The Captain’s Club in Grand Blanc sits in the shadows of Warwick Hills but as a golf course, it is a very challenging course on its own merit. Also known as a Raymond Floyd signature course, the Captains Club was coined during the namesakes run as he led the Ryder Cup team in the 1990’s.
This course is simply a challenging test of golf and between the combination of long carries, target golf and various tee boxes gives golfers different looks to challenge the 14 clubs in your bag. Located off of Baldwin Road in Grand Blanc, the course sits in the middle of a large real estate project that mixes affordable and luxurious housing that was all the rage during construction in its inception. The course plays from 5,047 (red tees) to 6,765 yards from the blacks. During my time there, I played a combination of both black and blue tees to challenge myself for the round.
While the first hole plays up to 473 yards as a par four, moving to the blues saved me quite a bit of yardage as it played at 408. My review begins at the second hole (367 yards)and this near severe dog leg left is lined with woods on both sides of the tee box and fans out and the fairway is cut short and a drive of 250 yards including roll will leave you with a distance of about 120 to the pin. Long bombers can drive through the fairway into the woods and you may need a three wood but most will have a good angle to the pin. A decent size tree sits left side and can block some shots but it is a ditch about 20 yards in front of the green that will frustrate you more. It basically is a ball eater and a visit to the ditch will most likely keep a souvenir before you finish your hole. The green is very undulated and if you are behind the pin, you are most likely lag putting. Below the hole and you can take a stab at making your putt but a lag is almost as likely. Par is a good score here but with a short iron shot knocked stiff, you could earn a birdie here.
The third hole is one where you must really study before hitting. Long drivers will have to determine if the cluster of ‘dragon bunkers’ that go up and down are worth driving over (they are) or you want to bring a pond into play that runs the length of the hole. The pond juts in around the 250 yard mark and any balls smashed will go in unless you can carry about 280 yards. Driving safely is important and then the second portion of the fairway begins and the carry is about 200 yards and if you have hit a super drive you can make it but a cluster of bunkers to the right side of the green will have you hitting for eagle out of the sand. For those that have to layup their second shot and a less than stellar tee shot will basically make you do just that. Your third shot will give you a good chance to the green but the green is slightly elevated and the pin is often obscured depending on its placement. The green is very undulated and could be a certain two putt depending on where you leave it. Still, longer hitters will have chance for eagle or a sure birdie. Those that do less than that will have fewer expectations than that.
Another hole that golfers will put on their thinking caps is the 383 yard dogleg par four. More than one issue of golf course management is the expectation here. There is a pond right and if you fade the ball you may have a problem and unless you hit it 330 yards off of the tee, a second and much larger pond will give you a two stroke penalty. Also, woods are beside it left side and you have that problem. The smart thing to do is to hit a long iron or fairway wood and put it down the middle and leave yourself a similar shot without the tee. For those that say the heck with it and pull the ball left, you have left yourself with a self-imposed penalty of a much longer club in which to select from. A landing area that allows golfers some chance to bounce the ball up to the green was a nice touch by Floyd. The green will require you to study your shot but the greens roll true here.
The seventh hole is one that is one of my favorites. This is a true target hole and if you are a bomber and in my younger days, going for it on my tee shot was mandatory. Now, homes are located to the right of the tee box and a natural brush is located about 270-280 yards out. A sign now instructs golfers that causing damage to the homes will cost you some dough and that the hole is now a three shot hole. For me, it basically is and for most players it is as well. For those that drive it over this natural hazard into a second fairway, that is the ultimate target golf that has gone well for those on the tee box. If you have to pitch over the hazard, you can go to the edge of the second hazard (up to 200) yards before another ditch begins. I hit it to within 20 yards of the first hazard on my tee shot and hit hybrid smoothly out to the second fairway but the ball hopped and missed some sand bunkers that are protecting the woods. Darned if that ball did not roll over a bridge and settled on the wood resting there. I had to go back and chip over the hazard but it was pretty funny. Your third shot over the bridge and natural bunker at the ditch is not hard to execute but getting it close to the flag could be as the green rises from front to center and then back down with plenty of undulation everywhere. Birdies are possible but unlikely as there is so much trouble and a temperamental green to deal with.
One of my favorite holes on this course (and there are plenty) is the par five 518 yard par five. This hole begins in the woods with several hundred of your favorite mosquitoes and a short carry over fescues onto a very wide fairway. A sand bunker sits in the landing area in the middle of the fairway but most people will drive over it. Being in it will make this a three shot hole for sure. The fairway is very wide but pulling your drive left will leave you with a long carry over a ditch that sits about 70 yards in front of the green. A nice long drive will give you a chance to put a fairway wood in front of the green or on but the woods sit there right side and that is no fun. Once again, iron placement is important as this green can be a three-putt if you put it in the wrong place and anyone on in two will most likely find one. Earning a birdie or par is most likely for those who play this hole well but it could be a double bogey if you find the ditch on your second shot or you dub your drive.
