Marsh Ridge

With a name like Marsh Ridge you would expect marshes and ridges. You could be wrong, but you're not. You will see a lot of both on this course. This may be the tightest course in the Mecca. Your shots off the tee better be close to where you wanted them to go. That's the ridge part of Marsh Ridge. You also had better be able to get 150 to 175 yards of carry with your ball. That's the marsh part of Marsh Ridge.

They do give the women a break on some but not all of the holes that demand carry.

Marsh Ridge is a course that you may be wise to leave "Big Bertha" in the bag and choose a club that you have a good idea where the ball will end up. This is a skill more than power course. Its up and down ridges and over marshes and has some of the longest wooden bridges that you will see on a golf course.

Par 3, 10th Hole

This is a par 71 course so that leaves you with five par threes. One plays 119 yards (white) that seems straight down so club selection is a real challenge. One plays 130 yards straight up to a green you won't see until you drive up to it, so club selection is a challenge here also. The other three range in length from 140 yards to 160 yards so club selection will be no problem here, just your nerve. You are looking at almost all carry over marsh ( as in, don't bother looking for the ball if you don't make it) to large greens that have very little room for mistake around them.

These are the types of holes you can't wait to play although they tend to eat golf balls. "I'm gonna hit another one" type of hole. Now you've lost two balls, but wait till next time.

You can use the long stick on the three par fives as they have nice landing areas. You only have to deal with a gully in front of one of the holes (blue) that looks worse than it is. Two of the holes you can reach in two with a little luck and a good drive. The third is long, (564 yds), very pretty and lets you see what the pros have to contend with. If you birdie this hole, look for a feather to stick in you cap.

The par fours are not all that long, but (always a but ) you will have a wide variety of challenges to deal with. You will hit over and down ridges, over water and marshes. You will see dog legs and a few "dog goners". You will face a different kind of challenge on every hole, and never forget the trees. Use you head and not your ego off the tee and you stand a good chance of taming these holes.

Marsh Ridge will present you with as many different type of shots as you will find on any golf course.

As you set on the deck having a cool drink and watching other golfers approaching, you will have lots of holes to discuss, and how you will play them the next time. If you like a challenge, you will like this course. This course is not long, just tight, so the blue tees is a good choice for the low handicapper. As a bonus, you will find more balls than you lose. You are not the only one that has trouble with tight courses. By the way, if you find any Titleist with no marks on them, there mine so please send them to me. They must have fell out of my bag. Ken

Par 5, 18th Hole

For More Information Visit the Marsh Ridge Home Page

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