19. Trip to Long Island September 19-21, 2015

NGLA hole #7---see more below

Long Island for 3 Days…September 19-21, 2015

Pat was baby sitting for the grandkids Saturday and then heading to NH Sunday afternoon for golf at Bald Peak Monday, so I quickly put together a short 3 day trip to Long Island.  Left our Milton, MA place around 8:30am Saturday and caught the New London to Orient Point ferry at 11:30.  Traffic was not bad on LI (given that we are past Labor Day) and arrived at The Bridge in Bridgehampton around 1:30.

The Bridge, Bridgehampton, NY September 19:  The Bridge was designed by Rees Jones and the course opened for play in 2005.  It is as different a country club as you will ever find.  Built on a 500 acre piece of land that formerly was the Bridgehampton Motor Racing Circuit where the likes of Paul Newman and Stirling Moss raced.  The place is filled with old mementos and signs from the old race track, the logo is a checkered flag, and the clubhouse is strikingly modern.  And if there was a dress code, they would have never let me in the place (as I have no tattoos or earrings, my golf shirt has a collar and is always tucked in, and I wear my hat forwards).  There actually are members of The Bridge who are also at places like Ekwanok and Maidstone.  I know of some people who belong to multiple clubs who keep a set of clubs at each.  Wondering if the folks at The Bridge keep a different wardrobe there.  Oh well, the members would probably view me as being stuffy (no comments, please).

The Bridge was #90 on Golf Magazine’s USA Top 100 in 2005 after it first opened but never appeared again on a Top 100.

I had heard some negative comments about The Bridge from some friends, but it was on my USA Top 100 Ever bucket list, so had to go play it…and must say I was very pleasantly surprised (not enough to fork over an initiation fee of almost $1 million according to reliable sources in the Hamptons).  I teed off on #10, a 520 yard par 5, downhill off the tee, and then sharply uphill to a green sitting on top of a big hill (there are many big hills on the property).  After three good shots and sinking a 7’ putt, had my birdie and started liking the course right away.  Seriously, after about 5 holes, I was surprised how good the holes were, even if the routing of the course was poor (it was hard to sense where you were on the course).  Ended the back nine with a 2 over 38, and jwas joined starting on 18 by the head pro, Jeff Warne (Jeff did not play, but drove around in a cart for 10 holes).  Jeff is originally from Augusta, GA and had previously worked at Sleepy Hollow and Doral with Jim McLean (who I knew from Jim’s days at Quaker Ridge).  Jeff has been at The Bridge since it opened. 

After a few comments back and forth about some golf courses we both knew, it was clear that we had similar views about golf courses and architecture.  Jeff and his Greens Superintendent (working with Rees Jones) have been implementing a whole series of changes to the golf course, which certainly looked to me to be major improvements.  A bunch of elevated tees were lowered and/or removed, trees removed, and fairways widened considerably.  In many ways, the course now reminds me of Shelter Harbor in southwestern RI designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry. 

While the routing is still problematic, the widened fairways really offer strategic options.  The course is very well bunkered, and despite the elimination of some of the high tees (it was reputed to be an impossible walk, or should I say climb, before these changes), still offers fabulous views of Peconic Bay to the north.  It is also in absolutely perfect condition.  I am not sure why the routing is as it is…but wonder of having 500 acres available (150-175 acres is plenty for a great course) might be a curse, and causes one to get sloppy and undisciplined. 

A bunch of very good holes, and the one that stands out to me is #2, a slightly uphill 214 yard par 3 with a green setting and green shape/slope eerily similar to hole #9 on Pinehurst #2.

Anyhow, it was nice to be pleasantly surprised and I sense the course will continue to get better.  Glad I played it, but trust me, I did not purchase any clothing in the shop.

After a good shower, got together with an old friend, Paul Babcock from Sag Harbor, and we went out for a good Italian/seafood dinner and told a bunch of war stories about the good old days.  Since neither of us imbibe any more, this is one evening that both of us will remember, making it very different from those “good old days.”

Timber Point (Red & Blue) September 20, 2015:  Stayed at Paul’s place Saturday night and woke early as I needed to leave by 5:45am to make my tee time at Timber Point some 75 minutes west on the south shore of LI.  Timber Point (now a Suffolk County muni) was included in the 61-70 bracket of Golf Digest’s Top 100 Tests of Golf in 1969, but has not been included on any other Top 100 listing… except for its #12 spot on the 1939 Worldwide Top 100 posted several years on GolfClubAtlas.com.  That put it on two of my bucket lists, and created a must play…and is further proof that the 1939 list is a spoof.

Suffice it to say that Timber Point is a prime example of my 8^th grade teacher’s famous line ”how the mighty have fallen.”  Other than that, I will follow the advice of my mother (and all mothers everywhere) and not say anything.  But, it is good to have it in the rear view mirror.

