Over the Green

Almost as soon as veteran golf writer Mike Purkey’s new networking site Golf-Nation.net (see below) was announced a name change was required.

It seems that even though the name had been registered for some months a new Facebook page by Sports Illustrated/Golf Magazine will have the same name so to avoid the inevitable confusion Purkey switched his site’s name to LetsPlay36.net.

The site is still scheduled to go live on May 15.

A golf course needs time to mature into the final product envisioned when the first seed was planted. Tweaks are made in the formative years, trees mature, mowing patterns change and finally with help from Mother Nature, a golf course settles into its final form.

A test of this final form though always comes when the course’s designer returns for a look around and a round of golf. That was the case at Mystic Dunes Golf Club in Celebration recently when architect, PGA Senior Tour player and NBC Golf Commentator Gary Koch teed it up on the course he created eight years ago.

After the round Koch was all smiles.

“I am very pleased with how things turned out,” he said. “Mystic Dunes does a good job of keeping the course maintained. It is in fine shape.”

When he signed on with course owner Tempus Resorts Koch was given an unusual assignment; create a unique layout for the Orlando area and one that would send people away buzzing about what they had seen.

“It was a luxury to design,” said Koch. “It was a unique opportunity, as the owners wanted something that people would talk about. I’d say we accomplished that.”

Players will find some distinctive elements setting Mystic Dunes apart from other Orlando courses. First are the natural changes in elevation. Granted “hills” are not usually associated with Central Florida and the rolling sand dunes Koch found on the site may not qualify as hills but they are unique. His use of mounding merged with the dunes and the natural wetland areas allowed Koch to bring lots of “ups and downs” – as much as 80 feet – into play.

For example on the par-5 eighth, the fairway rises from the tee box through the landing area, then drops down to the partially hidden green for the approach shot. And the “ups and downs” can be found in many of the greens complexes as well such as the sixth whose putting surface falls eight feet from top to bottom or the drivable par-4 10th with a green comprised of three plateaus separated by large mounds.

Another of Koch’s unique elements is the use of whiskey barrels on the faces of bunkers creating in effect wooden-walled bunkers with the steep sides making visually stunning obstacles.

Lastly, the front and back nines at Mystic Dunes are quite different. The front nine gives golfers the feel of the Carolina Low Country as the routing meanders around wetlands and marsh areas bordered by stands of oak and cypress. Making the turn, players will find the second nine more reminiscent of a links course with the lots of perimeter mounding, pot bunkers and play down rolling fairways.

When asked about the maturity of the course Koch said, “The course has matured well. Mystic Dunes management had to compromise some design features to accommodate changes, such as losing a tree that was left intentionally in the layout, but again, the staff did a great job in working with these factors.”

Koch also stated, “I compare a golf course to nurturing a child. You make adjustments as you grow.”

Mystic Dunes is ranked a 4 ½-star facility among Golf Digest‘s “Best Places to Play”, has been honored as a Course of Distinction among Golfweek‘s “Best Resort Courses”, and is ranked #2 among “Orlando’s Top 5 Golf Courses” by TravelGolf.com.

Veteran golf journalist Mike Purkey has a new idea for a web-based golf networking site scheduled to launch May 15.

Golf-Nation.net is designed to connect golfers around the world and put golfers in touch with each other according to location, schedule, handicap, age and/or home course. Further, Golf-Nation.net will raise the golf IQ of every player who belongs to the site with all of its services free to members.

“Imagine if you will, a place where golfers of all descriptions across the globe will be welcome to share their common bond,” said Purkey founder of Golf-Nation.net. “Golf is the most social game there is and golfers like nothing better than to communicate their experience and enthusiasm. It’s what makes golf so unique among our sports. We think we have a great place, in the present environment, for golfers to gather, regardless of time or space. Anytime is the right time for golfers to be together and Golf-Nation.net is the right vehicle.”

Compared with the host of social networking sites Golf-Nation.net has some unique features such as whether traveling, relocating or simply looking for a game in their own hometown, golfers will be able to search for players of similar backgrounds and experience to connect with them to arrange games. No other site offers such a service. More…

When I first heard about the new Burner irons for 2009 by TaylorMade-adidas Golf, the buzz was they hit the ball further – a lot further…like 30 yards more with a 3-iron.

OK, sounds just like one the tried and true marketing lines paraded out to hype a new driver and since we don’t usually think about extra distance being a primary selling point for irons, I was intrigued. More…