Over the next couple of months, you’re going to be hearing the words “hardest ticket in town” ad nauseam.
After all, look at all the events that will be taking place in the Metroplex – Cowboys games, the Miami Heat visiting Dallas to play the Mavericks in November, Tim McGraw’s concert at Cowboys Stadium, Rangers playoff baseball, and of course, the Super Bowl.
In golf, there’s the toughest tee time in town, where a weekend morning slot is sometimes worth more than gold. Snagging one of these valuable times is a chore in itself – some places demand that you arrive at the course early morning on a Wednesday for a random lottery drawing; others just go by who gets lucky with the speed dial and manages to get their phone call through to the pro shop.
Nationally, the toughest tee time to get is at Bethpage Black in New York, where the tee time phone system only favors New York residents, and where most out-of-towners must relegate to an overnight campout in hopes of maybe getting a tee time as a walk-up. And that’s for a weekday time, too.
Locally, there might not be a more coveted weekend tee time than one at Grapevine Golf Course, the sparkling municipal that’s just a pured 8-iron from Lake Grapevine and a flop shot from the much pricier Cowboys Golf Club. There’s no need to pitch a tent out there – Gold Card members (which costs $65 to attain) can book tee times seven days in advance; all others can reserve a time six days out.
“There’s not a tougher tee time to get than Grapevine’s,” said Trey Meador, a Grapevine resident who plays around town when he can’t secure an early tee time at his home course. “I know it’s going to take a couple of times to get through, but when I get a tee time there, there’s no shortage of golfing buddies who want to play with me.”
Credit that to the golf course and the very reasonable rates to play Grapevine. Designed by Joe Finger and the legendary Byron Nelson, Grapevine Golf Course opened for play in 1979 as an 18-hole course. Twenty years later, Golf Resources, Inc. (now called Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design) came in and created a third nine, Bluebonnet. They also revamped the front nine of the old course, Mockingbird, which re-opened for play in 2002, and renovated the original back nine, Pecan, in 2003.
“Maury Miller was the architect for GRI when the project started and took the project through the planning phase up to ground breaking of the first nine holes,” said Steve Wolfard, chief architect at Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design. “I finished the project over the next four years of design, construction and grow-in.
“We first built the new nine (Bluebonnet) and did not start taking down the existing nines until Bluebonnet was ready to play. Then we just took the existing course down nine at a time so they always had 18 holes open for play. We skipped a year before beginning the last nine (Pecan), thereby making this a four-year construction project.”
Unlike most 27-hole layouts, which usually offer an original 18 and a forgettable or afterthought nine, Grapevine’s nines are equally impressive and equally playable. And this solid trifecta of nine-hole layouts is – and always has been – in remarkable condition. Co-head golf professional Russell Pulley credits course superintendent Jim Long for taking care of all 27 holes. Long has worked at Grapevine since it first opened, so he knows a thing or two about what works and what doesn’t.
“Jim Long does an outstanding job with the golf course,” Pulley said. “It’s in as good of shape as I’ve ever seen it.”
When it comes to the best bang for the buck, Grapevine has no equal. A weekend tee time will only set you back $51 and some change … and that’s with a cart. Among the Value Priced courses (those that charged less than $50 for a weekend tee time in 2009), Grapevine locked up the top spot in our Best of Public rankings.
“You can find lesser rates for golf courses anywhere you look. But when you compare value to quality of the golf course, I think we’re second to none,” Pulley said. “There are golf courses that have lowered their fees below ours, but are they a better layout? And are they in as good of shape as we are? You kind of get what you pay for with those courses.”
Bluebonnet Nine
From the clubhouse, the farthest left side is the Bluebonnet nine, which also is the newest nine at Grapevine. What will instantly grab your attention are the elevation changes found here.
At the first hole, you peg it from the elevated tees on this 552-yard par-5. A tree is parked in the middle of the fairway; your job is to dodge it. Miss the fairway left, though, and you could start your round lost in the trees. The right side of the fairway is a bit more forgiving, although a bunker sits there.
Usually, this hole plays into the wind, so it’ll play longer. Also, two bunkers front this green, which gives you further reason to play this hole as a three-shotter.
The second hole begins a demanding stretch of holes that will test both your golfing prowess and your patience. The fairway is very narrow at No. 2 because of trees and brush; thus a fairway metal should be the club of choice off this tee. The 456-yard third hole bends to the right and offers a semi-blind tee shot. If you go down the right side, a hill will kick your ball towards the center of the fairway. If your tee shot goes left, it has a good chance of careening into trouble. The approach is no cakewalk either; a bunker sits left of the green.
The first par-3 on this nine, the 220-yard fourth, is a dastardly one. In fact, this could very well be the toughest par-3 you’ll face at Grapevine. It’s all carry from tee to green over an environmentally sensitive area. And this area also makes it somewhat of a blind tee shot. Spray it left and OB comes into play; go right and you’ll either go into the sensitive areas or in a bunker.
