Aerial of the Day #196 - 12 Sep 2002

[Scott_Burroughs]

One of the more interesting properties, shape-wise.  Too bad
Mapquest's coverage ended and missed parts of the 1st and
18th holes and the clubhouse.

Also, some of the wildest looking (and sometimes most
symmetrical) bunkering I've ever seen.  Straight out of a
geometry book.  Look at that 'V' shape of 5 bunkers and the
symmterical bunkers just below the chopped-off
"GlobeXplorer" logo in the middle.

[SPDB]

probably the most underrated course in its area, more than
likely because of its more famous neighbors.  :-/

[Scott_Burroughs]

Sean,

I've always suspected that.  How would you compare this
one to the archie's two on the NW end of this area, 60 miles
to the west?  Those get rated fairly highly.


Anyone recognize any familiar features?

In this area, the only direction not accounted for is north
(with this surname).

[SPDB]

In contrast to some of this architects later work (including the 2 you mention), there is a lot going on at this place in terms of hazards, which makes for an interesting playing experience.

I believe that this was (one of) his first solo designs, so not surprisingly the placement, shape and frequency of the hazards bears strong resemblance to the course on which this arch cut his teeth.

You can tell this course lacks a distinctive mark of the arch., that would come through on some of his later courses. Compare, for example, one of his last courses, a nearby seaside course, also on an island. If you know what course i'm talking it has exponentially fewer bunkers than the course pictured here, and may be more representative of this arch's evolved and mature style.

[Scott_Burroughs]

The super here was the first to ask "Who Are You Guy's?" [sic]

A "half NLE" is quite nearby, as shown by Craig Disher
recently, I quizzically quipped.

Another course about 10 miles NNW of here is being held
hostage as we speak.

[Dan Grossman]

Got it, finally.  

I wouldn't have guessed this archie
based on other aerials of his work.

[BV]

This is an interesting quasi-museum piece which has a
hole named for its missing brother which NLE.

I don't think Lizzy comes out this far with her famous
M-class.

Couldn't see the picture on computer I looked at earlier,
 the monitor was so bad!

[Scott_Burroughs]

A little surprised at the lack of comments on this one,
considering it's location.

Hark, I see a reverse Nader!  ....and a French town hole, a
dwarf hole, and an Adam & Eve abode hole.  Not quite sure if
there's a street hole, but I see a few possibilities.

Is this where the Sharks & Jets would play if they won the
lottery and moved out to this rich area?  

[SPDB]

Scott -
no Eden here.
the 3rd hole is an interesting one though, and one of the few punchbowl greens i've seen on par 3s. The other being at the Quogue Field Club, which was discussed on Chris Disher's NLE thread a couple of weeks back.

[Scott_Burroughs]

That was the "half NLE" I referred to above.  

It appeared to me to be the appropriate length to be an
Eden, but I guessed wrong.  Wouldn't be the first time.

[Scott_Burroughs]

This is Westhampton, in Westhampton, NY, (in the
Hamptons, of course), by Seth Raynor.  WCC is believed to
be Raynor's first solo design.

IMHO, WCC is a "forgotten" club amongst the magazine
raters, as GD doesn't even have it amongst the top 25 in the
state, though Raynor/Mac clubs on LI, Creek and Piping Rock
are fairly high on the list (not to mention Fishers and NGLA).  
I'm guessing WCC is probably just as good as Creek/Piping,
but, again, I could be wrong.


pics can be seen in the GCA writeup:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/westhampton1.html


clues include:

famous neighbors = Shinnecock/NGLA/Maidstone, etc.

"archie's (co-designed) two 60 miles away on NW" = Creek
and Piping.

familiar features = Raynor/Mac staples

"direction not accounted for=North" refers to the fact that
there is a Westhampton, a Southampton, and an
Easthampton golf clubs, but not a Northampton.

"frequency of hazards" similar to NGLA

The person who started the original "Who Are You Guy's"
[sic] thread, 2 1/2 years ago, is WCC super Mike Rewinski.

"half NLE by Craig Disher", "quizzically quipped" refers to
nearby Quogue, of which only 9 holes (half) still exist and of
course 9 NLE.  Note the "qu" alliteration.

"course 10 miles NNW being held hostage" = Friar's Head,
held up for official opening by eco-terrorists holding it hostage.

Don't know Lizzie reference.

"reverse Nader" = reverse reverse Redan = Redan

"French town hole"= Biarritz

"dwarf hole" = Short, though this Short is no longer short
any more

"Adam & Eve abode" = Eden, though one doesn't exist
here.  

"Sharks & Jets" strike it rich and move out here = "West Side
of the Hamptons" =West Hampton  

[SPDB]

my guess is that "lizzy" refers to Lizzie Grubman, who probably wouldn't come this far west, she prefers the more fashionable hamptons to the east.

[Scott_Burroughs]

I had to look up Lizzie Grubman, but once I found out who it
was, I immediately recognized her case, just didn't know her name.

Background:  Lizzie is a young NY socialite and daughter of
bigwig music industry attorney who runs a PR company
named after herself and is (or was) as "in" a person as there
is in the club/celeb/schmooze/party scene, and represents
many of these people and true celebs.  She is the one who
(supposedly under the influence of alc/drugs), backed her
dad's $70K Mercedes SUV into people waiting in line at a
trendy Hamptons club, injuring 16 people, some fairly
seriously, and also the club itself, and then yelling at the
people she injured :"F@%# you, white trash!" and then fled
the scene.

Supposedly headed (or there already) for a month or two in jail.

Here's a nice list of jokes about her:

http://www.lizziegrubman.com/lizzie_jokes.htm


Sorry about the non-golf detour, but the jokes are pretty good.