any meaningful tilt to the green, it doesn't really play like one or offer any particularly interesting options.

The seventh hole.

The seventh green.

The eighth hole is 415 yards, which isn't particularly long, but the hole plays uphill the entire way, so that does add some effective distance. And that's about the only interesting thing on this hole; you hit the fairway, then the green, making sure to avoid the trees left of the dogleg. No need to get too aggressive on this tee shot. There are two bunkers around the green, one left and one long.

The eighth hole.

Approaching the eighth green.

The eighth green.

The ninth hole is 430 yards, but since it plays quite dramatically downhill, it's effectively a bit shorter than the previous hole. The fairway is pretty wide open, though the driving range is off to the right and longer hitters do have to worry about the pond lurking left of the fairway. For most, though, this is a pretty simple and fun tee shot. The second shot will be a short iron to a narrow, angled green flanked by bunkers, with the pond left not really in play but still something to think about.

The ninth hole.

Approaching the ninth green.

The ninth green.

That's it for this week, next week we'll take a look at the back nine.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Strange Beast

The brewery: Nepenthe Brewing Company, Baltimore, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Built on a subtle base of just 2-row and rice, then hopped gently with Sorachi Ace, Centennial, and Motueka. Suddenly bursting out of an otherwise calm Pacific on a cresting tsunami of Ginger Peach Green Tea from our pals at Wight Tea Company. Sweeping notes of juicy peach, fresh sun tea, crisp malt, a touch of herbal funk, and light, zesty ginger rampage across your palate. A pale straw in color and oh so drinkable. Do we know what lies in the deepest places?"

Would I buy it again? Now this was the beer I was really looking forward to when I came to Nepenthe. A beer that was described on the menu as a "ginger peach green tea rice lager." That's a lot of things for a beer to be, and I was certain this beer was either going to be really good or really bad. No in between. And I'm happy to report that it's actually very good. The peach was the key, I think, it added some fruity sweetness and blended all the various ingredients together well. Basically, this is an enhanced, fruitier version of Thick-N-Thin's Kaiju rice lager, which is entirely appropriate, as "kaiju" means strange beast. I'll definitely buy this again if I can ever find it locally.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Vault Diver

The brewery: Nepenthe Brewing Company, Baltimore, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "A not-particularly-traditional take on one of our favorite styles. Maris Otter and Brown Malt contribute a nutty, roasty complexity while Victory and Caramunich sweeten it up a touch. Balanced, with notes of coffee and hazelnut."

Would I buy it again? While this was a perfectly fine beer to drink, it was my least favorite of the three I had at Nepenthe. It is bready and light, which is nice, but the Maibock I had there had that going for it as well, and I'll always prefer the bock. I wouldn't say no to another one, but I probably would not buy it again. There are more interesting beers out there.