[Patrick_Mucci]

Ridgewood has lived in the shadow of other Tillinghast courses that have hosted Opens, namely, Baltusrol, Winged Foot and Bethpage.

Quaker Ridge hosted the Walker Cup and Somerset Hills is generally regarded as being in the USGA's backyard.

As such, its been flying under most radar screens for a long while.

I believe that conditioning or the lack of has hurt Ridgewood for decades.

It was known as a spring and fall golf course because it wasn't in good shape in the summer for a variety of reasons, amongst them, the agronomic impact of the majestic trees which blocked the sun, air circulation and playing corridors.

Once they were dealt with, everything improved.

It's also my belief that an unwritten "quota" on top AWT courses in the area hurt Ridgewood.

Winged Foot West and East, Quaker Ridge, Baltusrol Lower and Upper, Somerset Hills,  Fenway and Bethpage may have overloaded the tolerance for AWT courses in the top echelon in the MET area, regionally and nationally.

Ridgewood presents a sporty test for the membership, one that's both fun and challenging.

It's a wonderful golf course.

Perhaps, after this weekend, it won't be so under rated and unappreciated.  

[CHrisB]

I can't believe 9-under was the first-round lead, there were no subsequent weather problems, and 8-under was the winning score. Says something about the golf course.

[JMorgan]

Patrick, I haven't played Ridgewood, but I would bet that it would rank third in the MET area for AWT courses, just behind BB and Winged Foot but just ahead of Fenway and one of my sentimental Tillie favorites, Somerset Hills.   

[Patrick_Mucci]

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

John,

Sergio had the more difficult putt.

He had to go up, over and down a spine that runs through the green.

Unfortunately, the cameras flatten out the greens.

If they can figure out a way to bring 3-D to televising golf, viewers would appreciate contours and slope more.

[RJ_Daley]

I liked that with all the hoopla after Sergio sinking that great putt, and blowing Capt. Nick a kiss, that D.F. said very assuredly and in the old "not so fast boys" manner, that it wouldn't be at all surprising that VJ would sink his. 

We sure got to see some great shots pulled off this weekend on two great courses, Ridgewood and #2 at the US Am.   

[Patrick_Mucci]

RJ,

I was surprised when Sergio sunk his putt, it was a far more difficult putt.

What shocks me is the distance they were hitting the ball, not just with their drivers, but with their irons as well.  It's mind boggling.

And yet, the golf course held its own.

I thought that # 12 and # 14 had their tees a little too far forward, especially on # 14.  I would have prefered to see more blind approaches on # 14, especially when the area behind the green falls off dramatically.

What's also amazing is how good these guys putt.

That's in no small part due to a greatly improved golf ball.

Try putting like that with the old Blue Max and its predecessors, that went out of round after a good hit.

[Phil Benedict]

Composite courses don't count.

[Jim Nugent]

What's with the Faldo-Garcia lovefest?   

Perhaps two words:  Ryder Cup.

[JMorgan]

What's with the Faldo-Garcia lovefest?   

Perhaps two words:  Ryder Cup.

... and then some ... .

[Dan Herrmann]

Based on what you saw on TV or in person, do you think Ridgewood (composite course) could hold a Ryder Cup? 

Forgetting the $$$ interests of the PGA - I think it would be a wonderful test.

[JSlonis]

Based on what you saw on TV or in person, do you think Ridgewood (composite course) could hold a Ryder Cup? 

Forgetting the $$$ interests of the PGA - I think it would be a wonderful test.

It could definitely host a Ryder Cup.  Actually, it already did...back in 1935.

I've always thought Ridgewood got overlooked a bit in this State.  After Pine Valley, it is right up there with the very best courses in NJ.  The recent tree work has helped it even more. 

[Tom Lehman]

Ridgewood is a great test of golf, fair, and deserving of praise.  Like every great golf course, it has wonderful greens which don't fight the grades and a strategy that takes away the benefit of the modern hit it 350 and square groove it onto the green mentality.  Once again, a course that demands the ability to work shots both ways (especially right to left) and gives you angles to deal with has been the winner.  It also proved that a great driving hole  does not need a bunker (numbers 3,4,6,7,12,16,17 and 18), that an angled tee shot works just as well and maybe even better.

[wsmorrison]

Welcome aboard, Tom.  I look forward to your participation!  Thank you for your perspective on Ridgewood.   Which golfers had to adjust their game to the architectural demands and maintenance practices?  Did those that needed to, do so? 

