Bartram Trail (Public course)

STAFF: Robby Watson is the PGA Golf Professional and General Manager; Jeff Lloyd is the Superintendent.

PAR/YARDAGE: Bartram Trail plays to a par of 72 with four sets of tees plus a short junior course. Black (6,706 yards); Blue (6,228); White (5,545); Green (4,906).

COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 71.9/138 (Black); 69.8/130 (Blue); 67.0/118 (White); 68.6/120 (Green).

ABOUT THE COURSE: The newest public course in the Augusta area, Bartram Trail opened for play in 2005 and has generated a positive response locally with its enjoyable natural layout that rates high for both its aesthetic appeal and playability. The course is on the short side, although the yardage numbers are a bit deceiving with five par 5s and five par 3s. Course designer Rick Robbins has provided ample room on most holes to drive the ball, but the occasional presence of hazards, mostly in the form of wetlands areas, are mainly responsible for the higher than expected slope numbers.

For the most part, Bartram Trail is a player friendly layout, but with the amount of trouble in play, you have to play well to take advantage of the absence of serious length and relatively gentle greens complexes. With an extra par 5 and par 3, there are fewer par 4s at Bartram Trail than most courses, and as a group they are on the tame side, with none longer than 420 from the back tees or 395 from the blues. Rolling terrain provides much of the challenge on several of the 4s, with some of the landing areas not entirely visible from the tee. With their modest length, accuracy trumps distance off the tee, with plenty of opportunities to hit short iron approaches, most notably on 7 and 17, two short but potentially pesky holes. Four of the five par 3s require modest carries over hazards, but only the 16^th has much length and provides the toughest test with a fairly shallow target guarded by a pair of bunkers. The five par 5s provide much of the course’s character, with some risk/reward shots for short and long hitters alike. The most difficult of the group is the ninth, which features a scrub area below the level of the landing area that must be carried on the second shot. The downhill 11^th is one of the more inviting par 5s you’ll encounter, with the 13^th requiring some precision on each shot and a deft putting touch to handle one of the testier greens on the course. With quality course conditions and a very enjoyable layout, it’s one of the best public courses to open in the state in recent years.