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The
Natural at
Beaver Creek
Resort
The
Natural is part
of the Gaylord
Golf Mecca and
this course is
one of the
reasons that
Gaylord is one
of the premier
golf
destinations in
the Midwest.
The Natural is
not a "Grip it
and rip it"
course you find
so often these
days. This is a
course you had
better be
thinking about
club selection.
If you stop and
think about
your favorite
hole on the
course you
play, it
probably will
be a hole that
makes you use
your head and
skill more so
than just your
driver and
irons. This
course will
give you many
holes like
that. You are
far better off
using your
head.
Jerry Matthews
designed this
course in the
rolling hills
and wetlands
that surround
Otsego Lake and
they named it
the Natural for
a very good
reason. Your
odds of seeing
a deer may be
better than
seeing a
"birdie" here.
This is not a
long course, a
little over
6000 yds from
the blues, but
between the
tight tree
lined fairways,
doglegs. and
marshes you may
wish it were
shorter. Yes,
there are holes
you can pull
out the driver
and let it rip,
but choose your
spot and be
accurate. More
often, a
shorter more
controllable
club will save
you a ball or
two.
The fairways on
this course are
not all that
narrower than
those you will
find on most
courses, it's
just that you
either have
fairway or
woods. Here,
missing the
fairway or
narrow rough,
is probably
lost ball. Of
course you will
have some
doglegs to
contend with.
These demand
that you get
your ball into
the right area
to have a shot
at the green.
Some will only
take a mid-iron
to get you into
position. Since
it is rolling
terrain you may
have different
lies than you
are accustom to
-- another test
of your
ability. Of
course you have
strategically
placed sand
traps to grab
the off line
shot. All these
nagging little
problems and
yet you still
marvel at the
beauty of each
hole. Another
bonus here is
you seldom see
any other
holes. The hole
your playing is
your own little
playground..
Marshes or
water could
come into play
on about six of
the holes. On
three of those
you will have
to make the
decision on
whether to lay
up or go for
it. The other
three you can
play around the
edges. The very
first hole will
get you
thinking about
club selection.
It's also the
first time the
wrong decision
will have you
digging out a
new ball.
The greens are
rather large
and should give
you no trouble
putting. A
little joke
there! Show me
a green that
you can't have
trouble
putting. Large
greens mean
long putts. The
greens are well
guarded with
bunkers and are
slightly
rolling so no
putt is a sure
thing. They are
in good shape
so that leaves
us with no
excuse when we
miss a putt. Of
course we
always have
one.
They give the
women a very
good break on
this course
with the
placement of
the women's
tees. An
example is the
first hole, a
par five, The
blues play to
545 yds and the
reds at 390.
Every hole give
the women a
head start, and
in a lot of
cases it will
take them out
of the trouble
the men have to
deal with. My
wife loves this
course. Except
for about three
of the holes
that takes a
good hit for
her to clear
the marsh. In
most cases a
little off line
shot of hers
won't make the
woods. The same
off line shot
of mine would
have me looking
for a new
ball.
I had just
bought a new
set of iron's a
couple of days
before I played
this course, so
to use them
more and to
give my wife a
better shot at
beating me, I
used all irons
on the back
nine. I shot
three strokes
better than I
did on the
front. AND I
didn't lose any
balls. There is
something to be
said about
short and down
the middle.
This is a very
scenic course
you will enjoy
playing.
Because of the
way each hole
is laid out you
will think you
have the course
almost to
yourself. You
will probably
use most of the
clubs in your
bag. If you are
playing with
your wife you
may be first to
hit even after
you had a nice
drive.
After the round
and you are
setting in the
club house
enjoying your
favorite drink,
you may talk
about the next
time you play
the course you
will leave the
driver in the
car. Of course
you won't, but
ownership of a
golf ball is
just a
temporary thing
anyway.
Give this one a
try, you'll
like it; and
bring your
wife, she'll
love
it.
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