National Golf Links of America (NGLA), September 20, 2015:  After the round, I had a major decision to make…should I lunch at Timber Point or NGLA.  After some deep thought, and flipping a coin, I chose NGLA.  Drove back east to Southampton and into the impressive gates guarding this shrine. 

The National was the creation of Charles Blair Macdonald, who built it to bring great golf to the USA.  CBM had travelled extensively through the British Isles carefully examining many of the outstanding holes of Great Britain.  He was determined to build a course that showcased these designs by bringing adaptations of some of these holes to the USA.  And he succeeded.  Most knowledgeable observers credit the completion of NGLA and Francis Ouimet’s victory at the 1913 US Open at The Country Club with igniting a golf boom in the USA.

NGLA has appeared on every USA Top 100 list tracked by moi except for the Golf Digests lists prior to 1985 (what were those pre ’85 panelists and editors thinking??), peaking at #4 on Golf Week’s merged list 2012-2015.  Similar patterns are seen in the Worldwide lists.  NGLA appeared on every World Top 100 list I cover except Golf Magazine lists prior to 1985 (Kool-Aide served at both magazines before 1985) and its highest rating Worldwide is #5 on the Architect’s survey.

Lunch was wonderful.  Given my advancing age (or should I say advanced age), I chose to skip the full lunch (lobster tails as an appetizer).  NGLA has been famous for its lunch (and its overall ambiance) for decades.  Over the past 20-30 years many new over-the-top clubs have tried to duplicate the atmosphere but all have failed…and the wonderful thing is that NGLA has simply kept everything around the clubhouse and service in general just as it was when I first stepped on its hallowed grounds 40 years ago.  No need to improve on perfection, and certainly no need to “stay in step with the times.”

A foursome had just teed off on #1 so we went out and started on #3 (par 4 Alps hole).  The course was virtually empty and the weather was perfect…temp in low 70’s, low humidity, winds of about 15mph, and not a cloud to be seen.  As I reached the 4^th tee (par 3 Redan hole), the changes at NGLA became startlingly apparent…and all for the better.  I had heard that National had removed most of the trees on the property, but frankly had not remembered there being that many trees.  Perhaps my memory is failing, but my recollection of the Redan hole from the 70’s and 80’s was a hole with lots of trees in the background…now there are none, and the northern view is to Peconic Bay in the distance...a totally different and much improved feel.  I was blown away…the hole was almost unrecognizable to me.  What I found most interesting was how the green was oriented much more from front to back (as opposed to right to left) than I recalled or compared to the original Redan at North Berwick (remember, CBM built adaptations, not copies).  In fact, I realized that the orientation of the Redan green at Old Macdonald at Bandon is quite similar of NGLA's 4th.  Let the record show that I hit the green, and after leaving my 40’ putt about 10’ short, jarred that one for par (knew you would be interested). 

The greens at NGLA are incredible…putts with double breaks are the easy ones, and great precision is required.  For example, on the downhill par 3 6^th (“Short”) the pin was right front.  I hit what I thought was a perfect 8 iron, which landed on a downslope and trickled past the pin into the long but very narrow (about 15” wide) strip bunker.  I went from a birdie 2 to a big “X” very quickly at that point.  There are places you just have to avoid, and the penalty is severe if you fail to avoid them.  More than fair enough.

Other holes worth commenting on (actually all are, but to keep this from being shorter than “War and Peace”…) include the following (in order played…I played it 3-15, 1-2, 16-18):

#7—par 5 500 yard St. Andrews (adaptation of The Road Hole)—while there is no road behind the green, the green angle is perfect, forcing the player to hit their second shot to the right side of the green for a proper angle to recover.  My second was too far left leaving me with a tough 43 yard pitch over the deep deep pot bunker (see picture at the top of this post)..might be referred to as the Devil’s Other Asshole…to a shallow green from this angle.  Since you asked, I hit my best pitch of the trip to 12’ and 2 putted for my par.

#11—par 4 432 yard Plateau—somehow I remember a long row of trees along the left side of this hole, almost walling it off from the rest of the course.  Trees are done and replaced by a brilliant view of Sebonic Bay.  Don’t ask about my score here.

#14—par 4 393 yard (Cape)---brilliant strategic design with tons of options (each with different risk/reward trade offs)…make up your mind and play it.

#1—par 4 330 yards (Valley) to a raised green.  Adaptation (IMO) of #1 at North Berwick.  Looks simple enough till one gets to the green, which moves in every direction (seemingly simultaneously).

#2---par 4 330 yards (Sahara) uphill and then down to a green well protected by a huge bunker right.  Drivable by today’s kids (and moi in my younger days) but you better be careful.  Famous for the windmill overlooking the hole (no, not providing “clean” electric power and not eligible for a subsidy from the folks in Albany or Wash DC).  Got my birdie here the conservative way.

#18—par 5 uphill 502 yards (Home).  Hit perfect drive and 3 wood over big cross bunker, leaving a sand wedge in.  Two putts for par and a good finish.

