Devens - The Hill: Devens, MA

[Bill Bertera]

The General is pretty sweet course. I thought you guys were high when you said we'd have baskets by end of the year. Can't believe it was cut and baskets and even some steps all done already.

The course is hard. Its hard to argue that any additional holes (except maybe 10) deserve to be a par 4. They are all managable in 3, its just unlikely for someone to get them all. I think the right amount of trees were cut for the first pass. Its better to have under-cut than overcut, and now after seeing how it plays for a bit, there will be a better idea of what else will need to come down.

[Rob Walker]

RB, you gotta have faith. It also helped that we had 60+ volunteers.

[Titan_Bariloni]

trying to twist someones arm from this area to come check it all out...maybe I can talk my friend new to DG in winchentucky to shoot down on friday

[Erik Siersdale]

Just to confirm the awesomeness of having two courses in the same place, are there currently 36 baskets at Devens? Playable holes, with the map being all one would need to experience the joy waiting in Ayer, MA?

[Luke Adolph]

That is correct on all accounts, enjoy!

[Jim Bobka]

Played the General for the first time Saturday with my cousin Mike; I'm quite impressed. Nice mix of elevation, great open fairways (as open a fairway can get in the woods!) and pin placements were cool. Loved the early holes that ran along the embankment. Tough moving in the soft wet snow but we managed, I can't wait to play it on solid turf!

Took three 6's (ouch) and shot a 67. Missed a couple wide open fairways, but like I said, solid ground and dry discs will remove most of the shame......

Awesome job Devenites!

My cousin is a lefty, he says "Thank you Ken Gary, whoever you are!"

Best shot of the day: I parked hole 14 with a dx Devens Roc.

Now I can finally say I birdied hole 14 at Devens.....................

[Ken Gary]

My cousin is a lefty, he says "Thank you Ken Gary, whoever you are!"

[Arty Graustein]

Finally got to play the full 18 on the General with my brother yesterday. Not sure what we carded, but it was higher than the 60's for sure. I blame it on the cold conditions and Christmas cheer! Despite the poor play I really enjoyed the course a lot. Not sure if you posted it yet Ken, but what would you say is the course par? Also, what's the course record at this point? Anybody shoot under 54 yet?

[Ken Gary]

Ahty, firstly, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I'm glad you got a chance to play the entire General. Course par is 56 with holes 5&11 being par 4's. Best round is currently 56, but I know there are sub-54's coming with better weather and tee boxes. See you at Flatrock ice bowl or before.
Best

[Rob Walker]

It is interesting that my dad scores the same on both The Hill and The General.

[Bill Bertera]

New Years Day random doubles on General @9:30. $5.

[Titan_Bariloni]

so I was thinking today..cuz I like to ponder

does devens nefa points event now host 2 courses..? or does devens now host 2 events?

or does it now open it up to 144? or does that "72" limit still apply

just curious...cuz it is cool MA finally has a place that "could" host 2 different events

[Luke Adolph]

We have been approved to run 2 nefa events this year. A 2 round event on the hill on April 6th and a Pdga c tier and nefa event in late may - two rounds on the general

Gonna be a good year'

[Titan_Bariloni]

nice..was hoping you guys went that direction

so let the naming of the "general event" start?

hmmmm a stamped disc of Ken G with a hitler stache for players pack?

[Jim Bobka]

'heiling' with his left hand........

[Titan_Bariloni]

Axis of Power

Jobo
Luke
Ken

Benito Mussolini of Italy,
Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany,
Emperor Hirohito of Japan.

[Pete Nevius]

Ah, we're on a US Army base over there. Let's go a bit more patriotic...

JoBo - General MacArthur ("I shall return")

Ken - General Patton ("I don't want any messages saying 'I'm holding my position.' We're not holding a goddamned thing. We're advancing constantly and we're not interested in holding anything except the enemy's balls.")

Luke - Teddy Roosevelt - ("Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far")

[Titan_Bariloni]

holding anything except the enemy's balls

of course with the left hand

devens wants YOU!!!! insert kens face as uncle sam

[Ken Gary]

The General now has a pond to throw over.

Before


Now. It's OB.

[Karl Molitoris]

Ay caramba, it's Massachusetts' version of Panthorn's hot tub...only it seems to be more of an athletic trainer's ice bath!

[Titan_Bariloni]

cool stuff...almost can see the smooth channel from years of water drainage on that rock...neat before and after

[Jim Bobka]

I want my free Ken Gary dashboard bobble-head, and I want it now.

[Ken Gary]

I wanted to give you all a heads up that we are tentatively scheduling tee pad installation on The General for the weekend of March 29th-30th, 2014. If we get the participation similar to what we had this fall for course clearing it is very possible that we can complete all pads that weekend. Please do you best to clear some time to help out.

We are very busy planning logistics to have all materials on site and ready for this work. Maple Hill has generously made available a number of pre-made platforms that we will use similarly to tee pad #8 on The Hill. These will primarily be for uphill or uneven terrain tees.