Coming off of a tough stretch of holes on the front nine and holes 3, 5 through nine all qualify, Raymond Floyd also chose to start off hole ten with a ‘chi-bang. ‘
It plays as a 444 to 501 par five and looks like a drivers delight. You have a series of sand bunkers that guard the left side of this par five and you can reach them or if you can’t you can use them as a marker in which to drive your ball towards. Woods will jut in from the right on this tenth hole. Because it is a short par five many golfers will go for the green and many will have some sort of attempt from on or around the green for eagle. Still, the green is slightly elevated and narrows quickly for those that want to pitch it on this fairly undulated green. For those golfers that need three shots, you will have a good chance to pick your spot on the green unless you are just happy to be on. I eagled this hole the first time I played it smashing my second shot about eight feet to the pin and then being clutch. This is the first eagle I have had this season.
The eleventh hole is very interesting. It only plays 354 yards from the tips and just over 300 for most but this hole is almost a par five if you do not hit a very solid drive. The reason is that the woods on both sides not only make it a tight shot but for those that do not hit it past the opening on the left side have no chance to get it on in two. The trees are mature, a pond guards the green short and to the left and chances are you will not have a good lie. The green is very tricky and as you might be able to tell, is not my favorite hole. It is a good hole, just do not dub your drive or you will make this hole a difficult one.
One hole that is one of my favorites is to skip commentary on twelve and thirteen and go right to the par four 14th hole. A series of tee boxes give golfers much different looks over the fescues but really plays open. It looks after dropping your tee into the ground that right side is no good but if you hit it good that is just where you want to be if you can carry the bunkers. Going left will find golfers with a cluster of left side landing bunkers that are elevated and hole killers for golfers. This dog leg right is fairly tame as a green goes but it does slope off the back and going long will possibly leave you with a chip. The fairway does bounce fairly well and this could be a pitch and putt hole as it plays from 338 to 378 yards on the black and blue boxes.
The 17th hole is another very good driving hole. The neighbors might not think so but most golfers have a nice dog leg left to shoot at and a wide fairway in which to shape your shot. Go right over the bunkers and you will hit your ball into a field and way right and you will go into the neighborhood. Still, a large stake is in the fairway and makes a good target and golfers should try to be in the vicinity as you will have a good chance to shape your 372 to 439 yard shot. Yes, this hole plays much different depending on your tee box. The difference is a short iron becomes long and the green is another tough one. Put your ball around the pin and a birdie is very possible but most likely a two-putt is in order.
The 18th hole is a hole where local knowledge is what you need in order to score well. It plays from 601 yards to 564 and both require a shot over cattails and other vegetation and if you have not played this hole and should drive or walk to give yourself some satisfaction. A drive short or right is no fun. The cattails will get you or the woods will. You also will have no chance to crush a three wood over fescues in front of the green. Go left on this hole if you can as the elongated dogleg right opens up. There is a bunker in the landing area left side but there is much more room to drive it and then choose how you want to shape your second shot. The bunkers are not easy on the left side after you get around the corner and most golfers will have a wedge to fairway wood depending on your first two shots. Once again the pin will require you to study your shot and if you play smartly, you could be putting for bird but the green is large and most likely a par is a good score here.
Here's the Skinny
Customer Service- 10.0 They have a friendly staff overall and this includes the golf course maintainance people.
Course Markings- 8.0 - Good. No suggestions on playing the course as for individual holes with the exception of not hitting into houses on the 7th. Course marked at 100, 150 and 200 yards.
Conditions -7.5 - Course in good shape. Some of the asphalt cart paths are crumbling. The summer heat has taken some toll on parts of the course and a couple of greens but by and large its in good shape.
Playability 8.0- This is a fair scoring track. The course plays different depending on your tee box played. The greens are very readable and there are many subtlties to it. Lots of places for target golf.
http://www.captainsclubatwoodfield.com/features-mainmenu-27.html
Here's the Skinny
Customer Service- 10.0 They have a friendly staff overall and this includes the golf course maintainance people.
Course Markings- 8.0 - Good. No suggestions on playing the course as for individual holes with the exception of not hitting into houses on the 7th. Course marked at 100, 150 and 200 yards.
Conditions -7.5 - Course in good shape. Some of the asphalt cart paths are crumbling. The summer heat has taken some toll on parts of the course and a couple of greens but by and large its in good shape.
Playability 8.0- This is a fair scoring track. The course plays different depending on your tee box played. The greens are very readable and there are many subtlties to it. Lots of places for target golf.
Course Design- 10.0 - Course laid out with the advanced golfer in mind that likes to think their way around the golf course. For you to get into trouble on this course you will find it just about every hole.
The bottom line. I give it a 9.0/10.0.The course is enjoyable with plenty of memorable holes and I would come on out and play it at least once per summer and more if you live in the area. My thanks to Bay and the rest of the fine folks at the Captain's Club.
Click the link below to book a tee time or call them.
The bottom line. I give it a 9.0/10.0.The course is enjoyable with plenty of memorable holes and I would come on out and play it at least once per summer and more if you live in the area. My thanks to Bay and the rest of the fine folks at the Captain's Club.
Click the link below to book a tee time or call them.
No comments:
Post a Comment