This week The Dewsweepers packed up and drove out to a course we have played a number of times before, but not in a while. Hickory Nut in Columbia Station, as we continue and complete our swing through Lorain county.
First, and right up front. Tex and Joe Red have had issues with this course over the years. Tex has never really embraced HN, and it has become his number one nemisis course. And we golfers get it. We all have one of those courses that no matter what the weather, the condition of the course, or how our game is rolling, we just don't play well. And Tex hasn't and didn't, and we shared his pain. We have all been there. Someplaces just have bad karma for some golfers.
Hickory Nut is an 18 hole course off Route 82 that has an interesting past. Many years ago it was a very nice place to play. Back in the trees, with a cool design, and plenty of interesting position golf holes. Then it fell into a bad state of disrepair for a long period of time. It has been improving over the past few years. Then last years relentless rains came, and it went to dispair. (But they were not alone) But now, there's a new attitude, a new super on duty, a motivated owner, and this course is really on the way back. And it looks like things could eventually be better than ever. It's in very good shape, with greens that hold and roll true, and fairways that are improved greatly. and some very good decisions are being made on the setup and improvements to the course in general.
Hickory nut is blessed with brutal par 3's. Three of the par 3's are simply monsters, but fun. Number 3 is the easy one of the bunch, a 135 yard over bunker 3. So easy that I promptly double-bogied it. Number 6 is 185 yards to a slanted green that I 3 putted for a bogey. Number 11 is 220 yards, with water left at the green and trees right. And number 16, is about 180, with every kind of trouble you can have. Water and trees left, sand front, mush-mash left, and trees right, with a kidney shaped green. Very tough. Hickory Nut plays par 71 with only 3 par 5's so you better be a par 4 player.
Today was a day for some good golf. Beef kept things rolling on his game by shooting 39 on the front, even with a missed 2 foot bunny on number one. And Beef turned in a real nice 40 on the back with a double mixed in there too. But Beef scrambled and really saved his round by saving par on at least 5 holes that were really great saves. Including pars on number 8, a long par 5 that he made an impossible shot to get on the green out of the trees, and number 12, with almost the exact same shot.
Joe Red was back from his Canada vacation, and he had the self proclaimed "two week touch." You know, when you haven't touched a club or putter in two weeks and you just don't have the feel you need to play well. Red didn't really play poorly today, he just hasn't played, and his short game let him down, but mostly the putter. He hung in with a 43 on the front. But just getting back in the country yesterday caught up with him on the back, along with a sore back from driving 12 hours, and 3 doubles there led to a 48 to grand out at 91. Not bad for two weeks rust.
Despite my forementioned blunders, I did hit the ball well today. I felt that I managed the course well and shot one of my best rounds in a while, a very tidy 78, going 39/39. My approach today was safey first and keep the ball in front of me, out of trouble, and make smart shots.
Course highlights? In addition to the par 3's, number 1 is a super long par 4, 430 starting hole. Other great par 4's are, number 4, a postition 4, where accuracy is mandatory. Number 13, a skinny down hill 4 to a slanted green, and number 17 a 275 yard scoring hole you can drive if you kill one. Number 18 is also a terrific par 5 dog leg left, with a huge oak tree protecting the green. Beef reached this in two today, not to bad from 530 yards. Birdie, well done.
Hickory Nut is a course on the rise and we are hoping that good things continue to happen there. Much improved and fun to play.
Next week the Dewsweepers head to Cuyahoga Falls for our first ever trip to Brookledge! We tee it up there at 652 AM! We are ready to go!
Scores
Wynn - 78
Beef - 79
Joe Red - 91
Tex - 100+
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