Conference 7.286::golf

>    Brae Burn Country Club -- does anyone out there have the scoop on the
>    course? ie layout, yardages, playability, things to watch out for.

	Heavily tree lined & narrow.  I believe it's a Ross course & has
	traditional small testy greens, that you don't want to miss!
	If memory serves me right Cornish did some redesign work on
	1-2 greens, they are large & flat.  I've only played there once
	about 7 years ago so the memory is weak.

	Larry

    Wonderful golf course. I played it a couple of times and watched Beth
    Daniel win the U.S. Am there. Tight in spots, with small, tricky
    greens. It's the kind of place you could play a lot and never tire of.
    As long as you can play on a weekday, I'd have your Pro call Brae Burn
    and talk to their Pro - I think his name is Mickey Lane.
    
    --Jack

    I used to be the assistant golf coach for MIT (5 years) and our home
    course was Brae Burn.  Play the front nine there very conservatively.
    Especially the first 3 holes.  They are all short and a long iron
    (about 200 yards) is all you want to hit the ball off the tee on all of
    them.  Otherwise you can put yourself into serious trouble.  The
    longest you'll have from there is about 160 yards (3rd hole).  The rest
    will be inside 150.  The 4th hole is a long par 4.  Play it like a par
    5.  I am long and I usually hit 4 irons into the green for second shots
    (this is in the spring, I assume it rolls better this time of year). 
    It is worth playing like a five because I find that I make more fours
    than trying to go for the green in 2.  The 5th hole is extremely long
    par 5.  Hit whatever you want for the drive but stay left.  Being in
    the 4th fairway there is much better than being 10 yards to the right
    of the fairway.  I usually hit like a 5 iron for a second shot (190
    yards)  to keep my ball on the flat where I will have anywhere from
    150-180 into the green for a third shot.  There is no advantage to
    hitting a long second shot there as much as you would like to believe
    it.  It is really tricky to judge the bounces on the second shot.  The
    6th hole is a beautiful par 3.  It plays about 160.  I usually play a
    165 shot just to make sure I am over the brook in the front.  The 7th
    is a nice par four.  Keep the ball on the left side of the fairway
    approx 240 is the best drive.  You will have a 160-170 shot into the
    green from there.  The next hole is a par 3.  If you play it from the
    back it plays about 225.  If you play it from the front it plays about
    180.  It is decieving on looks.  Don't be afraid to hit it.  9 is a
    drive and a sand wedge for me.  No tricks to it.  10 is a short par 5. 
    keep it down the left and you will be ok.  The green is back farther
    than it looks.  11 is a really tough par four.  I actually play this
    hole down the 15th fairway to stay away from the ob on the left.  I hit
    the ball high and long so I can do this.  I then go over another set of
    trees to the green hitting about a 6 iron.  12 is a short par 3 about
    150-170 depending on the tee and the pin.  13 is a short par 5
    reachable in 2 but play it to be just short in two about 10 yards or so.
    14 is a long par 5.  Whale away but watch out for the tiny brook on the
    right.
    15 is an easy par 4.  Keep the ball in the middle and you will have no
    troubles.  I sometime hit an iron but it is wide enough to hit a
    driver.  Make sure you get it over the front bunker.
    16 is a tougher par 4.  You want to keep the ball high up the right. 
    Right up the treeline (about 5 yards or so to the left of the treeline)
    for the best shot into the green.  You will have a blind shot
    otherwise.  
    17 is a really tough par 3.  It plays about 230.  I have been over this
    green once so don't be afraid to hit it.  I usually use a 1 iron or a 4
    wood.  
    18 is a tough par 4 or an easy par 5 depending on where the tee is. 
    Keep your drive straight and stay below the pin on your second shot. 
    I can almost guarantee you a 3 putt if you are above the pin.
    
    
    If you have any questions please feel free to call me at 884-2008
    
    Mike.