Played with Alex late August. First time for the renovated Jay Blasi designed championship 18. All the good boxes checked for a great day of play.
Those familiar with the old nines on the north side of the property will notice some redirected holes, a couple new ones and a few you'll recall for the most part with new contours.
We played in near perfect weather conditions with little to no wind and mild sunny temperatures. I think with a club or two prevailing wind the course will be better protected.
Big expansive tee boxes with the back tees some 50 - 60 yards or more. The same grasses from tee to green and no rough of any length. Santa Ana bermuda is the tight lie grass type and it offers a great links style surface to play the close to the ground game.
Prestige bentgrass greens quick and firm also. Large offering many pin placement options.
Just a few trees on the course in play and only a couple water hazards.
Should be a great match play course and the meaningful distance difference of the tee markers would help even up index differences in my opinion.
Parred the long par 3 5th, shaping the driver R to L onto the large green 2 putt.
The 13th green, 14th tee, 17th green, and 18th tee are in close proximity to each other and are a bit congested in that area the first time through to figure it out.
Overall I feel it's an improvement to have the 18 holes and Ridge 9 par 34 (7-4's/ 2-3's) separated. the ridge 9 is a combo of old merlot and chardonnay with two new greens.
At NCGA rate good value and it's walk able. I'll be back.