For the flatter ground tee boxes, we have secured material from our neighbor, JR Routhier, of the ground asphalt blend used as base material. We plan to have a truck loaded with this material that needs to be brought by wheelbarrow to each tee pad site.

All tees will be covered with Fly18 pads similar to those on The Hill. All tees will be 12 feet long.

As a reminder, the cost of these tee pads is being paid 100% from league funding and donation tube collections. Every time I look at this course and see how it has evolved, I am grateful to all the generous people who play and care for it every day. Thank you all and I look forward to crushing it again March 29th-30th!

[Todd Eddy]

Just curious - Is this course as hilly as "The Hill"? I was thinking about checking it out this weekend. Didn't know if I should bring my ice axe and ropes for some of the holes!

Thanks

[Rob Walker]

It is the other side of the same hill, but doesn't play as hilly. My 70 year old father finds that the walking is quite a lot easier. The most tiring walk for him is from 1s green to 2s tee. We haven't played The Hill since the General got baskets!

[Titan_Bariloni]

played the "General" today with Mr Lyman

lots of work done out there for sure
enjoyed the tee but being goofy and tall I was a lil skeered to fall off them...

maybe might try something like that at RF&G

loved 6-8 of the holes
hole 2 def enjoyed..enjoyed the 40ft rollaway as well lolol

6 holes I kinda disliked but coulda been because it was my first time through and was salty I was not where I wanted be lol

the other 4-6 kinda blened into my brain..think the more times I play the course I can remember them better

I am always confused at Devens..nothing to do with anything other then I am not fully educated on the surrounding area

the long wooded 500ish foot hole was a delight Guy pured that gap to almost the pin with a money flick

is the plan to eventually clean up the debris after tee pad etc etc are buttoned up? if so I am sure that pack of wolves called devens volunteers will crush it

question...why were the logs placed/left by run off greens?
for footing to approach basket?
I think you guys have great greens people wish they could have..I just don't see why not to allow them to roll away to lalaland and not let them stop on some of those blocker logs

also hole 14 that tree to right side of tee sucks for RHBH throwers..I just felt I was gonna whack my hand..any plans to cut that?

on hole 18 on the left gap is that leaning tree suppose to be there..
I as a flicker woulda taken that route if not for it..but opted for the higher % somewhat easier BH throw..

overall impressed at the work and how you guys fit another course up there...def compliments the "hill" and is for sure super difficult and although it keeps the sameish feel of the hill def has a very unique touch to it as well

love the use of rocks and thought the course flowed well esp for how young it is

please don't take any of my comments the wrong way as I appreciate and support all your efforts and as mentioned before am rather impressed

I shot a crappy 69 and those 28 chains were not friendly to me lol
can't wait to try it again and improve on that score

again thanks all for your hard work!!!!!!!

[Ken Gary]

is the plan to eventually clean up the debris after tee pad etc etc are buttoned up? if so I am sure that pack of wolves called devens volunteers will crush it

question...why were the logs placed/left by run off greens?
for footing to approach basket?
I think you guys have great greens people wish they could have..I just don't see why not to allow them to roll away to lalaland and not let them stop on some of those blocker logs

also hole 14 that tree to right side of tee sucks for RHBH throwers..I just felt I was gonna whack my hand..any plans to cut that?

on hole 18 on the left gap is that leaning tree suppose to be there..
I as a flicker woulda taken that route if not for it..but opted for the higher % somewhat easier BH throw..

Glad you made it out there Titan. Devens asked that we not create large log piles. Prefer more natural fall. Our last workday did include moving debris further from a few fairways. I guess its never far enough.

Not sure what hole(s) your referring to about logs protecting rollaways. Hole 1 they prevent shots going beyond the property boundary. Hole 10 has some logs stopping severe rollaways before the green. Guess we are ok with that. Hole 16 has has log beyond the hole that has been debated, but have decided to keep it and promote more aggressive putts by having some rollaway protection.

We talked about that tree on 14. Righties were ok with it as is, but I will look again.

Hole 18 left gap was purposely kept more guarded by the leaning tree. It is a shorter, more direct route and needed some higher risk level to equalize options. Control that monster flick of yours and you can ace it too.

Thanks for the input. Now that tee pads are in we are also looking at alternate pin locations. My hope is that The General we see today is The General with pins in their short positions!

[Titan_Bariloni]

I see now about the debris
it still played fairly fine and no doubt the actual fairways are generously cleared as is

it will decay eventually

I can't remember exact holes for those logs but personally I would just crush their soul with a rollaway lol

what is devens some kinda magical never ending land mass?
I really outta look at a toppo to see the real spectrum of how big that "Hill" is

we may play after the special O event on ride home June 7th prob 5-6ish..maybe ssee ya then

[Titan_Bariloni]

I can't live with a 69
I predict I shoot a 59 next round

[Luke Adolph]

I sure hope so Titan! 69 was an 852 rated round on Saturday hehe