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September of 2002 marked a somber anniversary for all Americans, as we remembered and commemorated the victims of the attacks of September 11th. As President Bush has reminded us, one way we honor the memories of those who died is by continuing to live and work and travel and in general refuse to allow the enemies of freedom to control our destinies.
Therefore, it is with both pride and sorrow that we announce the opening this September of the two latest golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones II: Rock Barn, in Conover, North Carolina, opened on September 13th, the 214th course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.'s design firm; two weeks later, The Marshes Courses at Kanata Research Park in Ottowa, Ontario, Canada, held its Grand Opening, bringing the total of RTJII courses around the world to 215.
Each of these 18 hole courses has a special place in our hearts. They are beautiful and inviting landscapes that we hope and expect will provide joy and challenge to golfers who have the opportunity to play them.
We trust you will enjoy the hole-by-hole descriptions of our new courses.
Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s latest 18-hole course, at Rock Barn Golf and Country Club,. is the first course designed by the renowned Master Architect in the Carolinas. Carved out of mature hardwood forest and routed over rolling terrain, the course blends seamlessly with its environment. Lyle Creek traverses the property and comes into play on six of the eighteen holes. Coupled with numerous lakes and a multitude of sand bunkers throughout the course, Rock Barn will provide players of all skill levels with a strategic and challenging golf experience.
Mr. Jones' has provided the following guide to help orient players to his wonderful new course.
Hole #1
The view from the tee on this opening hole shows a straightforward challenge, with all the potential pitfalls readily apparent. However, pick your path wisely. A tee shot over the carry bunker on the left will be rewarded with an unobstructed middle iron shot to the green. A drive to the right will surely find the deep fairway hollow . Your long iron approach from this angle is over bunkers guarding a deep green. Don't miss right or bogey is guaranteed.
Hole #2
The longest hole on the course comes early in the round, and places a premium on both accuracy and length off the tee. This classic dogleg left offers a short route to the green for anyone willing to challenge the bunkers along the left side of the fairway. A safer play to the right yields a much longer approach shot. The hole drops dramatically beyond the landing area before rising to a plateaued green. Hitting this green in regulation is a must or par is certainly in jeopardy.
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Photo: David Crosby |
Hole #3
This par-3 hole combines beauty with a demand for precision off the tee. The green perches on the banks of Lyle Creek, while the tees are set on a ridge high above the water's surface. Small pot bunkers left and right guard the large teardrop-shaped green from every angle. The steep hillside to the right of green will provide some relief to those wary of the creek looming on the left., An "up and down par" will be easier said than done.
Hole #4
The first of many water hazards comes into play on this double dogleg par-5. Stretching along Lyle Creek, whose lazy water courses around the 1st landing area in the shape of a horseshoe and looms on both sides of the landing area, this hole invites a tee shot to. The left side of the fairway to set up the best angle for the second shot. Big hitters may want to go for this green in two, but with the creek looming along the left side and bunkers tight to the landing area, accuracy is a must. The large, gently contoured green is guarded on the left by water that must be carried by anyone going for broke.
Hole #5
With water left and trees right, this short par-4 demands accuracy more than power. A precise tee shot shaped around a central fairway bunker achieves the optimum approach angle from the right center portion of the fairway. However, too far right will find your ball positioned behind a majestic Beech tree guarding the right edge of the green. Play for position up the left side to guarantee a wide-open short iron to the green.
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Photo: David Crosby |
Hole #6
Both the drive and approach shots on this long par four must carry over Lyle Creek. Long and left off the tee to a wide, slightly elevated fairway will give a full view of the deep green perched above Lyle Creek. Natural rock outcroppings set against the hillside along the right at the landing area tell the golfer that left is best off the tee. Should you find yourself along the right edge, accept a bogey as the wise move.
Hole #7
The shortest of the par fives will yield its share of birdies. After the demands of the first six holes, players will appreciate an opportunity for par or better. At a little over 500 yards, and all uphill, #7 won't go down without a fight, but if you manage to avoid the deep fairway bunker off the tee, birdie could be on your card.
Hole #8
This short downhill hole will tempt long hitters to go for the green off the tee. Even though it is only 330 yards, the hole culminates at a small green fronted by water, requiring a precise carry of over 300 yards to find dry land! Mere mortals will prefer to play for the optimum fairway position along the right side short of the pond. Back-to-back birdies are a distinct possibility.