Anyone who has the chance, and understands this silly game must play this track if they get the opportunity.  Proof of the brilliance of Macdonald and Seth Raynor.  Ended up with a 43-40=83.  A few doubles due to lapses in judgment generating appropriate punishment. 

After, the round, few things as good as standing under National’s shower heads.  Then a drive back west to Pt. Jefferson.  For sure, Today I was the first person to ever play Timber Point and National Golf Links of America on the same day!!

St. George’s G & CC, September 21, 2015:  Despite growing up about 30 miles away, and living most of my too many years in the NY area, I had never heard to Long Island’s St George’s G & CC until reading a write up of it on GolfClubAtlas.com  (http://golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/st-georges-golf-country-club/).  Located in the town of Stony Brook, NY on LI’s north shore (right next to the State University of NY’s Stony Brook campus), it was founded in 1917 and the course was designed by Devereux Emmet, a good friend of C. B. Macdonald and a fine player in his own rite.  Emmet designed over 125 courses, mostly in the northeast, and including:

            --Congressional CC (Blue), MD

            --Hartford GC, CT

            --Engineers CC, NY   

            --Garden City GC (NY)

            --Nassau CC, NY

            --Pelham CC, NY

            --Pomonok CC, NY (closed in 1949)

In terms of ratings, St George’s has not been included on a Top 100, but it has been on Golf Weeks Top Classic courses list since 2011. 

I got to the course at about 7:30am and was able to go out and play around 7:45.  Viewing the course from adjoining roads made me salivate…this place looked incredible…and it was.  Best description would be (1) NGLA less 500 yards and without Peconic Bay, or (2) a pure hidden gem.  Immediately reminded me of Minneapolis GC and White Bear Yacht Club.  Was recently renovated by Gil Hanse.

The course itself is better than I had anticipated.  Firm and fast, near perfect condition.  Rolling wide fairways (except for #12) which offer great strategic options, brilliant bunkering, and firm fast interesting greens with every trick in the book.  This is another must play.

Got me wondering about golf courses with St. George in their name.  I know of four great ones, three of which I have played this year:

            Royal St. George’s, Kent, England (GM #33 in world; did not play in 2015

            St. George’s G &CC, Toronto, Canada (GM #87 in world); played 7/27/15

            St. George’s Hill GC, Surrey, England; played 6/19/15

            St. George’s G & CC, East Setauket, NY, USA; played 9/21/15

Any other great courses with St. George in its name??  Should St. George be admitted into the Golf Hall of Fame?

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All caught up again with this blog.  And made some small progress on bucket lists:

--1939 “First Top 100” (spoof): 101 courses (two tied for 100 spot), 79 played, 5 no longer exist, and 17 to go (England-6; USA-3; Cont Europe-3; S Africa-2; Canada-1; Sri Lanka-1; Vietnam-1)

--USA Top 100 Ever from five sources: 338 courses on list, 288 played, 2 no longer exist, and 48 to play

Next trip is drive from MA to NC in about 10 days.  Planning to play a bunch in NJ and one in VA.  Then, a big trip to Asia  starting late October. 

17. Midwest Trip to meet Australian Friend August 29-September 4, 2015

Midwest Trip to meet Australian Friend August 29-September 4, 2015

In early 2012, Pat and visited New Zealand and Australia for five weeks.  Was a very special trip from both a golf and sightseeing standpoint.  I had been to both in the 1970’s (including a 4 week trip to both and New Guinea) and it was wonderful to return with my bride. 

Melbourne probably has the finest collection of world-class courses of any city in the world.  In terms of a 30-50 mile radius, only New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Columbus, OH compare in any way.  During our visit we of course played Kingston Heath GC in Melbourne’s Sandbelt (about 15-20 miles SE of downtown), a superb design (originally by Dan Soutar with bunkering revised by Alister Mackenzie in 1926) that I consider one of the two best examples of simple, brilliant strategic architecture in the world (the other being The Old Course in St. Andrews).  We played KHGC with a member we had been introduced to virtually before our arrival (again, names not revealed) and became fast friends.  He visited us in Boston the summer of 2012, and also was there when I finished the Golf Magazine 2013 World 100 in May 2014.  But I will warn you, he had horrible taste in Vietnam restaurants.  Therefore, if you are in Melbourne, play KHGC with an Aussie named John (probably more than one member with that first name) and he suggests going to a Vietnamese restaurant with him, finish the round at KHGC and then duck out of dinner in any way possible.

