This is a proposal to replace Holes 3 and 4 (the least liked holes on the Course) with better holes and improve Course flow. A map of one possible layout reflecting the proposal is shown above. Description of proposal:
Current Holes 3 and 4 would be eliminated.
A new hole (which would be new Hole 2) would be added that starts south of the basket of Hole 1 and runs toward the wall between current Holes 4 and 5. The tee position for the new hole could be (1) uphill and north of the current Hole 2 blue tee (i.e., in the woods between the Hole 1 and current Hole 2), (2) level and north of the current Hole 2 blue tee (i.e., about where the old blue tee for Hole 2 was) or (3) downhill from the current Hole 2 blue tee (and reached by taking the hiking trail below the basket of Hole 1). Option 2 is shown on the map above. Options 1 and 2 would require partially redesigning current Hole 2, including moving the tees and making it a par 3. Option 3 would probably result in a hole that is an uphill dogleg left that uses part of Hole 3's current fairway. Due to being on an uphill slope, Option 3 would make it more difficult (require more work) to create level tee pads.
A new hole (which would be new Hole 6) would be added to the area west of current Hole 8 and would be played after current Hole 6. This hole has already been roughed out to show proof of concept. It can be reached by going right on the hiking trial after current Hole 6, crossing over the wooden bridge and then taking a left on the path just after the stone wall. The land on which the new hole would be played is very similar to that of the fairway of current Hole 8 (i.e., gently sloping from east to west and dry). The roughed out new hole is a 327' par 3, which plays somewhat like the current Hole 8 - i.e., a 200'+ open shot and then trees which provide multiple options to the pin. The hole could probably be lengthened into a par 4, but I'm not sure that would result in the best hole design. Current Holes 9-17 would be played after this new hole. Feel free to play the roughed out version of this hole.
Current Hole 8 would be replaced with a new hole that would be played after current Hole 17. The new hole would probably start just west of the stick pile by the current Hole 9 blue tee, run toward the current Hole 8 blue tee, and have a basket past the current Hole 9 blue tee in the woods toward the current Hole 7 blue tee (I have placed a sign where I think the basket might go). With this hole design there would be a RHBH line that generally follows the walking path west of the wall and a LHBH line that uses the middle of the current Hole 8 fairway. Several small trees would need to be removed from both lines. This proposed layout would be a 400' par 4, with a drive landing zone about where the current Hole 8 white tee is. Current Holes 7 and 18 would be played after this new hole.
Potential benefits of new layout:
The two weakest holes would be replaced with better holes. The new/revised holes collectively should be significantly better than than the holes they replace.
The flow of the Course would be improved. In particular, the long, muddy walk from 17 to 18 would be replaced by playing a dry hole. Course would be longer but have less walking between holes.
The new layout also creates a 9-hole front loop (instead of the current 8-hole front loop).
Challenges:
Designing the new/revised holes so that they are significantly better than the holes they replace.
A fair amount of work.
I've gone through the proposal with a number of you. So far everyone seems to be either neutral or supportive of the proposed changes. It all depends on how good the new holes are. For new Hole 2, Tim thinks the best design might be a tee down near the wall by 106, with the hole going up current Hole 3. For the new hole played back down the current Hole 8 fairway, Tim thinks the best design might be a tee that is in the southwest corner of the current hole (where rollaway puts go) and throwing back towards the current Hole 8 blue tee. Please check out the possibilities and voice you opinions.