Any thoughts on Niagara Falls CC (Tillinghast - 1919)?

[Dan Herrmann]

Any thoughts on Niagara Falls CC (Tillinghast, 1919)?  I used to walk the course during the yearly Porter Cup event, and loved what I saw.

To me, those walks were the beginning of my quest to understand golf architecuture.  Before then, I'd only played the Buffalo-area munis, which aren't exceptional by any measure.  Seeing NGCC made me realize that golf architecture was an art form, and that there was SO much more out there.

If you're interested, their website is at http://www.niagarafallscc.com/golfcourse.htm

I haven't been back since 1982 when I left Buffalo after college.  Does anybody know any details on the course, and how much Tillinghast remains?

Thanks!  

[Jeff_Mingay]

Dan,

I'm not that familiar with Niagara Falls CC, but I always thought that Nicol Thompson (Stanley's older bro., and pro at Hamilton G&CC) originally laid out the course there.

I've also heard that it's been altered quite a bit over the years, once by Stanley I thought, but I don't recall hearing about Tillinghast's involvement at Niagara Falls. Interesting.  

[Dan Herrmann]

Jeff - from their website:

Home of the Porter Cup, the second ranked amateur tournament in the United States, this par 70 - 6,621 yard championship course features 90 treacherous sand traps.

Originally designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1919 updated by Robert Trent Jones, Geoffrey S. Cornish and Brian M. Silva.

   

[Tyler Kearns]

It could be that Thompson, Jones & Co. was hired to carry out a renovation at the club, and that Jones oversaw the work. I believe Jones did the majority of the work for the company in the United States, and manned their office in Rochester, NY.

TK

[Scott Witter]

Guys,

For the last 8 years I have walked the course during the Porter Cup, wow, what a great event at any level, walked two years ago with Tripp Davis, watched Casy Wittenburg win it that year, I'm sure many of you have heard that name recently, rookie on tour and playing fairly well in some bigger events, anyway, the course has unfortunately been chopped up from other GCA's over the years and the original body of work from Tillinghast is worn alot on the edges to say the least.

Records do show that AT did the course, but it is acknowledged weakly in only a couple of references, I suspect he didn't make too many visits and his drawing are limited at best for NFCC.  I have never contacted the Tillinghast Society to see/hear their response...

Overall, the course doesn't play nearly as easy as one might think due to the relative short length.  The bunkers are hap-hazard in styling and quite inconsistent across the course.  But with 90 bunkers and a par 70 many of the countries top amateurs often have their work cut out for them.

Certainly, the par threes are Tilly all the way and if you squint your eyes, you can see his old bunkers underneath around the putting surfaces.   The 18th  hole comes to mind quickly!

Overall, the structure of Tillinghast remains, but it would take a significant effort to bring it all back.

[ian]

There used to be a very famous hole playing along the river until Robert Moses decided that a parkway was more important than the course.

[Scott Witter]

Ian,

You are right, I completely forgot about that..what a shame too about the old hole.  Thanks