by CLAUDIO DeMARCHI | Mid South Golf Packages

At the Mid South Members Club we were greeted by the “bag boy” (more like a bag gentleman), who we kibitzed around with before we played.  I believe Joe was his name, retired from New York, who gave us the lay of the land and a few good jokes to boot.   It was around 11 AM and a few groups of members had just teed off on the front tee, so Joe suggested that we might want to go off the back, since we were only a twosome.  Sounded good to us!  He also assured us, that by the time we made the turn, we would likely have the front nine to ourselves. And, he was right!

Holes number 10 and 11 would certainly be considered the scoring holes on this course. They are relatively uneventful if you manage to avoid the bunkers. This was certainly no indication of what was to come.  Then, you start a stretch of 3, “grip it and rip it” holes.  All par 4’s, all in excess of 410 yards and, as lucky as we were, 2 of the 3 played into the wind for us this day.  Remarkably though, the two of us managed to escape with only a 1 over par between us.

On 16, we were greeted with a 370 yard dog leg left par 4. It requires a tee shot in excess of 210 yards over water to be able to reach a portion of the peninsula shaped fairway.  Big hitters must be aware that hitting it too far right could also bring the lake back into play.  A decent tee shot should leave you with a mid to short iron into a green that is protected by water and a beautiful rock wall.  The rock wall is beautiful (until you hit it of courses) and bunkers protect the back.

Number 18 is a strong finishing hole that requires a demanding tee shot down the left hand side of the fairway with another lake protecting the right hand side.  Your second shot here is also over water to a well protected green.





















Accuracy and club selection are keys to playing holes 5 and 6.  The 5th is  a 376-yard, slightly down hill par 4. Off the fairway left is pretty much dead and too long off the tee and you are wet.  The green is nestled up to another small lake that borders the right hand side with bunkers on the left.  Number 6 could be considered a signature hole - although so could both 9 and 18.  Number six is a pretty par 3, 150 yards of water, water and more water from tee to green.  It’s a fairly open hole, but club selection is critical if there’s any wind.  The obvious safe play is long but you’ll need to avoid the back bunkers and still end up with a downhill putt back towards the water.

Number 9 our last hole for the day, and what a way to finish.  A three shot par 5 for most.  Once past the dogleg, it is pretty much down hill. For some, a good tee shot could temp you to “go for it” in 2, but water protects the front of the green.  Wow, what a day and especially after shooting a 77 and getting all the money back that I paid out the day before.

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