The elevation changes become more apparent starting at the fifth hole, a 506-yard par-5 that plays much longer because of the steep incline from the fairway to the green. The tee shot is a bit tricky because trees on both sides pinch in toward the landing area. No matter where the ball lands – fairway or rough – you will face a blind second shot to the green. Tall grasses line the left side to the green, and bunkers are a factor on both the layup and approach shots. The green itself sits at the highest point of the golf course.
Also sitting at the highest point of the course is the sixth tee box. The hole, a 414-yard par-4, goes in the opposite direction of No. 5 and plays downwind and downhill. Let your tee shot fly here, and marvel at how the ball majestically takes flight. Just hope it doesn’t land in the fairway bunkers.
It’s back up the hill one last time at the par-4 seventh. At first glance, this 303-yard par-4 is enticing to attack off the tee. Think again. A grove of trees and environmentally sensitive areas pinch inward, giving this fairway an hourglass shape. Also causing problems off the tee is a bunker on the right side. The approach isn’t too terribly difficult; just be sure to club up one and avoid the bunker left of the putting surface.
The par-3 eighth goes down the hill, making it play shorter than 178 yards. Club down one because of the decline, but don’t get too ridiculous on the club selection because a bunker front right awaits.
The final hole on the Bluebonnet side, a 421-yard par-4, can be a punisher if not played right, especially off the tee. A large tree looms on the right side of the fairway, while another tree sits on the left. The optimum play here is to favor the right side of the fairway for the best look at the green.
“In five or six years when the young trees mature, this nine will get a lot better,” Pulley said. “It’s a great nine already, it’s going to be a lot tighter as the years progress.”
Mockingbird Nine
Heady players and those who can hit all the shots will favor the Mockingbird nine. And it’s the side where your driver should catch a breather.
That won’t happen, though, on the first hole, a 466-yard, par-4 that slightly bends left. A lake sits on the left side and is somewhat hidden by trees. It is reachable off the tee, but comes more into play on the approach. A fairway bunker on the right also can be reached off the tee, as well as some trees and brush beyond the fairway.
After a monstrous par-3 at No. 2, pull out the fairway metal at the short par-4 third hole. Measuring just 386 yards, the third features brush down both sides and a bunker in the middle. The best play is to stay right of the bunker for a short iron/wedge approach.
Driver is not necessarily needed at the par-4 fourth hole – a 411-yarder – but the key here is to be spot-on with the approach. A bunker sits on the right and a collection area fronts this green on the left.
The par 5s on this nine are the best at Grapevine, and that’s clearly evident at the 524-yard fifth hole. The hole starts out straight before making a hard left turn from the fairway. The closer your tee shot is to the left side – even if that means skirting the tree line – the closer you get to the green. Tee shots that actually go straight – a rarity for most – will encounter some sand trouble. And those who go right off the tee will make this hole play even longer.
Water becomes a major factor the rest of the way on this hole, as a pond protects the left side all the way to the green. You can go for this green in two or lay up for a wedge approach; just be aware of that lurking water hazard.
That pond is a treacherous hazard at the par-4 sixth as it lines the left side once again. Another water hazard guards the right side making this tee shot extremely challenging. Because the fairway bottlenecks toward the green, hit a fairway metal off the tee for a simple approach shot.
The wind is a factor at the par-3 seventh. And because it’s all carry over a pond on this 181-yarder, choosing the right club is of the utmost importance.
The only trouble at the par-4 eighth is the water running down the right side. Once again, driver is not necessary off this tee. It is needed, though, at the finishing hole on the Mockingbird nine. This 515-yard par-5 is a great hole that features water down the left side of the fairway. The water makes this tee shot very intimidating, and makes the right side of the hole a very happening spot. Strike your tee shot solidly, and you have the green light to go for the target in two. The putting surface is slightly elevated, which makes the hole play longer. Two bunkers front this narrow green, while another bunker sits on the right.
“You have a lot more opportunities to hit fairway metals off the tee on this nine,” Pulley said. “This side is probably the flattest on the course.”
Pecan Nine
When it comes to sheer difficulty, the Pecan nine wins hands down. It’s the longest of the three nines, with two par 5s that play as three-shotters for 99.9 percent of golfers and all but one par-4 exceeds 400 yards.
The par-4 first hole measures 429 yards, but plays into the wind. Avoid going right off the tee because of the towering trees on that side. The key shot here is the approach. Bunkers are perched left of this back-to-front sloping green, while water lurks beyond the sand. Definitely a tough opener.
