115. Back to the Northeast
Even after my trip to Upstate NY in June 2017 I still had four in Upstate NY to go as well as one in the middle of PA. My strategy now is to try to complete a geographic area (prior Post #114 outlines completion of all outstanding courses in Upper Plains and western edge of Midwest…WI, MN, ND, SD, IA, NE, and upper MO). So I figured this would be a good time to complete Upstate NY…and at the same time hit the course in mid-PA.
Olde Kinderhook Golf Club, August 6, 2018: Olde Kinderhook was designed by Rees Jones and opened for play in 1999. It is located about 15 miles SSE of Albany, NY. It was included on the GW Top 100 Modern list in 2004 and 2005, but never close to the Merged GW List. I left our house around 5am and arrived by 8am. First “interesting” signs…there were no other cars in the parking lot when I arrived, the golf carts had been stored outside overnight, and the grass near the parking lot looked like it had not been cut this year. I met the head pro and was able to tee off right away. As soon as I saw the first fairway I knew I had to get this round completed as soon as possible. It looked as if the club had cut off watering fairways and greens to reduce water bills…and it had pouring rain over the previous couple of days…so you can imagine what the place looked like.
Got the round completed in about 1:45…and then got out of Dodge as soon as possible. Frankly will be surprised if it opens in 2019. Anyhow, was not my problem, so off I went to Rochester, NY.
Country Club of Rochester, August 6, 2018: During the first 60 -70 years or so of the 20thcentury (and before) Upstate NY was a huge industrial center of the USA…in large part due to access to the Great Lakes and the Erie Canal. In fact, in the 1950’s-1970’s, Rochester, NY was the precursor to Silicon Valley (Kodak, Xerox, Bausch & Lomb).
In terms of golf, it was home to Walter Hagen, one of the world’s great players from 1910-1935. Additionally, Donald Ross left his mark in Rochester, having designed at least six courses in the city and its suburbs. In June 2017 I visited Rochester and played Monroe GC, and both courses at Oak Hill CC. This trip would include CC of Rochester as well as Locust Hill CC.
CC of Rochester was founded in 1895. In 1913 the club moved to its current location and completed its course under the direction of Donald Ross, and hired Walter Hagen as its golf professional (who proceeded to win the US Open…the first of his 11 professional majors…in 1914 at Midlothian CC in Chicago). In 1931 Ross returned to renovate the course and bring it to its present layout (the course was most recently renovated by Gil Hanse from 2001-06). In 1953 and ’73, it hosted the US Women’s Open. Additionally it hosted the US Women’s Amateur in 1962 and the US Women’s Mid-Am in 1993.
This is a very good course...one I could play every day. And, the club appears to be healthy and very active. Best holes are #5 and #6 IMO. Course was in excellent condition...but very green and fairly soft. As rainfall had been substantial over prior 10 days, it was hard to tell how much of its softness is due to overwatering and how much to weather. Course built on terrific piece of land, and, no surprise, Ross made great use of the terrain. Certainly not a big championship course but: (1) who cares, and (2) absolutely fun to play.
Played well having a 39 – 39 = 78. Finished just before heavens opened up and it poured. Then left Rochester to head for Johnstown PA and play Sunnehanna CC…which I had heard wonderful things about. Drive south was a pain…315 miles (5:10) including a stop overnight in State College, PA (home of Penn State U). Awoke very early the morning of 8/7 to finish off drive to Sunnehanna.
Sunnehanna CC, August 7, 2018: While the drive was tiring, it passed through some spectacular countryside in PA. And as I approached Johnstown, it was easy to see how the Johnstown Flood happened on May 31, 1889. It was triggered by heavy rain in the area for several days that caused the failure of the South Fork Dam upstream from Johnstown. The city of Johnstown is located in a “canyon” one can visualize water cascading through the canyon.
Sunnehanna CC was founded in 1923 and its course designed by A. W. Tillinghast. Eleven years later William Flynn mad a few changes to the course, and in 1954 the Sunnehanna Amateur was first played…and has continued for 65 consecutive years. Winners include Rickey Fowler (2x), Webb Simpson, Lucas Glover, Allen Doyle (4x), Jay Sigel, Billy Andrade, Scott Verplank, and Bobby Clampett.
