Hole 1 - 426 Yards - Posted 11/16/07 - At The Right - View of First Fairway From Tee - Note Ravine

At The Light - View of First Green From 100 Yards

Hello and welcome to a driving tour of Whispering Woods Golf Club.  My name is Top Flight XL-2000 – Super Ti Distance Model and I will be your tour guide.  We will be playing today from the blue tee boxes. 

As I sit perched comfortably atop an extra long lacquered wooden tee ready for launch, I am full of hopeful expectation that I can last for the whole 18 hole round, however in the event I don’t make it, my partner, Top Flight XL-3000 is ready to take over. 

My player, The Raptor, is usually a decent ball striker, unfortunately he has a tendency to get a little loosey goosey, especially on this first hole which has a carry of about 190 yards to land in the fairway and avoid the first of many hazards that exist here at The Woods. 

Here is the windup and contact is made with a Taylor Made Quad R7/425 Driver with the TP shaft.  It’s a solid shot and I am airborne…it looks like I’m going to make it and…yes! I have made it over the ravine and am still alive!  The Raptor will now hop in his gas cart and race down the incline and then chug upwards on Ass Kicking Hill #1 to the landing area. 

Unfortunately, I have settled in some pesky rough to the left of the fairway and still am over 215 yards from the putting surface which is at present over the crest of the hill in front of me.  Due to the thickness of the rough here, the Raptor is pulling out his Taylor #2 Rescue for the next shot, primarily to get in position short of the green, hopefully missing the fairway bunker that is short right about 75 yards from the putting surface and a stand of trees directly across from the bunker in the left rough. 

Here is the swing and I am airborne again, but just barely as the club got tangled in the rough.  I am rolling up the fairway but am tracking a little right and I am starting to bound towards the previously mentioned bunker…phew…just missed it, but I am in the rough and The Raptor will have to grind out his third shot. 

The red colored flagstick is visible in the front right of the green for this approach and The Raptor has chosen an Armour 845s SW for the shot.  Because I am in the rough…again…The Raptor will have to swing a tad harder to avoid the dreaded chili dip.  Oh My God!...he has done it! I am airborne again and have landed safely on the putting surface…unfortunately I have begun to roll towards the back of the putting surface due to it’s firmness and am settling roughly 30 feet above the hole…I am facing a quick downhill putt. 

The Raptor has pulled out his trusty Odyssey 2 Ball Putter with the Saturn Ring Technology upgrade and I can safely tell you that he rarely putts well on this green because he does not practice before he plays.  This is a result of two issues.  First, the practice green is somewhat remote from the pro shop check in point and it is woefully canted to the point where practice is a chore. 

Since Whispering Woods is extremely hilly, The Raptor always takes a driving cart and the trip from the cart path next to the first green to the tee box fronting the second hole is a winding one and the drop in grade is close to 30 feet. 

The blue tee markers at the second tee are generally about 150 yards from the center of a generous green.  The design of the hole contains a number of pitfalls though.  To the left is an extreme drop off, with a large bunker carved into the greenside incline.  Immediately to the left of the bunker lies a mangled wooden area which is the domain of the animal kingdom.  The Raptor has mentioned seeing an impressive buck near this green with at least six points.  Some lucky huntsman will no doubt be plunging an arrow into that poor bastard’s chest soon.  There is no doubt that his days are numbered. 

The right side of the green is dominated by thick juicy rough and a protracted incline that runs from the cart park cull de sac which makes chipping a chore.  Therefore, it’s imperative to play a shot from the tee that finds the green.  Missing short as a result of a miss hit leaves the ball in a downhill lie in heavy rough.  Going left or long puts the ball in the woods and going right finds the ball in trouble as well. 

Today’s pin placement is in the middle of the green close to the left side.  The Raptor has chosen an Armour 845s six iron for this play as he proposes to swing easy and draw me into the flagstick.  It should be noted that balls striking this green tend to bounce left.  The Raptor generally has been successful here and today is no exception as his swing is flawless and I am once again airborne with a gentle draw that is tracking towards to the middle of the green.  Due to the firmness factor, I bounce and roll slightly to the left and settle in the back left quadrant about 20 feet above the hole. 

