Getting There and First Thoughts
So, I’d been hearing whispers about Old Corkscrew for a good while. Folks kept saying, “Man, that course is tough,” or “You gotta play Old Corkscrew if you think you’re good.” Naturally, my curiosity got the better of me. Finally, I decided, alright, let’s see what all the fuss is about. I went online and booked a tee time. The process itself was pretty straightforward, no major headaches there, which is always a good start. The drive out there was pleasant enough. When I actually pulled into the place, the vibe was… serious. It wasn’t dripping with over-the-top fancy stuff, but you could tell it was a course for people who really, really love golf. A proper golfer’s track, if you catch my drift.
Warming Up (or Trying To)
First thing, I headed over to the practice range to hit a few balls. The setup was decent, nothing too wild, but it did the job. Grabbed a small bucket, just trying to get the ol’ muscles moving. The range balls weren’t exactly fresh-out-the-box premium ones, you know, but they flew straight enough. Then I moseyed over to the putting green. Whoa. That thing was quick. Like, really quick. Lightning fast. That was probably my first real clue about what the day was going to be like. Spent a good ten, fifteen minutes there, just trying to get some kind of feel for the speed before heading to the first tee.
Out on the Course – The Real Deal
Alright, so we teed off. And let me tell you, from the very first hole, it was clear this wasn’t going to be one of those relaxing, stroll-in-the-park kind of rounds. This course is an absolute beast, no two ways about it. Water hazards are pretty much everywhere you look. And I mean everywhere. It felt like every other shot had water looming. And the sand! Bunkers scattered all over the place, some of them deep enough to bury a small car in. You really, really have to think your way around this course. You can’t just smash your driver and hope for the best; Old Corkscrew will eat you alive if you try that.
I distinctly remember this one par 3, can’t for the life of me recall which number it was. It was pretty much all carry over this massive pond to a green that looked about the size of a postage stamp from the tee box. Predictably, my first ball went for a swim. Splash. My second one? Yep, decided to join its friend. Good times, real good times. But then, a couple of holes later, on a par 5, I managed to hit this great drive, threaded it right between some nasty trees and a fairway bunker. For about ten glorious seconds, I felt like a tour pro. That’s golf for you, isn’t it? One minute you’re a hero, the next you’re a zero.
The fairways, when I actually managed to find them, were in good nick. But they weren’t exactly generous landing areas, if you know what I mean. Pretty tight. And the rough, oh boy, the rough. If your ball strayed in there, you were in for a world of hurt. I definitely donated a couple of balls to the course gods just off the fairway. The greens were a whole other challenge. Not just fast, but they had these sneaky breaks and undulations all over them. Let’s just say three-putts were a recurring theme in my round that day.
- Water everywhere, seriously.
- Bunkers felt like they were magnetic.
- Greens were super quick and sloped like crazy.
- You absolutely need to be accurate with your tee shots.
Course Conditions and Pace of Play
Overall, I have to say, the course was in fantastic condition. The greens, even though they were tormenting me, rolled incredibly true. Fairways were like carpet, lush and well-maintained. The pace of play was actually alright. We had to wait a little bit on a couple of holes, but nothing outrageous. It seemed like everyone out there knew they were in for a serious challenge, so maybe they were just taking their time, or perhaps, like me, they were spending a fair bit of time looking for lost balls.
Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts
So, we finished up the 18th, and honestly, I felt pretty battered and bruised. I shot a number that I’m definitely not going to broadcast to the world, haha. Headed back towards the clubhouse. Didn’t hang around for too long, just grabbed a quick cold drink to try and recover.
So, Old Corkscrew. Yeah, it absolutely lived up to its fearsome reputation. It is tough. Probably one of the most challenging, if not the most challenging, courses I’ve ever played. Would I go back? You know what, I think I would. It’s that kind of course. It beats you up, but then it sort of dares you to come back and try again, to see if you can conquer it, or at least do a little bit better. But I’d for sure be packing a lot more golf balls next time. A whole lot more. If you’re looking for an easy, breezy, relaxing round of golf, this definitely ain’t the place for you. But if you want a true, honest-to-goodness test of every single part of your golf game, then yeah, give Old Corkscrew a shot. Just make sure you’re prepared for a battle.
