Review: Locust Hill Golf Course (Part 1)

Are you tired of Ed Ault yet? I hope not, because he's back again with yet another golf course. This time, we're in Charles Town, West Virginia. No, not Charleston, capital of West Virginia, or Charleston, famous city in South Carolina, Charles Town, well-known for not being either of those more significant places.

Unusually, I've never played Locust Hill, even though I've lived within an hour for the past several years. There's a couple reasons for that: for one, you need two people to make a tee time. Also, at least from above on Google Maps, Locust Hill hardly looks like an appealing or fun place to play. Lots of houses and water. Even the name itself feels unpleasant. Who wants to play at a golf course called Locust Hill? But who knows, maybe Locust Hill will surprise us. Let's find out.

The first hole is 430 yards and doglegs left around a very large fairway bunker. The fairway is split about a hundred yards from the green by a narrow ditch, and there's a pond running right of the last quarter of the hole. The water can come into play on the second shot, but it really depends on how close the flag is cut to it. For us, we had the hole on the left side of the green, which made the pond little more than an afterthought. More important are the two greenside bunkers, one short left and the other behind. Seeing as the green is not exactly generous in terms of depth, those bunkers are quite significant, and it's probably best to play safely to the middle of the green. This is a fairly tough opening hole.

The first hole.

Approaching the first green.

The first green.

The second hole is the longest hole at Locust Hill, playing 590 yards. It is also quite uninteresting. The hole is flat and plays straightaway, and while there are a couple bunkers right that drives have to contend with, there's really not much to worry about hazard wise. Oh sure, there's O.B. left and trees right, but they're more framing than actual hazards. The second shot in particular is really, really boring. Just advance the ball with no thought. The green is medium sized with bunkers front right and left.

The second hole.

Approaching the second green.

The second green.

The third hole is a mid-length par 4 with water and high grass left; the fairway subtly but definitely slopes from right to left toward the water, so a fade is the preferred option on the tee shot. There's O.B. far right, but you'd have to hit a pretty big slice to reach it. A solid drive will leave a wedge or short iron into the green, which is narrow and protected by two small bunkers left and one behind. 

The third hole.

Approaching the third green.

The third green.

The fourth hole is 415 yards with O.B. wide right of the fairway, which is otherwise pretty open. A good tee shot will leave a short iron into the green, which is carved out of the bottom of a hill. It's L-shaped and has some pretty noticeable slope and break to it. There are two bunkers left; basically, considering the general left-to-right slope of the green, left is a very bad place to miss.

The fourth hole.

Approaching the fourth green.

The fourth green.

The fifth hole is 175 yards from all the way back, though I definitely think this hole works better from the next set up. The green is quite narrow and fairly undulating, with three bunkers ringing the front section. It's quite a tough shot with a mid iron in hand. From 150 yards and the second set of tees, this becomes a fun little short par 3. That makes this next bit unfortunate, but the fifth hole is yet another entry in my long-running series "holes that clearly arose because the architect was short one on the routing." In this case, you finish the fourth, walk a short distance to the fifth tee, play the hole, then immediately double back the way you just came to reach the sixth tee, which is also near the fourth green and fifth tee. This hole quite literally pokes out into nowhere. Nothing like cart golf, right?

The fifth hole.

The fifth green.

The sixth hole is 375 yards and plays over pretty level ground to a fairway that's split at about 250 yards out for no particular reason. There's no hazard there, just rough. So as long as you're okay with a wedge from the rough, there's no reason not to use driver. That will take the fairway bunker left out of play. The green is medium sized and protected by a bunker left.

The sixth hole.

Approaching the sixth green.

The sixth green.

The seventh hole is a mid-length par 3 at 180 yards. It plays to a fairly large green with a bunker close left and a pond long and left. Bailing out right is a safe play, though of course with the right-side hole location that works a little less well.

The seventh hole.

The seventh green.

The eighth hole is 510 yards and starts off in the same area as the fifth and sixth tees (you actually need to pass in front of these tees to get to the sixth hole after finishing the fifth), with the tee shot playing downhill to a wide fairway protected by a large bunker left. That bunker can be carried on the tee shot, which brings the green more into play on the second. A pond lurks left for the last 75 yards of the hole, so both people going for the green in two and those laying up need to consider the water. The green is protected by bunkers front left and back right, along with the water which also curls around the back.

