Hamilton Farms on TV

[Patrick_Mucci]

Hamilton Farms, The Highland course will be hosting a major women's match play event for the next two years.

Steve Lapper, who has touted Hamilton Farms to us, will now be able to have us view the course he's so fond of.

Perhaps, prior to the telecasts, Steve could provide us with some backround info on the golf course.

[Nick Pozaric]

great news. Our course is having an interclub match with them this yr, it will be nice to see the course on TV

[pdrake]

wow...a member touting their club to GCA......what a novelty!

[HamiltonBHearst]

I have read Mr. Lapper's posts regarding his home course.  He has been very fair and has certainly not "touted" his course in the negative sense.  I think Pat Mucci will agree.  

[Steve Lapper]

Hammy..

    Thank you...you are welcome to come down this way anytime and spend a "day on the farm" with me

[GeoffreyC]

Steve has been exceedinly fair in his writing about Hamilton Farm.

In fact, I probably like the bunkering more then he does. It's certainly a bit overdone with frilly edges but they sure do play as hazards. No one is yelling for their ball to get in the bunkers at HF.

The land is indeed severe and its a challenging walk but only one hole is remotely blah (#8) and there may be interesting changes to the tee shot. There are also no really "WOW" holes (I think #2 is pretty close) but its a solid effort and a day at Hamilton Farm is ALWAYS highly enjoyable and worth the effort.

Steve is spot on with regard to conditioning and in his praise of the Hickory par 3 course.

Steve- please call me when HamiltonBHearst comes around for a game  

[Patrick_Mucci]

Steve,

I wasn't using the term "touting" in a negative sense.

I think P Drake missed the mark.
If a member isn't proud of his club, why join it in the first place.

I've never played Hamilton Farms, but thank you for your numerous invitations.  Perhaps my schedule in 2005 will be more accomodating then it was in 2004.

I'm anxious to play the golf course prior to the event as it's always nice to see how skilled players handle a golf course that you're familiar with.

[George_Bahto]

Steve speaks of his course in very realistic terms - probably more than most of us might.

The property is outstanding, the course is very fun to play and Steve ......  a wonderful host.

The bunkering is more of an issue I would guess, but to me, it is what it is - have fun and play it.

Some fine tuning will evolve.

There are drainage issues but they’re solvable. When you have this severe a piece of property I don’t know if you can solve all the drainage problems from the git-go.

“Potential” the key word here would be the kindest way to put it.

I think one of the more interesting things about the course is its potential to “get firm”  - cause the ground game there could be extraordinary.

I would tend focus on the positives of the course than most.

gb

[Steve Lapper]

I think one of the more interesting things about the course is its potential to “get firm”  - cause the ground game there could be extraordinary.

I would tend focus on the positives of the course than most.

gb

  Uncle George(and Geoff),

     Thanks for your kind words! You are so correct about the extraordinary potential to be unlocked for a really special groundgame at HFGC. IMHO (and yours I believe) Hurzdan & Fry have given the property a very unique and natural set of running areas and ample front-of-the-green apertures. In that regard, I think their architectual ability and result is just outstanding. Once Paul and his crew can solve the property's drainage issues and the area faces one of it's occasional dry or drought-like summers, the course will shine. Until then, it is more often a slog than a jog.

    Nick,

    My "public" question was deliberately and adequately opaque. In fact, it seemed to have successfully worked in an identical situation shortly thereafter. Let's not forget it was conversations with you that produced the most undesired effect. Pat is right, you should correct your post.

   
   

[GeoffreyC]

I think #6 at HF is a perfect example of laying out the course for the ground game.  There is a bunker complex on the left that can be cleared but only with a good poke (and not by me from the back tee).  Doing so will provide extra roll as the fairway kicks downhill a bit and left to right a good deal.  The safer right side also kicks left to right but without as much forward roll.  The green probably has to be approached from short and bounced on unless you hit the longest of tee shots.  However, you must judge the roll correctly as there is a BARN in play beyond and left of the green (the safe side) and you might find your 3rd played from a toilet  . The superintendent has mowed it all as short grass including a meld into the par 3 7th tee in the back right.  

Very cool stuff.

[Steve Lapper]

Geoff,

   You cite a wonderful example of what should and could be at HFGC. Clearly. Hurzdan & Fry set out to present these kinds of options (they exist on holes #4,5, 7,10, and 15) to the player. What is problematic and in need of time is the fact that the soils are so relatively harsh (95% clay and 5% shale) that the design seems to have inproperly ignored the necessary integration with the land. The mowed down green entrance melds just don't often play anything but spongelike. The considerable rolling and heaving of the land also could have easily warned any architect that drainage would be an absolute issue.

   Our recent efforts to redesign and reinforce some of the drainage will hopefully result in eventual dramatic change. When and if that becomes the case, I can bring out my flat lie RAC blades (same ones that put personal best's at Sand Hills last year) and try to reprogram in a NJ knockdown running shot. Now that would be real fun!

  PS...If anybody from GCA wants tickets for the HSBC LPGA Match Play event (June 28th thru July 3rd), please feel free to contact me via private message. If we can, we might be able to play the Hickory then as well!

Heading out for a Luge-like sled run down the HFGC 9th right now!

[Matt_Ward]

Steve:

Speaking about the 9th hole -- I still believe it's one of Jersey's best par-5 holes. It offers a wealth of options and when the pin is cut far right only the best get near the hole.

Congrats on the event at HF -- I'm sure plenty of people will now see what is there.

[Steve Lapper]

Matt,

    And it makes a mean sledding hill as well

     I spoke to the powers that be about a role in these tourney's...they are firm with PN...their loss!

    Hope you are staying warm...see you Thurs. in Orlando.

S