Bruce Hepner is one of the few architects/restoration specialists who use restraint “don’t overlook the soup” as a strength. The comparisons to Chicago Golf are noteworthy. To think this relationship began with words from Tom Doak in Confidential Guide “the club’s landscape committee over the past 60 years should be lined up and shot for planting so many trees of so many varieties” 5 Doak scale May 1994. Kudos to Blue Mound for changing directions over 20 years ago.

I grew up in New England and Donald Ross is prevalent up here. So I’m bias but a great start to a course is one or two warm up holes, typically easy par 4s, then allow the course to begin. I’ve heard stories that he did this because back in those days courses didn’t have driving ranges so it allowed the player to warm up and be ready for the remaining course. A great example is Plymouth Country Club, Green Harbor (not a Donald Ross), or Boston Golf Club (Gil Hanse) with its par 5 openers allowing you to hit multiple shots to warm your body up.

I don’t have a specific hole or course that I particularly like, but in general I *dislike* opening with a par 5. I’m not in enough of a groove to take advantage of them, and I don’t want my second shot of the day being either a fairway wood or long iron (whether it is for layup purposes on a longer hole or going for the green on a shorter hole).

"Exquisite" is the correct word. I love the open feel this place has and its presentation absolutely sparkles. Raynor has a "style" that he imposes on the land...so distinctive, as well as appealing. Grabs attention, interest. Beautifully crafted. A walking, very good-looking golf course. Terrific profile/Thanks guys!!!

A first tee shot that doesn't leave any doubt to hitting driver, followed by a full 9 iron or pitching wedge on the approach is hard to beat. When the second hole is a par-five, even better. No course I've played fits that exact bill, but I feel like Augusta National (from the member tee!) would be pretty nice to help control the nerves.

Great timing. I'm playing there next week and this review is just making me look forward to it even more! Great write up Will.

I was fortunate to play this last year and it is a place I'd love to play all the time. The scale of the greens is so much bigger than the photographs show. Great write-up and photos! I can't wait to get back out there and play it again.

I love a gentle handshake to start a golf round such as an open par 5 or a straightforward par 4. I've noticed this helps a lot with initial pace of play. I believe Pete Dye utilized this principle and I recently encountered this at Wabeek CC.

I got to play at one of the TFE events out here and it is an amazing use of the land and those greens are mind boggling. So much fun!

Living in Vermont, it seems like a lot of the first holes we have here are short/driveable par 4s with a road on the left. Always fun thing to see rolling to first tee straight from the parking lot!