I had the wonderful priviledge of touring Glen Ridge Country Club (Glen Ridge, NJ) this past Wednesday with Dean Paolucci and Doug Braunsdorf. Dean had the principle role in overseeing the Ron Forse restoration of the club and he has much to be proud of at Glen Ridge. My own interest in the course stems from my research on the Penn State White Course and some of the similarities were striking.
At first glance (Google Aerial) Glen Ridge seems to be a redundant "up and back" routing in a cramped area. However, as Doug so adroitly put it; the course is a "chess match" of golf architecture. With exception of the all-world 18th, none of the holes are overly ball-busting in length, but the premium placed on the approaches by the newly expanded greens and bunkers make Glen Ridge a challenge for the mind.
Some examples:
The wonderful short 2nd hole, with a "quadrant" green that Willie Park was fond of building. Each hole location has several methods by which an aerial approach can get there, and the rolls and shape of the green allow for some tucked hole locations that are difficult to get to, and I'd imagine that three putts abound on this green.
The restored bunker complex between the 3rd and 5th fairways. The third hole is of particular interest as a short par 5. The green site is tucked behind a former canal and the confluence of angles on the hole combine to give any grade of golfer a chance to "fight for the angle" and get home in two. This bunker complex confounds the golfer attempting to get as far right as possible to attack the hole from an ideal angle.
The ideal fifth green with severe slope from left to right that appears to be front to back from the fairway. Of particular interest is the knuckle on the front right of the green, which helps give the appearance that the green is more front-to-back. This sort of visual deception abounds all over the course, and greens are given the apperance of canting in one direction but really sloping in another. The greens themselves have an elevation difference of 7-8 feet in a lot of cases.
Looking across the fifth green to the second green shows both the nature of the Forse restoration work (changes in green coloration where they were expanded) and the severity of of the green complexes isn bunkering, slope, and internal contour.
Doug and Dean on the 8th green. Not how the restoration of the original green size has reintegrated the edge and anchor mounding with the rest of the green. This gives more flexibility in course set up by allowing a wily greenkeeper to tuck hole locations and challenge different aspects of the game other than length from hole to hole. Also note Doug in a lovely 1985 mafioso motif.
The all-world approach to the 18th green. Nore the principal's nose style bunker that can confound a mis-struck approach shot. This green was completely resodded by Ron Forse and has been expanded to restore much of the contour and hole locations. With a sever teir running through the center, and confounding contour on both sides of the green, this hole serves as an ideal finish to a wonderful gem of a golf course.
I am of the opinion that Glen Ridge is a shining example of a membership and architect can work together to restore the original design features of a golf course that still match the challenges of today's game. Park was able to brilliantly route the course using the dominant features (A ridge running perpendicular to many of the holes is attacked at different subtle angles and from different distances, in some cases, it may be carried full on from the tee, in others certain sides are favored, and in others it confounds the tee shot to add length and a measure of blindness to the hole).