By Bill Nestor
This week’s edition of “Tee It Up” took us down the road just outside of Fairmont to Green Hills Country Club. Created in 1962, this country club prides itself on excellence. Its membership is indeed its heart and soul and it continues to grow (everyone wants to be part of something special) but non-members are allowed to take in the club and all that it offers on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Green Hills owns several sets of tees with the tips playing 6,223 yards. This par 70 provides a challenging, but fair, round for golfers of all skill levels. The layout here is brilliant and it possesses several blind shots along with uneven lies which force golfers to commit to their shot. It tests the very best mental metal right out of the gate.
The opening tee shot is blind and the approach shot goes to an elevated green. The second hole is the signature hole that is a par three from an elevated green to a green protected by water and sand. The entire course is lined by mature policing trees, waiting to arrest errant tee shots. Fair, but punishing, rough and strategically placed (and full) bunkers are everywhere as well.
The greens are in excellent shape and are rolling really well, which is a rarity this time of year because of the dog days of summer. When you take into consideration the overall condition of a course, it would be hard to find many that are in better shape than what Green Hills is in right now.
Throw in an excellent restaurant and a pristine pool and the total package is what is found at Green Hills Country Club.