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GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: A.G._Crockett on October 19, 2006, 07:58:21 AM

Title: Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: A.G._Crockett on October 19, 2006, 07:58:21 AM
Congrats to Mike Young on the opening today of his new design in Madison, GA.  Long Shadow Golf Club opens 9 holes today, with the other nine scheduled to open in the spring.

For those of you that don't know the area, Madison is the general area of Lake Oconee/Reynolds Plantation/Cuscowilla, etc.  I know that Mike is excited about the property in what is becoming one of the great golf areas in the country.  Also, for those of you that haven't had the good fortune to play any of Mike's courses, they're worth the effort when you are nearby; I promise you will be really happy with the time and money you spent to play.

I don't think there is a website for Long Shadow yet.  Hopefully, somebody (Mike?  Mike?) will post pictures soon.
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Anthony_Nysse on October 19, 2006, 08:16:18 AM
AG,
  I was there on Saturday and the place has grown in very well. I visited several times back in the srping and really liked the concept for the course without an rough. I also think that Mike's greens turned out really well. THe back nine might even be better than the front-#12-17 are solid. I have pics from May, but don't know how to post. I know it's been a bit frusterating at times as ther was some snags for Mike, but I think that it will be worth his wait-This one is worth the drive to, especially if one is near playing Cuscowilla.

Tony Nysse
Sr. Asst. Supt.
Long Cove Club
HHI, SC
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Keith Williams on October 19, 2006, 08:22:13 AM
I'll second the congrats to Mike.  I know this course has taken a while to come along and I am sure it is worth the wait.  

Does anybody know who is responsible for the current name?  I always liked the sound of one of the prior names, Morgan County Downs.

Anyway, way to go Mike!

Keith.
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Tommy_Naccarato on October 19, 2006, 08:24:14 AM
Congrats to Mike and all of the crew at Long Shadow. I'm looking forward to seeing the course next month.
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: BCrosby on October 19, 2006, 08:26:32 AM
I agree with the above.

Mike's new course is very, very good. Lots of width, lots of contour, minimal bunkering and some features you don't see everyday. A couple of fall away greens, some centerline hazards, a couple of skyline greens and a magnificent, long par 3 punchbowl green that has to be seen to be believed. (Much better than the punchbowl at Black Creek, the only other modern version I've seen.)

I look forward to playing the course in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully I'll have earned a kitchen pass by then.

Congrats to Mike. This is a course worth a trip to see.

Bob
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Mike_Sweeney on October 19, 2006, 08:34:24 AM
Is this it?

http://www.morgancountydowns.com/index.htm

(http://www.morgancountydowns.com/images/routinglarg.jpg)
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Jason Blasberg on October 19, 2006, 08:48:53 AM
That's it Mike S.

Mike Y:  I'm not sure I've seen the cape green-tee to cape tee-shot combo like you've used on 15-16.  Looks very interesting from the routing photo.  Is the water left of 15th green as in play as it looks from the routing?

I'm now definitely getting down to Eatonton soon, hopefully early December!
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Will E on October 19, 2006, 08:50:37 AM
I tromped around on this beautiful property a couple of years ago and left thinking that this could really be something cool upon completion.
I'm glad to hear it's completed and will look forward to reading Mike's comments.
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: RE Blanks on October 19, 2006, 09:02:49 AM
I played the front nine a few weeks ago (thanks Mike) and really liked every hole.  Interesting greens.  The par 4's were very good.  hole 6 was my favorite.  if I remember it was in the 420-*430 range.  I had about 190 a little downhill into a green that looked as if it moved from right to left and front to back.  I hit my shot thin and ran onto the green from about 30 yards out.  lots of options on every hole.  from what i have seen the back nine may be better.
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: John_Cullum on October 19, 2006, 10:41:56 AM
Was this project known as Madison Lakes at one time?
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Anthony_Nysse on October 19, 2006, 10:55:28 AM
John,
  It's Long Shadow Golf Club that is in the Madison Lakes development.
  #17 Green-Awesome modern Punchbowl...

Tony Nysse
Sr. Asst. Supt.
Long Cove Club
HHI, SC
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Bill_McBride on October 19, 2006, 11:16:23 AM
John Cullum, when we played the first Dixie Cup at Cuscowilla in October 2004, the project was indeed known as Madison Lakes.  Dick Daley and I got lost (we could get lost in a one-car parade) and missed the tour, but you could see there is some very nice gently rolling terrain there.  Looking forward to a visit soon as possible.
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: John_Cullum on October 19, 2006, 11:25:00 AM
For those interested, Madison Georgia is one of the most beautful small towns in the South. I hope it doesn't get ruined for the locals.
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Geoffrey Childs on October 19, 2006, 11:27:58 AM
Mike

Congratulations.  The course looks to be full of strategic interest.  I look forward to seeing some photos.

A course in Georgia without any rough.  What a wonderful and unique concept  ;)  I hope the membership doesn't want to make it tougher any time soon.
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Jason Blasberg on October 19, 2006, 03:28:44 PM
The course looks to be full of strategic interest.  I look forward to seeing some photos.


