Crossing over the Chesapeake Bay bridge and through two tunnels, a region called Eastern Shore in the Cape Charles area, is the spectacular
Bay Creek Resort and Club, featuring two signature 18 hole golfing layouts: one designed by Jack Nicklaus; the other, Arnold Palmer.
Mr. Nicklaus is a great lover of environment. In his design features, all the grasses and trees are not disturbed, but built around to ensure the atmosphere and aesthetics remain untouched and timeless. His use of the bermuda grass and various varieties of grass, heather and other naturistic fern and fauns throughout the property offer quite the challenge.
Depending on your handicap, and sense of adventure, this devious designer, offers seven sets of tees, with ratings and slopes ranging from 75.9/146 to 71.5/127.
For the golfer who wants to have fun, go to the local putt-putt absurdity and finish off trying to hit the clown's mouth. However, for the serious (I didn't say good) golfer, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at the Bay Creek Resort and Club is as good (or as bad as your skill level) as it gets.
Each hole is in itself a memorable golfing experience. Believe me when I tell you, there are no "weak sisters" on this property. Fairways are perceptually generous, with subtle and some obvious areas of concern. Waste areas, long surrounding heather, water and practically no area to bail out, are part of Jack's signature on his par 3 holes. I'm not even talking about his par 4s or par 5s.
Only kidding (or am I). The way the course and the peripheral challenges from bunkers, water, trees, grass and hidden drop offs (only kidding), it plays tricks with your depth perception. Thankfully, each cart features GPS screens that give pinpoint accuracy for proper club selection. If you have ever heard the phrase, "course management," I would suggest this signature Nicklaus layout would be a place to put it into practice.
After finishing a par three that didn't really leave me much to smile about, the only saving grace was the wooden cart path bridge with the cutesy house that led to no where (not really). The greens were well manicured and maintained with bent grass that putts true and are medium fast.
Wandering (literally) from hole to hole, it felt like Gulliver's Travels to me, except for the Lilliputians that were placed with the little demons in the "Fore"front of my head.
The finishing hole features the logos of Arnold Palmer, Bay Creek, and the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, where I missed the birdie putt, but the par was quite satisfying.
Sadly, with bad weather, I wasn't able to play but a few holes on the Arnold Palmer Signature Course. The challenges seemed similar with never-ending beach front (sand traps) laced throughout.
Whatever your skill level, you owe it to yourself to experience what a real fair, but challenging golf course is meant to be. The true measure of how great the legendary Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer is reflected in their two outstanding golfing tracts.
