[Mike Sweeney]

Patrick,

How about 16?

Seems like someone needs to make another trip below the Mason Dixon line! 

[Patrick_Mucci]

Lets start with the first tournament hole. Where is the tee strategy?


Shirley, you jest.

Tee shots must flirt with the woods/OB on the left and the leftside fairway bunker to get the ideal angle into the sloped and angled green, AND to avoid the large right side tree that impedes approach shots.

In addition, the lake on the right, while seemingly benign, has ruined many a round with the first shot of the day.

It's a hole that you expect a par or a birdie that can start with a double or worse.

[Patrick_Mucci]

No question, the first hole is very simply and an easy birdie.


Bill,

I can't play golf right now, but, I'll meet you at the first tee on Monday and give you 10-1 odds on a birdie every time you play the hole.  Par is even money and a bogie or worse you pay me 10-1.

Do we have a bet ?

In fact, the first 5 holes can all be birdied fairly easily with decent drives and accurate iron play

You must be an exceptional player.
# 2, # 3, # 4 and # 5 are hard holes on the East nine.

I'll even let you hit the green in regulation on # 5 and still bet you don't make par.

But then the course gets really tough as the composite course captures all the hardest holes on the property.

So to win, I think there is great pressure to come out of the shoot HOT because if you don't make a few birdies here, you may be in for a long day.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Bill,

Hopefully you are not an ND grad and can explaing the strategy on the #18 composite course:

Had you gone to ND you would have recognized the strategy on # 18 instead of having me point it out to you.

Straight or drawn drives face a very difficult angle of attack on the approach, especially with left side hole locations, due to the bunkering at the green and the hogback that runs through the green.

Hugging the right side, which Phil tried to do, presents you with a run-up ramp and much easier access to the green, irrespective of where the hole is cut.

However, hugging the right side is the riskier, more difficult drive, where as hitting it straight or to the left side of the fairway is less risky, but, leaves the golfer with a far more difficult approach.

You need to hone your course management skills.

I can't keep pointing out how to play every hole to you, there's simply not enough time.  And, you'd forget anyway.



What Patrick is missing is that the 18 worst holes at Ridgewood (a 27 hole facility is comparable to the 18 best holes at his home course in NJ, Preakness Hills (an 18 hole facility).

Preakness Hills is a wonderfully sporty golf course with an inordinate number of interesting holes.  Unfortunately, one of the best holes, # 13, was recently disfigured.

Pat being an ND and a Jersey guy simply does not understand that he has a very nice home course!

It's more than nice, it's very sporty, fun to play, day in and day out.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Patrick,

How about 16?

The narrowing of # 16 fairway years ago reduced the strategic value of the hole.

Drives hit left toward the left rough and woods were faced with an easier approach shot, a ramp, whereas, drives hit right have to have their approaches carry the deep rightside bunker and a less favorable putting surface.

Must I go through every hole in NJ until you understand the strategic merits, or better yet, must I teach you how to discern the strategic merits of each hole ?

Seems like someone needs to make another trip below the Mason Dixon line! 

[Bill Brightly]

Pat,

Woah! I was talking about a relatively easy birdie for the best PROS in the world, NOT ME!

But I'll take the bet, not because I am a 3 and really do expect to have a birdie putt almost every time..but beacuse I'll be playing Ridgewood! See you on Monday!

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Pat I think this is great exposure for the course. Yes it should improve it staure relative to it neighbors. However i do not see tour likely it.

[Mike Sweeney]

But I'll take the bet, not because I am a 3 and really do expect to have a birdie putt almost every time..but beacuse I'll be playing Ridgewood! See you on Monday!

Bill,

See on Monday if you can get Patrick to bet that ND over/under for nine wins this season too. It could be a VERY good year for you!

[Jim Nugent]

Sully,

Has some strange science experiment gone horribly awry while I've been out of town that has morphed you into Son of Mucci?

What's next, bright green typing?   

Oh wait... 

Oh no...it's ALIVE!!   

I just glanced at the posts, without reading them at first, and thought that WAS Patrick. 

[Voytek Wilczak]

>>Garcia has thrived on old-school courses, twice winning at Westchester and claiming titles at Colonial and Congressional.