The eighth hole

Approaching the eighth green.

The eighth green.

The ninth hole is 370 yards and plays to a fairly narrow fairway with trees close in left and two bunkers on a mound right. The fairway cuts out 250 yards out (again), and while there's no big hazard there, there are a couple of rock outcroppings about 50 yards short of the green. Not exactly a hazard, but still, not something you want to hit. A 3 wood will leave a wedge or short iron into the green, which is sloped quite severely from back to front and has bunkers left and long.

The ninth hole.

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: Pumpkin Barrel Ale

The brewery: Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company, Lexington, Kentucky

Description (from the website): "A barrel-aged ale brewed with Kentucky-sourced pumpkin, richly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. This robust, limited-release seasonal brew makes for a flavorful sipping beer to slowly warm up with as the weather cools."

Would I buy it again? I'm a little disappointed in this one. It's got some pumpkin and cinnamon to it, but it's a little hoppier and more bitter than I expected. Not to an extreme amount and it's certainly still drinkable, but when there are so many good pumpkin beers out there, why waste your time on something that isn't amazing? I'd pass on this in the future.

What's the Best City for a Golf Getaway? And What About the Worst?

It's a question that vexes golfers all over the country, including myself: Where do we go next on our next golf vacation? Obviously, you want to go someplace with lots of good public golf courses, but weather is also a big factor. There's also the matter of cost, as most people don't have unlimited amounts of money to throw around.

If you truly have no ideas about where to go, this new analysis from The Action Network could help, even if their results are a bit ... off. I don't think its any particular surprise that Sun Belt states dominate the top of the list, although Seattle sneaks in at No. 20, which is a little odd, considering its weather reputation. Ogden, Utah, at No. 15 is another weird one. The very top of the list is mostly the usual suspects, with Scottsdale, Arizona, taking No. 1, followed by Fort Myers, Florida. One particularly strange omission from the top 20 is Myrtle Beach, which is like, THE, golf destination in this country. Maybe it's a little too expensive these days?

While I probably wouldn't get the order right, the top of the list is generally the usual suspects and cities I would expect. To me, the more interesting side of this list is what comes at the bottom. What's the worst city in America for a golf getaway? Notre Dame fans are going to be in shambles, because the answer is South Bend, Indiana. Cost plays a big factor, as the average price of a 5-day trip tops $4,000. That seemed excessive for a city in northern Indiana, but when I checked a random weekend in October, it became clear that football games played a massive role in raising hotel prices. Go in June, for example, and things become much cheaper. Not that I'm advocating for people to vacation in Indiana, but South Bend does host a public Coore and Crenshaw golf course, which is far more than most towns can say. Based on that alone, I wouldn't put South Bend anywhere close to the bottom.

The presence of three California cities at the bottom is a little surprising, particularly Napa. I suppose that is a wine town, something that is distinctly not a golfer beverage, but still, the climate's got to be quite pleasant. Perhaps all the grapes are taking up all the good space for golf courses.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Live Deliciously

Brewed by: Forward Brewing, Annapolis, Maryland

Description (from the website): "Dopplebock, a strong German-style dark lager brewed with Dark Munich malt and smoked Beechwood malt. Notes of toffee and subtle smoke with a warming finish."

Would I buy it again? I don't want to say I liked this better than a Troegenator, but it's very, very close. It was an extremely good doppelbock, and I'd buy it again in a second. It's too bad this particular brewery doesn't distribute locally. 

Review: Bryce Resort (Part 2)

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

The tenth hole is a 350-yard par 4 that plays through a fairly narrow corridor lined by trees to a fairway that slopes noticeably from left to right. No need to hit driver here, a 3 wood or long iron will still leave you with a wedge second shot. There's a big bunker right of the green, which actually has its highest point in the middle; past that point, the green falls away, making back hole locations a bit tricky to get at.

The tenth hole.

Approaching the tenth green.

The tenth green.

The eleventh hole is 180 yards, just like the previous two par 3s. There are two bunkers, one on each side, though there is a bit of breathing room between them and the green. The green itself is a bit punchbowl-like, with the slopes all working to filter golf balls toward the center. Not a particularly difficult hole.

The eleventh hole.

The eleventh green.