There is very little chance that I will find pay dirt today as the green speed is up a bit and reading the break is impossible, especially for the Raptor.  The Raptor sees little break in the putt but the !@#$ break is there and I travel right of the hole into tap in range…Awesome…a par three…life is good!  Now comes a short stroll up the previously mentioned incline so that we can cart over to the cull de sac next to the third hole tee box.

Hole 3 - 519 Yards - Posted 11/16/07 - At Right Is Third Green Seen From 100 Yards

The third hole at The Woods is a short, straightforward par 5 that has trouble lurking from tee to green.  The blue tee box is sufficiently elevated to give the golfer some leeway in attempting a quality shot.  The Raptor generally feels very tense on this hole and it transfers to his ball striking capabilities.  Job number 1 is to make solid contact while avoiding the pull hook.  Since there is a water catch basin to the left of center, the tee shot must carry over 175 yards to avoid disaster.  Even if the water is cleared, there is a protracted drop off directly next to the fairway which slopes to a wooded are directly behind the fourth green.  To the right, the golfer is faced with lateral hazards, a wooded area and further down the line a plateau that is out of bounds.  On this plateau are some very well appointed home sites.  Because The Raptor is prone to a draw or duck hook from the tee he has never been on the plateau. 

Today The Raptor is teeing off first due to his bogey-par start on the first two holes and he has once again hit a solid shot with the driver.  I am airborne with a high draw that is traveling parallel with the cart path which stretches from tee to green on the right side of the fairway.  Ouch!...I have hit the cart path and this results in an extra 20 yards of roll out which leaves me in the fairway, about 245 yards from the green. 

Though I am damaged by the cart path, The Raptor is still going to play me.  From this point, The Raptor chooses a Taylor Made #3 Rescue.  His plan here is to hit a controlled draw as far right as possible where my flight will come dangerously close to the overhanging tree line just right of the cart path, with my expected landing point to be roughly 75 yards from the green in the center of the fairway. 

It should be noted that there is an unmarked hazard roughly 150 yards from the green on the right side of the fairway which can easily gobble up a poorly hit shot and there is trouble to the left in the same vicinity with a lateral hazard, some heavy rough and a blind approach to the green.  Therefore, it is again imperative to hit a decent shot here. 

Unfortunately, The Raptor has double crossed on the follow through and I am bounding along the left side of the fairway and am settling on the incline about 110 yards from the green.  This leaves me with a tricky approach since the flagstick is in the back left quadrant of the green and is protected by a sand bunker which guards the front of the green. 

This putting surface is slanted from front to back and balls that hit in the front portion of the green tend to roll out to the back of the green and in most cases end up in the thick rough behind the green. 

The Raptor has chosen his Armor 845s PW for this shot and his intent is to punch the shot so that the ball lands just short of the green and rolls out to the back right quadrant.  The Raptor considers par to be a good score here.  Due to the tight dry condition of the turf, the swing is a little thin and I am landing short of the intended target, fortunately, I am bounding onto the green and in fact am rolling out to the first cut of rough which leaves me with a tricky 30 foot putt…uphill to the hole. 

Hole 4 - 281 Yards - Posted 11/16/07 - At The Left Is Putting Surface As Seen From About 50 Yards 

The cart drive from #3 Green to #4 tee is an exhilarating one as it is downhill all the way and those gas babies can definitely get up to speed.  The fourth is considered by many to be a signature hole at The Woods.  The initial examination begins as the cart makes the turn just past “Little Hope” and the full view of the hole is revealed. 

What the player sees is a McKenzie moment.  Perhaps a little back story would be helpful here.  Alistair McKenzie was a noted golf course architect who designed a handful a classic tracts including Cypress Point in California and Augusta National in Georgia.  When McKenzie considered his layout for Augusta, he immediately recognized the shot values and risk reward characteristics of what is now known as Amen Corner.  It is believed that the juxtaposition of landing areas dissected by Rae’s Creek was arrived at almost instantaneously in McKenzie’s head and the now classic 11^th, 12^th and 13^th holes became reality. 

