100 Willow Run, Roswell; 770-993-9230; www.brookfieldcountryclub.com
STAFF: Bill Houck is the General Manager; Michael Parrott is the PGA Director of Instruction.
PAR/YARDAGE: Brookfield Country Club is a par 72 with five sets of tees: Gold (6,801 yards); Blue (6,354); White (5,818); Green (5,196) and Silver (4,998).
COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 72.1/138 (Gold); 70.8/133 (Blue); 68.6/128 (White); 70.3/125 (Green); 69.3/123 (Silver).
ABOUT THE COURSE: Another Mike Riley renovation of an original Joe Lee design, but not as much of a change from tee to green as at Rivermont. Other than a handful of holes, mainly the 1st and 18th, Riley did not change the tee-to-green nature of Brookfield a great deal, but the bunkering and greens complexes are significantly from those that Lee designed. The course is still relatively short, with the main remaining exception the tour-length par-4 17th. Like Rivermont, Brookfield is on the tight side off the tee, with plenty of problems from start to finish for those who fight a hook, especially on the front nine. Although some of the landing areas have been softened, Brookfield retains some of the most rolling fairways around, and misses in the wrong spots will result in awkward recovery shots. Keep it in the fairway off the tee and Brookfield is not an overly demanding test, although Riley’s re-worked greens complexes have given the course a good deal more bite, with enlarged, deepened bunkers and greens that have added a decent amount of slope. There is a considerable stylistic difference in the two nines, with the front a par 35 with only one par 5 and the biggest concern OB stakes down the left side on six holes. The downhill, dogleg left second features one of the oddest and most difficult second shots you’ll play, although big hitters can take much of the danger out if play. The shorter but more penal seventh is the other danger hole going out, with a precise lay-up required to avoid trouble off both sides and a lengthy second shot having to clear water to reach a rolling, tough-to-hot green. The back nine begins with a short, inviting par that will test your wedge skill, but there isn’t another breather until the short and bunker-laden par-5 18th. In between are plenty of hazards, most notably on a pair of perilous par 5s, a daunting mid-range par 4 (12) with an approach shot that rivals the second, and a water-lined par 3 that does not offer much bailout room. A little quirky in spots, but an entertaining layout for those who don’t need a map to find a fairway.