Whats the latest with Yale?

[Joel_Stewart]

I'm traveling out east in a few weeks and planning on playing Yale.  After reading Rans review and talking with a few other people, I can't really understand if Yale is remodeling or not.  Any input would be helpful.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Joel Stewart,

I think sadly, that the silence is deafening !

[Mike_Sweeney]

I played @ Yale today, and like most courses in early June, it was in very nice shape, especially for Yale.  The greens were as good as I can remember at Yale. There was a great newspaper article posted in the clubhouse from a local newspaper in reference to the restoration and the new super. Roger Rulewich is doing a restoration of the tees, bunkers, and other and there was nice work in evidence on the back nine. Lots of trees being removed in a variety of places. There were a number of tees that were just planted, and a new putting green next to the first tee. There is also work being done on the cart paths, and while I would prefer not to see asphalt at Yale, it is better than the old concrete.

I can't remember the name of the new super, who has actually been on the Yale staff for many years. For union reasons, he is listed as interim, but the quotes in the paper about "fast and firm" and "restoration to its previous glory", would make most on this site very pleased. The article was dated Feb 22, 2002, but I am not sure which paper and I cannot find it on a web search.

As the article stated that "everything takes time at Yale (University)" but it looks like some nice progress on the course. Let me know if you have any problems getting on, I am taking some people next week before Bethpage.

[joel stewart]

I am reopening this thread because today I played Yale.  To answer my own question, there is no construction going on at Yale.

With that said, this was my first trip to Yale and I can say (IMHO) that it is one of the great courses in the US.  Despite the conditions (poor) it is a tremendous routing, fantastic green complexes and one of those courses that you don't want the round to end.

They do have some problems, namely the terrible condition of the fairways and rough and some changes that are not true to Raynor, currently they are putting Augusta white sand into the some traps (very stupid) and some tree encrochment.  

If anyone else is interested please let me know.

[ed_getka]

I played Yale last week courtesy of Mike Sweeney and I must say the conditioning complaints brought up so frequently are way overdone in my opinion based on what I saw. Granted, its not in country club condition and given Yale's sizable endowment it could be better, but I half expected the course to be unplayable, which it certainly is not. Apparently there is some new sand in the bunkers and it plays just fine, I even had a fried egg lie. The sand color seemed okay to me   not required. The greens were soft and spongy but they rolled pretty true, although a bit slower than I am accustomed to. I had a very good time playing the course (great company ), and although there are some average holes, there are some great holes there and some interesting quirky features, most of which are on 18.

[yalie]

What holes where average? Maybe only 5 (current state) and 16. Think what this could be with the Bethpage, TP money and GH and/or TD doing the work, how do you say to 25.

[GeoffreyC]

Joel- see the aerial of the day that I brought up from last week to hear a small bit of what's going on at Yale. Its a mess.

[ed_getka]

Yalie,
  #5, 7, and 16 are the ones that come to mind. I loved the course overall and would never pass up an opportunity to play it again, especially after the tees are all open. I am particularly interested in playing #4 from the back tee to see if that hole is any more interesting than what I saw.

[Bruceski]

Playing Yale Wednesday. Bringing the digital camera.  

[Biarritz]

Gentlemen,

I played Yale 4 years ago and revisited for some pictures last year. The golf course was in much better shape last year compared to 4 years ago. They were restoring the greenside bunkers on 18 last year. They looked pretty good and along the lines of Raynor. This golf course will never be in good shape. Nor should it really matter. The best thing that could happen at Yale would be for a hurricane to rip through there and remove 25,ooo trees. The combination of shade and roots will never let the grasses get the nutrients they need. This is one course that you can see the Banks persuation i.e. #1 green. This is truely a great golf course with all of the Raynor/MacDonald/Banks characteristics. What a great piece of property. Hopefully they will keep the integrity of the architects in mind.

[George Bahto]

Biarritz: you said: "Hopefully they will keep the integrity of the architects in mind."

HAH!!           HAH ..... OOPS I ALREADY SAID THAT ......

WELL IT BEARS REPEATING

                    ................ HAH !!

[Joel_Stewart]

I thought the condition of Yale was terrible, its almost sad.  The greens ar dense and spongy.  I'll assume they have never seen a tri-plex mower or been rolled.  You hit a putt and they bounce all over the place so any putt made is just luck, thats pretty bad.  The speed of the greens is about 6.

The rough is severe which I'll assume is from neglect.  Unless you get really lucky with a good lie you have to wedge it out.

The 7th an 11th have certain parts of the fairway that are unplayable.  I'll agree that they need to take out some trees to allow sunlight and circulation.

The 15th has a trap on the front right that looks like Fazio put it in plus it has pure white sand.