The same could be said for the 4^th at Whispering Woods.  As I sit perched on a shortened tee I am aware that The Raptor has had very little success with the initial shot on a hole that is less than 300 yards in length and potentially drivable by the big hitter.  In actuality, it is not all that difficult.  The golfer is required to strike a drive to what seems like a generous landing area roughly 175 yards from the tee box.  The Raptor generally uses his Taylor Made R7 3 Metal with Graphite Shaft here in order to get some elevation to his trajectory while guarding against bounding through the landing area.  Also in consideration is the protracted incline right of the landing area that leads to the row of home sites on the bluff overlooking the hole. 

There is little room for error here.  Any shot hit even the least bit off of the target line which is along the cart path that borders the right side of the fairway can end up on the incline to the right which features a heavy uncut fescue.  If the ball is located, the only reasonable shot is to chip onto the fairway in order to play the next shot to the green.  If the golfer double crosses from the tee, he will most assuredly end up in the hazard which stretches from the teeing area all the way down the left side of the hole to the putting surface where it crosses in front of the green and creates a very challenging approach. 

Without complete statistical information, I can safely state that there is a 50% chance that I will not make it through this hole.  Today the weather is outstanding with a bit of wind in the face.  The Raptor is prepared to make his pass, all the while experiencing the following sounds. First, there is a woman walking in the street directly behind him talking loudly on her cell phone.  Second, the home site next to the right side of the tee is blaring 50 Cent out of a radio in the garage.  Third, a large piece of construction equipment is cruising by on it’s way to the project down the road and fourth, the crew working Dr. Vemulapalli’s house just over the hill by the 9^th tee is operating some type of hammer drill. 

With all this going on, The Raptor lashes out and sends me on my way in a high draw that is indeed going to clear the hazard…just barely…and end up in the landing zone…about 80 yards from the green!  What a feeling!...I’m still alive!  However, the next shot is going to be a real challenge. 

For starters, the turf is soft from some overnight rain and in addition, I am setting on a slight downhill lie which can be problematic.  The Flagstick is located precariously in the front right quadrant of the putting surface and it almost appears to be in the hazard that fronts the whole putting surface.  It should be noted that the green is narrow…like 10 yards wide and if The Raptor is successfully able to strike me just right with his Wilson R-90 sand iron, he still has to face the possibility that I will end up over the putting surface in very thick wet rough or worse...a protracted incline that reaches up…up…up to the 3^rd fairway above us. 

It’s not uncommon to blow this shot any which way.  Chili Dip into the hazard…skull over the green…shank dead right…The Raptor has seen and done it all.  However, as of late, The Raptor has seen some light at the end of a long tunnel and has managed to convert successfully about 75% of the time.  Unfortunately, today turns into disappointment as The Raptor hits me thinly and I rocket past the flagstick, bounce hard and settle into the thick rough that is adjacent to the putting surface.  While I am still alive, my chance a par is reduced. 

The next shot is again played with the R-90 and the Raptor digs me out of the grass and I land near the flag and roll out to the rough near the hazard.  Taking no chances, The Raptor putts me from off the green as I am less than 20 feet from the flagstick.  I roll close to the hole and have settled into tap-in range…Bogey…now 3 over par for four holes.  This is not good since the holes are not going to get any easier down the line.

Hole 5 - 281 Yards - Posted 11/16/07 - At The Right Is View Of Protracted Incline That Leads To Homes On The Top Of The Incline

In order to traverse to the 5^th tee the golfer pushes his Gas Cart to the limit as it chugs up Ass Kicking Hill #2.  Periodically, a couple of locals can be found here offering my brother balls for sale at reasonable prices.  In addition, the youthful entrepreneurs generally offer a continuing stream of conversation which can distract the golfer with Rabbit Ears. 