The twelfth hole is a short par 4 at just 310 yards, which is out of range for all but the longest hitters. Still, you can get quite close, and this is where a decision needs to be made. If you use driver, you can leave yourself just a little pitch for the second shot, but the green is small and well protected by sand. That 50-yard pitch could be very awkward and difficult to get close. You can also lay back, but a fairway bunker right is in just the right place to threaten long irons and fairway woods. The fairway bunker is easy enough to avoid, but still, if you purposely play conservatively and end up in the bunker anyway, you're going to feel pretty silly.

The twelfth hole.

The twelfth green.

The thirteenth hole is a 550-yard par 5 that plays slowly but steadily uphill. The fairway is initially quite narrow but the forest does bend away in the landing area, so there's a bit more room left than you might think. The second shot isn't very interesting and is mostly just a matter of advancing the ball to the best place for the third. The green here is fairly small and quite significantly sloped from back to front, more so than any other green on the course. 

The thirteenth hole.

Approaching the thirteenth green.

The thirteenth green.

The fourteenth hole is a downhill 370-yard par 4 with a bunker right of the fairway slightly pinching in and making the drive a little bit tougher. A solid driver will leave just a wedge into the green, which is quite small and guarded by bunkers on both sides. There's also a pond wide right, but the hole is short enough that it shouldn't come into play on approach shots.

The fourteenth hole.

The fourteenth green.

The fifteenth hole is thankfully a par 3 that isn't 180 yards. This is the shortest hole on the course, playing 145 yards slightly downhill to a fairly large green.. There are two big bunkers both left and right, and there's a bit of a dropoff behind, so long isn't a particularly good option either. Still, the green's big enough that the tee shot is hardly uncomfortable.

The fifteenth hole.

The fifteenth green.

The sixteenth hole is 530 yards, and it's the lone example of quirky fun that Bryce Resort has to offer. A small stream cuts across the hole about 260 yards out, meaning you have to use a wood or long iron on the tee shot. The second shot is then a long or mid iron off to the right to a section of fairway on a high plateau, which will leave a wedge third from a hanging lie down to the green. The green itself is fairly small and protected by a pair of bunkers. Is this a good hole? No, but I appreciate it immensely for at least being memorable. I was hoping more of the course would be like this. 

The sixteenth hole.

Approaching the sixteenth green.

The sixteenth green.

The seventeenth hole is 355 yards and plays straightaway to a narrow fairway flanked by large trees. The entire hole is tilted pretty sharply from right to left, so a fade to counter that tilt will do very well. A good drive will leave a wedge into the green, which has bunkers both right and left. I know, quite imaginative there, we definitely haven't seen that 10 times on this course.

The seventeenth hole.

The seventeenth green.

The eighteenth hole really says it all about the limited space Bryce Resort had to work with. I don't imagine anyone is particularly happy with a relatively uninspired, vaguely Redan-like 155-yard par 3 with a bunch of apartments immediately behind, but it was pretty clearly the only that could be accommodated, given the space. Sure, they could have not built so far along, but come on, we all know that housing comes before golf concerns. At least there's no odious ponds lurking, just the single big bunker protecting the green. 

The eighteenth hole.

Approaching the eighteenth green.

I really want to like this golf course. Genuinely, I do. It's in such a cool spot, and I loved driving to and from the place (especially on the way back, when I took the scenic route through part of George Washington National Forest). But it's just so boring! It's aggressively pleasant, and while that's fine if you're playing in a foursome with your buddies, riding around and drinking beer, it's not what I'm looking for after a 90-minute drive. It's a typical Ault course then, and an expensive one at that. $90 is not cheap. Granted, I was using a cart (it was very hot, and I was coming off of a bit of an illness), but still, this course is not worth nearly three figures. If you want a golf course routed through a narrow valley in the mountains, go play Cacapon. Even with conditions being mediocre, it's way more fun and interesting, not to mention much, much cheaper.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Oktoberfest

The brewery: Antietam Brewery, Hagerstown, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "A deep amber lager, Antietam’s Oktoberfest is crafted with 100% German Hops, malted barley and our pure lager yeast. With a special long and cold-aging process, the result is a smooth and malty brew backed up with rich caramel notes and a distinct noble hop aroma."

Would I buy it again? I'm actually really curious why Antietam Brewery doesn't push this beer in the fall, because it was genuinely amazing. Precisely what an Oktoberfest beer should be. Malty with the right amount of hoppiness, and no bitterness at all. I'd happily buy it again, and what a great way to kick off the fall beer season.

