What was I thinking?  The weather had taken a turn for the better and I really wanted to see WWGC up close.  The Raptor had taken a driving cart tour of the facility on a sunny but very chilly day around New Years and was not able to formulate real impression of the course and it's surroundings.

So a couple of Saturdays ago, I convinced my daughter to join my for a nine hole stroll of the front nine.  Then, the following week, I planned to walk the back nine.

WWGC Host Pro, Rich Rocky was kind enough to print me a scorecard, which has been very helpful in getting a feel for the course.  The Raptor would like to point out that WWGC is very hilly and the card may not adequately give that impression.

The first hole, at 445/426 yards from the back tees is a daunting hole,  The drive must carry a 10,000 foot deep crevasse (in the spirit of "Caddyshack") in order to find green grass in a landing area that is roughly 175 yards from the black tee.  The second shot steers right slightly to a green protected by bunkers.  In addition there is a large bunker roughly 50 yards from the green on the right that will surely collect its far share of poorly hit 3 wood approach shots as this is the club most players will use.  This is a challenging start made more difficult by a mountain of a hill stretching from the base of the crevasse to the pinnacle.  I was so wrecked after climbing it that I had to take a 5 minute break amidst considerable laughter from my kid who was literally rolling on the ground, laughing.

The second is a relatively flat par 3 with a smallish humpy green.  Meanwhile, the third is a challenging, narrow par 5, which is relatively straight and flat.  At 519/502 it is the kind of hole that will be reachable for the big hitters.  However, any shots hit left will be dead as there is a stand of trees and a meandering creek below the tree line there that ties into the 4th hole.

If the player is walking the course, he will take a spirited hike of about 125 yards from the 3rd green to the 4th tee.  Fortunately, it is a downhill walk.  The fourth is going to create a buzz at 294/271 flat yards.  There is big trouble all the way down the left side in the form of the previously mentioned creek that will eat up a lot of duck hooks.  If the golfer goes for the green from the tee, the landing area is protected by water almost all around the putting surface.  

After finishing the 4th, the player will embark on another romp of about 100 yards up a steeeep hill to the 5th tee.  This is another back breaker which will kick the crap out of even the most healthy of us, especially if you plan on lugging a golf bag.  The fifth is a straight away 307/281 yard par 4 that provides a breather.  However there is trouble to the left and right of the landing area which will make the tee shot critical.  Most players are bound to use a fairway club here for accuracy.

The 6th hole a par 3 at 191/183 will present some challenge and will require a skillful iron shot in order to score well.  There is little room for error here.  The same holds true for the par 5, 7th hole.  At 537/513, it will be difficult to reach in two shots as it is slightly uphill and there is trouble to the left and more than likely OB to the right.  

After a walk of about 100 yards from the green to the 8th tee, the golfer is faced with what will surely be considered two of the most difficult finishing holes in the Erie area and were only talking the front nine.  The 8th is a dynamic downhill brute of a par 4 at 436/422 with little room for error off the tee as there is a menacing water collection area that is definitely in the landing area for tee balls hit right.  The green is very small and is nestled in a hollow that is protected all around by creek and woods.   Par will be difficult if not rare here.

After finishing the 8th, the walking golfer will be faced with a ass kicking mountain of a hill that seems never ending as it basically goes up up up from the bridge across the creek near the 8th green.  First, the champions among us will have to huff and puff to get to the black and blue tee boxes which are at 376/354 yards from the green.  This is a challenging right to left hole with little room for error.  After a well placed drive, the player will then retrace steps back to the cart path in order to climb hill number two which is as much of a killer as the mountain from the 4th green to the 5th tee.

It would be the Raptor's opinion that a score or 40 on the front nine would be really good.

Though winded, the intrepid golfer will take a short break to collect some fluids and perhaps a delicious tidbit from the multipurpose, proshop/snackatorium, then, its on to the real hike.

