St Louis Country Club, A sleepy treasure of architecture

[Chip Gaskins]

I had the chance to get out at St. Louis Country Club yesterday and was blown away...Wow, what a place.

They have been under a seven year restoration project with Brian Silva (and Kyle Goalby) and it looks and plays amazing.

I have become infatuated by the Macdonald/Raynor courses and would have never have thought that to be the case with the geometric shapes, but once you are playing them they really work. 

# 2 the hardest Biarritz I have played because it is slightly uphill and with a pin on the front pad from 215 it makes for a very hard shot!


#3 Eden.  I am not sure I can say I see this hole as a true Eden.  Maybe what Macdonald thought an Eden should play like, but not like any other Edens I have played.  Great hole nevertheless.


#6 (Blind) has one of the coolest greens I have ever seen.  I wonder if they ever pin the back left.


#7 is Short and is the best Short I have played.  The thumbprint green is fantastic!


#7 green


#8 is Cape and honestly needs a little tree trimming from the back tees to actually be able to cut any of the corner off.  Great hole though.  The green site reminds me of Merion #11


#15 green seems to incorporate a Biarritz feel into a par 5 green.  I love that back pin.  I had to hit several approach shots for fun to see what worked best.


#16 reverse Redan that sits on the land perfectly

[PCCraig]

Wow...the last I saw of the club the fairways were totally torn up in heavy construction. The course looks great.

[Dan Herrmann]

Chip - thanks for posting...

A good addition to Ran's review here http://golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/saint-louis-cc

[John Mayhugh]

Chip,
Thanks for posting the pics.   If there are any more, I would love to see them.

[Jim Franklin]

Would #15 be considered a double plateau green and not a Biarritz? Don't know, just asking. The course looks fantastic.

I have a new client in St Louis that says SLCC is overrated. I think it looks great and definitely need to play it.

[David Kelly]

Chip,
Were you wearing a green shirt and in a golf cart?

[ed_getka]

David,
    I was wondering if you were there at the same time. What did you think?

[Chip Gaskins]

David

Yes, green shirt and cart.  I assume you were in front of me with a white shirt and caddie.  You and I were the only folks on the course taking 10 pictures of every green complex ;-)  I figured you must have been a GCA member.

Chip

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

And the best green for quality is the punchbowl.  After the one at NGLA this has to be the best version to be found.

[Joe McCormac]

I've been lucky enough to play 30-40 times at SLCC.  The diagnol hazards on the par 5's (creek on 9, bunkers on 13 and 15) coupled with the punchbowl on 5 make the par 5's play with some of the best variety of any course I know.

I think the 2-4 stretch is the most difficult in relation to par. 

[Jim Nugent]

And the best green for quality is the punchbowl.  After the one at NGLA this has to be the best version to be found.

Ran points this out in the SLCC profile, but just in case some have not seen that:

This green did not exist for decades.  In the late 1960's, e.g., the green was located 30-50 yards further back, on the hill behind the second stone wall.  It was not a punchbowl at all. 

Looks like moving the green to where it is now also let SLCC lengthen #6.  From the pic, #6 tee seems to be directly above where the old green was.

[Chip Gaskins]

Though I loved the course, I have to admit I didn't really like the #5 Punchbowl.  I really liked the way the green was down in a natural punchbowl, but all those brick walls and sharp edges were in great contrast to me what a punchbowl really is...but it is personal opinion.



On the flip side, the 6th had one of the best greens I have played.  Reminded me of Ballyneal #12

[Rob Rigg]

Many great photos - Thanks Chip!