I could go on but with all that said, it has the best green contours I have ever seen.  Sure I would play it again also but why let such a diamond go un-polished?

[Mike_Sweeney]

I had the pleaseure of playing Yale yesterday with Geoffrey Childs. While I have played Yale at least a dozen times previouslyas both a guest and now a member, I felt like I discovered the course yesterday listening to Geoffrey. I can only tell you that he has and will continue to put alot of effort into getting the course back to the level it deserves.

[Joel_Stewart]

Joel- see the aerial of the day that I brought up from last week to hear a small bit of what's going on at Yale. Its a mess.

Geoffrey:
I can't find the aerial your mentioning?  Can you tell me the title of the thread.  Thanks.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Joel, try this, from page 2 of the DG threads:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/YaBB.cgi?board=GD1&action=display&num=1024406247

[von Hayek]

All I know is I went to my reunion a few weeks ago and they booked the course with an outing. Arrrggghhh!

[George Bahto]

you know it really is amazing  -  the old super really changed the course back in the 50's really a lot - the course was totallhy ignored for years and years - it has been abused in about every way imaginable and now the latest fiasco

......................  and yet the course is super - what a credit to the design

I was returning from a long trip a week or so ago - mtwo days in the car - and I started to wonder what would have happened if I did to the course what has vbeen done to it over the past two years or so

What tree would I have been hung from??

oooooooooorrrr.

what if Tom Doak or Gil - two Cornell grads - would have done to the course what has been done ..... what would have been said and done??

what a thought

[GeoffreyC]

George

1- You would never have butchered the course the way Roger Rulewich has done

2- I would have shot the rope on the gallows and rode off with you on my horse if they so much as thought about it.

Bruceski- get out your camera tomorrow and snap some good ones.  Especially the bunkers on the front 9.  Don't forget to get the road bunker on #4 or the bunkers on #5.

Here's a different look of the new stuff on #6 compared with the ones I posted in the aerial of the day thread.



Beautiful isn't it.  Totally in the Raynor style.  Deep and Steep-  

[Mike_Cirba]

Geoffrey,

I didn't realize they had converted to round sand greens at Yale?  

Where do they keep the oil and brooms?

[GeoffreyC]

Mike

The neighborhood cats like this bunker particularly well to make potty since its about as deep as one of those fallen leaves is long. They don't have to exert themselves getting out.

[Mike_Cirba]

Geoffrey;

I know we've differing opinions on what one can tell from looking at pictures, but I feel on safe ground in commenting here on your pic.

To quote a late, obscure pop singer, "Harry...It SUCKS".

Now, if only that photo draws a reaction from Patrick...  

[GeoffreyC]

Mike

I don't think we differ entirely on using photos.  When they document construction or have references to help measure size, depth and shape you can certainly obtain lots of information.  When aerials don't clearly document where a green ends and a bunker begins or when trees and shadows obscure detail you can be tricked.  Photos are great to have but word of mouth from an individual who has seen and played a course over a long period of time and witnessed changes and playability trumps photos every time provided the individual knows what he/she is talking about.

That photo of the round bunker thats at least 4 inches deep above says more then 1000 words

[Bruceski]

People,

I've never played Yale, so please list for me here the absolute must-have photos for me to shoot on Wednesday. I'm here to serve.  

[GeoffreyC]

Bruceski

Any of the front nine bunkers.  I have all the new ones on the back 9 and have posted them here before.

Get the front left and side right bunkers on #1.  The slopes are not as steep as they used to be and not quite as deep.

Ran has a good shot of the butchering of the hill on #2 in the course profile. It was taken at our GCA outing last May. Take a look at it and then go into the dining room and look at the old construction photos of all the holes.  Look at the hillside on #2 and the old double punchbowl green on #3 that is clearly shown from the photo of #4.

On #4 please get a good shot of the road bunker.

On #5 (short hole) make sure to shoot the bunkers (especially front) to contrast with page 40 of Geoff Shakelford's "The Golden Age of GOlf Design" or what you see in the dining room from construction photos.

We've seen #6 from my photos so go to the new bunker on the right side of #7.  I think George's new book coming out might contain an old photo of that bunker so we can compare later this summer.

Have a great time tomorrow.  In spite of all the changes it is still a great golf course

[Joel_Stewart]

People,

I've never played Yale, so please list for me here the absolute must-have photos for me to shoot on Wednesday. I'm here to serve.  

I would just go out and enjoy it.  You have to have a good eye and play it a number of times to see what Geoffrey and George know.  Its true what George said that even though they have butchered it, its still a great course.  Once you get on the first green and see that green complex you will know you are in for some fun.