The Meadowlark

The Meadowlark (MJC Sig) is the first in a great dynasty of Meadowlark courses by Michael J. Clark. This dynasty, I believe, is the best since Holden's Chicksaw courses. The Meadowlark features many risk reward holes, as well as some of the freshest creativity out in the JNSE designing world.

Some of the holes that I enjoyed the most were two of the par fives: the tenth, and the eighteenth. I also enjoyed the par three holes of eleven, fourteen, and seventeen. The tenth hole featured a rocky, mountainous terrain on the tee shot, and a beautiful river lined with railroad ties. The approach was also very nice looking, as the green is protected by bunkers short left and right. The eleventh and the fourteenth par three holes both featured waterfalls. The eleventh also featured the ever-popular island green. It is perhaps a tad bit small, but is a very scenic shot nonetheless. Behind the island green is a waterfall coming from mountainous, rocky terrain. The waterfall is what makes the eleventh hole what it is. The par three fourteenth also features a waterfall, cascading down from a grassy hill behind green, and running into a river that passes very close to the outside edge of the putting surface. It does, however, seem a tad unrealistic that a waterfall would empty into a pond rather than a river, but the hole was great anyways.

The Meadowlark (MJC Sig) had one of the greatest finishing holes that I have had the opportunity to play. This eighteenth hole is the very definition of risk reward. The tee shot offers two options, a short carry over the river to a long narrow fairway, or a long carry to a wider fairway with two bunkers on either side. The approach offers two options as well. An easier shot to a long narrow fairway lined with bunkers, or a slightly tougher shot to a small patch of fairway, farther away from the first shot.

Overall, I felt that the Meadowlark (MJC Sig) was by far the best design ever by Michael J. Clark, and the best new course to be introduced in the last year or so. It was full of fresh ideas, (i.e. the rocky, mountainous terrain, and the waterfalls) as well as overall great playability, and beautiful looking shots.

The Meadowlark is by far the best JNSE design every done by Michael J. Clark, and proves why he is a big part of the future of JNSE design. The background, pallette, and choice of objects all flowed well and helped the scenery.

The Meadowlark, in my mind, features what may be the greatest set of par 3's on any course in the world. These 5 holes are all great scenery wise, but are also challenging. My favourite of these par 3's (and also my favourite hole on the course) is the 195 yard 14th. This is a great scenery hole with the waterfall on the left, running down through a stream that cuts in front of the green. However, this hole is equally deadly as it is scenic. Anything short is wet, and getting the perfect distance to hold the green is just as difficult.

3 of the 4 par 5's are also great holes as well. The 5th is another great hole. The player has an option of playing a huge draw to put himself in position for a tough second shot over a stream, but with about 40 yards between the stream and green, it gives the player more chance to go over the water. The one par 5 that I did not like is the 18th. This was a hole of confusion, in my opinion. There were too many fairways to chose from and it was almost like you were just guessing where to hit your shot, instead of planning a strategy.

The only thing I did not like about this course was the rocky stuff. The colour of it was somewhat OK, but (with the exception of the 11th hole), it just didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the course. Good thing it was only used on about 4 or 5 holes.

All in all, this was an amazing course and one that once you play it once, you'll play it many more times.