John started talking (mostly emailing) about a trip to the Midwest (US, not AUS…the Midwest in AUS is the Outback…firm and fast but not much else positive for golf) about 5-6 months ago.  His trip is to Chicago Golf, Medinah, Shoreacres, Crystal Downs, The Dunes Club, Oakland Hills, Inverness, The Golf Club, Muirfield Village, Oakmont, and Fox Chapel (Chicago/SW and N Michigan/Detroit/Toledo/Columbus/Pittsburgh for you uneducated).  I was able to help setting up a couple of clubs, and others helped John with the rest.  I decided to tag along for The Golf Club, Oakmont, and Fox Chapel after research showed a lack of cheap Vietnamese restaurants in Columbus and Pittsburgh.  I ended up scheduling a seven-day trip to Detroit/Dayton/Cincinnati/Columbus/Cleveland-Canton/Pittsburgh encompassing 11 courses in those 7 days.  Eight of the 11 are new to me…so progress will be made on bucket lists.  Plus I can see John several days and play some great ones with him (and I’ll pick the restaurants).  Only issues might be weather and surviving another of these nutty journeys (golf carts will get a serious workout).

Saturday August 29—Franklin Hills:  A Donald Ross design (1927) renovated by Ron Prichard in 2004.   Listed in last Links Magazine USA Top 100 as #100 which is its only entry on my USA Top 100 spreadsheet.  It has been a regular on Golf Week’s USA Top 100 Classic lists since GW started these lists in 1997///starting off with a strong #52, falling lower and then getting to #62 in 2007 and 2011…the improvement after 2004 coming as a result of Prichard’s renovation (currently #77).   Course in superb shape even though too green for my taste…but even as green as it is, the turf is very firm, healthy, as reasonably fast with good run out.   Wonderful use of land to reward is taking tee shots with clear views of greens and punish layups unless they are very accurate and well thought out.  For example, on #1, a 451 yard down hill par 4, there is a rise in the fairway out about 260 yards…with two fairway bunkers beyond the rise.  If you layup and are in center of fairway, you have a clear view of the green…but if you are left or right…your view is blocked by the rise and your 2^nd is blind.  If you take your chances and go over the rise, you are rewarded with a clean view of the putting surface.  Greens are typical Ross efforts are superb…unless you are above the hole, and then your are dead!!

Hole #13 is a fabulous short par 4..uphill to small green perched on top of a hill fronted by a deep bunker. 

Course’s one real weak point is its par 5’s which from tips are 535/521/477/460 yards…should be a par 70 instead of 72.

Sunday Aug. 30—Indianwood—Old:  Up early and drive about 15 miles north to Pontiac area.  Designed by Wilfred Reid and completed in 1925, Ironwood was a first class resort and then a private club in 1942 and a gathering place for Detroit’s elite until a long slide commenced in the 1950’s.  Under new ownership starting in 1981, it commenced its rebound and hosted two US Woman’s Opens in 1989 and 1994 and the US Senior Open in 2012.  Had the pleasure of playing it with another Golf Digest rater, Clif Haka from Lansing, MI.  We had traded emails two years back and this proved to be a good opportunity to get together.  Clif had played Indianwood once before about 7-8 years ago..  It made the Golf Magazine USA Top 100 consistently from 1991-2003 peaking at #64 in 1997, and my merged Golf Week Top 100 in 1999 and 2000 with a highest ranking of #89.

I loved it.  Wide open with very few trees, it is built on a glorious piece of property and was in excellent condition.  We were the “dew sweepers” with a 7:18am tee time and it had rained the evening before, so course was very wet, but played firm.  Greens are very tough with big time slopes from back to front and often with even greater slopes (from back to front and out of the rough) over the greens, so best not too be long on your approaches.  Best holes are punch bowls #4 and #9, 201 yard par 3 4^th to smallish green with major back to front slope, short but well designed #10, long tough par 4 #12, and #16.  In summary, a true hidden gem very much worthy of a visit…could use some “refreshening” but absolutely great bones.

Sunday afternoon Aug. 30—NCR Country Club--South:  This was to be a very long day.  Left Indianwood around 10:45am for a long (255 mile) drive to Dayton, OH and NCR Country Club.  The club has a long and rich history, including the 1969 PGA Championship, won by Ray Floyd by one stroke over Gary Player, the target of anti-Apartheid protests during the event), the 1986 US Woman’s Open, and the 2005 US Senior Open.  NCR opened its doors in 1954 with two courses, North and South, both designed by Dick Wilson (with the South being the tougher Championship venue). It was started as a benefit for NCR employees owned by NCR Corporation until it was spun off in later years and is now open to non NCR folks.

NCR was a regular on the USA Top 100 lists until about 10 years ago.  It was on Golf Digest’s Top 100’s from 1969-2003 (except for 1985 and ’87) peaking at #70 in 1991, but did not fare as well on Golf Week (one appearance at #99 on my merged list in initial 1997 listing) or Golf Magazine (included in first two USA lists in 1991 and ’93 at #79 and #81 respectively).

