Moose Run Golf Course (Hill)- Fort Richardson, AK

This is the older and short course at Moose Run. This course is also a bit wider and generally easier than the Creek course. The two nines were built at different times, and while this writer does not know which nine was built first, there is an obvious quality difference between the two. The front nine occupies rolling land and has solid holes. The back nine occupies a very flat section of land and, sadly, is rather repetitive. The par 4's blend together on the back nine because they are all flat, though the one par 5 has some interest and is scenic playing back to the mountains. But this is simply an average course and, due to the back nine, the lowest quality course among the six 18 hole courses around Anchorage and out into the Valley.

Holes to Note

Hole #2: Par 4, 422 yards
From the tee, this hole bears a passing resemblance to the eighth hole at Pine Valley. The landing area is obscured by a large hill that enters from the left and slopes down across the fairway to the right. The best play is to aim for the center or left-center of the fairway and let the ball feed down to the right. The green is easy to approach from either side of the fairway, but players that reach the right side will be afforded a flatter lie and level approach. From the fairway, the player may choose to either fly the ball to the hole or bump it along the ground. The green is equally receptive to either shot with very limited protections from approach shots. Easy second hole and a fairly good chance for birdie.

From the tee, the hill is imposing and blocks the landing area from view. For those who have seen it, the resemblance to #8 at Pine Valley is readily visible. 

From the right side of the fairway, the green is easily accessed from a flat lie. The green sits in wait with limited protections.

Hole #5: Par 5, 518 yards

Solid par 5 that plays blind over the hill to the fairway. The hole bends to the left, but the player is given no indication of that from the tee. The best line is to play up the right side, leaving the player a chance to go for the green with a straight shot. From the top of the hill, the hole spreads out in front of the player and, while not an exceptionally strategic hole, it's certainly photogenic. The green is, like most here, lightly defended (the green actually has a bunker left and also long, but due to green shrinkage over time, they are so far offset that this writer failed to even notice them on the course and only saw them upon looking at the course from overhead).

 Completely blind off the tee, the player has no idea what is in store.

 Fortunately for him, there was no trouble awaiting in the fairway and the only concern is whether or not the ball ended up in the fairway and if he can make an attempt to go for the green in two shots.

From the 150 yard marker, the shot is uphill to the green and not very difficult.

This course could be a solid golf course if they did some work on it and perhaps brought in a professional designer to add a bit of interest to the back nine. It simply gets repetitive on the closing stretch. But there have been changes over time here. Bunker shrinkage can be seem in numerous places, as can green shrinkage. An aerial view of the front nine shows how far offset the bunkers are from the greens. If there existed some cash to spend on this course, it could be as good as the other courses in the area, if not better than some. 

The square edge indicates where the green used to be and how much rough encroachment exists on the third green.

This course is not bad, indeed it is actually average. It is actually something of a compliment to the quality of golf in this area overall that this course is at the bottom of the heap. For an area with as short a golfing season as Alaska, there exists a generally high quality of golf here. This course: 3 out of 10.

September 11 in America

Prior to 2001, September 11 was just another date on the calendar. There was nothing notable about that date. Sure there had been a few historical events that took place, a few noteworthy births and deaths, but nothing that made it anything other than an ordinary day. In 2001 that changed for Americans. For the first time in sixty years United States territory came under large scale attack. The history of that date is known by all. Just the same, everyone who witnessed the attack on TV, let alone those who saw it in living color, will remember where they were when they heard the news.

I was in college at the time, attending a community college in North Carolina. Assuming the building is still there 11 years later, I could show you within inches where I was sitting when I heard what happened. A TV was brought into the main cafeteria/common area for people to watch what was happening. The images of the aircraft hitting the towers, people jumping from 80th floor windows, the towers collapsing and any number of others will forever be burned into my mind.

It was not until I got in my car to drive home that I heard that the Pentagon had been attacked. This was most significant to me being from a military family and living in a military town, hearing that someone had been able to attack the Pentagon, the very symbol of the US military was shocking.

In the days that followed, I remember everyone trying to comprehend what had happened and really struggling to do so. I remember watching people show a general dislike of all Muslim people, a dislike, even hatred, that still exists in America today.

Since then, America has entered into wars going after those suspected to be part of the plot. After nearly ten years, we were able to find and kill Osama bin Laden. We have, hopefully, made it more difficult to be a terrorist.

We all need to take time today, everyday, to remember those Americans who died on September 11, 2001. Some were heros, some were innocent people going about their daily lives. All tragically died that day. We must carry on for those people.

As I was on the course today, I got to thinking about everything. I remembered this song that came out not too long after the attacks. It's a very good song and perhaps something that all people should listen to and apply in their lives.

Moose Run Golf Course (Creek)-Fort Richardson, AK

This is one of the newer courses in the State of Alaska and it shows. The creek crossings have significant buffer areas unlike Eagleglen where the golf course butts directly up to the same creek. The course is also longer than other courses in the state, playing 7,324 yards from the back markers. That yardage, coupled with the normal cooler temperatures in Alaska, make this course a formidable challenge for all golfers. In fact, this course seems to be the only course in Alaska ever ranked in a national ranking produced by a major publication, being ranked in the Top 50 Most Difficult Courses from Golf Digest. As a whole, this course comes together quite well and gives the golfer a nice up and down ride through a round.

Holes to Note

Hole #6: Par 3, 222 yards
This long par 3 plays over an old quarry in a stunning setting. As with many holes in Alaska, it is very difficult to judge distance and feel comfortable hitting a shot. Playing slightly downhill from tee to green gives the player some help given that a running approach is not possible. The modern bunker shapes are easily seen in this image.

Hole #11: Par 5, 640 yards
This hole is the longest hole in Alaska and certainly plays as such. From the tee the hole plays downhill to a rather flat landing area. The player is offered two lines off the tee. Playing close to the bunkers on the right will give the player a clear line on the second shot, but a less desired line to the green. Playing closer to the tree line on the left will force the player to carry a set of fairway bunkers in order to go to the green, or lay up short of them, but from there he will have the best angle into the green. This is one of the rare three shot par 5's that has interest on the second shot and is a fine hole because of that.

 From the tee, the player can see the bunkers lying in wait. He must choose to play towards the bunkers or away, depending on his skills and how aggressive he wishes to be.

 From the right side of the fairway, the green is only slightly in view. The bunkers on the left side can be seen here. The player can either play around them, leaving a poor angle to the green or test his luck going over them, given the preferred line to the green.

 Looking back from the green, the elevation change on this hole can be seen.

This course is very solid. No holes are very weak, but few are strong. One would be led to believe that the designer did the best he could given the site limitations with the creek. 5 out of 10