This is an outstanding course! Plays only 6880 (par 70) from the tips. Simply no weak holes and so so many great ones. Land has major slopes on it…clubhouse sits on top of hill with course circling clubhouse site. Six big downhill holes (1, 3, 4, 7, 10, & 17) and six major uphill holes (2, 6, 9, 11, 15, & 18). Five doglegs right, 4 left and one “S” shaped par 5 (15). I guess best holes are #2, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, & 15. Outstanding par 5’s (and Tillie has a reputation for weak par 5’s).
I hit the ball great…40 – 38 = 78!! Oh…btw…Sunnehanna appeared on GW’s Top 100 Classic list 4 years (2006-09) and never on GD or GM…talk about being asleep at the switch…we have been caught snoring!!
After sincere thanks to the head pro…had long drive back up to Rochester. Arrived there around 7pm…and welcomed a good night’s sleep.
Locust Hill CC, August 8, 2018: From the greatness at Sunnehanna to garbage at Locust Hill. Perhaps the most uninteresting course I have ever played. Loaded with perfectly straight parallel fairways uniformly lined by trees symmetrically placed on both sides of the fairway. I am here because this place hosted the Women’s PGA Championship from 2010-13. Had a 37-41 = 78, but who cares…needed to get this one over.
After the round, it was on to Rome NY to play Teugega CC. Drive just 125 miles (2:05) and brought me closer to home…destination after this round!
Teugega Country Club, August 8, 2018: This one is a sleeper. Club founded in 1899 and shortly thereafter created a nine hole course later described on Teugega’s website in a quote from Ross: “Outside of one other course that was built out of a swamp, this is the second worst course in the country”. In 1921 the club moved to its present location onto a new 18 holer designed by Ross. In 1999, Teuega appeared in GW’s USA Top 100 Classic list.
Over the past few years, the operators of Teugaga CC have been working to bring back its Ross features…tree clearing, green expansion to original size, fairway and corridor widening, firming up fairways and greens…and these efforts are absolutely showing fruit!! These may be the best set of greens I played this year…and the 6thgreen may be the best green I have ever seen. The course still needs more work…but boy this one has fabulous bones and the skin disease is being attacked with a vengeance! Worth the visit!
 |
| Teugega Par 3 7th, 140 yards, where... |
 |
| Donald Ross had his first hole-in-one! |
 |
| Teugega par 4 11th--approach shot |
 |
| Teugega #16 par 4 385 yards |
Drive home took about 4:15 (285 miles), so I arrived home around 9pm. This journey totaled about 1,485 miles in three days…but this region/area was done (until Ran published his “147 Custodians”!!!).
Dedham Country and Polo Club, August 17, 2018: No long drives for this one J. Dedham is located about 15 miles from our house and I had played it about 4-5 times before this round. Dedham was created in 1910 through the merger of two clubs and in 1912 Donald Ross designed 9 holes. In 1923 additional land was purchased, and the club retained Seth Raynor to redesign the existing holes and build the course out to a full 18. The new 18 hole course opened for play in 1925.
For decades, it suffered from poor drainage due to closeness to large wetland areas and water flows that overwhelmed a few spots on the course that are very low (especially the par 5 4thhole).
In 2017 a major renovation was completed to bring back some of the Raynor design features and improve the drainage. The quality of the greens, tees, and fairways is significantly improved as has the design of several holes…the place is much much improved, but some spots still have drainage issues. Course has excellent flow and routing with brilliant greens and green settings. The terrain pitches and rolls all over the place…so flat lies are rare commodities…thus it tests shot making skills and creativity. The Redan (#3), Biarittz (#14), and Maiden (#8) greens are simply fabulous.
The course plays 6187 yards from tips as a par 70. This is short by today’s standards… but this track has a whole bunch of interesting holes. Not sure anyone is listening, but I would suggest the following:
1. there is no room on the property to lengthen the course to any real degree;
2. two of the par 5’s are suspect as par 5’s (#4 and #6 at 441 and 486 yards respectively from the tips);
3. as a par 68 totaling 6187 yards, it would be the “equivalent” of about 6900 yards as a par 72;
4. there are a whole bunch of great courses with par of less than 70 (e.g. West Sussex GC, Rye GC, St. Enodoc-Church, and Swinley Forest in southern England…all World Top 100’s, and Doak is about to build one at Sand Valley).
So for what it is worth, I suggest converting #4 and #6 to par 4’s, making Dedham a great par 68 course…rather than a highly questionable par 70. The design is superb…make the numbers fit the design and keep working the drainage.
*************
Next stops…Scotland, England, and Wales from August 23 to September 3
No comments:
Post a Comment