Holly Point (WCoD Opposite Field)

[jswift]

Welcome to Holly Point.  Situated on the coast somewhere in the Pacific Northwest this course can give a solid test when the wind is up.  The front nine winds through the sandy dunes inland, with a taste of the coast line on 2 and 3.  The signature hole comes on Number 8, with a dramatic green perched on a peninsula guarded on three sides by the shear cliffs.  The back 9 takes you out on the barren Holly Point and then wanders back around a few coves before the dramatic finish of 16, 17, 18.  There are two sets of tournament tees with the Blues playing 7054 yards and the Whites coming in at 6904, and two front sets Red and Green at 5797 and 6253 yards respectively. 

The design philosophy was to have only the absolutely essential bunkers and use land movements and awkward lies to create the challenge.  There are very few flat lies on the course but there are many helpful mounds to be found.  While the fairways are plenty wide, missing them is very penal due to the very sandy soil and thick rough.

For your first few rounds please play with a SE, E, or NE medium or high wind.  SE is the hardest and NE slightly easier.  Greens are at 173, but can be played faster with some care, and the firmness can also be ramped up to increase difficulties.

Overlooking the 18th green out towards Holly Point.

6 Green with the signature 8th green in the back left

Number 14 - "Alps"

View from the tee on Number 4 - "Sandy Road"

Holly Point routing.  Front nine is on the inland side, 13 "Sea and C" in the foreground along the beach.

[jswift]

Hole 1: "Begginings"

Blue/White: 468 Green: 398 Red: 345

A seemingly straightforward par 4 to get the round started but be careful on the second shot.  Steep banks protect the left half and a deep bunker guards the right side of the green.

Hole 2: "Leven"

Blue: 434 White: 428 Green: 392 Red: 369

Take on the right bunker if you see fit, but be careful as being in it could hamper your birdie chances severely.

Hole 3: "Short"

Blue: 137 White: 131 Green: 126 Red: 121
The shortest hole, but definitely not the easiest.  A large thumbprint in the middle makes your targets for some pins much smaller.  The only bunkerless par 3, but the ocean should be a significant hazard.

Hole 4: "Sandy Road"

Blue: 501 White: 501 Green: 486 Red: 391
Modeled after the famous Road Hole but a large bunker has replaced the hotel.  Go as far left as you feel comfortable but beware a dune awaits if you get too greedy.

Hole 5: "Double Plateau"

Blue: 360 White: 360 Green: 330 Red: 310
The principle lost one of his nostrils when he moved to the coast, but don't let that lull you into a false sense of security.  Make sure to choose the correct side to be on for this green.

Hole 6: "Purgatory"

Blue: 584 White: 573 Green: 559 Red: 559
A well shaped shot is needed to get the ideal line into the long green, just be careful how daring you are!

Hole 7: "Groundhog"

Blue: 225 White: 225 Green: 193 Red: 187
This green is easy enough to hit, but getting close could pose a challenge.  Look to use the mounds on the left to get a good birdie look.

Hole 8: "To the Point"

Blue: 436 White: 362 Green: 362 Red: 323
Use your drive to set up a good angle into this green.  From the Whites you can be very brave and try for the green.

Hole 9: "Lion's Mouth"

Blue: 445 White: 445 Green: 329 Red: 317
Drive back across the valley on this uphill par 4.  Pick the correct side to get access to the pin.  There are some helpful slopes up on the green if you need to use them.

[jswift]

Hole 10: "Down and Up"

Blue: 349 White: 349 Green: 283 Red: 265

With the right wind, a true risk reward hole.  or you can lay up to one of the many options off the tee.  The long green has a big slope from right to left.

Hole 11: "Ridge"

Blue: 169 White: 169 Green: 162 Red: 146

A medium length par 3 that demands accuracy or creative uses of the slopes.

Hole 12: "Hogsback"

Blue: 426 White: 373 Green: 361 Red: 354

The course finally heads back to the cliffs.  This fairway is split by a ridge demanding you pick which half you want to be on to attack the green.

Hole 13: "Sea and See"

Blue: 555 White: 553 Green: 515 Red: 464

A take on the Coore & Creenshaw par 5, with the boundary being the cliffs.  Look to the ground to reach in two with less risk, but careful you don't get hung up on one of the mounds!