I arrived around 3:15pm and was able to get off on #10 shortly thereafter.  However, after playing #16, the warning siren went off, and we went back to the clubhouse for a delay that lasted almost two hours.  Faced with 11 holes to play with just 90 minutes before sunset, it was a made dash with a cart, playing those 11 holes in 70 minutes.  Don’t ask me what those holes were like (actually I do semi-remember them).  Course is not among my favorites.  Had been punched about 9 days earlier and I was surprised at how soft it still was.  Mud all over the ball after every shot.  Hard to really tell about the course given condition, but also no question that the trees lining both sides of every fairway had a lot to do with the time required for the fairways to heal from aerification.

Monday afternoon Aug 31—Coldstream CC, Cincinnati:  Few things as enjoyable as sleeping late, especially after a day as long as yesterday!  Monday’s are tough on these trips as most clubs are closed for outings or maintenance.  After many phone calls hit pay dirt and was able to arrange a game at Coldstream for Monday 8/31.  Setting up these trips requires lots of favors, and it is always a pleasure to be able to reciprocate, or help another “bucket-lister” so long as their request is reasonable and doable.

Played with a member and two other guests of his (they all work in the same office).  Coldstream opened in 1960, was designed by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee and remodeled by Robert von Hagge in 2005.  Was on Golf Digest Top 100 from 1969 through 1989, a total of 11 consecutive lists, with a peak of inclusion in the #51-60 grouping in 1969 and then peaking again as #70 in 1987 (note that from 1971-1983, a total of 7 consecutive lists, it was in the #51-100 grouping, so who knows where it actually stood?).  On my GW merged list, it just made the top 100 on GW’s initial list in 1997 (#88…due to its #44 rating on GW’s Modern list). 

This is a very tough course with very large greens (at least three that are over 50 yards deep) but not one that I would want to play every day.  The trees lining every fairway cut off angles on many holes, leaving few options for playing the holes, and of course, they cut off air circulation.  Interestingly, the club experienced a loss of many ash trees on the back nine due to a beetle known as the emerald ash beetle (EAB), and the greens that had been surrounded by the now dead ash trees are now the healthiest on the course.

After the round, drove up to Columbus, and met “Aussie John” for dinner…great to catch up with him.  Will be playing with him at The Golf Club, Oakmont, and Fox Chapel on 9/1, 3, and 4 respectively.

Tuesday morning Sept 1—The Golf Club, New Albany, OH:  Designed by Pete & Alice Dye, TGC, located about 10-12 miles west of Columbus, opened in 1967 (one of their earlier courses), fulfilling the dream of its owner, Fred Jones.  It has been on every USA Top 100 list starting in 1969 with only two listings at #40 or higher and as high as #6 in Golf Week in 1999.  On Worldwide Top 100 lists, TGC has been a “regular” since 1983 (missing only the first two Golf Magazine Top 50’s in 1979 and 1981 and the Architects Society survey).  Highest rating was #32 on Golf Magazine in 1993.  Simply put, this is a true Top 100 track.

I had the privilege of playing TGC for the first time in 1980 and have wanted to return ever since.  I remember it having the feel of a golf course just plucked down in the middle of farmland.  I also remember the locker room being similar to Seminole’s famous men’s locker room, with lockers on the perimeter and seating in the center.  A fabulous design, but one that necessitates a small membership.  In fact, apparently membership at TGC is limited to 150 members (equal to the number of lockers).

The course was recently renovated extensively, adding a couple of hundred yards (now 7439 from the tips) and changing a couple of greens.  Pete Dye, now 89 years old, led the renovation efforts.   I don’t think any architect in history has as much experience in “making something from nothing” as Pete Dye.  Think about some of his creations that arose out of swamps, flat deserts, and in this case, very flat farmland (as evidenced by the land surrounding TGC).  He built a 13^th hole here that looks more like a hole at Harbor Town than one in Ohio, yet somehow it fits in beautifully (as is followed by one of the best par 5’s I have played).

Best holes are #6 (dogleg left 470 yards, with creek angling in front of green, and a very tricky angled setting of the green itself…making it shallower than it appears), and #12-15.  However, for unknown reasons, the course was very very wet when we played it.  While there was some rain that eek, not enough to account for the softness. My sense is that the renovation included a regressing of the fairways etc. and this newer grass must ne kept cool in the heat.

In summary, a fabulous club, but time will tell if the course retains its historical greatness.  Hope so!

Tuesday Sept 1--Ohio State-Scarlet:  Renovated nine years ago by Jack Nicklaus, this former Alister Mackensie masterpiece now stretches to 7455 yards and does not exactly remind one of the Mackensie’s work at the Melbourne Sunbelt, Cypress Point, ANGC, Crystal Downs, and Lahinch to name just a few.  Yes is it very very tough, retains some excellent holes (particularly #13 and #16), and would be a fine place for members of OSU’s varsity to hone their games…but for my tastes, no thank you.  Back when it was a Mackensie, Scarlet was on the GM USA Top 100 (1991-95, with a peak of #69 in 1991).  Them days is gonezo.  Time to drive on to Cleveland.