The Raptor has learned the subtle variables on this hole and uses the Taylor R7 3 Metal off the tee.  Reduced to hitting last as a result of bogey on the previous hole, The Raptor has already seen three different ball flights.  The first, by Pro V1, was struck by an aggressive player using his driver.  Unfortunately, Pro V1 was poorly struck and hooked left and has settled into a sand bunker that is roughly 75 yards from the putting surface.  The next play, by Slazenger Raw Distance is also played by the Driver and is well struck and tracking straight out towards the opposing sand bunker, which is located right of the fairway.  Fortunately, Slaz is in play but, in some rough which surrounds the bunker.  The third play by a Dunlop LOCO (which is crazy long), is struck by a rescue club in hopes of avoiding trouble.  However, trouble is found as the LOCO goes crazy right and has settled to the right of the cart path on a protracted incline that leads up to a bluff featuring several very large brick structures inhabited by Erie’s noveu rich. 

Hole 6 - Posted 11/16/07 - 183 Yards

No Photo Availabe

Trudging over to the cart, The Raptor…now very agitated, makes the short drive up Ass-Kicking Hill #3 towards the sixth tee box.  The sixth is a moderate length par three that plays to a distance on the card of about 180 to 185 yards.  The putting surface on this hole is unique as it cants away from the tee box.  This tends to flood balls that hit the green to the back, invariably in the thick rough.  To the left of the green is a sand bunker and to the left of the bunker is another protracted incline down to the wooded area below. 

There is also a sand bunker to the right of the putting surface and another protracted incline that rolls up towards the seventh tee.  Missing right here leads to out of bounds or alternatively an outhouse.  Let’s face it, hitting this green in regulation doesn’t guarantee a par, especially if the ball ends up over 75 feet away from the flagstick. 

Regardless of the conditions, The Raptor generally hits 4 iron here and has very little success finding the green.  More often than not, he ends up in the right sand bunker.  The Raptor has failed to compose himself from the previous hole meltdown and makes a less than adequate pass at an 845s 4 iron.  The miss hit is sending me sailing right of the right bunker.  As I bound off the incline, I travel around the bunker and roll out through the rough behind the green.  The flag is in the front portion of the green and The Raptor will be forced to chip…again. 

Hole 7 - 513 Yards - Posted 11/16/07 - At The Left Is Seventh Green From 125 Yards

Once finished with the sixth, The Raptor has to climb the incline to the seventh tee.  The seventh is a unique par 5 with all sorts of interesting features.  The right side is dominated by out of bounds, while the left is a tangled forest of vines, trees and rocky fill.  The fairway is generous with a landing area approaching 40 yards. 

However, due to the sweep of terrain from right to left, tee shots that find the middle of the fairway tend to bound to the left and can end up in some dense roughage that makes for a challenging second shot. 

If the golfer is lackadaisical, a poorly hit dive can easily fade right and strike the cart path on its way to OB.  To add insult, there is a fairway bunker located in the middle of the landing zone that can collect a well struck but poorly aligned tee shot.  This bunker also comes into play when a tee ball struck left then requires a lateral in order to get back in play. 

Even if the tee ball is perfectly positioned, short hitters will f ace a blindish second play with all sorts of peril.  Since the routing of the hole is doglegged to the left, any shot hit even the slightest bit right will be amongst the sparse grouping of trees that reside about 150 yards from the green. 

The fairway is severely pinched at this point by a menacing wetlands area that is marked as a lateral water hazard.  Since the routing of the hole inclines from right to left, even perfectly placed second shots can take a sharp leftward vector into the hazard. 

It is important to note that in this section of the course, there a several attractive home sites that lend a dynamic flavor to the experience due to the interaction with folksy folks, menacing poochies, and the squeals of joy coming from kids splashing about in their in-the-ground swimming pools. 

As The Raptor tees me up, there is a real chance that I will be lost…again.  However, as of late he has been very reliable with the Taylor Made R7 and today is no exception as I am launched into the air with authority on a perfect path, drawing to the left portion of the fairway about 240 yards from the tee. 

