Paxon Hollow GC, Broomall,PA-now with new pics

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Nice commercial:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rwQ_cJUpL6Y

[Tim Copeland]

I played there ~2001 when I was working on ACE club.....good track then.....just a little beaten up at the time

[D_Malley]

steve,
thanks for posting the link to our new commercial.  as you probably know we have been undergoing a gradual renovation project, with jim wagner of gil hanse golf design.  i created the commercial to try and get the message out there.  unfortunately there has been some resistance by the township management to airing the commercial on cable tv, so youtube may be the only place people will see it. 

Jim has done some excellent work on the bunkering and also has drawn up a master plan which involves many other upgrades.  i will try to post some pictures when i get a chance.  i think there may be some local golfers who may of given up on Paxon Hollow many years back due to overcrowding and/or bad conditioning.  we have addressed all of the issues and are trying to spread the word.

[Joe Bausch]

George, what is the tentative timeframe for all the upcoming 'updates' to Paxson?  Weeks, months, years?!

[D_Malley]

joe,
we have completed bunker work on 14 holes so far.  this includes adding many new bunkers, eliminating some bunkers, and reshaping some bunkers.  we have also added some new tees on those holes, but there are still some tees on jim's plan that still need to be built.  we have also been gradually removing trees necessary for the plan. 

holes 8 thru 17, 1,2,4,5 have all new bunker schemes.

we have been working with jim primarily around his schedule, he lives close by and when his schedule permits he comes out and does some work for us. we plan to continue upgrades to the course during the next fall winter season. 

i would say that we have completed about 75% of the plan with the remainder to be done in the next year or so, all work is mainly done in the off seasons while the course remains open for play.  but we plan to continue our relationship with Jim Wagner even after we complete this stage.  we will continue to seek his advise and implement improvements when funds become available

[D_Malley]

13 green before and after

[D_Malley]

the most recent work was done fall of 07 and includes holes 4,8,9
#9

#4

#8

[Joe Bausch]

Having heard about Paxon's bunker work over the last couple of years, I finally made it out there yesterday.  Not only is the bunkering a huge improvement, but the overall conditioning has gone up a notch since I last played it years ago. 

PH is a less than 6000 yard layout by J. Franklin Meehan.  It is quite sporty with lots of subtle movement in many of the greens.  Big hitters can likely just overpower the course, but it is very tight in places.  I'd like to see some tree work done here, and perhaps that is planned (and what is it with so many Philly area courses that planted ugly white pine trees say ~30-50 years ago that are now really big and not visually appealing?!)

Below are some snapshots to add (and in places duplicate) those from earlier:

#1:





#2:



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[mike_malone]

 I think if you hit a 5 iron off of the tee Paxon could be one of the most challenging courses in the area.

[Mike_Cirba]

Terrific pictures, Joe!

Paxon Hollow was indeed originally designed by Franklin Meehan with Frances Warner in the 1920's, but the routing in play today is vastly different than what they originally built, particularly on the back nine.

My understanding is that the owner who took over in the 1960s changed a lot of the original course, for reasons unknown.

I know the original routing....would love to see a restoration!   

[Joe Bausch]

I think if you hit a 5 iron off of the tee Paxon could be one of the most challenging courses in the area.

M2:  I mentioned to my playing partner yesterday that Paxon would be great to have a 4 club tournament, or something similar.  Or maybe a "just irons" tourney!

MikeC:  I think it is time for me to find the 'original routing' on Penn Pilot to understand the changes.

And for anybody that wishes to see the entire lot of pics from Paxon (about 100 of them), go here:

http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Paxon_Hollow/index.html

[mike_malone]

 Paxon is so lucky to have Dan Malley as its pro; he has that architectural sense and a desire to improve the fun for the golfers. I had a discussion with him about the original routing. He might chime in.

  BTW there is 10 times more strategy here than at Galloway!

[Brad Tufts]

Mayday,

Correct me if I'm wrong Sandy, but see posts 2, and 4-6 above for the chiming.

-Brad

[mike_malone]

 Brad,

 I meant "chiming" about the original design. Dan has been a poster here for awhile.

[D_Malley]

1939 original back 9 routing

[D_Malley]

i can tell you exactly what the original routing was because my father caddied there in 1938 and he remembers it perfectly.  i will try to post it later when i have more time.

[Ray Cross]

Dan,
Very nice spot. Don't understand why the township would not want to see more play...are you at maximum now?
Anyway, glad to see the improvments to a fun course.

Ray

[Joe Bausch]

Dan, any chance you have a better resolution of that early aerial?  I'm not having much luck picking out how the course was back then.

Plus, without better resolution some of the people here will likely see an Alps, a Redan, you name it and before you know it Barker, Whigham, and CBM will have another attribution.   

[D_Malley]

sorry that pic did not come out too good.

more changes occured on the back nine and a couple on the front,

#1 is the same
#2 was a par 4 from the same tee as today and played directly over the current green to a green placed behind and to the left of current 3rd tee. a creek fronted the green. 
#3 was a par 3 playing back towards current 3 tee.
#4 was current #3, the current 4th hole was not there.

the rest of the front nine is basically the same as today, except without having the current 4th hole it allowed the 5th snd 8th holes to play longer.
the 8th tee used to be right behind the 7th green, which would be a real good par 3 (200+).  the old 5th tee was right near the current 4th tee. both the 5th and 8th holes would be better from those tees.

hopefully that is not too confusing, i will try to explain the back ninie later, maybe after the kids go to bed.

[D_Malley]

you can view 1939 picture i posted above at link below, much clearer verison.

http://hstrial-tkelley1.homestead.com/Paxon_Site/1_ClubHistory.html

[Joe Bausch]

Dan, is that 1939 aerial from the Dallin collection?

[D_Malley]

joe,
i think it is, i recieved it from the hagley in DE

[Joe Bausch]

joe,
i think it is, i recieved it from the hagley in DE

Ahh, yes, one and the same:

http://digital.hagley.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/p268001uw&CISOPTR=6062

I assume you have the high res version from them?  I have many high res ones from them of Cobb's Creek  (and Paxon's progenitor, Brookline Square) and they are very nice.

[D_Malley]

i do not think restoring the old holes 2 & 3 would be a benefit today.  although getting rid of the fourth hole which was not there originally would improve the front nine, particularily hole #8.  if you could find a new par three somewhere.

[D_Malley]

the par and yardage of the first four holes is not good for pace of play.

#1 - 330 par 4
#2 - 128 par 3
#3 - 495 par 5
#4 - 146 par 3

back tee distances

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