It can be argued that Tommy has the genetics required to design a great golf course. But genetics alone doesn't do it. Tommy has spent years working with his famous uncle, Tom Fazio, and his father, Jim Fazio, honing his skills. In this, his first project on his own, he has reached back to the family's golf beginnings.
In those days, a designer built the course with his own hands. Compartively, while visiting Eagle Marsh, you are likely to find Tommy on a bulldozer moving land or working on the drainage in a bunker. I'm certain that the speed at which the course has been built and the quality of the workmanship reflects the association and understanding that the designer has with the rest of the construction staff.
Tommy said, "...to really drain a bunker, you need an 18-inch trench. We then spend four times the norm on rocks. That will last maybe 10 years instead of two years. All the irrigation fittings are iron, not plastic. Steve Mulvey, President of Pinnacle, the owner/developer, made sure that there was no expense spared in building."
Well, let's get to the real story here -- the course.
"When you start designing a golf course, you want to make it tough, so you make it 7,100 yards," Tommy said. "Well, that levels the playing field from a designer's perspective. If every hole is over 430 yards, you've got a hard golf course, no matter what you do. The key is - how do you make it hard and not make it long? How do you make it hard but not penal?
"A lot of that involves the angles of the greens and the placement of the bunkers. Most of the greens here are angled left to right, right to left. One day you're playing a 6-iron to the front of the green, day two you're hitting a 5-iron to the back. If you take the 6-iron, you'll find the bunker."
The opening hole, a par-5, plays from 400 to 550 yards (there are six sets of tees). "It's a definite three-shot hole," Tommy said. "After a good tee shot, you have to carry a wetland, then put a wedge in your hand and make birdie", said Cammarene.
"The second hole is really not a driver hole. You want to position your golf ball and put a 9-iron in your hands to hit to the elevated green," he said. "Just keep the ball out of the water on the right."
After playing the first five holes, Stammer said, "I like the course. There's a lot of trees - all nature - better than buildings and townhouses. The greens are well framed, fairways generously wide. I haven't hit a driver yet. The course isn't too long, no forced carries so far, enabling me to play a game that I'm comfortable with."
Holbrook added, "I'm impressed with the golf course, especially the maturity factor. The tees, fairways and greens are all excellent. They've done a real good job with their bunkering. The first five holes open up easy on the golfer. It's a good way to get the player going, without killing you up front."
Both Stammer and Holbrook were tipped off by Cammarene that there are tougher holes to come, noting that the par-5 (435-565-yard) seventh hole "...begins a stretch of holes that require a lot more thought off the tee. The lay-up shot on seven is especially critical to the hole, more so than the drive. It gets very narrow, with water and wetlands approaching from both sides."
Cammarene's comments followed his birdie on the par-3 sixth hole, the first birdie recorded on the course.
After nine, Holbrook said, "One of the things I really like is that we haven't played a killer golf hole yet. Every hole is very playable. Not tremendously long distances, even from the back tees. It makes for a good golf course. Knowing where to place your shot, course management, is much more important here than brute strength."
As we moved through the back nine, the forced carries and distances required from the back tees became tougher. Course management was still key, distance became more of a factor, yet there were ample landing areas. The consistent beauty of the wetlands and incredible variety of colorful birds remained consistent through both nines.
After completing our round, Holbrook said, "I really love the overall layout of the golf course. Tommy Fazio has done a wonderful job of laying this golf course out in the available wetlands and turning a piece of property that was probably unusable for anything else into an absolutely beautiful golf course.
"The back nine has some really tough par-3s, long holes, mostly over lakes and waste areas. That makes the par-3s difficult. The 19th hole (playoff hole), which is only about 60 yards, is a great way to decide a tied match. Overall, I'm very impressed with what's been done here. The condition of the course is absolutely fantastic, the overall layout is very well done."
Stammer added, "I really enjoyed the course. It's not real difficult, it's fair. Keep the ball in play, and you'll score well. The greens are well framed...mounding around the greens help keep your ball in play. The native vegetation, flora and fauna has been kept intact. There's a lot of wildlife around. We saw many sandhill cranes, scrubjays and cardinals. The public will like this course. It will challenge the better amateurs, but its fairness will keep the weekend golfer happy."
While you can't be the first to play this course, the consensus here is to give the Eagle Marsh Golf Club a call and experience this piece of golf heaven as soon as you can.
