Anyway, this was my first 'real' visit to the Sandbelt and to a course that I was thoroughly impressed with. Its great driving in to a new course with high expectations, not really knowing what you're going to get as photos etc just don't tell the whole story.
I played as a single, teeing off from the 10th which is a solid of not exceptional hole, though just from the look I knew there was going to be some quality around. It immediately introduced my to near perfect fairways leading to greens that just merge from them seamlessly and the amazing bunkers that cut right up to the green edges. something that I had never seen before. look at that 10th green below.
The Course has many fine holes, some argue the front 9 is vastly superior though I don't think there is too much in it. The 11th I though was a lovely little par 3 at around 140 yards. Again you miss the green and you are very likely to find the sand. As you can see the land is very flat but the design in my view elevates the course to the top level.
below, looking back from behind the 11th green.
My highlight of the back 9 was the par 3 13th. around 135 yards and surrounded by a moat of bunkers that cut directly onto the green. Apparently it is deemed 'too hard' by the members and plans are afoot to alter or maybe even remove it. That would be an absolute travesty as its the best par 3 on the course and the only hole that doesn't allow the running approach to the green.
The excellent par 3 13th below, how can you get rid of that.
another look at the infinity bunkering on 13.. awesome.
14 is a long par 4, with well positioned bunkers off the tee but a second shot that lacks interest whilst 15 is rightly the stroke index 1. a tough long par 4 where a draw is paramount to getting the right position to access the pin that on my day was tucked behind the front right greenside bunker.
16 I felt was a great short par 4. A tight bunker filled dogleg of only 300 yards. I stupidly pulled out driver, overdid it and payed the price. it should be a 6 iron down the middle all day long.
Above, a look from the right bunkers towards the 16th green. A real sucker hole.
The 17th is a bit odd with a bunker down the left favouring the safe play to the right, that you soon find will put you behind a collection of 5 trees that almost completely obscure the view to the green. Some may be critical of the look of them but I thought it was more interesting than anything else.
The 18th was a slight let down, a straight par 4 with not too much interest up until the green but there were plenty of highlights on the opening 9, not least the first which is an excellent shortish par 4 bending slightly to the left with well positioned bunkers.
No first tee looseners allowed, pictured below from the first fairway around 200 yards from the tee.
Other highlights on the front 9 include another short par 4 at the 3rd though the 5th and 6th represent the best of the course. The 5th is a par 4 with a partially blind tee shot to a beautifully framed green and the 6th is a really great par 5. The Driving area is narrowed by three bunkers on the right and distance limited by a bunker at around 260-270 yards. The second shot requires a thought to play safely short or play the hero shot to a very narrow landing area. somehow I landed the ball on the front edge and carried over the back leaving another hero shot to a back pin over the edge of the bunker.
Below from the fairway bunker on 5. The bunker on the right is around 50 yards short of the green and limits the long hitters.
Right sided bunkers off the tee on 6th
The view to the 6th green surrounded by more fantastic bunkers
The 8th another very nice par 5, doglegging to the right towards a green that is perched up on a bank at the front with a 9th being a tough par 4 the plays for a fade from the tee to avoid the trees on the left.
All in all, Metro is a very fine course. The bunkers and greens are the stars and I would definitely return to sample them again. Its not seen in the top 100 lists of late but I think it only lacks exposure.