Wednesday Sept 2—Mayfield Sand Ridge Club—Sand Ridge:  Located about 25 miles east of downtown Cleveland, The Sand Ridge Golf Club opened for play in 1998, featuring a Tom Fazio course built on top of a natural sand ridge about 10 miles from the shores of Lake Erie.  From a business/financial standpoint, the club never reached cruising speed, and in 2006 merged with (or more accurately, was absorbed by Mayfield CC to become Mayfield Sand Ridge with two separate campuses.  Sand Ridge was on the Golf Digest 100 in 2001, ’05, and ’07 (highest being #52 in 2005).  Fazio as usual created a beautiful setting foe the course, and this time provided some good width and alternative angles.  Really likes homes #6 and #16.  Played well till last three holes.  Might be getting tired.

Wednesday Sept 2—Brookside CC:  Located in Canton Ohio, and founded in 1922, Brookside was designed by Donald Ross and built on a fabulous piece of land and pitches and rolls in many direction and reminded me of Minneapolis GC and White Bear Yacht Club.  Club was very active and seemed to be first rate.  Brookside was rated #97 in the USAon Links Magazine’s final 12/31/14 USA Top 100.

Played with three members, one of whom is active in the Donald Ross Society.  The greens, I was told, have never been reconfigured since the course was first built.  As a result, they are sloped to the extreme…probably designed for speeds of about 7-8 max on the Stimp, and now playing to about a 10 or 11 speed.  Yes, one needed to stay below the hole, but his was taken to too great an extreme.  I really did love the course, but the greens are too extreme and several of them (particularly #16) are unfair at these speeds.  While it is exciting to boast that your greens are original Donald Ross designs, they can become unplayable (and really slow down play) at today’s conditioning standards.

Rest of Trip

September 3 and 4 was spent at Oakmont CC and Fox Chapel CC in Pittsburgh, PA.  And then played Yale (CT) on September 9.  Going to publish what I have now, and catch up on those three great tracks in a few days.  Plus, the Golf Magazine Top 100 World and USA lists are out this week.  Stay tuned.

18. Rest of Midwest Swing

Rest of Midwest Swing

September 3, 2015—Oakmont CC:  OK, first some history.  Founded in 1903 by Henry Fownes, one of the great benevolent dictators to create a magnificent course (but careful though…you don’t want to end up with the wrong benevolent dictator).  He and his son, William ruled Oakmont until 1946.  William was a graduate of MIT and both Henry and William built homes in Pinehurst (in fact, we have friends who live in William’s old home).  They were totally in synch with each other about what they wanted in a course…a tough, tough test of golf, and boy did they create it.  It is often cited as the toughest course in the USA, and generally shares the title of Toughest Course in the World with Carnoustie  (Scotland). 

In terms of historical ratings, Oakmont of course had appeared on every Top 100 USA and World list ever.  Its highest ratings ever have been USA #4 and World #7 and its highest current rating is #6 USA and #8 World.

Oakmont is also a wonderful, superb club.  It has a singularity of purpose that is shared by virtually all of its members…basically to be the toughest course on the block, while being fair.  That means greens that stimp at speeds of 15’ weather permitting for member guests and having the USGA slow them down for US Opens.  One does not play Oakmont for a relaxing “walk in the park”.

Our host is a long term member and a member of Oakmont’s SWAT…a regular intra-club game that has been ongoing for decades, with, of course, meticulous written records (since digitized) of every SWAT match in history.  He is also one of the nicest guys I have met.  I look forward to hosting him at Brookline in 2016.

This was my fifth trip to Oakmont.  My 4^th was a year ago, and due to events at Oakmont that day my visit was limited to just wandering around the property and clubhouse.  Since Oakmont removed all of the interior trees (except one) on its property (more on this later), the view form the clubhouse is simply spectactular…perhaps the most impressive in golf.  One can clearly see all the way to the third green (the furthest point on the property…a distance of about 1200 yards from the clubhouse).  Visits #2 and 3 were in the summers of 1976 and approximately 1980, when I had the opportunity to play it three times during those two visits.  Visit #1 was on February 27, 1971, to attend the wedding reception of a close friend (and still close friend) from business school and work (Ford Motor and Citibank).  During the reception, I was talking to Dale Johnson, another close friend from business school who was a superb golfer (and a great guy) but who unfortunately lost his life in an accident about 18 years ago.  Dale and I were looking out a large picture window from the clubhouse to Oakmont’s snow covered practice green/9^th green when I said to him…”why the fxxx did Fraz decide to get married in February?”

Getting back to this visit, despite 5 straight days of 90+degrees/90% humidity, the golf course was in absolutely perfect condition.  Due to the heat, the greens were not rolled so they were stimping at about 11.5’ that day, a little slow of Oakmont.  Interestingly, they double cut the greens, first with a rider mower and the second time with a hand mower.  

