True to William Mitchell's architectural style (he also designed Kutsher's), Tarry Brae ascends and descends some hilly, mountainside terrain. Doglegs are prevalent as tree-lined fairways bend around well-placed bunkers. Many greens slope back to front, requiring approach shots under the hole. Get above the hole and things can get dicey.
The signature hole is the short, par-5 sixth where the green is beautifully framed by Echo Lake in the background. The clearing of trees several years ago opened up stunning views of the lake from the top of the fairway. The sixth is more captivating than difficult - long hitters can easily reach the hole-in-two with a mid-iron. The difficulty at Tarry Brae comes with a solid collection of par-three holes. Three of them stretch more than 200 yards from the back tees, with Nos. 4 and 11 working uphill and Number 17 traversing water.
The par fours can play long and tight so good ball-striking is recommended when playing Tarry Brae. The greens are generous in size and in excellent condition.
Your Golf Bud by Bud Key, Mid-Atlantic Director, TeeTime Golf Pass
For many golfers, approaching the first tee is an experience that can be truly terrifying, even paralyzing. The dread is so intense it feels worthy of deep analysis — a case for Sigmund Freud, a couch, and perhaps a friendly therapist.
The process is deceptively simple: You walk to the tee, unseal an expensive sleeve of golf balls, adjust your glove, and take your stance. A couple of easy practice swings, a confident address of the ball, and then… panic.
Suddenly, the swing you’ve rehearsed thousands of times on the driving range […]