| Today let’s have a glance at a golf course-- | | | | All of the courses get a lot of play, about 100,000 |
| Planter's Row | | | | rounds per year total, so be patient and arrive in |
| | | | | plenty of time to make your tee time. |
| Planter's Row is publicly considered to be one of the | | | | After your round, check out the new Port Royal |
| narrowest golf courses in Port Royal; one can prove | | | | clubhouse. Built two years ago, it's regal, elegant and |
| it by counting the bark scuffs on your ball at the end | | | | offers nooks and crannies for intimate settings of |
| of the round. There will be plenty. On second | | | | any size. I liked the library area, with dark wood |
| thought, count the scuffs as you go - you might lose | | | | bookcases surrounding a flat-screen TV. The veranda |
| a few spheres along the way. | | | | is a nice place to be for private events or in-season |
| The 18 holes are carved out of a forest of mature | | | | Sunday brunch. |
| trees and feature relatively small but PDQ (pretty | | | | |
| darned quick) greens. It put me in mind of the many | | | | Standout holes |
| 80-year-old, old-fashioned country clubs up north that | | | | |
| were set into the woods, leaving as many trees as | | | | Planter's Row's fifth hole, a par 5, is a calculation |
| possible. | | | | nightmare because the middle portion of the fairway |
| | | | | is a peninsula that juts out from the right side. One |
| "Planter's Row offers a different look than its sister | | | | has to clear water off the tee, but avoid the watery |
| courses at Port Royal, with rolling, tree-lined fairways | | | | left side, then clear water again at about 200 yards. |
| in a park-like setting," said Director of Golf Ken | | | | If that's not enough, there is more water, then sand, |
| McNerney. "It's the only course of the three without | | | | on the right side from mid-fairway on to the green. |
| any homes on it. Water comes into play on 10 of the | | | | Yes, it's the toughest hole on the course. Short of |
| 18 holes, and avoiding the trees on any given hole is | | | | hitting through fire, I'm not sure they could come up |
| a challenge," he added. | | | | with any other challenges. |
| | | | | Thankfully, they tone it tone to a benign par 3 for |
| The golf course doesn't go hog-wild with bunkers, | | | | the sixth. |
| but those that are there are very strategically placed. | | | | The stress level rachets up again at the |
| Water, when it appears, is anything but subtle. There | | | | thinking-man's eighth hole, a sharp dogleg right with |
| is a water carry to the green on three holes, | | | | sand at the far corner and a 26-yard-wide |
| depending on where you put your approach shot. | | | | amoeba-shaped green amid three large bunkers. Shot |
| | | | | placement is everything on this one. |
| Planter's Row requires well-thought-out and perfectly | | | | The 10th hole plays a little trick in that the right |
| executed golf. Either your game is up to it, or you'll | | | | bunkers near the green don't abut the putting |
| become aware of your flaws in a hurry. | | | | surface, but are about 20 yards in front of it. It's |
| | | | | important information to know, an inside joke on |
| facilities | | | | first-timers. |
| | | | | The second hardest handicap is on the 12th, a rough |
| | | | | par 4 with lots of water between your second shot |
| Port Royal's three courses share an elaborate | | | | and the green. Chances are, you'll lay up to launch |
| practice facility, with several putting areas, at least | | | | your shot over an interrupted fairway onto the |
| two bunker areas and a dozen driving range stations. | | | | green, making a one-putt required for par. Oh, and by |
| The golf club just added a short game area for shots | | | | the way, it's narrow, too. |
| up to 80 yards (a.k.a. the score-trimming shots). | | | | |
| Instruction is through the PGA Tour Academy, one | | | | The verdict |
| of six Tour Academies in the country, according to | | | | |
| McNerney. There are two full-time teaching | | | | Planter's Row is a challenging course that mixes it up |
| professionals on site who offer multi-day golf schools, | | | | a bit, so it's anything but tedious. The golf course is |
| private lessons or through clinics three days a week. | | | | not excessively long - 6,625 at the tips and 5,920 |
| | | | | from the whites - so keep that in mind and leave the |
| The starter area is a little chaotic because it's the | | | | driver in the bag. Given that trees pin in nearly every |
| orchestration area for all three courses at Port Royal | | | | fairway, a 3 wood will keep you golfing instead of |
| Golf Club - Barony, Robber's Row and Planter's Row. | | | | playing ping-pong through the woods. |