I hardly know how to describe all of the fabulous holes, but on every hole:

            ---the bunkers are deep and penal;

            ---the grass leading to the bunkers has been cut down to 1^st cut height…no rough to save you from trundling into the bunkers;

            ---the greens are not just fast, but break in every direction, are hard to read, and often slope from front to back

            ---the entire course is fast and firm, but the greens are receptive to a well hit shot;

            ---the rough is not fun, as tough or worse than TCC’s; and

            ---the fairways are not being narrowed for the US Open…proving that Oakmont is always “Open ready”.

Best holes are:

--- #1 (482 par 4…flat for about 280 yards then straight downhill to a green sloping sharply away…yes, it will be driven at least in practice rounds)

---#3 (428 yards uphill with Church Pew left…uphill to turtle-back green)

---#9 (477 yds sharply uphill to huge green with practice green right behind it and in play

---#12 (667 par 5, turning right w fairway sloping sharply left to right and downhill…one of world’s great par 5’s but will be reached during Open)

---#15 (499 yd par 4 with Church Pew bunkers left)

---#17 (313 yard simply perfect drivable par 4…superb risk reward)

---#18 (484 par 4 downhill then uphill to huge finishing green)

I hit the ball well and ended up with an 88.  Fownes’ legacy lives on: “a shot poorly played should be a shot irrevocably lost”. 

Put simply, I can’t wait to see the 2016 US Open next June…what a place!!  Oh, forgot to mention, they also serve the world’s greatest potato chips.  And Fraz…having had the chance to play it four times, you are forgiven for getting married in February!!  And you got yourself a fabulous bride!!!

September 4, 2015…Fox Chapel:  Right across the Alleghany River from Oakmont lies Fox Chapel GC, designed by Seth Raynor in 1923.  In terms of ratings, FCGC debuted on the Golf Magazine USA Top 100 in 2013 at #88 and has yet to appear on a World 100.  This past week GM’s 2015 USA Top 100 was released and FCGC had dropped to #95, perhaps because of severe ice damage to its greens last winter and the need to re-sod a number of greens this past spring. 

I played Fox Chapel for the first time in September 2013 and was looking forward to the return.  It is a classic Raynor design with one of the great Biarritz holes anywhere (#17).  Other great holes certainly include #2 (a short uphill par 5 to a punchbowl green), #3 (a downhill Eden par 3), #6 (a wonderful Redan par 3), #8 (a tough long par 4, uphill to a brilliantly situated green), as well as #11, 13, 16, and 18 on the back.  Playing a course such as Fox Chapel reaffirms my belief that Seth Raynor is golf’s the most brilliant course architect.

My round was another “tale of two cities” where I sunk virtually every putt I looked at from #1 through #13, and then hit a rough patch from 14-17 before almost holing a full 5 iron on par 5 #18 (tapped in from 6” for par after dumping second shot into a creek crossing the fairway).  Had a 38-43=81. 

The club is just finishing off a major expansion to its clubhouse, which is beautifully done.  Addiitonally, it is almost finished rebuilding a good number of its tee boxes.  Overall, its condition was excellent, and in particular the greens were perfect, showing absolutely zero evidence of the damage sustained last winter.

Simply a superb club and course.  Certainly overshadowed by Oakmont across the Alleghany River, but there are only a handful or two of courses anywhere that would not be.  These last two days were (as expected) a wonderful way to top off a fun trip!

Mini Trips September 9-14: Yale, Royal Montreal, and Newport

Yale September 9, 2015:  Drove down to New Haven for the day with Pat and Carnie & Sharon Lawson.  The Lawson’s are friends from Pinehurst (they spend their summers in NH).  Carnie spent his undergraduate days at Yale (Class of about ’57) and was at Citibank before I got there.

Third time playing Yale and I marvel at the place.  Build on land (some 500 acres) that was donated to Yale for golf (originally supposed to be 36 holes but 2^nd course never built), designed by C. B. Macdonald and constructed by Seth Raynor.  It is an engineering marvel.  Obviously cut out of think forest on very hilly land especially on the back nine, it is simply astounding that a golf course could have been built on such land in the 1920’s without modern earthmoving equipment.  It is both tough (although at 6779 yards par 70 short for today’s long hitters) and fun…that wonderful duo. 

It has been a regular on Golf Week and Golf Magazine’s USA Top 100 but disappeared from Golf Digest’s USA Top 100 back in the late 1970’s…probably due to conditioning problems.  Highest rating on the USA Top 100 include #45 on GM (1991), #69 on GW (2014), and #37 on Links Magazines final list (12/2014).  In World 100 listings, it was on GM’s list from 1985-1996, peaking at #71 in 1985 and 1991, and finished #77 on the final Links World 100. 

It seems clear that the issue w Yale is conditioning, as golf is not the number one priority at Yale (frankly, I am shocked that the faculty has not demanded that it be shut down…being such a symbol of capitalism).  The greens were good, but the fairways very spotty and inconsistent with healthy turf in most areas, mingled with areas that were heavily damaged by winterkill probably during the last two winters.