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Photo: David Crosby |
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Hole #9
This long par-3 plays over a series of lakes and spectacular waterfalls to an undulating green. Finding the green in regulation is only half the battle, and the game really begins at the heavily contoured green. Unless the tee shot finds the proper portion of the green, even the best putters will struggle to make a two putt par.
Hole #10
From tee-to-green this long uphill par-4 demands precise shots. A series of bunkers along the right side carry your eye from the landing area to an elevated green . The deep and receptive green will reward a well-struck long iron. Par will be well earned.
Hole #11
Tree-lined from tee-to-green and flowing seamlessly with the terrain, the 11th hole is notable for its attractive setting, but golfers should not let the aesthetic pleasures blot our the golfing challenge. Long hitters want to carry the bunkers along the left side, but the smart players will eventually discover that a well struck tee shot up the right side will produce the same results. The green is bisected by a deep swale, and accurate approach shots will be critical for par.
Hole #12
This short downhill par-4 is your last opportunity for relaxation before the demanding home stretch. The sprawling bunker along the left side guards the corner of this dogleg left, and the bunker along the right side brackets the fairway at 250 yards. The bunkers set a premium on the tee shot, and a deep swale fronting the green will capture the shots of the boldest driver off the tee. Those who negotiate these pitfalls will find an inviting plateau green. Surrounded by bunkers, yet receptive to all type of shots, this green will yield plenty of two putt pars.
Hole #13
This medium length par-4 plays downhill to a wide fairway. Precision plus length off the tee will reduce the carry to this small green, and a play down the right side will result in a short iron from the best angle of approach. Beware of the fairway bunker guarding this prime position-recovery from it will be daunting and probably means at least one squandered shot.
Hole #14
The recipe for the longest of the par-5 holes mixes water and sand to form a true three- shot hole. The tee shot must negotiate a tight landing area bordered by water on the right. The further the tee shot the tighter the landing area becomes, setting a premium on the long ball. The second shot must carry Lyle Creek to a wide fairway, and large bunkers guarding the dogleg right at the second landing area tempt the player to bite off as much as he can chew. Manage your way through these obstacles and an unexpected birdie could be your reward.
Hole #15
This short par-3 requires a delicate and deft touch to a small green perched high above Lyle Creek. Guarded in the front by a deep pot bunker, the green's middle and back pin positions will demand accurate tee shots. Beware the false front on the left green side. Failure to stay on the topside of this feature will result in bogey… or worse!
Hole #16
Playing downhill off the tee, this par-4 sweeps dramatically left around a large lake.. Bracketed on the left side by a nest of bunkers, the landing area is deceptively narrow. Those who can carry the bunkers left will enjoy a short iron to a deep green. Bailout right off the tee and your mid-iron approach shot will have only a narrow portion of the green available from this angle.
Hole #17
Set on water from tee-to-green, this stunning par-3 will distract the best of golfers from the task at hand. Plenty of room to the right serves as a buffer for those less bold off the tee. The undulating green surface is designed to make those hard to reach places easier to find, but don't miss left or your ball is sure to find a watery grave.
Hole #18
The home hole is a stern test that demands you finish your round with a series of strong shots. Uphill from tee-to-green, the hole finishes dramatically in front of the majestic clubhouse for all to see. Two straightforward shots position you for a short iron approach to well guarded green. Error on the long side and your mistake is easily rectified. Miss short in the deep greenside bunkers fronting the green and par will be well earned and tempt you to come back for more.
Hole #1, 417 yard, par 4
The Marshes Golf Club grasps your attention immediately with your tee shot to the first fairway, a gentle dogleg left with a group of bunkers on the right hand side of the landing area that long hitters can hope to carry. An aggressive tee shot opens up the appropriate angle into the green. The more conservative shot to the left of the fairway will leave the player with a simple shot over the pot bunker but with a more difficult angle into the green. The putting surface on this hole introduces you to the generous contouring characteristic of The Marshes' green complexes and the design philosophy guiding the creation of the putting green areas included the creation of many bent grass chipping areas outside the green surfaces in the front, back and side.
Hole #2, 627 yards, par 5
This hole should be called "Fader's Folly," due to the fact that water guards the entire length of this monstrous par 5. This may be the longest par 5 in all of Ottawa and it is a true three-shot hole. The drive must be placed accurately along the lake's edge to create the best angle for the second shot, which ideally is played just short of the fairway bunker at the left side of the second landing area. Placement of the second shot is crucial to provide the appropriate angle into wide, but not particularly deep green. The rock ledge of the lake was created by Mother Nature and discovered during construction, and provided the golf course architect with a wonderful opportunity to further enhance the beauty and diversity of this magical hole.
