The Scots and Irish have their links, the English have their heathland, and we yanks have our quarries. Based upon a considerable body of evidence, these recovering mines and gravel pits have emerged as a uniquely American contribution to golf's architectural cannon. Designing and building a grass golf course in a gravely gulch may seem like madness.
When Tom Fazio set out to build the Quarry Course at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Fla. back in 1987, proponents of traditional design figured he must have rocks in his head. When the dust settled, Fazio's rocky rendition emerged one of America's modern golf marvels. So, should the insatiable desire to "rock out" strike, head to one of these craggy circuits to test your metal.
The Quarry Course (Black Diamond), Lecanto, Fla. (Tom Fazio 1987)
www.blackdiamondranch.com
Fazio’s (dare we say) Central Florida gem was the course that began the quarry course movement in earnest. The Quarry Course at Black Diamond is forged through the jagged walls and shimmering lakes of two retired limestone quarries. Original owner Stan Olsen picked up the property for pocket change, and charged Fazio with pulling off what was then one of the most unimaginable feats in golf course design and engineering. Legendary golf writer Dan Jenkins called the five quarry holes (13-17) “the five best consecutive holes in the world.” Black Diamond is private (very), but it is never too late to befriend a member, or even purchase a membership at this 45-hole country club.
The Quarry Golf Club, San Antonio, Texas (Keith Foster 1993)
www.quarrygolf.com/
The name leaves little doubt as to where this Hill Country gem is situated. But only the back nine of this Keith Foster design plays through the "hard" stuff. One hundred foot rock walls line the fairways on the ride in, remnants of a retired rock quarry that supplied the Alamo City with most it's concrete. The 384-yard par-4 17th -- dubbed "Reload" for the act it most inspires -- requires a heart-pounding tee shot over a deep ravine.
Rock Hollow Golf Club, Peru IN (Tim Liddy, 1994)
www.rockhollowgolf.com
Pete Dye protégé Tim Liddy laid out this impressive hunk of Hoosier golf heaven in a 300-acre former strip mine. The property houses a unique collection of old growth forest, cattail-rimmed marshes and subtle quarry remains. Rock Hollow was the brainchild of manufacturing mogul Terry W. Smith – father of Chris Smith, the 2002 Buick Classic champ.
Bay Harbor Golf Club Quarry Nine, Bay Harbor, MI (Arthur Hills 1997)
www.bayharborgolf.com
The Quarry/Links nine combo at Bay Harbor is considered one of the preeminent coastal golf experiences in the U.S. Hills' Quarry Nine wields the largest "wow" factor, with five holes (five through nine) tumbling through the rugged environs of an old shale quarry. Highlights include a green set against a 50' quarry wall (the par-5 fifth), and a tee shot over a 60' wide gorge (the par-4 seventh).
The Golf Club at Oak Quarry, Riverside, Calif. (Brian Curley/Lee Schmidt/Gil Morgan 2000)
www.oakquarry.com
Oak Quarry is a hidden gem -- literally. The 7,000-yard stunner in the foothills of SoCal's Jurupa Mountains is shoe horned into the marble and limestone remains of the Jensen quarry. The fit was so tight that lead designer Brian Curley initially estimated the site could reasonably accommodate one hole – the par-3 14th.
Iron Horse Golf Club, Ashland, NE (Gene Bates 2001)
www.golfironhorse.com
With a 40-acre manmade lake and towering 120' walls, Iron Horse is all quarry, all the time. Bates is quick to point out, though, that a majority of the 6,500-yard circuit is set comfortably on the quarry's "overburden," or excavated material. The par-4 ninth and 18th holes, with sweeping views of the lake and the Platte River Valley, are the most poignant reminders of the property's rocky past.
Quarry at Giants Ridge, Biwabik, MN (Jeff Brauer 2003)
www.giantsridge.com/golf/quarry
Texas-based architect Jeff Brauer's follow-up to the critically acclaimed Legend at Giants Ridge could be a show stealer. The starkly beautiful course, which makes its way in and around a former sand quarry, displays some of the boldest bunkering this side of Pine Valley. The 7,000 blend of north woods, lakes and abandoned mining land is a tip of the cap to the region's industrial roots.
