Worthington Manor (tips)
7034 yards – 74.7 Rating – 145 Slope – 85 Score
Day 23; May 13th, 2017
My morning at Worthington Manor was cold, wet, and wonderful. If you look closely at any of the pictures that include me, you’ll notice I’m wearing two gloves, which only happens on really cold days. However, no amount of rain or cold could ruin this good walk.
Playing from the tips, Worthington’s rating (74.7) and slope (145) threaten to challenge you; and they deliver on that promise. Beyond the 7000+ yards, there are plentiful turns, tight targets, deep extended rough and elevation changes to test your game. None of that, of course, includes the bunkers, greens, and water hazards which are also very much in play throughout this track. There are multiple holes where you are facing more than just added distance by playing all the way back, as the angles can dramatically change where you can effectively place your ball on the fairway.
Having said all of that, even from the back, the course is playable and there are very few holes which would cause too much trouble if you played them decently. The par three 17th might be the exception to that as you will need a good 200 yards of carry off the tee and you are essentially firing through a shoot of trees most of the way. The tee is elevated, though, so you don’t need a full 200 yard club to clear the creek in the front of the green.
This course is built on a watershed, and there are subsequently very few holes where you are not having to carry a decent amount of marshy waste area or water of some kind. Worm-burners off the tee here will frequently cost you a ball. The first and second holes are great examples of this; both requiring a roughly 200 yard carry to the elbow of a dogleg left. Because you are firing into a dogleg, the depth of your landing area is naturally reduced. The script is somewhat flipped on the long (437 yards) par 4 third, where the marsh carry is to the green; which, because of the length of the hole is going to be a longer iron for most players (without a good tee shot, this could quickly become a hole that plays as a par 5, requiring a layup shot before your approach). You get the idea, Worthington Manor will make you play some golf.
What you will not be challenged by, is finding a good view. This course is beautiful both in layout and environment. Surrounded by trees and rolling over and through countless hills Worthington has as many vistas as it does divots. The tee to green, everything is in terrific condition with nice sharp lines between cuts and putting surfaces that roll true (they were a little slow the day I played because of the rain, but my understanding is that on most days the pace is very good as well). As eluded to above, the design of the course is great, placing as high a premium on course management as ball striking.
The staff at Worthington were also commendable. Overtly friendly and helpful they were a significant feature and added considerable value to my visit. I talked to one of the guys for a few minutes about my trip and the experiences we have had. From the stories of my rounds thus far, he was able to identify holes in which I’d be likely to score and how I should go about doing it (as well as which ones I should simply manage and live to fight another day). By the time I was on the course, I felt like I had already played a practice round; and this helped… more than a little.
To me, if you are in the area, Worthington is a must play. I’m very excited about trying to get back out there and squeeze a round in during my next trip back east.