LOCAL GOLF - Sunday Morning Golf Review

This week The Dewsweeper's Tour kicked off the 2013 season playing a course we did not review last year, Copper Top At Cherokee Hills in Brunswick.   If you haven't been out there in a while, you should put it on your list of "must play" local plays.

I remember a long time ago when this was simply known as Cherokee Hills, right out there on Route 303, just west of the 42/303 junction.  And being honest, it was not very nice. But over the past few years this par 70 course has come a long way in every single regard.  Not only is this great golf, it's a great facility for food, drink and fun.  Most importantly the course has been upgraded immensely and redesigned in some areas and is better than ever.

Even for early in this young season, this course is in great shape.  We had a 7AM tee time, that had to be backed off till 830 because of frost, but after the sun came out, the fairways are in great shape and the greens rolled wonderfully.  At this point it is still cart path only, and that has protected this course greatly in this early season when the growing season has not been very good.

Beef has the week off as he was out of town on business this week, so Joe Red's so Bryan filled in.  It was cold at the beginning and none of us really played the front 9 well, Bryan included.  He was treading water till a bad snowman 8 on the par 4 number 6, 2 handicap, and that hurt as he settled for a 49 on the front. Sad, because he is a far better player than that. Then the sun came out and so did Bryan's game as he tossed down a very nice 42 on the back and could have been much better except the putter let him down on the back, could have been easily a 39. 

Joe Red never really took off for his round, but was playing consistent golf will he took took a bad number on the par 5 number 9.  Joe Red is also going through an equipment change with a new driver that is going to be a real asset when he dials it in.  That is always a learning curve, and now it is causing him some difficulty off the tee.  But Joe Red usually is a good driver, and it will come, as he went 45/45 for a 90.  New driver and cold temps, scores are not going to be great yet for anyone. But when he gets that squared away, he will be in good shape.

Tex is a player that relies on roll off the tee as he hits a low ball, and normally has a strong pitch and run game around the green.  But at this time of the year, wet fairways give no roll off the tee, and pitch and run is tough right now.  Tex hung in there on the front, putting well, but it caught up to him on the back.  But for Tex's game the back is going to play tougher as it is more hilly and with more terrain.  Especially number 10, 11, a5 and 18.

I got off to a horrible start going 8 over in the first 5 holes, including a double after a perfect drive on 1 a short par 4, and a triple on 2 another short par 4.   Then I got it going including back-to-back birdies on 8 and 9.  Good thing, gave me a 42 on the front. On the back, I shot the same but was more steady with no bad numbers and a few pars shooting 84, after a abysmal start, I'll take it.

Course highlights?  Number 3, terrific par 3, played about 175 all over water to a sloped green.  Number 5, long par 4 over a gorge, to an elevated and small green.   Number 9, great par 5, 3 to get there. 10 is a long par 4 to a perched green with no room to miss it.  11, great par 3 all uphill about 150, no room to miss.  15 is a great par 5 small green up then down, wonderful hole. And 16, a short and drivable par 4, if you can carry water at about 240.   There are only 2 par 5's on this course and you better use your head when playing them.  They are not overly long, but real shot makers holes.

This is a wonderful course that makes you make decisions and use all the clubs in your bag.  It is a new day at this course, and is well worth any drive to play it. GPS on electric carts also a very nice touch.  Overall this is a generous driving course, but second shots are the key. If you have a decent to good short game, you will have a leg up at Copper Top.

Scores

Wynn  -  84
Joe Red  -  90
Bryan  -  91
Tex  - 103