Review: Bryce Resort (Part 1)

What does one do when the thermometer starts creeping uncomfortably close to the century mark, but the skies are clear and you have nothing else to do? You head for the mountains, where elevation keeps things merely hot instead of furnace-like. That was the situation in late June, and its why I drove nearly 90 minutes to Bryce Resort, an isolated outpost west of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, close to the border with West Virginia and George Washington National Forest.

The golf course here, designed by Ed Ault (he of seemingly infinite work in the Mid-Atlantic), is threaded through a narrow valley carved by a small creek. Never is the property more than two holes wide, though the land that the course itself occupies is flatter than you might expect. The final descent to the resort after driving along the adjacent ridgeline, on the other hand, is very much the opposite. Anyway, let's get to the golf.

The first hole is actually the longest hole on the course, playing 575 yards as the fairway bends gently right around the creek and the adjacent forest. There's also a fairway bunker left, just to make the landing area for driver a bit tighter. Since the hole is so long, and the creek crosses in front of the green, the second shot is really a question of where you want to lay up. A second fairway bunker, also left of the fairway about 100 yards from the green, makes the lay-up not just a matter of advancing the golf ball. A good second shot will leave a wedge over the creek to a green both modest in size and interest protected in front by two bunkers.

The first hole.

Approaching the first green.

The first green.

The second hole is 375 yards and doglegs slightly left between groups of large trees. Driver is unnecessary on this tee shot, and unless you challenge the trees left, actively harmful if you push or slice the drive at all. A 3 wood will leave a wedge or short iron into the green, which is wide and shallow, and is also fronted by the creek. It's also got two bunkers for a bit of additional protection.

The second hole.

Approaching the second green.

The second green.

The third hole is 180 yards, the first of three par 3s at Bryce Resort that plays to that length. The green is pressed up against the forest, and with three large bunkers both left and right, this is not the most inviting target in the world. The green is at least bigger than it looks from the tee, so there is some breathing room.

The third hole.

The fourth hole is a short par 4 at just 315 yards. But don't expect to go for this green with the drive, as a small group of large trees stands directly between the tee and the green. You'd have to hit a big hook to get at it, and if you can't get that draw, you'll just fly straight in to the forest right. A long iron will leave you a 100-yard wedge, and that's honestly the best way to play this hole. The green is fairly small and flanked by bunkers.

The fourth hole.

The fourth green.

The fifth hole is 395 yards, which actually makes it the longest par 4 at Bryce Resort. This is not a long golf course. The tee shot is pretty straightforward; there are no bunkers, just the standard assortment of trees. A good drive will leave a wedge or short iron into the green, which is medium sized and has bunkers both left and right.

The fifth hole.

Approaching the fifth green.

The fifth green.

The sixth hole is 510 yards and doglegs significantly to the right around a pair of bunkers about 260 yards out. They can be carried, and doing so brings the green into reach in two. Most will lay up, which is a simple matter of advancing the ball to your favorite length. The green here is on the smaller side and has some undulation to it, and it's also very well protected by three bunkers. Quite a difficult target if you're going for it in two, but not bad if you've laid up.

The sixth hole.

Approaching the sixth green.

The sixth green.

The seventh hole is 390 yards, and while the fairway looks fairly narrow, there's actually quite a bit of open space right of the fairway. There are no fairway bunkers, but seeing as the green is guarded by a bunker front right (and back left), you're better off favoring the left side on the tee shot. The green itself is quite small and also has a steep dropoff behind leading down into forest. Definitely not a green to go long on.

The seventh hole.

Approaching the seventh green.

The seventh green.

The eighth hole, just like the third, is 180 yards, though this hole does play a bit downhill. There are two big bunkers just left of the green, which is fairly narrow and tilted slightly from right to left. Hitting a little draw at the right side is the ideal shot to play, as the ball will kick toward the hole; conveniently, this also takes the bunkers out of the equation. The green itself does have some humps and bumps to it, but nothing too extraordinary.

The eighth hole.

The eighth green.

The ninth hole is 390 yards and presents the toughest tee shot we've seen thus far; there are four fairway bunkers guarding the fairway, two on each side, and a concrete drainage ditch cuts across the fairway about 275 yards out. Not something you'll lose a golf ball in, but worth mentioning. A good drive will leave a slightly downhill wedge or short iron into a medium-sized green guarded both left and right by large bunkers.

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.