Quirky, short, out-dated...
Charming, strategic, historical...
Northwood like most things adheres to the age old adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Built in 1928 by the great Dr. Alister Mackenzie, Northwood has great bones, even if they're a little tired. Additionally, an inescapable fact of golf courses' enjoyment is often their settings. While sandy sites next to the ocean are often the best spots for courses, Northwood throws a change up at you by being built amongst the giant redwood trees of northern California. The trees frame shots in a way that you can't imagine until you actual see it for yourself. The flip side of the coin though is the course does not get a lot of direct sunlight so it can tend to play pretty soft (watch out mud ball!).
For those that may complain about the conditioning or mickey-mouse nature of the holes I would recommend you check yourself before you wreck yourself. Why don't you put your money where your mouth is and go out to Northwood and play the course for what it is. Golf doesn't always have to be defined by how most modern courses play. Test yourself on a different standard. Hit 3i and SW into the first hole and see if you can still make your par. Play the entire round without pulling a driver. Good luck reading the tricky nature of the greens. Avoid the towering trees that will swat your ball down. All I'm saying is see how good your game actually is by plotting your way around this nuanced walk in the woods.
Here's a few pics from my rounds at Northwood. I hope you get out to enjoy these views for yourself.
Grades (where 1 is significantly below average and 5 is significantly above)
Scenery: 4 stars
Design: 3 stars
Condition: 2 stars
Practice Facilities: 1 star
Experience: 4 stars
Click here for a more detailed breakdown of how I think about course ratings.
At the heart of Northwood is a really fun experience. It's not going to win any awards but if you give it a chance and try to see the silver lining you can have a really great experience. Enjoy the task of thinking your way around a quirky course and test your game against an atypical test.
