FAZIO: The Next Generation
Tommy Fazio's Jewel, Eagle Marsh in
Jensen Beach
I recently was joined by Travel Editor Ed Holbrook and
James Stammer, Golf Columnist from The Stuart News, for a most unique
outing. Along with Director of Golf, Mark Cammarene and Designer,
Tommy Fazio, we experienced virgin golf. The sensation must be
similar to what skiers who helicopter to mountain tops covered with
fresh powder experience. This course is so new that there weren't any
holes on the greens until minutes before we teed off, when
superintendent Bo Estey had them placed in the center of each green
(since there were no pins, we needed a clue as to where the holes
were). A first of this kind would be exhilarating under any
circumstance, but we would find out that this would truly be a
special occasion.
It can be argued that Tommy Fazio has the genetics
required to design a great golf course. But genetics alone doesn't do
it. Tommy has spent years working with his famous uncle, Tom Fazio,
and his father, Jim Fazio, honing his skills. In this, his first
project on his own, he has reached back to the family's golf
beginnings. In those days, a designer built the course with his own
hands. While visiting the site you are likely to find Tommy on a
bulldozer moving land or working on the drainage in a bunker. I'm
certain that the speed at which the course has been built and the
quality of the workmanship reflects the association and understanding
that the designer has with the rest of the construction staff.
According to Tommy, "...to really drain a bunker you need an 18 inch
trench. We then spend four times the norm on rocks. That will last
maybe ten years instead of two years. All the irrigation fittings are
iron, not plastic. Steve Mulvey, President of Pinnacle, the
owner/developer, made sure that there was no expense spared in
building." By building the project himself, he enabled Eagle Marsh
Golf Club to provide the best of everything, yet still be
competitively priced.
Well, let's get to the real story here&emdash;the course.
According to Tommy, "When you start designing a golf course, you want
to make it tough, so you make it 7100 yards. Well, that levels the
playing field from a designer's perspective. If every hole is over
430 yards, you've got a hard golf course, no matter what you do. The
key is - how do you make it hard and not make it long? How do you
make it hard, but not penal? A lot of that involves the angles of the
greens and the placement of the bunkers. Most of the greens here are
angled left-to-right, right-to-left. One day you're playing a 6-iron
to the front of the green, day two you're hitting a 5-iron to the
back. If you take the 6-iron, you'll find the bunker."
The opening hole, a par 5, plays from 400 to 550 yards
(there are six sets of tees). "It's a definite three shot hole. After
a good tee shot, you have to carry a wetland, then put a wedge in
your hand and make birdie", said Mark. He continued, "The second hole
is really not a driver hole. You want to position your golf ball and
put a 9-iron in your hands to hit to the elevated green. Just keep
the ball out of the water on the right." After playing the first five
holes, James commented, "I like the course. There's a lot of trees -
all nature - better than buildings and townhouses. The greens are
well framed, fairways generously wide. I haven't hit a driver yet.
The course isn't too long, no forced carries so far, enabling me to
play a game that I'm comfortable with."
Ed
Holbrook Lines up a
putt.
Ed added, "I'm impressed with the golf course, especially the
maturity factor. The tees, fairways and greens are all excellent.
They've done a real good job with their bunkering. The first five
holes open up easy on the golfer. It's a good way to get the player
going, without killing you up front."
Both Jim and Ed were tipped off by Mark that there are tougher
holes to come, noting that the par-5 (435-565 yds.) seventh hole
"...begins a stretch of holes that require a lot more thought off the
tee. The lay-up shot on seven is especially critical to the hole,
more so than the drive. It gets very narrow, with water and wetlands
approaching from both sides." Mark's comments followed his birdie on
the Par 3, 6th hole, the first birdie recorded on the course.
After nine, Ed remarked, "One of the things I really like is that
we haven't played a killer golf hole yet. Every hole is very
playable. Not tremendously long distances, even from the back tees.
It makes for a good golf course. Knowing where to place your shot,
course management, is much more important here than brute strength."
As we moved through the back nine, the forced carries and
distances required from the back tees became tougher. Course
management was still key, distance became more of a factor, yet there
were ample landing areas. The consistent beauty of the wetlands and
incredible variety of colorful birds remained consistent through both
nines.
After completing our round, Ed said, "I really love the overall
layout of the golf course. Tommy Fazio has done a wonderful job of
laying this golf course out in the available wetlands, and turning a
piece of property that was probably unusable for anything else into
an absolutely beautiful golf course. The back nine has some really
tough par threes, long holes, mostly over lakes and waste areas. That
makes the par threes difficult. The 19th hole (play-off hole), which
is only about 60 yards, is a great way to decide a tied match.
Overall, I'm very impressed with what's been done here. The condition
of the course is absolutely fantastic, the overall layout is very
well done."
James added, "I really enjoyed the course. It's not real
difficult, it's fair. Keep the ball in play and you'll score well.
The greens are well framed... mounding around the greens help keep
your ball in play. The native vegetation, flora and fauna has been
kept intact. There's a lot of wildlife around. We saw many sandhill
cranes, scrubjays and cardinals. The public will like this course. It
will challenge the better amateurs, but its fairness will keep the
weekend golfer happy."
The course is scheduled to open to the public - and to only 200
members - very soon. While you can't be the first to play this
course, the consensus here is to give the Eagle Marsh Golf Club a
call and experience this piece of golf heaven as soon as you can.