Hole #3, 167 yards, par 3
This medium-length par 3 is characterized by its large, undulating green, which is guarded by deep bunkers at the front right and front left. A gently meandering creek flows along the left edge of the third hole, but should not be in play. The generously contoured putting surface will make for difficult two-putt pars. The bent grass chipping area behind the green will gather shots that are hit too aggressively and will leave a delicate chip shot up the hill into a green surface that slopes away.
Hole #4, 621 yards, par 5
The tee shot here provides two principal options to a fairway that is split by a series of bunkers. The slightly lower and simpler tee shot to the right sets up a more difficult second shot to a landing area that is guarded by the creek that bisects the landing area. A drive hit to the upper left fairway provides the bolder player with a showcase view of the entire hole and will allow players to play directly toward the green in the second landing area that is entirely left of the creek. Strong contours just short of the green will reject shots that land just slightly short of the putting surface and will feed the ball down the fairway chipping area adjacent to the creek.
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Photo: ©Harquail Photography, Ottawa |
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Hole #5, 181 yards, par 3
Nestled in an amphitheater of majestic oak trees, the par three 5th is a stern test of a player's ability to discern the correct distance to the pin and find the confidence to execute a precise shot. The scale and varying depths of the bunkering at the front left of the green, as well as on the right, will play tricks with golfer's depth perception, especially from the furthest right tees. Its' setting amidst majestic oak trees gives this hole a unique character.
Hole #6, 445 yards, par 4
The par four 6th, the last in the opening series of holes winding through an oak and hardwood-studded meadow, is a very gentle right-to-left dogleg where accuracy from the tee is paramount. The large trees guarding the landing area provide the appropriate target from the tee, while the second shot plays to a green that is set amongst a constellation of mounds and well-placed bunkers. The putting surface runs at a strong diagonal from right to left. An approach shot hit to the left of the green will run toward a deep chipping hollow where recovery will require a delicate and fearless touch. This hole plays with the prevailing wind; downwind shots will find the back portion of this green.
Hole #7, 363 yards, par 4
Another hole with strategic demands and distinct choices off the tee, the 7th is designed so that a player with a conservative bent can drive modestly down the middle of the fairway to a generous landing area guarded on the left by three bunkers. Bolder players can aim down the right side across an oxbow of the meandering marshland creek to reach the approach to this long and narrow green. The green is surrounded by five bunkers interspersed among chipping hollows to create an overall premium on accuracy at this green.
Hole #8, 137 yard, par 3
The shortest of the par 3s at The Marshes lies within the shadows of the looming Brookstreet Hotel. This gentle-appearing par 3 is set along the edge of an imposing lake that protects the green's right side with a strong rock wall, like a moat guarding a castle. Although the hole is short, wind swirls around the buildings surrounding this site, so club selection will be crucial.
Hole #9, 572 yards, par 5
You can let out the shaft on your driver on this hole, but beware of the cavernous bunkers on the left of the first landing area, as any balls hit there will eliminate any possibility to go for the green in two. The second shot can be placed conservatively toward the right of the fairway, or carry over the bunker on the left at the second landing area and possibly get a forward bounce and end up close to the putting surface. This unique finishing hole on the front nine shares a green with the 18th hole, much like the double greens at the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland. Pay careful attention to the position of the pin on this hole, as an errant approach could lead to a very long putt. The 9th is the third par 3 among the first nine holes.
Hole #10, 583 yards, par 5
The opening hole on the back 9 plays is a downwind par five, which is guarded with water on the left hand side from the landing area all the way to the green. The green appears as if it floats on the lake creating a difficult target in the players' minds. The entire length of the hole slopes gently from right to left. The ideal lay-up shot to the fairway will favor the right side. The hole is deceptive in that there is actually plenty of room to the right, both on the drive and the second shot. Conservative play away from the water may be the correct approach here. The putting green surface has unique folds and contours, so the player's work is not done even after the putting surface has been reached.
Hole #11, 340 yards, par 4
A challenging and deceptively difficult par 4, hole #11's green can be driven by the strongest players, but a shot good enough to reach and hold its perched green will be rare. A more appropriately placed tee shot will come to rest just below the three central bunkers on the left of the fairway, and short of the bunker guarding the right hand side of the landing area. This is the smallest putting surface on the course and requires well thought out and executed approach shots. A steep slope down the marshland guarding the right hand side of the green will certainly be a factor for aggressive shots that miss the target.