Hole 14: "Alps"

Blue: 461 White: 461 Green: 444 Red: 396

A large dune blocks out the green from anywhere but the far right side of the fairway, but be careful, the fairway slopes towards the rough and you could end up with a good view and a terrible lie very easily.

Hole 15: "Camber"

A strongly sloped fairway gives this hole its name.  The green is guarded by a very steep slope short and right.

Hole 16: "Eden"

Blue: 166 White: 180 Green: 172 Red: 150

My take on the St. Andrews classic, but don't try to use your putter here!  A true test of your irons to get it close.

Hole 17: "Last Look"

Blue: 425 White: 413 Green: 340 Red: 324

How much do you want to risk it off the tee?  Answer that, then try to get it close with some big slopes on this green.

Hole 18: "Coming Home"

Blue: 430 White: 430 Green: 364 Red: 351

A principles nose divides this fairway into a high and low side.  Make sure you know where the pin is before teeing off, as the angle makes all the difference to some of the pins.

[reebdoog]

ok so I just gave this one a spin and I have words.

First...the course falters a little bit in the middle and while it ends well I have to say that the coastline sculpting could use a little more nuance but hey, that takes time :-)

What needs to be said though is that you incorporated your bunkers and landscape SO well it really took looking to figure out where everything was sand or not. bravo.

The thing that makes me smile and will bring me back is the opening stretch of holes... dude...those first 7 holes especially are my happy place.

A lot of us try to do natural bumpiness in fairways and it is very difficult to pull off without overdoing it or making it feel slightly random. These holes are sculpted wonderfully and walk the line of natural and intentional so well. (hole 12...not so much...but that's ok)

All that to say that this course looks better while playing than it does in pictures which is rare. The the sightlines (or lack thereof) in those opening holes is fantastic. Great work man. Even in that middle stretch that wasn't QUITE as good I was still having a heck of a lot of fun. REally nice. More please.

[Deleted]

I was not expecting this. I agree with pretty much everything Reeb said. This course shows loads of really well thought out and executed ideas. While there are always areas that are room for improvement, this course is one should be very proud of. Well done man!

[jswift]

reebdoog , first things first, thanks for the play and the comments.

I agree with you on all points, especially the coastline and #12. The coastline I struggled with quite a bit to make it look right. I wanted an imposing and steep look, but probably didn't go about it quite right.

I took a gamble on #12, I probably should have flattened it and done the hogs back a little more subtle and natural looking, but hindsight is 20/20 and all that. The middle (9-12, maybe 13) definitely don't live up to the opening holes.

I really appreciate the comments on the sculpting and landscape. The sand especially in the dunes was really fun to make and I just put it where it felt right. Glad it worked!

I genuinely loved building this course and will probably come back to this style at some point in the future.

[Deleted]

Really enjoyed my round here jswift, and I thought your sculpting was excellent, as well as your planting. I found plenty of challenge on the course because I'm having trouble hitting fairways right now, but that's obviously on me, not you. The areas outside the ropes look amazing! LOL Good luck in the event!

[jswift]

@babybull, I hope I exceeded your expectations!  I am very proud of this.  There is definitely room for improvement and lessons learned.

VctryLnSprts, this course can be quite punishing if you are off the fairway.  0 roll and 0 bounce in the heavy rough is the most penal aspect for sure.  I hope you come back and play it again once you figure out your driver woes.

[cd06]

Looks lovely!

[Deleted]

I definitely will jswift, that wasn't a complaint about the course at all, my driver woes are 100% to blame for my view of your course from the rough and sand. LOL You did a beautiful job here.

[jswift]

Mar 22, 2021 15:04:39 GMT -5 VctryLnSprts said:

I definitely will jswift , that wasn't a complaint about the course at all, my driver woes are 100% to blame for my view of your course from the rough and sand. LOL You did a beautiful job here.

I didn't take it as a complaint at all!  Thank you so much.  There were a lot of hours invested in creating this, I just want people to enjoy it!

[mayday_golf83]

[jswift]

mayday_golf83, thanks for the play through!

[meyo]

Beautiful course Sir, loved the coastal holes..

[rhino4life]

This will kick off the Band of Brother Friday noght on Xbox at 6pm. This course was one of my favorites from the contest and well deserving of a tour spot in the next few weeks. I really enjoyed the routing and the views provided throughout the round. Streamer will be posted here if you care to catch a replay and the live feed will be in the shout box. Well done sir...