Dr. if you'd ever get down there to see it you might even have a place to stay somewhere nereby ;)  

Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Mike_Young on October 19, 2006, 06:36:42 PM
Any of you guys around stop by.  
Yes , it used to be Madison Lakes ad a few other names.
But final name is Longshadow.....
Routing is different than the one shown in picture in a few places...
Have a good supt and front is ready...back should be around Masters....
Hope you guys like it after playing.
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Tim Copeland on October 19, 2006, 09:11:03 PM
Is this it??

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Madison,+GA&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=16&ll=33.522435,-83.457084&spn=0.007853,0.021629&t=k&iwloc=A
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Tim Gavrich on October 20, 2006, 12:08:58 AM
My father and I had the privilege of playing the front nine (invited by Mr. Young), as indicated on the map a few posts up, in late June.  It was a really neat experience, playing part of a golf course while it was getting finished.  I really liked number 3, the first par 5.  Nice bit of visual deception off the tee and from the fairway, and then a semi-skyline green (if memory serves) set way up above the second landing area.  It seemed to be a "full" par 5, not one where one expects to make a whole lot of easy birdies.  Number 9 is neat also, requiring a thrilling little drop shot approach over wetlands and bunkers.

I also liked the big rollicking greens.  If I remember correctly, the green of number 2 has 3 greens-within-a-green, which is the best contour style for big greens, IMHO.

Looks to be another great addition to the golf in that area!
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: RJ_Daley on October 20, 2006, 10:31:54 AM
Mike Y, I'm curious as to whether this project has progressed along the same time line as originally conceived.  When Bill and I were there, I really thought it looked like it was far enough along that it would have opened the following year.  Were there any unplanned delays?  What we saw looked like a fine setting for a course and routing.
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Mike_Young on October 21, 2006, 01:48:50 PM
Mike Y, I'm curious as to whether this project has progressed along the same time line as originally conceived.  When Bill and I were there, I really thought it looked like it was far enough along that it would have opened the following year.  Were there any unplanned delays?  What we saw looked like a fine setting for a course and routing.
RJ,
This course has taken almost 4 years......the owner just did it as he needed and was in no hurry.  It was an interesting time.  
Mike
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Daryl "Turboe" Boe on October 24, 2006, 10:23:23 PM
Not 100% sure, but I think this might actually be the view of the course.  The previous link took me to Madison, WI

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&q=madison+lakes&near=Madison++ga&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=33.524707,-83.455238&spn=0.022253,0.046778&t=k&om=1

You may have to zoom out a little and then zoom back in on the little baloon that I think marks the course from what I could gather.

I am looking forward to seeing it Mike.
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Tommy_Naccarato on October 25, 2006, 01:19:59 AM
Some images of the site:
(http://www.baselinesports.com/madisonlakes2/pictures/picture-6.jpg)
(http://www.baselinesports.com/madisonlakes2/pictures/picture-47.jpg)
(http://www.baselinesports.com/madisonlakes2/pictures/picture-72.jpg)
(http://www.baselinesports.com/madisonlakes2/pictures/picture-83.jpg)
(http://www.baselinesports.com/madisonlakes2/pictures/picture-88.jpg)

I'll post some more later.
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Tommy_Naccarato on October 25, 2006, 01:23:21 AM
Daryl,
Laker tickets on me next time your in town. (More on that one later!) You just saved me a WHOLE lot of time (DUH!)
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Anthony_Nysse on October 25, 2006, 06:00:56 AM
Just so everyone knows the hole numbers to the pics,
  Pic #1-Hole #5, Par 5
  Pic #2-Hole #12 Par 5 Greensite with #16 fairway in the background.
  Pic #3-Hole #13-Par 3 over the water
  Pic #4-Hole #7-Long Par 4
  Pic #5-Hole #9-Cute Par 4

Tony Nysse
Sr. Asst. Supt.
Long Cove Club
HHI, SC
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Glenn Spencer on October 25, 2006, 11:10:10 AM
Congratulations, Mike!!! The course looks fabulous. Hopefully, 100 years from now, it won't be 401 on DR's list. ;D
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Jason Mandel on October 25, 2006, 02:33:51 PM
Mike-

Congrats the course does look great.

One question though, and I'm suprised I'm the first to ask.  In the 1st pic posted by Tommy of the 1st hole, it looks like there are 2 trees in the middle of  a bunker on the right side of the picture.  Am I seeing that correctly?  If so, what was the reason for the "double hazard" ?

Jason
Title: Re:Mike Young's Long Shadow GC Opens
Post by: Tiger_Bernhardt on October 25, 2006, 03:18:46 PM
I had the pleasure of riding the course with Mike last year. I am so looking forward to seeing it again this year. I must confess to be dead on my feet that day from 3 hours sleep the night before. It is one beautiful piece of property and Mike had 4 years to live the life of building it. The stories around the project are great.