GOLF COURSE REVIEW

Birdies come home
to roost at The Rookery

By Kiel Christianson,
Senior Writer

MILTON, Del. (April 10, 2003) - Nine miles north of the popular southern Delaware resort town of Rehoboth Beach, golfers looking to escape the throngs of sun worshippers can seek safe haven - and their share of birdies - at The Rookery. The Rookery's four sets of tee boxes (from 4,785 to 6,461 yards) and nice, if quirky, mix of par-3s and par-5s of varying lengths, should allow golfers of all skill levels to find their own places in the sun.

Due to its close proximity to the ocean, the wind can play havoc on The Rookery's wide-open, sparsely timbered fairways. There are plenty of young trees on this 2000 vintage Adkins & Oakley course, however, and when they mature they will provide some windbreaks. On the other hand, those same trees will tighten certain fairways, which at present are generally quite forgiving.

• Resort features • The Homestead Resort • More Golf course reviews • Rehoboth Beach Country Club

"For now, you can be wayward with the driver," says head golf professional Butch Holtzclaw. "The premium here, as on most courses, is on your short game. If you look at the holes, there's always a bailout area."

Not only are there closely cropped collection areas adjacent to most greens opposite to whatever trouble may be present, but often the mounding surrounding the greens also forms a receptive, benign bowl-shaped putting surface. Off-line or long approaches tend to remain in play. This is not to say that the layout offers all birdie opportunities. "There's plenty of risk-reward," warns Holtzclaw. "And sometimes it's more risk than you should gamble with."

Nowhere is the reward greater than on the back-to-back short par-4s on the front side. No. 3, at just 285 from the tips, has OB from tee to green on the left side, a narrow strip of fairway, and a pond to the right. The water ends well short of the green, though, and the bailout area beyond it and to the right of the green is huge. The smart play here is actually trying to drive the green, as long as you don't worry about hooking it OB.

The 297-yard 4th is more fun than the 3rd because here every golfer will need to seriously weigh the options. A broad pond lies directly between you and the green. If the wind is at your back, a semi-solid pop-up by a long-hitter could clear. If the wind is in your face, you'll need to be far more confident (or drunk) to try to drive over the hazard. Problem is, if you want to lay up short, the shot requires a precise mid-iron to ensure a reasonable second shot into the large green.

The par-35 front nine ends with a curious little 123-yard par-3 over water, which is odd as a 9th hole. Be very careful not to pull too much club, because the practice green is directly behind the ninth's putting surface. But in the overall scheme of things, it fits well into the course's five par-3s, which range from 123 yards up to a whopping 236 yards. The mix of par-5s, three of which are on the back nine, is also appealing: Eagles fly at the 486-yard 13th (of both the golf and raptor varieties), but the 601-yard 10th and 618-yard 18th require all the distance most players can muster, especially in windy conditions.

Local knowledge and local charm come into play at the 402-yard 5th and the 401-yard 16th, respectively. No. 5 is a sharp dogleg left, with a few stray pines wandering out into the fairway at the corner. A big-time draw around the trees or a long shot toward the right-hand side of the fairway is required to ensure a clear shot to the green. None of this is apparent from the tee. No. 6 runs near an old farmhouse and barn, and features an island tee box. The water won't come into play unless it gets into your head.

Overall, The Rookery's design is not spectacular, but it does offer a tasty assortment of yardages and hazards. Neo-traditionalists might feel their golf feng-shui is thrown off by the aforementioned ninth hole and the three par-3s on the back nine (including two back-to-back par-3s). And in a few places, it does seem as if the land ran out just before the golf hole was fully extended.

Conditions: 3.5 Service: 3.5 Value: 4.0 Design: 2.5

On the other hand, the greens are fairly large and lacking punitive contouring, the fairways are forgiving, the bunkering and drainage are excellent, and the clubhouse, range, pro-shop, and bar and grill are exceptional for the low green fees, which max out on weekends during high season at just $59, including cart.

Most appealing is this player-friendliness. Scratch players won't find too much here to stoke their competitive fires unless the wind is howling or they're fighting a bad case of the hooks (because most trouble is on the left side on most holes). But for the recreational golfer who wants to fit in a pleasant 18 holes and lunch, The Rookery is a superb option. Just minutes from the beach, players of any skill level can have some fun, see some wildlife (foxes, eagles, and herons are plentiful), and dine on fried oyster sandwiches and pints of locally brewed Dogfish Head Ale.

In short, The Rookery is the golfing equivalent of the beach novel - a light, fun, relaxing diversion that makes you appreciate the exquisite ephemeris of summer all the more.

Course Vitals

Lodging Recommendation

Fine Dining