134. Duxbury Yacht Club (MA) and Two Greats in Westchester Cty (NY)
Duxbury Yacht Club, August 9, 2019: The Town of Duxbury lies on Boston's South Shore between Boston and Cape Cod. It is very upscale and almost 145 years ago the Duxbury Yacht Club was founded. In 1901, a six hole golf course was constructed, and expanded to 9 holes by Wayne Stiles (think Gulph Mills GC-PA, Norwood Hills CC-MO, Prouts Neck CC-ME, and Taconic GC-MA) in the 1920's. Then in 1969 an additional nine holes designed by Geoff Cornish and Bill Robinson was added. The course has never been included on a Top 100 listing or hosted a major event.
I had never played Duxbury before. It is a very very low key club and a fun course. On this day the club was hosting "Monster" Member-guest where the tees are set back to "beyond the tips"(as the back tees total 6466 yards we probably played it at 6550 yards) and the pins tucked in corners of greens and/or on slopes of greens. I was invited by member Dick N., an MIT graduate whose wife Beth is a good friend of Pat's.
Could have been much tougher, as only two of the pins were set in impossible spots (where the slope around the pin is so steep the ball will not come to rest near the pin). Fortunately, the scoring was one best ball per hole for each foursome...and maximum scores were set at net bogey, otherwise we might have been there well past sunset. I did not keep my own score but our team finished in the middle of the pack, thereby avoiding the dreaded DFL.
Could have been much tougher, as only two of the pins were set in impossible spots (where the slope around the pin is so steep the ball will not come to rest near the pin). Fortunately, the scoring was one best ball per hole for each foursome...and maximum scores were set at net bogey, otherwise we might have been there well past sunset. I did not keep my own score but our team finished in the middle of the pack, thereby avoiding the dreaded DFL.
The golf course was in very good condition (and the club is removing a bunch off trees which should improve conditions further). The original nine holes are quite good and lots of fun. However, the second nine by Cornish/Robinson was build on land replete with wetlands and hence water comes into play on many of these holes...reducing to some degree the "fun" element on this nine.
Must say, the next day I played the Championship course at Brookline...and it was nice to see pins in more normal positions.
Century Country Club, August 15, 2019: The week of August 11, Brookline underwent normal maintenance that requires 7-14 days for the course to generally recover. So golf this first week had to on the road. I emailed Winged Foot Golf Club in Westchester County just north of NYC and was able to secure a tee time for the West course on the afternoon of 8/15. A few days later I decided to kill two birds with one stone and make it a 36 hole day by playing Century CC early that morning.
My day was to be a long one. Awoke at 3:40am, and headed south in my car starting at 4:40. Essentially no traffic so I made great time and arrived at Century at 7:30 (192 miles in 2:50 including pit stop for cheap gasoline near home...cannot afford gas in NY or CT!).
Century is one of the nation's great clubs and its course was designed by Harry Colt and Charles Alison...both giants in the field. The club was founded in 1898 and initially leased a 60 acre tract in The Bronx on Long Island Sound (about where the northern end of the Throgs Neck Bridge is now located). A nine hole course was created on this property. Six years later the club moved north to a 100 acre site in Greenburgh, NY (Westchester County). Finally, in 1922 the club acquired its present 175 acre site in Purchase (selling the Greenburgh course to Metropolis CC (Post #128)). While the purchase of the current site was recommended by Walter Travis, the golf course was designed by Colt and Alison (primarily Alison as Colt never visited the site) and opened in 1926. I could not find any explanation as to why Travis (who passed away in 1927 and was active until his passing) was not retained to design the course.
In 1938 Ben Hogan was hired as an assistant pro by Century. The Club's website states that the letter recommending his hiring, written by a Century member, stated that Hogan "had a nice appearance." My guess is that member received an I (for "incomplete") many times in school! In 1940 Hogan was promoted to Head Professional, and the next year accepted the head pro job at Hershey CC (PA). Its current head pro, Nelson Long, has held that position for about 45 years.
The club is generally considered to be the world's premier predominantly Jewish country club and over the years its membership has included Arthur Levitt (former SEC Chairman), Alan Greenspan (former Federal Reserve Chairman), James Wolfensohn (former World Bank President), members of the Sulzberger family (who control the New York Times), Michael Bloomberg, and almost all of the Jewish titans of Wall Street. Bloomberg resigned from the club in 2001just prior to campaigning for the mayorship of NYC, and rejoined in 2013 after his last term as mayor. If you want to really understand the power of Century CC, think about this...it does NOT have a listing on Wikipedia!!
In 2017 Keith Foster completed a wonderful restoration of Century's course, removing many trees and restoring its very special bunkers. Today it measures 7026 yards from the tips, and for decades has been a Section Qualifying site for the US Open. It has hosted the Metropolitan Amateur four times, and in 1969 was included in the #81-90 bracket of Golf Digest's USA Best Tests listing.
I had played Century about 5-6 times previously, the first time having been in 1982. From 1988 to 1995 I lived about 3 miles from Century and really like the golf course. It is generally in superb condition, its bunkering and green are superb. Most of all, it "fits" the land it sits on perfectly and has a wonderful "flow".
