Nice? A stronger word is needed

Wednesday, August 27, 2003

Wow.

You know that feeling you get when you are truly surprised by something? I'm not talking about a frightened or alarmed kind of surprised, but rather a very good kind of surprise, one that leaves you with a smile on your face and feeling sort of numb?

Welcome to Somerby Golf Club.

Sure I'd seen the billboards for the past year and a half driving around Rochester. We all have. There's good old Tom Lehman up there on the sign. We love Tom, our Minnesota golfing hero, winner of the 1996 British Open.

Yep, that Somerby will probably be a pretty nice golf course.

Folks, nice isn't the right word. Try awesome, fantastic, beautiful or unbelievable.

This writer was stopped cold in his tracks during a recent guided tour of Sombery's 18-hole layout. The Lehman & John Fought design will immediately be considered among the state's best the day it opens for play next summer in this writer's opinion. Hazeltine, Interlachen, Woodhill and Spring Hill will have to make room for the new kid on the block.

What shocked me more than the world-class layout was the superb condition this course is in. Right now.

"We've had a tremendous summer of growth," said Somerby director of golf Ken Jack. "We couldn't have asked for better. The whole 18 holes should be playable by the end of September, but we're going to wait until '04 to officially open."

But Somerby members will get their first crack at playing nine holes next week, on Sept. 6. The full 18-hole opening is planned for around late June or early July next summer. The course will definitely be ready. Also slated to open at the same time will be the clubhouse, featuring a spa and fitness center, two dining areas, a banquet hall and an Olympic-sized swimming pool outside.

Do yourself a favor and hop in your car yet this fall and zip down Highway 14 west to Byron. Take a right at the first stoplight and head north to find the beckoning green ribbons of fairway calling.

This is going to be a special place.

"Visitors have been very surprised at the caliber of the golf course and also the manicuring of the golf course, even at this stage," said Jack.

"They are surprised to see five sets of tee boxes on each hole. Most folks are used to seeing the red, white and blue balls on each tee."

The five sets of tees will allow the course to be playable and enjoyable to golfers of all skill levels. From the championship tees the course will play to 7,300-plus yards. Just for perspective, last year's PGA Championship at Hazeltine was contested at around 7,300 yards. But from the front tees, Somerby will play to just 5,193 yards.

Fun for everyone.

The front nine is terrific, filled with great holes. But the back nine really drew my attention. All nine holes on the inward side could be considered signature holes. Start with the downhill 425-yard par four 10th hole. The tee shot must contend with gaping bunkers on either side of the fairway. A creek fronts the green and also curls around to the left of the green. Pull or hook your approach shot just wide of the green and your ball will slide down the 9-foot drop into the creek.

The 14th hole will become one of the most talked-about holes in Minnesota.

Playing to 402 yards from the back tees, the downhill hole requires a simple lay-up shot for position off the tee. Then the fun starts. The green is nearly an island with what feels like a moat in front of and left of the putting surface. The green is built up with a beautifully sculpted rock wall running all the way around it. Pin placements to the right or left will challenge the bold of heart.

One final highlight on the back side is No. 17, a picturesque par three. Only 150 yards from the back tees and 109 from the front, the hole plays over water to a green surrounded by four deep bunkers.

While walking the course late one evening last week, I climbed the hill to the 18th tee and looked back over the 17th green, the quiet pond, the tees cut into the hillside and a glowing orange sun setting in the west.

Not so hard to figure out why dream houses are built on golf courses.

Greg Peterson of Rochester writes a regular column for the Golf page.

Information

For membership information contact Ken Jack at 775-6006, or visit www.somerby.com.