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1. Pam Sander says...
   May 1, 2007 12:53:17 pm

   The Star-News wants to hear about your experience playing this course. What was your best shot? The toughest hole? Should you have left any clubs at home or brought more? What advice can you share with others?
   
   These comments are from Star-News Golf Writer Brian Mull (343-2034, brian.mull@starnewsonline.com): Golfers ask me, from time-to-time, to list my favorite courses in the Cape Fear Region. Sometimes, I think my answer catches them off-guard. They suspect I?ll include only posh private courses. But Wilmington Municipal Golf Course sits atop my list for three reasons. 1) Duffers and aces can afford it and enjoy it. 2) You can walk it in less than four hours. 3) Technology has not made it obsolete.Playing the Muni won?t break the bank. If nothing else, it is one of the best bargains in the area. Beginners don?t feel guilty for plunking down $12-20 to play. Donald Ross mastered golf course design. His layouts challenged the best players in the world, yet could also be enjoyed by the weekend duffer. He believed in generous fairways, few water hazards and allowing players to run or bounce shots into greens.Forced carries take the fun out of golf for beginners. You won?t find many at the Muni. Just be careful on the third tee; there?s more room on the left side than there appears. Because the greens are close to the tees, walkers won?t get worn out trudging onward to the next hole. Trade the motorized cart for a pull cart, or carry your own bag. Take advantage of the Muni?s cozy layout. Play the game at its intended pace. Breathe the air, listen for the woodpecker on the fourth tee, smell the honeysuckle.The 80-year-old course has withstood the onslaught of easy-to-swing graphite shafts and golf balls that fly longer and bend less. Despite measuring only 6,564 yards from the back tees, par is still a good score at the Muni. Just ask the competitors in the City Amateur, the 36-hole tournament held there each September. Distance helps, but this is a thinking man?s course. Consider where you want to you?re your next shot from. Don?t hit your ball over the eighth green, whatever you do. Give me the Muni.Late afternoon, sitting on the porch, sun sinking low as the southerly breeze freshens. Still not sure why they planted those trees behind the 18th green, blocking the view of the one of the region?s best finishes. It?s not perfect, but I?ll take the Muni.

2. bellaparola says...
   May 1, 2007 1:52:06 pm

   What is the point of all these incessant golf course posts? Would it be too much trouble for to type a short intro explaining?
   
   Does Mr. Mull not have his own computer and internet connections?
   
   Do you not possess the handy "enter" key on your keyboards that would allow this massive gray block of text to actually be read, if indeed anyone at all cared about this nonsense and if you could be bothered to explain what you expect forum participants to do with these?
   
   And are you aware that this one is in the Articles forum, not Sports, where it at least is on topic if still entirely a mystery as to why it's there.

3. Indawindigoes says...
   May 1, 2007 3:51:24 pm

   Bella, maybe they are taking a tip from the spamming religious poster.Does anyone know what the nickname is for the muni?

4. Crim Crams says...
   May 9, 2007 6:45:31 am

   I agree this post should be in the Sports Forum...but to answer a couple of questions...
   Best shot: Hole out 2nd shot on hole #5 with 9 iron into a left to right wind. Stuck up guys I was teamed with never so much as said great shot :-(
   Suggested to Reid (pro) once to install a driving net near the 1st tee box so people could at least warm up a bit before playing. He disagreed with the idea...so go to a driving range if you can find one near by before you play...or a quick game on the computer of Tiger Woods before you go (LOL).........
   Easy on the pocket book, and a vareity of people from movie/TV actors to John Q. Public come to play here...it's a great lay out by Donald Ross.
   This course should be played from the Blue Tees to get the full experience of the course...unless of course you're a novice golfer...stick to the forward tees.
   Biggest risk: If you are traveling down the road inbetween #1 and #2 golf holes...and someone decides to hit a big slice from the tee...watch out car insurance!
   Toughest hole...#3 (2nd shot) uphill to a small green...OB all around.
   Would be nice if the greens were softer to hold an incoming shot...but then again it would take away the Scottish feel the course projects.
   Had many a great tournament at the City Am...time/schedule doesn't allow me to play it any more :-(
   [The End]

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