My favorite hole is #3, a 377 uphill par 4 that very much reminds me of the second hole at Pine Valley. Other superb holes include #2, 5, 10, 12, and 17.
I thought I had made my second hole in one on the short (152 yards) downhill par 3 13th...but it ended up about 12" just above the hole. I am pleased to report that I made the birdie putt!
The club was hosting a Senior Women's event that morning so I started off on #6, played through 18 and then played holes 1-5. My score (based on the course's normal sequence) was 37 - 44 = 81 with back nine marred by dumb mental errors causing double bogeys on 11, 14, and 16. No question IMO that "age" affects the mental parts of the game more than the physical aspects!
Must say, the next day I played the Championship course at Brookline...and it was nice to see pins in more normal positions.
Century Country Club, August 15, 2019: The week of August 11, Brookline underwent normal maintenance that requires 7-14 days for the course to generally recover. So golf this first week had to on the road. I emailed Winged Foot Golf Club in Westchester County just north of NYC and was able to secure a tee time for the West course on the afternoon of 8/15. A few days later I decided to kill two birds with one stone and make it a 36 hole day by playing Century CC early that morning.
My day was to be a long one. Awoke at 3:40am, and headed south in my car starting at 4:40. Essentially no traffic so I made great time and arrived at Century at 7:30 (192 miles in 2:50 including pit stop for cheap gasoline near home...cannot afford gas in NY or CT!).
Century is one of the nation's great clubs and its course was designed by Harry Colt and Charles Alison...both giants in the field. The club was founded in 1898 and initially leased a 60 acre tract in The Bronx on Long Island Sound (about where the northern end of the Throgs Neck Bridge is now located). A nine hole course was created on this property. Six years later the club moved north to a 100 acre site in Greenburgh, NY (Westchester County). Finally, in 1922 the club acquired its present 175 acre site in Purchase (selling the Greenburgh course to Metropolis CC (Post #128)). While the purchase of the current site was recommended by Walter Travis, the golf course was designed by Colt and Alison (primarily Alison as Colt never visited the site) and opened in 1926. I could not find any explanation as to why Travis (who passed away in 1927 and was active until his passing) was not retained to design the course.
In 1938 Ben Hogan was hired as an assistant pro by Century. The Club's website states that the letter recommending his hiring, written by a Century member, stated that Hogan "had a nice appearance." My guess is that member received an I (for "incomplete") many times in school! In 1940 Hogan was promoted to Head Professional, and the next year accepted the head pro job at Hershey CC (PA). Its current head pro, Nelson Long, has held that position for about 45 years.
The club is generally considered to be the world's premier predominantly Jewish country club and over the years its membership has included Arthur Levitt (former SEC Chairman), Alan Greenspan (former Federal Reserve Chairman), James Wolfensohn (former World Bank President), members of the Sulzberger family (who control the New York Times), Michael Bloomberg, and almost all of the Jewish titans of Wall Street. Bloomberg resigned from the club in 2001just prior to campaigning for the mayorship of NYC, and rejoined in 2013 after his last term as mayor. If you want to really understand the power of Century CC, think about this...it does NOT have a listing on Wikipedia!!
In 2017 Keith Foster completed a wonderful restoration of Century's course, removing many trees and restoring its very special bunkers. Today it measures 7026 yards from the tips, and for decades has been a Section Qualifying site for the US Open. It has hosted the Metropolitan Amateur four times, and in 1969 was included in the #81-90 bracket of Golf Digest's USA Best Tests listing.
I had played Century about 5-6 times previously, the first time having been in 1982. From 1988 to 1995 I lived about 3 miles from Century and really like the golf course. It is generally in superb condition, its bunkering and green are superb. Most of all, it "fits" the land it sits on perfectly and has a wonderful "flow".
My favorite hole is #3, a 377 uphill par 4 that very much reminds me of the second hole at Pine Valley. Other superb holes include #2, 5, 10, 12, and 17.
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| Approach shot on par 4 353 yard #12 |
I thought I had made my second hole in one on the short (152 yards) downhill par 3 13th...but it ended up about 12" just above the hole. I am pleased to report that I made the birdie putt!
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| Green on #13 from right side---see ball above hole |
In any case...worth playing this one if you get the chance. To tell a true story: a friend and old business associate of mine (who is a member of Augusta National and Cypress Point), once told me that if there was an afterlife, he hoped in his next life to be Jewish...as he wanted to join Century! Enough said.
After the round said thanks to the staff and drove about 7 miles over to Quaker Ridge where I joined my old buddy Michael F. for lunch (and traded unexaggerated golfing tales) and saw old friend Steve S. thereafter.
Then proceeded less than 2 miles to Winged Foot where I was scheduled to play the West Course at 2:30.
