LOCAL GOLF - Sunday Golf Thunderbird Hills North

The Sunday Morning Dewsweepers went out and played a real nice public golf course this week. It has been one of our favs over the past few years in Huron, Thunderbird Hills North Course. Beef, Joe Red, Tex, and I were all geeked up and ready to get the 2012 season started off right.

Thunderbird Hills North is part of a two 18 hole complex right on Route 2. The North Course is open all year round, and the South Course which is newer and more modern, does close in the fall. T-bird Hills is very easy to get to, and well worth the drive for many reasons. It's about an hour from Akron/Medina, 45 minutes from Brunswick/Strongsville and about 30 minutes from Cleveland. Your GPS will take you on Route 2 or the Turnpike.

When we played the North this week, we found it in great shape, and very challenging. It is a traditional course. Lot's of trees and rolling hills. The North has no sand traps, but don't let that fool you. The rough is the story here. Most holes have generous driving lanes, but you are penalized for hitting into the rough. Especially in the morning while we are sweeping the dew, the wet rough can be brutal. We found the greens fast and true which was impressive for this time of year. Joe Red proves positive of this, but 1 putting 7 of the first 1o holes.

We have played this course a dozen times or so, and it always seems to go the same way. Generally, the front is the place to make your hay, because the back plays far tougher. My 42 on the front was punctuated by my birdie on the par 4 number 4, and I was feeling pretty good. But my three doubles on the back, and overall getting slapped around gave me, and us all a reality check.

Holes 9 -13 is really the teeth of this course. Hole 10 could possibly be the toughest par 4 we play all year, checking in at number one handicap. Proceeded by number 9 a brutal par 5, 2 handicap where Beefs really nice front 9, took a hit when he got a triple number 9. In a five hole stretch you play 2, 1, 17, 3 ,7 handicaps. Pretty tough. There's your round.

We always seem to hack up the 10th. 440 yards down the hill, up the hill, over water to a raised and turtle backed green. A par 4, in which 5 is a great score. It can kill a round. Ask anyone of us. All of us have taken our turn in the triple bogey barrel here. We always are glad to see that hole go by and hopefully without too much damage to the card. Tex's big number there 8, was a reminder that this can happen there quickly.

Truth be told, T-Bird Hills is always in great shape, and the rates are always fair for the kind of course you're getting. Great people too. The clubhouse on the North Course is great, with a new wine bar called Bar North that is new the past year or so, with good food too. Good hot dogs that are always ready even for the early tee times at the turn. Hot coffee, and good selection of drinks. A real nice patio to sit and watch those come up the 18th fairway with a brew when you're adding them up.

In short, golfers don't mind a little drive for a good golf course, and this one is. Thunderbird Hills North/South. Always is a good time, always is challenging, and always invites us back.

Scores:

Beef - 90
Joe Red - 88
Tex 100
Wynn - 88