Post by Richie3Jack on May 18, 2010 11:51:44 GMT -5
Traditions at Braselton is actually located in Jefferson, GA instead of Braselton, GA for that one person who may actually care. It's a Mike Dasher (Arthur Hills protege) design. I don't have much experience with Hills' designs, but it comes across as one with a lot of tricky lies, some daring designs that sometimes come out well and sometimes fail and overall a decent course.
This was another distressed property purchased by Canongate as Atlanta is so spread out that the original builders probably thought that the Jefferson, GA area would grow well too...it's not too far from Chateau Elan, a popular winery, resort and golf club. But it never did and they probably opened the course way too soon. The first time I played it was in February of 2009 and didn't like it and the course was very rough. Drives could hit the fairway and wind up bouncing hard into a hazard and the greens didn't hold. But by July of 2009 the course was in pretty good shape.
The course plays 6,734 yards from the back tees and has a slope of 134. It has three par-5's including 2 back to back #10 and #11. Dasher probably should've done a better job designing as the 10th hole is far away from the clubhouse so there really isn't that classical 'turn' after nine. I think that hurts business and if the course were to ever get busy, the couldn't really double tee.
The course's best feature are the greens, which are still a tad hard, but roll very fast and very smoothly.
The best holes on the course are #1, #7, and #11. The bad holes are #4, #14 and #18.
#11 is my favorite, about 550 yard par-5. However, you are going downhill a bit with the driver and if the wind is trailing a person like me can reach it on in two. The drive is wide open, but very pretty to look at. The second shot is very tight though and I like the gamble of possibly going for it and the risk vs. reward. Plus, the green can be a tough approach if the pin is cut on the top shelf, so that can force a conservative golfer's hand as well. Overall, a well designed, tough but fair and picturesque golf hole.
#18 isn't to my liking because sometimes if things are going a certain way, you can hit a good driver down the middle and find yourself in the hazard. Other days if you try a 3-wood, you can wind up in disaster as well. But, that's just the drive. After the tee shot you are going straight uphill. And I mean UPHILL. You really can't reach there in two and your approach is this really awkward lie where you often can't see the pin from 100 yards out.
Overall, it's a decent course. You can use most of the clubs in your bag, you'll be tried on plenty of shots, you get to experience some tough lies and if you shoot in the 60's, that's a good round of golf no matter how you slice it. Plus, usually there's nobody out there and you can play a round by yourself in 2 hours or so. I think it's certainly harder than the slope rating assigned to it.
3JACK