Hole 3 Synopsis
Hole 3 is a new replica of the 3rd hole at Wannamoisett Country Club (Rumford, Rhode Island), one of Donald Ross's most revered original designs. It was rebuilt to replace the former replica of the 17th hole at Oakland Hills’ South Course.
The new hole 3 plays 139 yards from the back tee and 78 from the front. The previous par 3 did not play uphill as significantly as the land is at Oakland Hills in West Bloomfield, whereas the Wannamoisett is much more like its original and becomes a stronger representative and reflection of Ross’ work. Also, the 18th hole at the Ross Memorial is an Oakland Hills replica hole, too, so an in-state connection remains.
In the photo shown here, the green of the previous hole is in the top left corner, whereas the new hole runs through the middle of the image. This plan allowed for play to continue full time on the original, while course architect Ray Hearn and the team at Great Lakes Golf & Site Development built and grew-in the new hole without interrupting play.
Where the old hole demanded a long, uphill carry to a semi-blind green, the new Hole 3 plays flat and considerably shorter – making it a hole that rewards touch and precision over raw power. The strategic interest comes from a single greenside bunker and a fall-off to the right of the putting surface, rather than from length and some elevation.
This project is part of the ongoing effort by Boyne Highlands the last several years to make the Donald Ross Memorial Course a more authentic tribute to Ross's original series of designs – improving the Boyne collection one hole at a time. Today's design technology and historical research are meaningfully better than what was available at the original build (where in some cases the builders were working off of old Polaroids), and that deeper understanding revealed that this hole and a few others were a less accurate reflection of Ross's work.
