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Pate's perspective: Sizing up Sedgefield Country Club

Jerry Pate knows golf. He's got eight wins on the PGA Tour, including the 1976 U.S. Open, and he's an accomplished course designer. Throughout the season, he'll be stopping by Devil Ball to offer an inside-the-ropes look at the week's upcoming course. Today: Sedgefield Country Club, site of this year's Wyndham Championship.

In 2007, Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., underwent a wonderful renovation by architect Kris Spence in preparation for the Wyndham Championship. Spence did a skillful job returning the intents and philosophies Donald Ross originally crafted in 1926.

Like many Ross designs, Sedgefield rests comfortably on the natural grade ... nothing is contrived or overly created. The strategy is simple -- challenge the hazard off the tee and receive a better angle into the green. The short par-4 No. 8 is a fine example. A creek diagonally bisects the fairway. The short left fairway is the safe route for the members, the long right fairway is where the professionals will play. Bunkers in the right of the landing area protect the angle to the left-hole locations on the right to left green. The creek protects the angle to the right-hole locations. Again, there is no visual trickery or intimidation, just a clear representation of the task at hand.

Hopefully weather will permit the course conditions to be on the firm side. Firm conditions will place a premium on shot-making ability and accentuate the design intent of Ross and Spence. They will demand that a player keep himself in proper position in order to stay aggressive.

Jerry Pate has been designing golf courses for more than 30 years. His portfolio of work includes Old Waverly Golf Club in Mississippi, site of the 1999 United States Women's Open; Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck (formerly known as Shadow Isle) in New Jersey; Kiva Dunes on the Alabama Gulf Coast; and Rancho La Quinta Country Club in California. See more of his work at www.jerrypategolfdesign.com.