Green Island Country Club Private Golf Course Review

February 1st, 2009

Green Island Country Club (Private)

6501 Standing Boy Rd., Columbus
706-324-3706

STAFF: Richard Korytoski is the Director of Golf; Matt Heitmueller is the Golf Professional.

PAR/YARDAGE: Green Island CC is a par 71 with five sets of tees: Blue (6,435 yards); Member (6,215); White (5,968); Ladies Member (5,335) and Red (5,095).

COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 71.9/136 (Blue); 71.1/133 (Member); 70.0/129 (White); 72.9/132 (Ladies Member); 70.8/129 (Red).

ABOUT THE COURSE: Green Island has a proud tradition as a tournament host of both professional and amateur events, including the PGA Tour for more than 20 years (Southern Open, 1970-90) and a Champions Tour event in 2003. The GSGA has played its championship there three times, and will play its second Senior Championship at the club this year. Prolific golf course architect Joe Lee created the original design in 1961, with some renovation work done in the 1990s. Despite its absence of length, Green Island held its own against the Tour players, with the distinctive old-style layout requiring players to handle a variety of uneven lies on the rolling fairways. With a number of short par 4s along the way, scoring opportunities abound, but sound strategic thinking, a healthy dash of accuracy and a deft short game are required to capitalize on them.

Many of the greens are elevated and open up towards the back, usually behind bunkers that can make for some very testy approach shots. Among the most recent design changes was the reduction of some of more severe slopes on the putting surfaces, which made things a little easier on one hand, but has also resulted in some new pin positions that can be difficult to attack. Offsetting the short 4s and one rolling but inviting par 5 are a pair of long par 5s with water in play, as well as two stout, uphill par 3s. A scenic, downhill par 3 with a pond in front will test your distance control and the sloping green will challenge your putting touch. Among the highlights of the unique layout is the par-4 10^th, which played as the opening hole for the tour pros. Starting from a small tee along side a pond, the hole offers all sorts of problems beginning with an angled, uphill tee shot that has to avoid overhanging trees and find the right portion of the fairway to provide an unobstructed approach to a wide green guarded by trees left and a hazard short. Good luck if you miss a shot or get out of position.

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