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Summer Dreams at St. Ann, Florissant Golf Club Courses
Tom Anselm photos
A Boomer’s Journal
by Tom Anselm
Today’s foray into the world of
birdies and bogeys brings me
to The Florissant Golf Club and St. Ann International Golf Course.
The St. Ann International Golf
Course, established in 1951’s just
north of St Charles Rock Road. Mark Ryan, another fine guy, and PGA Professional there for almost 30 years, spoke about his home-away-from home.
“I like the playability of this
course. It fits all age levels and skills, riders as well as walkers alike.
With the zoysia fairways and tee boxes, it offers a very enjoyable round of 9 holes in about 2 hours time.”
Mark noted that although the length of the course only approaches 2700 yards, the play requires a level of shot-making and accuracy by which the regulars enjoy being challenged. He added that the track is popular with seniors and women, many of whom walk the course. And the greens fees haven’t changed since 2009.
“It is pretty much a flat layout, crossing a creek a few times, but some of the greens are tough to get to. So you have to make really good shots,” said Mark.
As for a favorite hole, the veteran course manager and teaching pro offered # 8 for consideration.
“You have a 177 yard par 3 from the white tees, but the fairway is rimmed by overhanging trees that call for a precise tee shot to get to the green. It’s large enough, but crowns in the center. So not always easy to land a shot that stays, and then some tough puts for par, let alone birdie.”
It was midday when I stepped up to the well-kept #8 tee box. The flag in the distance was moving a bit away from me. I like that. It thought about that pulling that old-faithful 19 degree hybrid, but wanted more loft, so it was the 6 iron called to duty. Teeing Wilson low, I took a bit-too-slow-a swing. It pops up nicely, but drops 20 yards shy of the platform to the right. At least I didn’t locate it behind one of them-there 4-ft tree trunks, which are everywhere on this course.
Shot #2 looks daunting enough, with the flag stick at the front side of the green, sloping upwards, then steeply down just past the hole. I figured to break out my best Phil Mikelson impression and big-swing the lobber just onto the short grass with a little roll. It’s always good to have a plan, ya know. And so I did just that, leaving me a little 3-foot knee-buckler for par. Which I smoothly jack past the cup and down the ridge for an 8-foot comebacker. Which I shakily drain! Easy uphill missed, nasty 8-stepper nailed for a bogey 4. Go figure!
Formerly The Paddock Country Club and later Old Fleurissant, The Florissant Golf Club has been owned by the City of Florissant since 1997 and solely operated by the city for the last few years. I talked with the PGA Professional and General Manager Terry Grosch about his course.
“We are trying to make this a public course with the country club experience. We put our emphasis on customer service and a course in great condition. There have been many innovations and redesigns on the course that we feel have made Florissant more playable while still keeping the challenge in there for the more skilled golfers,” said Terry, who has an extensive resume of golf management with over 30 years in the business.
I asked Terry about his favorite hole. The other guys in the pro shop office all had their opinions. Some said the Par 3 #4, with a sweeping vista of the course, others #15, downhill over a lake. The GM liked them as well, but his choice was the #9 hole, seen as one drives into the club.
“It can be played as a par 4 or 5. I like it as a long 4, but it lends itself to a 5 from the back blue tees . Dogleg to the left, 500 yards from the blues, which actually gives you the best chance to stay in the fairway, I feel. But even from the whites, it requires some power shots and some skill to reach the green. Creek on the left, trees and native grass on the right makes it a challenging closing hole for the front nine.”
And so I roll my electric cart (which I love!) out to the blue tees of #9 to take my best shot. Or shots, as it were. Now the view from the blues is daunting. If you look east, you can almost see Alton. I grab Mr. King Cobra driver and ask for his mercy. I happen to connect square and drop it just in front of the mounds at the right edge of the cart path. Thanks for the tip, Terry. Then it’s the 19 degree hybrid’s turn. Another solid strike! Wow, two in a row!
The always-challenging second shot after a good drive, and I make it happen. Yeah, baby! But celebration proves to be premature, as The Gigantic Evil Oak on the right of the fairway draws my Titleist into its tentacles. I hear the sickening ‘plunk’ of ball to branch, and hope for the best. Alas, the dimpled sphere seems lost. But since no one was behind me waiting, I take my time looking for the miscreant. And, the Prodigal Ball, once lost, was now found. However, with no fatted calf in sight, I celebrate with a gulp of Gatorade and half that giant Payday I found in my bag. So I am looking pretty good, sitting at two strokes, with about 100 yards to the green to gun for birdie. Which advantage I promptly squander with a pulled pitching wedge nestling just inside the greenside lip of the left front bunker.
But the sand is soft and fluffy, and believe it or not, I am not too bad at getting the ball up and onto the short grass. (Could it be all the practice I’ve had, being ‘at the beach’ so often?) So I nip it up to within 18 feet, below the hole, looking at an uphill slide. Wonder of wonder, miracle of miracles, I roll a lovely ball dead center for my very respectable par 5. And did I mention that I found two Callaways when looking for my Prodigal Titleist? A successful result, to be sure.
1st Hole-in-One
And, finally, speaking of favorite holes, during a recent tournament at Florissant, Brent Underwood of St. Louis scored his first-ever hole-in-one after years of golfing. The retired educator and administrator two-bounced a 4-iron into the cup at the Par 3 15th at Florissant. And it just so happened that this feat won him a 2015 canary-yellow Camaro from Johnny Londoff Chevrolet! Guess what his favorite hole is.
Which just ‘shows to go ya.” Golf has its moments of exquisite beauty and joy living in sweet juxtaposition to those of head-scratching frustration.
Which likewise makes me want to head back to the fine courses of Berry Hill, Florissant and St. Ann right now to try my luck again. Happy hitting, sports fans!
