Old Town's changes are incredible. The course was already a lot of fun to play and a great challenge, but the changes they made were both practical and aesthetic. I think all in all they added nine bunkers, but the best part was going back to a little bit of an older design (more along the Maxwell plan) and reshaping/redesigning all the bunkers. They combined some bunkers, extended some bunkers, and really changed the way a few holes play.
Played from the blues (fourth set of five tees) on Wednesday since it was the first time I'd played in about three months (only the second time in a year). Started off a little rough at +4 through four holes, but ended up righting the ship and going 40-40 for an 80. I was pretty happy with the way I played but I played the two par fives in +4. Doubling number four is pretty bad since it's a straightforward par 5, but I put my second shot in the trees when I was laying up and then three putted from 35 feet. I had forgotten how quick OTC's greens get in the summer. Easily rolling an 11, maybe up to a 12 or a 13 by the end of the day when the greens were a little more baked out.
The changes to 8 and 17 are fantastic. The greens have always been connected, but the new green is just absolutely massive. The 8th really needed some changes because it was just too easy - a very straightforward par 4. They added a couple bunkers between the two holes right where guys land it, and yesterday I hit it over there and was three inches from the lip, had no choice but to blast out.
Played from the tips yesterday to see how much longer the course actually played. It's up to 7,037 yards now which feels like a beast for a par 70. The front side plays substantially longer from the blacks than the blues. A few tees are from the some area, but the 5th hole has the tees probably 30 yards farther back making it more difficult to cut the dogleg...it probably requires about a 230 carry to get it to the flat area 115-120 yards from the green. Doofus drove it into a new bunker from the blacks which was probably about a 255 yard carry and had no option but to blast out as well.
The maintenance to the trees and rough has been fantastic as they took down a few trees and trimmed the limbs so that angles were better. The par 5 17th was also extended an extra 30 yards and now plays 630 from the tips. It's about a 225-230 yard carry just to get over the creek. I hit about a 240 yard drive, hit a bad three wood off the bottom for my second shot, and had 240 yards in over a creek, laid up and then put it on the green to two-putt for a bogey.
Went out in 42 on the front side and was four over through four again, but shot a 37 on the back to come in with a 79 even with a double bogey on 12 after losing my tee shot. I was pretty happy with the round.
The course is just fantastic now. I can't wait for the new slope and ratings calculation, I would suspect it's going to be ridiculous from the tips.