It is with difficulty then, that The Raptor approaches this next play and today being like any other day, he hacks at a Taylor Made 3 Rescue and angles me towards the 150 yard marker.  Trying to avoid the left, I am flying straight at the tree line and manage to strike one of the trunks straight on which stops my forward progress from going OB but leaving me in some composite soil/ground wooden pulp material which renders my next shot problematic. 

Faced with trees and the hazardous wetlands to the left, The Raptor punches me into the clear with an Armour 845s five iron and I proceed to bound towards the putting surface and settle in some rough just right of the green. 

Hole 8 - 422 Yards - Posted 11/16/07 - At The Right Is Eighth Green From 75 Yards - Note Marshy Wetlands Fronting Putting Surface

Now thoroughly pissed off, The Raptor trudges up yet another incline from greenside to cart path to make the drive to the eight tee box.  The walking golfer would be facing a hearty trek of about 175 yards, but with the gas cart the journey lasts but a few seconds.  The driver should be aware at this point for speeding autos as he prepares to cross Stone Creek Drive. 

The experience of going from dense woods to civilization in 10 seconds is always exhilarating. As the cart blasts into the open, making the rolling stop at Stone Creek, the home sites dominating this section of the course are impressive.  Even the tee box is enveloped with the evidence of subdivision life in the form of swings, patios, kid’s toys, flower gardens and the ever present pedestrians with their dogs and cell phones. 

Reaching the tee box allows the golfer to breathe deeply and enjoy the downward sweep of the eighth fairway as it rolls into nothingness all the while soaking up the backdrop of home sites and trees that fill the canvas with color and definition. 

The tee shot here is difficult for the average golfer who can become dazed by all of the clutter here.  To the left are dense woods while the right is dominated by the ubiquitous tall trees that inhabit this terrain.  Visible through this stand are previously mentioned lovely homes.  The driving area is generous however with an open space of approximately 50 to 60 yards of plush fairway. 

A well struck drive will bound down the fairway and if properly placed, will continue to pitch leftward, leaving the big hitter with about 150 yards to the putting surface, which is partially hidden in the hollow at the end of the line.  An absolutely perfect drive will transition even further and reach nirvana in the form a second landing area that leaves the player with about 125 yards to the putting surface.  At this juncture, the player can actually “see” the putting surface. 

The hole also features a deep bowl shaped drainage pond to the right of this second landing area which collects the balls of many players who can’t muster a draw (if right handed).  Fortunately, The Raptor, no longer capable of the big hit, has yet to get into Dutch from the black and blue tee box.  However, the white tee puts this pond right in The Raptor’s sights. 

As is normally the case, The Raptor swings easy here and makes every effort to hit a controlled drive that will place him in the left quadrant of the initial landing area, just short of the transition to the second landing area.  Winding up, I am whacked with the Taylor Made R7 in a low draw that rolls out to a point roughly 180 yards to the putting surface.  From here, The Raptor chooses an Armour 845s nine iron a hits a reserved Punch and Judy shot that lands in the second landing area at about 120 yards from the putting surface and rolls out to the edge of the landing area which is 100 yards from the putting surface.  It is critical here to achieve several goals.  First, The Raptor must avoid hitting a safe punch shot into the sand bunker which dominates the right quadrant of the landing area.  Second, if possible it is helpful to roll through the fairway, into the rough to avoid the tight, soaking wet turf in the fairway.  This area lends it self to the chili dip shot which can ruin the strategy of the lay up. 

It should be noted that the primary goal of the lay up is to avoid the abrupt end of play on this hole due to a lost ball.  Those individuals who go for the heroic approach to this putting surface are faced with numerous obstacles designed to muss you up.  The putting surface is postage stamp in nature and very firm.  Therefore a well struck approach will strike the putting surface on a glancing blow and bound over the green, into heavy lush roughage.  If the ball is coming in real low and real hot, it can bound even further into the creek bed that is beyond the cart path and float away into ball oblivion. 