“It’s a wonderful golf course,” Garcia said. “You’ve got to drive the ball well and shape it both ways and make sure that your short game is in shape, because it’s quite difficult around the greens.”<<

Sergio certainly appreciates it.

[TEPaul]

"Looks great on TV!
calling Tom Paul, does Craig Ammerman belong here?"


Dunlop:

I don't believe so but if he sees these posts on here there might be a strong possiblity he will join.

I remember Ridgewood well from a three day Lesley Cup there about 6-7 years ago. I guess I was pretty impressed but it probably just shows that we have an aweful lot of good courses up the Northeast corridor. There's definitely a "certain something" about Tillinghast at his best.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Pat,

Woah! I was talking about a relatively easy birdie for the best PROS in the world, NOT ME!

But I'll take the bet, not because I am a 3 and really do expect to have a birdie putt almost every time..but beacuse I'll be playing Ridgewood! See you on Monday!

Bill,

What time are you teeing off ?

I may come and visit you for one hole.

P.S.   I do not take checks,  bring cash 

[Bill Brightly]

Actually, I am playing in the Met Sr, Open on Monday at Hollywood...not that I am running from our bet...

[Patrick_Mucci]

Actually, I am playing in the Met Sr, Open on Monday at Hollywood...not that I am running from our bet...

Bill,

Good luck.

I love Hollywood.

We'll play Ridgewood after Labor Day.

[Dan Herrmann]

Just got back from my day at The Barclays.

Fist a note on the tournament  -  All the voulenteers were fantastic, the weather was great, but the crowds were very light.    If you can't get folks to a PGA TOUR event on a day like today in a world without Tiger, you have a long term challenge.

I was following Weir and Curtis.  On 17, Ben hit his tee shot 320 (verified with the ShotLink guys).  I was directly behind him when he hit it - I've never seen anything like it.   Amazing.  (Wier was only 20 yards short of Curtis on this hole)

Anyway-  the course.

It really blew me away.  I especially loved 3. 5, 7, 12,  and 17.    The green complexes were really great, and I LOVED the fariway movement.    What a fantastic golf course.

I saw a couple of members (identified by a distinctive badge).  So I asked them about the press.  Both told me they felt the club really welcomed the publicity, and that they were thinking of approaching the PGA about a possible Ryder Cup bid sometime in the future.

So it certainly appears that Ridgewood is basking in the positive vibe and would like to increase their profile.

One other note - I was chatting with one of the caddies - asked him his opinion on the course...  He absolutely loved it and felt it was significantly better than Westchester.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Dan Herrmann,

Could you explain to those folks down by Philadelphia way that you are NOT a homer ?

Thanks

[David Stewart]

David Feherty just said during the telecast, "It is hard to think of another course I would rather be on."  Is Ridgewood THAT good?

[Mike_Cirba]

Oh my gawd...these touring guys and the media get off of TPC Sugarloaf and Doral and you'd think they'd found religion!   

[RJ_Daley]

I don't know about putting Feherty in that bag....  I've always found him to have some pretty good and unvarnished golf course commentary.  His praise was quite effusive about Ridgewood.  I have only heard him speak of Royal County Down so strongly.

[David Stewart]

I read an article he wrote about CPC about a year ago or so and he said it was his favorite in the world.  I think it would be hard for Ridgewood to jump that.  All those guys are definitely praising the course at every opportunity.  It does look fabulous on TV.

[Dan Herrmann]

David,
I think Ridgewood is THAT good.   

Patrick
Thanks for noticing.  A great golf course is a great golf course wherever it is.    (only being a Philly guy since '93, I don't love everything Philly.  In fact, the only Philly sports team I root for is the Phillies).

Ridgewood is simply one of the best parkland-style courses I've ever set foot on.  Embarassingly, I never knew how good Tillie was.

[Joe Hancock]

Apparently the course is so complex that the players and tour officials need ShotLink to figure out who's away.......

[John Kirk]

Gee, that's exciting.  Singh drops his 30 footer on top of Garcia's to extend the playoff.

[Dan Herrmann]

I wonder why they'd care - it's stoke play - who cares who's away (at least 99% of the time, 'who cares' would apply)

[JMorgan]

What's with the Faldo-Garcia lovefest?   

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