Criminally underrated.

In a City filled with excellent golf and highly rated courses, I am dumbfounded by the fact that Applebrook does not get more shine. When I arrived with my buddy for a much anticipated round, were were welcomed to the beautiful club house and shortly after, ushered down to practice facility. While simple and understated, the grass range and putting green did the job to get us prepped up for the round. We were then greeted by our Caddy and were off to the races. The course was in PRIME condition, with crispy fairways and slick greens and we were licking our chops down the first fairway as it felt we had the whole place to ourselves. I don't get the sense that there is a ton of member play on a day to day basis, or maybe most of the membership was at the shore for the weekend.

The first standout hole for me was the short par 4 3rd hole. I remember switching clubs several times, as the tee shot tempts you to go for the green, which was in reach for me on this baked out day. I ended up taking a four iron down the center of the fairway and hit a wedge into the punch-bowl-esque green. Relaxing two putt par, but I am sure this hole eats the ambitious golfer alive with the bunkers surrounding the green.

The next standout hole we came across was the 10th. Who doesn't love a launch pad tee box right off the back patio of the clubhouse? We both hit good drives which rolled out passed the 300yd mark, putting is in prime position to reach the green in 2. The bunker complex in front of the green is expansive, so I was sure not to be short, however going long (which was where I went) was not much better. The green was heavily sloped and I barely got the ball in the hole for a three putt par.

Finally, the jaw-dropping 18th hole was an awesome way to finish a lovely walk through one of the most memorable courses I have played in years. A long par 4, and into the wind on this day, I had concerns off the tee about reaching this green in 2, and instead falling into the depths of the bunker well below the green. Fortunately, I hit the 3 wood of my life, and hit a ball that rolled off the camber above the green and came back down below the whole. Again, a two-putt par, but the most thrilling of the day. Thank god for the superwide fairway because that was a hell of a hole.

Overall, I could not recommend this course more. If it was closer to my home in Center City Philadelphia, I would seriously consider pursuing a membership. It was super walkable, the staff was friendly and conversational, and the course felt like one you could play ever day, using different tees, clubs, and playing it in a myriad of ways. The course condition was pristine as well, and firm and fast golf is the best kind. Early-career Gil Hanse did standout work here and I cannot wait to see it again.