HOW DID YOU SCORE, Find out on the big board at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Mystic Rock golf course. New Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Director of Golf Mike Jones (L) with legendary Hall of Fame Golf Architect Pete Dye. Nemacolin.com.    _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory to courses like Mystic Rock at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington PA. as well as Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

He’s Back ! Yes after almost 20 years Pete Dye has returned to the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in the mountains of Farmington Pennsylvania.

Dye’s first creation at the resort still stands tall and is the #1 course in the state you can play. But as the resort looks to be a better golf destination, Dye is back working his magic again and come 2017, his next course that will be one of his last will open for play.

If you going to be a golf destination you really need two courses, which is what the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is turning into. As golf course creator and golf visionary Mike Keiser would say, with one course your a curiosity, two courses makes you a destination. Nemacolin Woodlands Resort will now become a destination.

The first hole is starting to grow in.

The first few holes are starting to grow in and are taking shape. They are already something to look at.

While the architects Dye and associate Tim Liddy, along with Director of Golf Mike Jones still sort out a couple of back tee box locations, the first hole is growing in and almost looks ready for play right now.

After a tee shot with a short carry over a waste area, the second shot can go to the green or for the bump and run players use the big embankment to run the ball onto the green. But no matter how you play the hole, it will catch your eye right from the start of your round.

Hole #2 might still require a few tweek’s and your looking out from one of them.

The second hole is one that could still see some changes, either near the green or back on the tee. Currently in the photo (Left) is the back tee box, but Jones, Dye and Liddy are kicking around adding a back tee box from the spot this picture was taken. Yes a tree might still come out. No through the uprights shots will be played from here.

Near the left side of the green could see some clean out, in terms of trees and waste area’s. There might be a chance for the big hitters to go for the green from a few of the forward tee boxes, it would be a shot that is serious risk-reward.

The Par 4, 9th hole, with water near the green.

Some current changes involve helping balance out the yardage for the nines that on the first draft was much longer on the backside, in fact almost a 1,000 yards longer.

That won’t be the case when all is set and done. Par is expected to be 72.

One hole seeing what looks like a really fun change, is the par 4, 9th hole. Now with an elevated tee box and a fairway that can play downhill, golfers can test their approach shot skills to a green that is guarded by water on the rightside that runs up to a rock wall surrounding the green.

The Par 3, 14th hole has endless possibilities.

After a few solid Par 4’s to start the back nine, all of which could still see some little changes, the par 5, 13th hole is a dog leg right will be a tester.

Then comes the Par 3, 14th hole that has a lake behind it. There could be some additional tee boxes added before it’s done, but this hole is one that golfers will talk about. It will be a great contest hole during outings.

Crews are hard at work on the 18th hole, a long par 5 to end it that will have Pete smiling.

The closing holes will test your game, there is length and some demanding elevation change that kicks in on the 16th hole. What will happen with the green is still not yet decided, but do think uphill second shot when it’s all done.

When you reach the Pinnacle of the 18th hole and we’re not talking about a the golf ball here, you will know it. The distant views out through the mountains will be breathtaking.

It will be another 75 days of construction before all the work is done, and then it will be about having the grass grow in and the sand in the bunkers being allowed to settle.

The still unnamed golf course will open in 2017, the date should get determined by how bad old-man winter is from November through March. Here’ hoping for an easy winter that allows for play by early to mid-summer. Once opening day is announced, book your tee time, they will fill up quickly.

Part 3, Pete’ Dye’s Mystic Rock at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is up next. Stay clicked in for details.