GOLF COURSE REVIEW

Jonathan's Landing:
Golf in 'lower,
slower Delaware'

By Kiel Christianson,
Senior Writer

MAGNOLIA, Del. (April 9, 2003) - Despite being Delaware's capital, Dover is pretty easy to overlook, sandwiched as it is between historic Wilmington in the north and the beaches in the south. This quiet quadrant of "lower, slower Delaware" has its own allure, however, especially if you happen to be a NASCAR fan or a player of the ponies or slots. Golfers who want to turn a golf trip into an activity-packed vacation could do worse than the 27 holes at Jonathan's Landing and a luxurious room at Dover Downs Hotel.

First, Tee It Up

• More Golf course reviews • Back Creek Golf Club • Baywood Greens • Three Little Bakers Country Club

Jonathan's Landing is a 27-hole facility featuring bent grass from tee to green. The clubhouse is designed to invoke the historic Port Mahon Lighthouse, and even has indoor hitting and teaching facilities in the basement. One of Jonathan's Landing's nines - The Cape Course - is a short (2,637 yards from the tips) semi-executive layout with six par-4s and three par-3s. The 18-hole Pointe Course is where most of the real fun lies, though.

At 6,617 yards from the championship tees, the Pointe Course is no pushover, especially if the wind is blowing anywhere near as hard as Craig Stadler on a stairmaster. The front nine is memorable for the intimidating number of white stakes lining either side of many of the fairways. One usually associates the adjective "tight" with tree-lined fairways, but here the tightness derives from the ever-present OB.

"You need precision and local knowledge on that front nine," Craig Coffield, Director of Golf, warns. At 400 yards shorter than the back nine, the front' s main defenses are those same white stakes, and extremely undulating greens. Possible pin placements are only a small percentage of the available putting surfaces, meaning that sloppy approaches can result in any number of infuriating three-putts.

While not overly difficult (par of 71, 70.0 rating, 117 slope from tips), Jonathan's Landing offers the ambiance of a seaside links along with a few very memorable individual holes. Copious wetlands traversed by sturdy plank bridges serve to soothe the savage slicer's breast. And the 4th hole is the reason that the savage might need a bit of soothing. Running from tee to green on this 208-yard par-3 is a four-foot deep gully, directly down the center of play. If you're going to miss the sprawling green, there is a tiny safe spot front and left of the putting surface. Players that have the misfortune of finding the gully will be lucky to escape with a double bogey.

The best stretch of holes is Nos. 9 through 12. At one time the 469-yard 9th was the longest par-4 in the state. No. 10 (591 yards) and No. 11 (519 yards) are two par-5s that really test your driving capabilities. Water comes into play on the third shot on No. 10, and guards the front left of the green at No. 11.

According to Craig Coffield, the tee shot on the 405-yard 12th is "the toughest on the course because it requires a hard fade around a marsh if you're hitting driver." If the big stick stays in the bag, however, a well-struck fairway wood is required to leave anything less than a long iron into the green, which is tucked way back into the marsh. This green complex is perhaps the prettiest in central Delaware, as long as you're not stomping around in the muck trying to find your ball.

Despite a certain discontinuity between the front and the back ("It feels like two different courses," says Coffield), and easy scoring if the wind is cooperating, Jonathan's Landing offers a solid round of golf at a very reasonable price. The course's proximity to Dover Downs also makes it the perfect choice for golfers looking to get in on some action off the course.

Second, Put Your Money Down

Dover Downs is the epicenter for action in south-central Delaware. Live and/or closed-circuit horse races can be found here every day, along with 2,000 slot machines and 240 elegant guestrooms, and a half-dozen options for food and libations. The hotel opened in 2002 and still has that new-hotel sheen to everything. According to Heinz Schutz, Vice President and General Manager of Hotel Operations, the luxurious hotel is simply "a luxury convenience to our gaming clientele. Our main business is the slots."

Although it's hard to believe that the grizzled, hardcore lot who pump the slots would be frequent guests in the immaculately appointed suites, it's apparently quite a successful parasitic relationship for the hotel. According to Schutz, the average occupancy rate is 95 percent year-round. So if you want to stay here, it would be best to plan ahead.

Conditions: 3.0 Service: 3.0 Value: 4.0 Design: 2.5

And if you were considering trying to book a room while attending one of the two NASCAR events at the adjacent Dover International Speedway, forget it. The hotel is booked on those race dates for years in advance. However, the extreme stock car adventure at the raceway is guaranteed to get the engines of NASCAR fans revving. For $300 you can sign up for instruction on driving a stock car and 10 laps around the speedway.

Race fans and golfers alike should take heart in the wide availability of alternative lodging, such as the cozy, historic Little Creek Inn Bed & Breakfast, several rooms in which include Jacuzzis.

Finally, Raise a Glass

Food is plentiful in the Dover area. Two can't-miss establishments are the Village Inn Restaurant (same proprietors as the Little Creek Inn B&B), where the shrimp scampi or any of the steaks cannot be beat. Cool Springs Fish Bar and Restaurant is the place for seafood aficionados. The blackened scallops is the perfect appetizer for a char-broiled swordfish steak marinated in tequila (the land-lubber entrees are also excellent, as are the homemade desserts).

Food, gaming, and golf - Dover sounds like a sure bet to me.

Course Vitals (Pointe Course)

Accommodations and Food

Cool Springs Fish Bar & Restaurant
Entrees: $15-30
Tel: (302) 698-1955