It is also another example of how my love for courses impacts my play and vice versa.  Who knows which is the chicken and which the egg, but I fired a 75 from 5984 yards…and loved every minute being on this track.  If Yale could do a “deal” with Mike Keiser (who knows if he would be interested but he does love Macdonald and Raynor), this could really be something special and a world top 50…it is that good.  Given the land that was donated, this is one of the world’s great masterpieces of architecture.

Royal Montreal GC September 12-13, 2015:  The longest running international interclub match in the world is played each fall between The Country Club, and Royal Montreal GC.  It alternates between the two clubs, and this month was up in Montreal.  As usual, we journeyed by bus (7-8 hours each way) for 45 holes of golf squeezed in between many hours of eating and drinking.  Both clubs field teams of 28 players for a series of matches.  I have had the pleasure of being part of TCC’s team for four years.

RMGC has two 18 hole courses (Red and Blue) and a nine holer (Dixie).  The Blue hosted a Presidents Cup Match in 2007 and was included on GM’s World 100 from 1985-95 (peaking at #69 in 1985). 

This year, the weatherman was not our friend, especially on Sunday when play went on in brutal conditions.  And the word brutal is perfect to describe the results of the match (at least from TCC’s perspective).  We were shellacked, quite frankly.  Our Captain, Chuck Farrington, put it best in announcing the final results:  TCC 46 points, and RMGC…the rest of them.  Yes, 46 points will always win a Walker, Ryder, or Presidents Cup, but… 

As always, it was a great time, and wonderful renewing friendships built through the years…exactly what amateur golf is all about.

Newport CC September 14, 2015:  After arriving home from the return bus ride (see above) around 10pm, it was up early to play in a pro-am outing at Newport CC.  Newport was one of the USGA’s five founding member clubs (as was TCC, Chicago Golf, Shinnecock Hills, and St. Andrews GC) and is truly a golf museum piece.  It hosted the initial 1895 and 1995 US Amateur (the latter won by Tiger Woods), the 1895 US Open, and the 2006 US Woman’s Open (with Annika Sorenstam winning).

The course started in 1894 as a nine holer designed by the club's first professional, William Davis, who proceeded to expand the course to 18 holes in 1899.  In 1923, A. W. Tillinghast completed a major renovation of the course and further renovation work was led by Ron Forse after 1995.

In terms of ratings, it has been a regular on GW’s USA Top 100 (my merged list) and hit its highest GW rating this year at #62.  On GM, it peaked at #57 in 2013.  To date, it has not appeared on a prime World Top 100 listing.

One of only two great courses in the USA which still refuses to install fairway sprinklers (the other being Fishers Island), it is much more than a “Classic”.  Fun is one of the best words to describe it.  Best holes are 4, 5, 7, 9.11, 13, 14, 15…an absolute must play if you have the opportunity.

Our team thought we played OK and had a best net best ball 60, losing by a hair to the 50 that won!!  Currently the FBI is investigating the handicaps of the winning team and results of this investigation are expected shortly after the Justice Dept./FBI completes in investigation of the IRS and Hillary.

The pro-am was sponsored by FTI Consulting and was superbly run.  The pros representing FTI were Charles Howell III (a very bright interesting guy), and Webb Simpson.  Webb of course was the 2013 US Open champion, is an honorary member of CCNC, and a wonderful guy.

BUCKET LISTS

On September 10 and 11, Golf Magazine released its 2015 World 100 and USA 100 listings.  While there were six new courses on each (some of which were not totally new…they had appeared prior to 2013), I have played all six of the “new” USA courses, and four of the “new” World courses.  So all in all, not too much damage to my bucket lists.

So, here is where I stand today:

11.     Worldwide Top 100 Ever from seven sources: 263 courses on list, 244 played, and 19 to go (Asia—11, Australia/NZ—5; Europe, USA, and Caribbean 1 each).

22.     US Open Venues: 54 in total, 52 played and two to go (Skokie-IL and Brae Burn-MA)

33.     1939 “First Top 100” (spoof): 101 courses (two tied for 100 spot), 78 played, 5 no longer exist, and 18 to go (England-6; USA-4; Cont Europe-3; S Africa-2; Canada-1; Sri Lanka-1; Vietnam-1)

44.     USA Top 100 Ever from five sources: 338 courses on list, 286 played, 2 no longer exist, and 50 to play

55.     Men’s Major Venues Ever:  total of 121 courses, 93 played, 1 no longer exists, and 27 to go (2 US Open...see #2 above; 25 PGA)

66.     “Cups”—Walker, Ryder, and President’s: total of 70 courses, 56 played, and 14 to play (WC-1; RC-10; PC-1)

Next trips…Long Island this weekend and NJ on way south in early October,  Stay tuned.