Hole #12, 225 yards, par 3
The 12th is the most versatile par 3 at The Marshes, with 16 tee boxes providing the opportunity for tee shots of anywhere from 230 yards to 118 yards. This multilevel green is very wide from left to right, but relatively shallow, so appropriate club selection is paramount. The lake guards the right hand side of the green, although a good portion of the putting surface can be reached without hitting your approach shot over the water. The tournament position will be the very front right, lower portion of the green where the tee shot's demands should provide for great drama
Hole #13, 418 yards, par 4
Aficionados of golf course architecture will recognize the 13th as a variation of a "Cape hole," where the players on the tee decides how much, if any, of the late edge along the left side he or she is willing to challenge. Another, more conservative option from the tee is a conservative play to the right, which avoids the water altogether but in turn will bring the right-hand greenside bunkers into play. A heroic shot directly over the water into the left portion of the fairway reduces the length of the hole drastically, and also provides the ideal approach angle into this gently rolling green. The green surface spills off in various directions to grass chipping areas, from which recovery shots will be difficult.
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Photo: ©Harquail Photography, Ottawa |
Hole #14, 545 yards, par 5
The 14th, the shortest of The Marshes' six par 5s, is designed as a "birdie hole" where two well-struck shots can reach an accommodating green. The tee shot hit lightly right of the bunker at the left of the first landing area yields the best view of a green. The creek and marsh cross in front of the green, and in the back of the hole the green is supported by strong bunkering. A conservative play is a three-wood off the tee, and then a lay-up shot short of the creek. Shots too close to the cross hazard risk an "in-between" shot with a lofted club, where the risk of a thin hit will tend to tighten the player's grip. Try to stay below the pin, as putting will be essential to a good score here.
Hole #15, 161 yards, par 3
The short 15th is bisected with beautiful wetlands that were incorporated into the design here and in the concluding holes at The Marshes. Left tees provide a beautiful view into a long, linear green. The right tees, although providing a somewhat shorter line of play, bring the water into play a great deal more along the right side. There's very little room for error left or right of this hole, so the approach to the tee shot must be accurately placed. The prevailing wind patterns will also affect tee shots. The back left pin position is the most difficult, and when the cup is there a shot to the center of the green may be the best way to preserve par.
Hole #16, 610 yards, par 5
The last of the long par 5s at The Marshes is bisected twice by a gently wandering creek and marshland that describes an elongated "S" shape as it makes its way through existing rock outcroppings and hardwood trees. The stream creates the options for shot selection. The tee shot over the first portion of the creek will seek an ample fairway guarded by hardwoods on the right. Then the second shot must carry the creek/marsh as it bisects the fairway at a diagonal running from short right to long left. The second shot must also contend with two bunkers on the right and a long linear bunker that is adjacent to the creek as it works its way towards the green. The prevailing crosswind is right to left; wind will tend to shape shots toward the creek. The putting surface is very, very long, quite narrow and well contoured. After the drive, do not stray left! Deep trouble looms along the left. A par here is well achieved and will be accompanied by a deep sigh of relief as the players head toward the last par 3. It is worth noting that along with its six par fives, The Marshes ends with a par 5, par 3, par 4 configuration, testing every skill in the golfer's arsenal.
Hole #17, 211 yards, par 3
Three deep bunkers at the very front of this green are surrounded by fairway support in the shape of a horseshoe. The green is very long and deep, which will allow for many different pin positions. Though it is one of only two par 3s at The Marshes that has no water hazards, the 17th is deceptively difficult. Beware of the deep bunkers and strong contouring that will reject errant shots around the green.
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Photo:©Harquail Photography, Ottawa
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Hole #18, 478 yards, par 4
Appropriately for the finishing hole, where the design philosophy of The Marshes is epitomized, a central bunker in the middle of the fairway provides a subtly intimidating target, but bunkers on both the left and the right announce that a premium on accuracy is yoked here to an expectation of length. This long par 4 will generally play against the wind. A large wetland guards the front entry into the green, so this long, par 4 finishing will often play as a par four and a half, and a brilliant chip may provide the only opportunity for par. A strong finish here with a par 4 will probably win many a match. This green attaches to the 9th green and provides multiple pin positions guarded by the deep bent grass collection areas on the right and bunkering on the left. Many of 18's cup positions will require very accurate club selection to yield a putt ofreasonable length. Combined with the 9th green, the collective putting surface totals 30,000 square feet-an area equal five typical greens.
© 2002 Robert Trent Jones II, LLC
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