First, the walking golfer will trek about 250 yards to the 10th tee.  Then a double take will occur as the player notes that the 10th is a ballsy 482/451 yard par 4.  As I walked this hole, I was thinking that it was a par 5.  It is the second in a series of challenging starting holes. While less hilly that the first hole it is nonetheless hilly and a par 4 will be a true reward.  

The walking golfer then faces a downhill hike from the green to the 11th tee of about 100 yards.  This my friends is a real McCoy hill which will be difficult to traverse with bag on shoulder but virtually impossible with a motorized or push type trolley.  It has me scared that I will tumble down the grade and end up in the ditch.

The 11th is a ho-hum par 3 with no bunkers but a large putting surface.  Of particular note is the lengthy 50 yard uphill walk the player faces to get to the 185/165 yard rear tee boxes.  Once finished with the 11th, the player faces another spirited walk up a back breaking hill to the 12th tee, the golfer is faced with a series of holes so unusual and challenging that tears will eventually fall.  At the 12th, the well struck drive will need to carry at least 175 yards to see some fairway from the tee box which is elevated and back a ways at 525/512 yards.  Due to a tremendous ubiquitous swamp/ravine that is roughly 325 yards from the tee area, the go-no go decider will more than likely lay up and then have to bomb a fairway club or long iron from a downhill lie to the green which is perched atop a rise.  The walking golfer can trundle up the rise, catch breath, make bogey and laugh about it. 

After a short walk of 30 yards to the 13th tee, which at 365/351 seems shortish, the walking golfer will see a hole that drops straight down from the tee and then rises to the green through the previously mentioned swamp/ravine, which is up another hill.  Suck it up!, there's more to come.

The gently rolling 14th hole, a par 3 at 189/180 provides a little respite prior to tackling the brutish 561/533 yard par 5 15th.  This hole is a replica of the 12th as it takes the same direction and contains another swamp/ravine with a tough to negotiate lay up or go for it second shot.  After walking yet anther kick ass hill the player can limp onto the putting surface, make bogey and cry.

After a short walk to the 16th tee , the payer notes a yardage of 314/296 which is totally unfathomable since the tee ball will traverse another swamp/ravine.  Then the player will catch breath and launch a short iron to a green perched atop a table with a back breaking hill to boot.   The final two holes replicate the front nine's finish as they are a downhill/uphill combo, with some noticeable differences. 

The 17th has it's tee box in a hollow at 405/389 yards from the green and requires a precise placement of the drive.  The well struck shot will fly over a swamp/ravine and end up on a rise between fairway bunkers.  The approach to the green which is at the bottom of the rise is somewhat blind.  In addition, the right side is protected by a fabulous creek bed with much visual impact.   After marking down the more-than-likely bogey or perhaps just as likely triple bogey, the walking golfer will be faced with a hill so severe, that it could produce health risks.

The walk from 17th green to 18th tee is conservatively estimated at 175 yards but it is straight up a ass kicking hill.  Once at the "top" with a tee box that is 427/402 yards from the green, the walking golfer will rest long enough so that he can then nail a big draw that more than likely will be stone dead forever.  Even the best drives will still be over 200 yards from the green.  Unfortunately, since the hole winds counterclockwise and goes uphill, the putting surface will be obscured for many players by trees and bunkering and a huge drop from the fairway to a ravine that traverses the left side of the hole.  A par here would be welcome indeed but virtually non-existent

The Raptor can not see himself scoring much better than 42 on this nine.  Even from the forward tees.  This is a very challenging golf course and will require patience and solid course management to score well.  Walking will be very difficult.  The Raptor is going to attempt some walking rounds but will probably limit it to nine holes only. An 18 hole hike is going to be virtually impossible.  

After reviewing the scorecard provided by PGA Pro Rich Rocky, The Raptor would like to make the following recommendations.  First, the handicap values traditionally are odd on the front and even on the back.  Therefore a switch is in order.  In addition, based solely on my initial walking tour, I might mark the card as:

 The Raptor hopes you find this walking tour of WWGC helpful.  The Raptor's recommendation is ride a cart, you will feel better and play better.