jim preston 1-2 punch€¦ · whispering pines makes me thinkof some of the country’s best...

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The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.com _ Sunday, March 7, 2010 3CC

Name BackgroundRob Addington Executive director Texas Golf Association David Altemus Director of golf, Royal Oaks CC, HoustonJames Barker Director of instruction, Quarry Golf Club, San AntonioBrent Blackburn Director of daily operations and teaching, Dallas Athletic ClubPhilip Bleakney Director of golf, Golf Club of DallasJeffrey D. Brauer Arlington-based golf course architect Bruce Burger Superintendent, The Quarry Golf ClubBen Burns Head pro, Crown Colony CCTony Campagna President Turf Materials Inc., Rowlett Tom Campbell Head pro, Emerald Bay Club, BullardBeth Cleckler Manager Morris Williams Golf Course, Austin amateurJohn Colligan Arlington-based golf course architect Kyle Coody Plano amateur Jacque Cooper Heath amateurRobert Couture Dallas amateurSherwin Cox Head pro, Ross Rogers Golf Complex, AmarilloDarrell Crall Executive director, NTPGACarolyn Creekmore Dallas amateurJacky Cupit PGA life member representing Links at Lands EndBruce Davidson Director of golf, River Oaks CC, HoustonCameron Doan Head pro, Preston Trail GCLou Duran Frisco amateur Bob Elliott Head pro, Northwood Club Bill Euler Head pro, Wildflower CC, TempleDave Findlay Instructor, Redstone GC Members Course, HumbleRoger Fine Carrollton amateurRyan Finn TGA director of rules and competitionsDale Folmar Senior vice president, Eagle GolfGilbert Freeman Head professional, Lakewood CC, DallasDon Gafner Dallas Golf Co. CEO, Sunnyvale amateurSteve Galko Dallas amateurEdward Gatlin GM/director of golf, Van Zandt CCDrew Gillen Tyler amateurRonny Glanton Head professional, Sherrill Park GC, RichardsonKevin Gomillion PGA division manager, Austin golf coursesKenneth Gorzycki Director of agronomy, Horseshoe Bay ResortLeslie Green The Woodlands amateur Brent Halvorson Director of golf, Gleneagles CC, Plano Scott Hamilton Superintendent, The Club at Escondido, Horseshoe Bay Billy Harris Head pro, Dallas Country Club Mark Harrison NTPGA director of operationsAlan Hess Superintendent, Augusta Pines GC, SpringAaron Hickman Houston amateurMalcolm Holland Dallas amateurKenny Huff Head professional, Cascades Golf Club, TylerAllen Hundley Murphy amateurGordon Johnson Head professional, Houston CCDanny Jones Head professional, Walden on Lake ConroeMark Kazlowski Texas Golf editor, Cedar Hill amateurBob Kearney Houston amateurDon Kennedy Director of golf, Firewheel Golf Park, GarlandNancy Kromar Austin amateur Phyllis Kwedar Fort Worth amateurBrad Lardon Director of golf, Miramont CC, BryanGlenn Lee Director of golf, Horseshoe Bay ResortPaul Marchand GM/head professional, Shadow Hawk Golf Club, RichmondJames McAfee Director of communications for GolfDFW.comRives McBee PGA and Champions Tour life memberLindy Miller Ben Hogan Foundation, teaching professional at Shady Oaks CCDale Morgan Head professional, Austin CCLaura Myers Rowlett amateurJohn Neese PGA life member, Garland Kevin Newberry Houston amateurMike Peterson Nationwide Tour rules official, McKinney amateurAndrew Peterson GM Canyon Springs Golf Club, San Antonio John Pierce San Antonio amateurDavid Pocknall Katy amateurGeorge Priolo Head pro, Comanche Trail Golf Course, AmarilloCraig Pullen Head pro, Oakmont CC, CorinthJames T. Rolls Head pro, Slick Rock at Horseshoe Bay ResortChris Rowe Head pro, Whispering Pines, TrinityLinda Sackett Boerne amateurJohn Saffle Director of golf, Traditions Club, BryanLee Sandlin Dallas amateurCarey Schulten Dallas amateurMike Sheridan Boerne amateurMarty Slade Perlman Dallas amateur Becky Spears San Antonio amateurMac Spikes Head professional, Rivercrest CC, Fort WorthMark Steinbauer Director of golf, Club at Carlton Woods, The WoodlandsGary Stephenson Celina-based golf course architectShawn Strohman Head pro, Escondido Tom Strueber PGA life member, Dallas Steve Termeer GM/director of golf, University of Texas Golf Club, AustinJimmy Terry GM/director of golf, TPC San Antonio Tim Thelen Assistant pro, The Falls Golf and Resort, New UlmRobert Thompson Teaching professional, Whispering Pines, TrinityBrad Townsend SportsDay writer, Flower Mound amateurBob Twaddell Houston amateurMark Viskozki Director of golf, Tangle Ridge GC, Grand PrairieBert Walker Teaching pro, Prairie Lakes GC, Grand PrairieTad Weeks Head professional, Champions Golf Club, HoustonMichael Wharton-Palmer Texarkana, Ark., amateurJim Whitten Dallas amateur Robert Wiesner Fort Worth amateur Melvin Williams Retired superintendent, LakewayChris Winn PGA professional, Cypress Dell Wood Head professional, Amarillo CCAlan Wooley Executive director, The First Tee of Greater AustinKent Yarbrough Denton amateur

DETERMINING THE TOP 100

VersatilityDoes the course create a good mix for the high and lowhandicappers? Are better players challenged, while the highhandicappers are able to enjoy play through the use ofshorter teeing areas, alternate routes, location of hazards andaccessible pins?

