LOCAL GOLF - Sunday Morning Golf Review

This week, The Dewsweepers loaded up and drove out to play an extremely difficult golf course, Grey Hawk in Lorain County. La Grange to be exact.

Grey Hawk is a rather new course that site in rural Lorain county that has about every kind of challenge that a course can have for golfers.   First some full disclosure.   This is not a course for those learning the game.  You must be able to hit the ball well to have any real fun here.  There is tons of water, and sand, some very thin fairways, and challenging and very fast greens.   Also more full disclosure.   This course has been hit very hard by the summer drought, and is not in the usual very nice shape.   The greens were terrific, but much Grey Hawk now is recovering still from a tough summer.

With all that said, we played there for the first time in a few years Sunday.  Grey Hawk can be played from 6,100 yards to about 7,100 yards.   Three sets of tees make it more palatable for certain golfers.   Fantastic clubhouse and staff make playing Grey Hawk a nice experience.

Joe Red got off to a great start on the front, but fell into trouble on  8 and 9.  But that's not unusual here. 7,8, and 9 are a brutal stretch of holes on this course where being able to hit that ball well isn't enough.  You must manage the course wisely. Red also had the same trouble we all did on the par 5's.  None of us really played them well, and that's a difference maker at Grey Hawk.  The 5's are very tough, and not easily scored on.  Red kept the ball in front of him on the front, and putted well, making 4 putts and survived the front in 44.  That did give way to a 46 on the back for 90 on the day.

Tex was ready for a tough day, and joined the rest of us in having one. Although Tex did lead the pack in putting.  Tex's short game and putting are usually his story.  Grey hawk is really tough and many of the shots you must make here are not in  Tex's arsenal.  Tex plays a game of low trajectory and roll, and that's not Grey Hawk design.

Beef was pretty consistent all day long.  Not too many highs or lows.   He struggled where we all did, and had to survive some putting woes on the front to recover on the back. Beef was tough down the stretch by parring the last 3 holes to help on the back. Nice string.  He shaved off 4 strokes from front to the back to shoot a 92 on the day.

I stumbled out of the gate, but got my feet under me on the back to a degree.  All of us completely hacked up number 3, a 325 yard par 4 that has a ton of sand.   Me included. And we all chunked up number 7, which is brutal.   And we all killed number 14.  A par 5 with all kinds of trouble.  I took the dreaded snowman there, which really hurt my back nine.   I shot 44 on the front and 43 on the back, even with that terrible 8, and a double on 12.  But In like Beef, finished strong playing even over the last 4 holes.

Course highlights?   Number 3 is a short 4 but incredibly protected with sand.   7,8, and 9...par 5, and then 4, and 4.  Very difficult stretch.   Number 11, island green with no room for error.  Joe Red hit a reall hice shot about 4 yards left of the green that his a bridfge and went into th drink.   Literally no room for error.

Grey Hawk. Very difficult, but fun.   Looking forward to going back agian next year.

Scores

Wynn  -  87
Joe Red  -  90
Beef  -  92
Tex  -  100+