Bay Island Course
The Bay Island Course is longer than the Marsh or Creekside courses and has a higher course rating (74.5). The three courses have slope ratings of 146 or 147. Their degree of difficulty is therefore similar. Primarily because of its length, Bay Island is considered the most difficult.
Par 4 – 444, 410, 348, 348, 338, 328 yards – To prove the point the first hole is long and difficult. The green may be the most difficult of all 54 greens to land on and stay on. Its surface slope is almost crowned, is narrow and not at all easy to get on to. Hole #1 alerts one to the fact that there are some tough holes to be played.
Par 5 – 521, 489, 489, 461, 422, 410 yards – After crossing the marsh to #2 tee the player sees a very attractive par 5 which plays around a marsh. The hole is quite attractive as it is surrounded by vegetation including marshes and pines. The green is receptive to shots and fairly open, except for one large bunker near the green.
Par 3 – 207, 165, 165, 150, 135, 120 yards – This is an exceptional par 3! The tees are raised 15’± above the balance of the hole. The views from the tee are awesome. A beautiful, natural pond is the primary feature of the hole. The green is close to the pond and fits into the space gracefully. A single bunker is to the right of the green. This par 3 is a favorite of all who play the course.
Par 4 – 311, 295, 295, 270, 259, 247 yards – This, the shortest par 4 on the course and the shortest within the three courses on the property, is a short example of many holes on the course. The tee shot landing area is small but sufficient. The green is narrow, beside a pond. Well played shots are rewarded. The player must get the second shot onto the part of the green where the cup is located to be able to attack. The hole is strategic, easy at times, difficult if a shot is miss hit. All of this is reflected throughout the course on hole after hole.
Par 4 – 443, 417, 398, 398, 355, 295 yards – The hole is an intentional contrast to #4. It is long. The shot to the slightly raised green is usually a long shot. Water is in play from the tee; not much in play on the next shot, one hopes! The fact that this hole is the #9 handicap indicates that the Bay Island course is indeed a very strong test.
Par 3 – 177, 151, 151, 138, 125, 97 yards – There is no saving place other than the green for the tee shot. Short is in a large bunker, long is in a bunker, left is a pond, right is a small open turf area close to trees and other vegetation. This is not an easy hole.
Par 4 – 381, 363, 363, 349, 335, 283 yards. During construction this hole was delayed because an eagle was nesting close to the proposed fairway. After a while the hole was completed. The crews worked near the eagle nesting in a tall pine. It really didn’t appear that the eagle minded. The hole is a medium length par 4. The only real difficulty is the bunkering beside the green both right and left. The green is raised 5’±, creating an airy setting.
Par 4 – 441, 422, 407, 407, 346, 340 yards – Talk about tough par 4’s, this is it! After getting the tee shot in play, not an easy task, the shot to the green is daunting. The high green is so difficult to hit. The view from the green to the north is spectacular. The view is endless. A par on this hole is definitely going to be a winner almost every time!
Par 5 - 579, 575, 545, 545, 517, 448 yards – From the back tee this hole is a monster. In fact, from every tee this hole is long. The bunkers are strategic in the second landing area.
The green is intriguing. It has an abruptly sloping false front.
The hole requires a series of good shots, at least three, maybe four. Handicap #3 is appropriate.
Alright, we are through nine holes. Upon reflection, it is clear that this nine holes is extremely challenging. And the next nine doesn’t get much easier!
Par 4 - 396, 378, 378, 368, 357, 284 yards – No let up! All that is required is a very good tee shot and a near perfect shot to the elevated green. There is a little bailout right of the green. However the green is narrow, very difficult to reach on line.
Par 5 - 539, 504, 449, 449, 442, 411 yards – This dogleg left hole has an ample tee shot landing area, and a second shot landing area. It is ranked #2 handicap because there are wetlands the length of the hole on both sides. Success on this hole is the result of a good beginning; a good tee shot and a second shot which stays in play on the mowed turf. And yes, the third shot must be accurate because the green is in a small space.
Par 3 - 184, 159, 159, 137, 100, 100 yards – To have found this usable piece of upland for a green site was just amazing! And to find enough teeing ground was so fortunate! With that good fortune came a pretty hole, an island surrounded by wetlands. Another test among many on the Bay Island course.
Par 4 - 331, 298, 268, 268, 252, 177 – This short par 4 is the first of the final six holes from the original Marsh eighteen holes. It is fun to play because the angle of the fairway toward the green encourages the player to “bite off” as much toward the green as can be achieved. The reward is a shorter shot to the green.
It is also fun to play because it is short, one of two short par 4’s within the routing (the other is #4).
Par 4 – 445, 423, 408, 408, 383, 344 yards – This long par 4 is completely in contrast to the short #13 par 4.
The shot to the fairway is bereft of severe hazard penalties. The approach to the green is open. The green is large and open except for the one front left greenside bunker. Holes #13 and #14 are good examples of a rhythm of holes of different character; one short and risk/reward, the other requiring two good long shots and probably a short pitch or chip onto the green.
Par 5 - 530, 505, 505, 493, 387, 380 yards – This is quite a clever, short par 5. The tee shot is open, except for the rare long tee shot which can get to the pond on the left. The second shot must be accurate to avoid the water or trees on the right.
The green lies at an angle left to right at 45º± and has two small bunkers in front.
This hole is a good looking par 5 with chances to prove one’s skill or be a victim of a missed chance.
Par 4 - 382, 331, 331, 314, 275, 266 yards – From the back tee the dogleg left hole is much more challenging. The carry to a safe landing is much longer. The bunker in the middle of the fairway is in play.
The green is narrow. The bunker left of the green saves many shots from a worse fate; the wetlands. There is a little bailout right of the green. This is a beautiful, strategic hole! It is one of the best.
Par 3 - 173, 159, 159, 147, 106, 97 yards – This short par 3 is framed and fronted by pines and wetland. The hole fits into a small space, just enough space to be a pleasant par 3 surrounded by vegetation. The green is gentle, easy to approach.
Par 4 - 426, 400, 377, 377, 354, 331 yards – The final hole on this eighteen is typical of the course. An excellent pair of shots is required. The hole is framed by trees. There is one long bunker on the right side of the tee shot landing area, and one long bunker on the left side of the green.
When a player makes a par on #18, that player gains on his group and on the field.
Bay Island has eighteen good holes, some long, some short, but always rewarding when a good shot is played. The player who drives the ball well has an advantage. The player who plays well around the green will score, but isn’t that always the way it is!