ShotmakingDoes it test accuracy, finesse, length and putting withoutoveremphasizing any of these skills?

DesignIs there a good balance in design?

AfterthoughtsHow much do you remember about the course? Do one ortwo holes stand out as great or bad?

BeautyDo the scenic values add to the pleasure of a round? Trees,shrubs, hills, mounds, flowers, etc.?

MaintenanceHow would you rate the course conditions, factoring in allaspects — tees, greens, fairways, bunkers? Spring, summer,fall or winter when viewed?

EnjoymentHow do you feel about being at the course? What about theamenities? From arrival to departure, was it a good, bad orindifferent golf experience?

THE CRITERIA

THE VOTERS

One is nestled in a peacefulsetting, muffled by toweringtrees. It’s cut off from golfinginhabitants for about half theyear. Even its name evokessoothing images.

The other is hidden in a nat-ural paradise within view of theDallas skyline. It’s secludedamong massive trees, deepcanyons and plateaus.

But quiet? WhisperingPines and Dallas National?

In what is becoming a rite ofspring, the courses poke theirheads from their unique sur-roundings and emit roarsheard across the state.

Whispering Pines earnedthe No. 1 spot in The News’ an-nual ranking of Texas coursesfor the fifth straight year. OnlyColonial Country Club hasdone better, ranking No. 1 forseven straight years (1989-95).Dallas National was second forthe fourth straight year.

Whispering Pines and Dal-las National are vastly differentlayouts. But they are bonded bythe spectacular design featurescarved from their unique to-pographies.

“Dallas National and Whis-pering Pines represent golf atits purest level with an unyield-ing commitment to maintain-ing the game’s honorable tradi-tions,” said panelist DarrellCrall, executive director of theNorthern Texas PGA. “Theyboth feature immaculate,championship-caliber turfconditions, world class serviceand hospitality, and very mem-orable golf holes.”

Whispering Pines, designedby Chet Williams and BillO’Leary of the Nicklaus DesignGroup, meanders through 400acres of piney woods. Tom Fa-zio created Dallas National inthe mold of classics like Augus-

ta National and Pine Valley onwhat he called “the best pieceof land left in America close toa major city.”

“Both of those courses areon fabulous pieces of property,”said panelist Allen Hundley, aDallas amateur who gave highmarks to both layouts.

“If you give Fazio that kindof property and that kind ofbudget, then he’s going to do afantastic job. They can set it uptough to challenge the highestlevel of competition, but it’s afun casual round for everyoneif played from the proper tees.Whispering Pines is so naturalit looks like they just cut thegrass to make the golf course.”

Dallas National, just 61⁄2

miles from downtown, was un-earthed by John MacDonald.The former limestone quarryhad sat untouched until Mac-Donald convinced Fazio to vis-it the site, which rolls over

three plateaus and two can-yons.

Fazio made true on hispromise to members to exceedall expectations. The layoutoozes “wow” factor with itsstriking elevation changes.

“The unusual topographyand classic layout of the holesat Dallas National remind meof some of the great golf cours-es in the Northeast,” Crall said.“And the sweet smell from thetowering pine trees combinedwith the subtle yet significantchallenges on each hole atWhispering Pines makes methink of some of the country’sbest courses located in thesandhills of North Carolina.”

JIM PRESTON

No. 2 at Whispering Pines in Trinity is a 576-yard par 5. The massive bunker protects the right side of the green, makingtrying to reach the green in two shots a challenge.

1-2 punch Whispering Pines, Dallas National a formidable pair atop rankings

By BILL NICHOLSStaff Writer

brnichols@dallasnews.com

NO. 1 COURSE | WHISPERING PINES GOLF CLUB, TRINITY

Whispering PinesGolf Club

Opened: March 2000Designer: Chet Williams(Nicklaus Design Group)Length: 7,480 yards from thetipsType: PrivateNotable: Members make anannual contribution to thenonprofit World Health & GolfAssociation. The WHGAcharities support health relatedcauses and the promotion ofamateur golf, according to thegolf club’s Web site. … Thecourse is open March 24 to July2 and Sept. 8 to Dec. 19. … It willhost the Big 12 men’stournament April 22-25.

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CHECK OUT the rankingsof the top 25 nine-holecourses in the state.

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