Winged Foot Golf Club-West, August 15, 2019: Winged Foot was founded in 1921 by members of the New York Athletic Club (but there is no direct affiliation between these two clubs). A.W. Tillinghast was hired to design two courses, which opened in 1923. Six years later the US Open was scheduled to be played on WF's East Course, but heavy rains just prior to the event forced the USGA to move the event to the West which generally sits on higher land on the property. Bobby Jones won his third US Open that year and the timing of those rains altered the history of Winged Foot forever. The West has hosted four other US Opens (1959, 1974, 1986, and 2006) and will host its 6th next year. During these last 60 years the course has been lengthened to its current 7435 yards (par 70). By comparison, the East measures 6808 yards (par 72).
In addition to six US Open's, Winged Foot will have hosted a PGA Championship, two US Amateur's, two US Women's Opens, one Walker Cup Match, and the inaugural US Senior Open.
Its record on USA and World Top 100 listings is just as impressive. Both the West and East have appeared on all but one of the USA and World Top 100 listing I track (in both cases, the missing one is GCA's "147 Custodians"). The West's current GM World 100 ranking is #27 (but that predates Gil Hanse's recent restoration), while its highest current USA rating is #11 (GD). The East Course's current GM World rating is #83 and its current high on USA lists is #41 (GM). I expect future rankings to improve as more post restoration evaluations are completed.
Over the past five years Gil Hanse has completed a fabulous restoration of both courses with West reopening in May 2018. I had played both in June 2013, and East in October 2016. Now having played both over the past 3 years, I absolutely believe that WF has the finest set of 36 greens in the world. They are mystifying. None are ordinary. They are all different...and yet they fit together...none feels out of place. Second strongest aspect of this course is the bunkering...which is both beautiful and tough as nails. Thousands of trees have been removed across the property and that opens top wonderful vistas and allows air to circulate and keep the course dry. The difference in moisture between Century and WF on the same day was remarkable. Yes, partly due to morning dew at Century...but this was more than just dew...it is a result of Sub Air technology and the complete rebuilding of West's greens two years ago.
The golf course itself is very very special. Best holes IMO are #10 (Hogan called it "a 3 iron into someone's living room"), #6---a brilliant drivable par 4 so much better with the trees behind it gone, #2 with its wide wide fairway but heaven help you if you come into the green at the wrong angle, #15---ending in front of Fred Corcoran's old home, #3 playing about 50 yards longer than when Billy Casper laid up every day on this par 3 in 1959, and a group of brutal 470-510 yard holes that will challenge the world's best next year (5, 8, 16, and 17). No let up...wide enough to not be unfair...but one of the world's great tests. And did I mention the Tutor clubhouse designed by Charles Clifford Wendehack? (also did clubhouses at The Park (post #82), Mountain Ridge (post #46), Bethpage, Ridgewood (post #128) and Hackensack (post #128).
I must confess to making a major mistake at Winged Foot. I picked up a scorecard and when I got to the first tee opened it to see that the shortest tees on that scorecard were the Whites...totaling 6522 yards...about 500-600 yards longer than my usual tees. I chose to play them rather than walk back to secure a ladies card. Anyhow...after sinking a 5 footer for par on #1 and a 25 footer for a par on #2 starting wondering if I had the appropriate card. My ending score of 43 - 46 = 89 proved otherwise! In any case, it was great fun and glad I got to see it again. I assume you don't need to be told to take it if a round is offered. Cannot wait to see next year's US Open.
Finished the round at 6:15 and by 6:30 I was on my way home. The drive may have taken 2:50 in the wee small hours of the morning, but along home took 4:15...precisely 50% longer with no stop for gas!! Arrive home at 10:45pm, and it was great to get some sleep. Great day at three amazing clubs and some 395 miles of driving.
The golf course itself is very very special. Best holes IMO are #10 (Hogan called it "a 3 iron into someone's living room"), #6---a brilliant drivable par 4 so much better with the trees behind it gone, #2 with its wide wide fairway but heaven help you if you come into the green at the wrong angle, #15---ending in front of Fred Corcoran's old home, #3 playing about 50 yards longer than when Billy Casper laid up every day on this par 3 in 1959, and a group of brutal 470-510 yard holes that will challenge the world's best next year (5, 8, 16, and 17). No let up...wide enough to not be unfair...but one of the world's great tests. And did I mention the Tutor clubhouse designed by Charles Clifford Wendehack? (also did clubhouses at The Park (post #82), Mountain Ridge (post #46), Bethpage, Ridgewood (post #128) and Hackensack (post #128).
I must confess to making a major mistake at Winged Foot. I picked up a scorecard and when I got to the first tee opened it to see that the shortest tees on that scorecard were the Whites...totaling 6522 yards...about 500-600 yards longer than my usual tees. I chose to play them rather than walk back to secure a ladies card. Anyhow...after sinking a 5 footer for par on #1 and a 25 footer for a par on #2 starting wondering if I had the appropriate card. My ending score of 43 - 46 = 89 proved otherwise! In any case, it was great fun and glad I got to see it again. I assume you don't need to be told to take it if a round is offered. Cannot wait to see next year's US Open.
Finished the round at 6:15 and by 6:30 I was on my way home. The drive may have taken 2:50 in the wee small hours of the morning, but along home took 4:15...precisely 50% longer with no stop for gas!! Arrive home at 10:45pm, and it was great to get some sleep. Great day at three amazing clubs and some 395 miles of driving.
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