The par-3 second hole offers you a chance to regain your confidence (see sidebar), but that could easily get drowned at the par-4 third hole. This 426-yarder wraps around a lake on the left side and plays a lot longer because of the prevailing wind. A good poke could reach the fairway bunker on the right side, but it will still leave a long iron into this heavily guarded green.
If you thought the third hole was a brute, wait until you play the par-5 fourth (see sidebar). It doesn’t get any easier after surviving those two holes. The fifth and sixth holes are very demanding par 4s that dogleg in different directions. The fifth demands an accurate tee shot because of trees on both sides. The hole bends to the left from the fairway, and from the tees it’s really easy to hit through the fairway with your driver. The optimum play is to bunt a fairway metal off the tee down the right side for a good look at this green.
Driver is an OK play at the sixth since the tee shot is straight away. Be careful, though, because trees line the left side and a pond sits hidden just beyond a group of trees on the right. From the fairway, this 442-yard hole turns hard right. The water continues down the right side all the way to the green, which is slightly elevated from the fairway. Missing this green can make for a tough up-and-down no matter if it’s from the bunker left of the putting surface or the collection area front right.
Measuring 370 yards, the par-4 seventh is very tempting to attack off the tee. However, two ponds protect the fairway and dangerously encroach at the prime landing area. Once again, use a fairway metal off the tee to keep your ball in play, and attack the pin with a short iron/wedge shot.
The par-3 eighth is a benign hole – just be sure you clear the bunkers here. The par-5 ninth, though, is anything but benign. Measuring 569 yards, the ninth features a pond that you must clear off the tee. A crisp tee shot down the middle or to the right will easily fly the water; go left in order to chop off some distance and there may be some trouble. From the fairway, the hole doglegs left. The green can be reached in two, but it demands another well-struck shot that dodges trees and bunkers.
“The tee shot is the most premium shot on this nine,” Pulley said. “This is probably the tightest nine off the tee.”
For more than 30 years, Grapevine Golf Course has provided area golfers with a fascinating golf experience at a reasonable price. It’s neighbor, Cowboys GC, might have the more profound layout and the presence and marketing power of the star, but Grapevine definitely holds its own and has quite the following.
Make it a point to play Grapevine if you haven’t lately … that is … if you can score one of its coveted tee times.
A Round at Grapevine Golf Course
Address: 3800 Fairway Dr., Grapevine, TX 76051
Phone Number: 817-410-3377
Web site: www.grapevinetexas.gov
Designers: Joe Finger, Byron Nelson, and Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design
Opened: 1979
Par/Yardage: Pecan – 36/3,571 yards (black), 3,342 (blue), 3,117 (white), 2,679 (red); Mockingbird – 36/3,412 yards (black), 3,188 (blue), 2,959 (white), 2,432 (red); Bluebonnet – 36/3,489 (black), 3,196 (blue), 2,977 (white), 2,522 (red)
Fairways: 419 Bermuda
Greens: Tifeagle
Normal rates: Monday-Thursday $46.24; Friday-Sunday and Holidays $51.24. Greens fees include cart. Senior, junior and twilight rates are available.
Toughest hole: No. 4, Pecan. Co-head golf professional Russell Pulley calls the fourth on the Pecan nine, “that damn hole of the damn nine of the damn course.” This 578-yard par-5 demands the straightest tee shot that you can ever hit. Overhanging trees line the entire the left side, with tall grass/brush going down the right. The fattest part of the fairway may be 20 yards wide; in fact, there are some parts of the fairway where it only takes a couple of steps to go from one end to the other. Driver is needed, though, off this tee because the wind is usually against you. Accuracy is a must on all shots here, but especially on the approach, as a large pecan tree sits left of this three-tiered green. Damn it’s a tough hole!
Best chance at birdie: No. 2, Pecan. There’s nothing out of the ordinary here. Just hit a solid 7-iron here to this green and sink the birdie putt. The only causes for concern are the front right bunker and the ever-present wind.
Most scenic hole: No. 9, Mockingbird – The water features off the tee and the slightly elevated green make it a superb hole. Not surprisingly, it’s also the hole on the front of the scorecard.
Thanks for everything Mr. Smith: Director of golf Jim Smith is retiring after 30+ years at Grapevine Golf Course. He started working for the city in 1978 and helped open the golf course the following year. Many will miss you Jim. Enjoy your retirement!
Could use some work: The bridge on the Pecan nine is a doozy to go over. Even the cart girl admits that she gets scared every time she crosses it. The bridge doesn’t need a complete overhaul; just a few boards need replacing or something that makes them sturdier.
Rock Chalk: A beautiful memorial by the putting green honors Bill Gaither, longtime director of administrative services for the City of Grapevine. On the commemorative plaque it reads, “the expansion and renovation of Grapevine is a tribute to Bill’s dedication and leadership.” There’s also a Kansas Jayhawk logo on the plaque.
|