A poorly hit shot will dive into a swampy hazard that dominates the front of the putting surface.  To add insult, if the player manages to hit the approach just far enough to clear the hazard, but not strong enough to reach the putting surface, the ball will impact the incline from hazard to putting surface and roll backwards…into the hazard.  If the aggressive player has lateral tendencies, the results can prove disastrous since missing left or right of the putting surface leaves the ball in the trees. 

The drive from the 8^th green to the nine tee box is always rewarding.  As the player leaves the putting surface, he carefully walks down a protracted incline that is adjacent to the creek bed behind the green.  The creek is solitary in a way and provides a peaceful interlude before the player heads up the long incline to the 9^th tee box. 

The arrival at the tee is not unlike climbing Mt Everest with the tee area looming over the just completed eighth.  What the golfer sees is a dichotomy of visuals including the sprawling fairway situated over yet another ravine, the ultra fabulous home belonging to the Dr’s Vemulapalli, the ribbon like cart path stretching away into the distance and the 18^th tee, perched slightly higher than the 9^th with it’s associated wind-blown fescue grass. 

The tee box stretches almost 50 yards from front to back which alters the nature of the upcoming drive dramatically.  The problem…there is little room for error here.  A poorly struck drive will dive helplessly into the gorse filled ravine.  A drive struck with a glancing blow right could sail out-of-bounds into the berry patch behind the Vemulapalli’s home and  the alternative, a mild draw or wild duck hook will end up in “Little Hope” Ravine, which splits the 9^th and 18^th fairways. 

Because the hole slopes upward from the tee, it is imperative to construct a high flying drive.  Any ball stuck on a low rope will suffer from a lack of roll and leave the player almost 180 yards from the putting surface which will be obscured by the stand of trees to the left of the putting surface.  The actual length of the hole from the blue tee box is “only” 354 yards, however the hole has the feel of a par 4 of over 400 yards. 

On the best of days, when the fairway has been fast and firm, The Raptor’s tee balls have been ending up in the 125 to 150 yard from green quadrant.  On the worst, he generally has a long iron shot of over 175 yards.

Perhaps feeling pumped up from the par on the previous hole which The Raptor would regard as a birdie, he is confident of a solid drive today and makes a perfect pass which sends me flying on a gentle draw path where I end up at the 155 yard mark, staring directly at the flagstick which is located in the middle left guardant of the putting surface. 

This green is a devil and that is for sure.  It is huge and inviting as it sits a top the knoll.  Protected all around by sand, the approach becomes a challenge.  From this distance, the Raptor has learned to over club and has selected an Armour 845s 5 iron for this shot.  The trick is to insure a smooth pass while concentrating on the point that the ball will impact the putting surface. 

A poorly struck shot will stick into the false front, while the flyer will strike the putting surface on a glancing blow and end up in thick rough behind the green.  A miss to the right can end up in a yawning sand bunker or worse, out-of-bounds, while a miss hit to the left will land in another challenging sand bunker. 

Again, The Raptor makes a creditable pass and as I am hurtling towards the putting surface in a low draw I am feeling the love and land in the rough which adjoins the false front.  This causes a deadening effect and also vectors me towards the flagstick.  As I begin the ride up the false front, I can sense that I am going to end up very close to the hole and eventually I roll past the hole and am in the make range about 10 feet from pay dirt. 

The putt is tricky, with a right to left break and lots of speed.  In order to soften the blow, The Raptor toes the SRT and imparts a delicate blow which gives me perfect pace.  I take the break perfectly and roll into the center of the cup for a birdie three!...Wow!…Awesome finish!...There is nothing finer that closing out with a bird!  This leaves me with a 6 over par 42 on the card, but more importantly, a 4 over score in the mind of The Raptor. 

A quick post mortem of the front nine shows five solid tee balls and 2 Greens In Regulation which is acceptable and is about right for a chance to break 85 on this difficult track.