Offset angles, on tee shots and approach shots are an example of enhanced architecture that fortunately evolved from straight away holes.  Wilson, Flynn, Crump, Tillinghast and Thomas were into that pretty early.  It tests a lot more of a golfer's game.  The sort of shot testing is exemplified at Huntingdon Valley CC where it is often necessary to hit a fade from a draw lie or a draw from a fade lie.  Where wind comes into play, such as at Shinnecock Hills, the use of offsets is even more dramatic.  If you are who I think you are, I've seen your letter in the clubhouse and know your fondness for that design. 

[JESII]

Tom,

I lost 4&3 to a guy named Jim Lehman at a tournament last fall...about 50 from Minnesota, any relation?

[wsmorrison]

Sully,

I think so.  He's a non-resident member of my club and has game.

[Tom Lehman]

Tom,

I lost 4&3 to a guy named Jim Lehman at a tournament last fall...about 50 from Minnesota, any relation?

yes, He is my brother and he has become a heck of a good player.  Sorry he beat you, but not too sorry!!!!!!!!

[Tom Lehman]

Welcome aboard, Tom.  I look forward to your participation!  Thank you for your perspective on Ridgewood.   Which golfers had to adjust their game to the architectural demands and maintenance practices?  Did those that needed to, do so? 

Offset angles, on tee shots and approach shots are an example of enhanced architecture that fortunately evolved from straight away holes.  Wilson, Flynn, Crump, Tillinghast and Thomas were into that pretty early.  It tests a lot more of a golfer's game.  The sort of shot testing is exemplified at Huntingdon Valley CC where it is often necessary to hit a fade from a draw lie or a draw from a fade lie.  Where wind comes into play, such as at Shinnecock Hills, the use of offsets is even more dramatic.  If you are who I think you are, I've seen your letter in the clubhouse and know your fondness for that design. 
Wayne,
Yes, Shinnecock is my favorite golf course in America, and much of it is because of the things you wrote above.  It actually even tests your ability to set up to the ball square to your intended line of play because the angles don't do it for you automatically.

[Jeff Doerr]

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

I think I heard Feherty say that this is top 10 anywhere?

[Dan Herrmann]

Tom mentioned great holes without bunkers. 

Amen to that, and Ridgewood is full of them.  I especially loved the "mogul fields" on 3 and 13 with their very long grass.  To me, they serve a similar purpose as a large centerline bunker (a'la Hell's Half Acre), but they probably cost a LOT less to maintain.

We don't see enough of that in today's architecture.

[wsmorrison]

Tom,

I don't know if you've been to Merion East or not, I have seen your brother on the course--maybe with your father and his son, but there are a number of holes on the East and West course where the tee boxes are aimed in the wrong, and in some cases, the most wrong directions.  In some cases, Flynn used perceptual miscues to make golfers think a bit more deeply about strategy.  Testing physical and mental abilities make for a better design and makes it easier for the course to separate the best player in a given tournament.  Luck is a bit less in play due to the overall demands required.  I think the misdirection of tees was intentional and I think Flynn carried that design practice onto other courses, notably Shinnecock Hills.  If you haven't visited Merion, I hope you will someday.  Even if you have, I hope you will return for another visit sometime.  We have an excellent archives you may enjoy reviewing after a day on the course.

Tom Paul and I have spent the last 8 years writing a 3-volume set on the works of William Flynn.  We found a treasure trove of many of his architectural drawings stored for 65+ years in the barn of the property of the Gordon family (William and later David).  Since then, we've come across many other original drawings as well.  It all amounts to the most complete collection of pre WWII architecture according to Rand Jerris at the USGA.  Two of the most complete sets of drawings are for Shinnecock Hills and Merion.  You may be interested in these drawings or others of interest.   Please feel free to contact me at your leisure (610.664.9663).

Best,
Wayne

[Sean Leary]

Wayne,

What in particular makes you think that the tees were aimed on purpose in a the wrong direction, whather than just based on maintenence over the years changing it slightly?  Just curious whether Flynn wrote about that?

Also, wouldn't the distance the ball carries now change some of that in terms of target line, especially on offset fairways? (I am thinking about the first at Shinnecock in my mind on this)

[wsmorrison]

Sean,

I haven't seen anything of the kind in writing from Flynn or Wilson.  However, the tees were offset to the correct line of play early on, it wasn't a matter of maintenance practices.

As far as the increase in distance the ball carries, that can make the offsets even more impactful.  It is far easier to hit through the fairway on #1 at Shinnecock for instance, so the line of play and execution is even more important as is the advantage of properly shaping the shot.

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