Rhode Island Golf

[Niall Hay]

Having to be in Rhode Island for a wedding in Newport this May (5/21) what are the “must plays” of Rhode Island golf? How should one prioritize playing the best RI golf has to offer? Wannamoisett CC and Newport CC with their great history or the relatively “New School” Carnegie Abbey and Shelter Harbor. Rhode Island does seem to have some really wonderful courses and a good mix of old and new designs. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Any information or pictures of any of the above or any others would be great too. Thanks!

[Tom_Doak]

Niall:

There are a bunch of good courses right there, and a couple more not far away in Mass. -- Kittansett can't be as much as an hour from Providence.

The one you didn't name which I thought very highly of is Metacomet, just on the outskirts of Providence.

[Niall Hay]

Totally agree Kittansett is great. Anything else in the Boston area Myopia, TCC or Boston Golf Club that are great?

What is considered the "best" in RI?  How do the new courses compare to the old? Are all in the Newport/Providence area?

[John Foley]

Niall,

I am a big fan of Newport National.It's been talked about in the past and a great public access option.

http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,24897.0/

[Niall Hay]

Newport National, sounds great. Thanks!

[Niall Hay]

Niall:

"There are a bunch of good courses right there"

What's best? Which is better Wannamoisett CC or Newport CC? Has anyone played either?

[Anthony Butler]

The one you didn't name which I thought very highly of is Metacomet, just on the outskirts of Providence.

Great set of greens which are usually in really good condition. Providence is also an hour from Newport however.

Newport CC requires a letter from the pro or GM at your club and does not allow unaccompanied play on the weekend. Newport National apparently opens for play tomorrow, so it should be in pretty good shape by the time of your visit in May.

arb:

[Niall Hay]

The one you didn't name which I thought very highly of is Metacomet, just on the outskirts of Providence.

Great set of greens which are usually in really good condition. Providence is also an hour from Newport however.

Newport CC requires a letter from the pro or GM at your club and does not allow unaccompanied play on the weekend. Newport National apparently opens for play tomorrow, so it should be in pretty good shape by the time of your visit in May.

arb:

Thanks Anthony. Would you recommend Newport CC? Worth the effort?

[Cliff Hamm]

Quite frankly, without being too obnoxious, if you need to ask if Newport CC is worth the effort I'm surprised you have an interest in GCA

[M. Shea Sweeney]

Misquamicut, Metacomet,  Wanumetonomy, Rhode Island Country Club, Sakonnet, Point Judith, Quidnesset, Warwick, Newport Country Club, Wannamoisett, Triggs Memorial,---Rhode Island has some VERY good golf.

[Niall Hay]

Quite frankly, without being too obnoxious, if you need to ask if Newport CC is worth the effort I'm surprised you have an interest in GCA

Thanks Cliff.

[Niall Hay]

Which is better Wannamoisett CC or Newport CC?

[Anthony Butler]

Misquamicut, Metacomet,  Wanumetonomy, Rhode Island Country Club, Sakonnet, Point Judith, Quidnesset, Warwick, Newport Country Club, Wannamoisett, Triggs Memorial,---Rhode Island has some VERY good golf.

Agawamis Hunt Club... The courses close to Providence are on some pretty small blocks of land... Donald Ross worked on a lot of them because he kept an office in Providence during the summer for many years. He was obviously adaptable to land constraints he found in the NE, as pBelmont, Charles River, and Concord CC which are all on modest plots of land.

Would agree with Cliff re: Newport CC. The drive to the course alone past the Mansions will blow your mind. It is about as close to Monterey Peninsula as exists on the East Coast. Course is not bad either! Conditioning more predictable since they put the watering in prior to the Women's Open there about 5-6 years ago.

[Tim Gavrich]

Newport CC is as good a golf course as I've ever played when you consider the "whole package"--setting, course, general atmosphere.  I'd love to play it someday in weather better than 35 degrees, gale-force winds, and rain.  But even so, it was incredible.

No one's mentioned Carnegie Abbey, a Donald Steel course at one of Peter de Savary's outposts.  I've heard good things about it.

[Niall Hay]

Misquamicut, Metacomet,  Wanumetonomy, Rhode Island Country Club, Sakonnet, Point Judith, Quidnesset, Warwick, Newport Country Club, Wannamoisett, Triggs Memorial,---Rhode Island has some VERY good golf.

Would agree with Cliff re: Newport CC. The drive to the course alone past the Mansions will blow your mind. It is about as close to Monterey Peninsula as exists on the East Coast. Course is not bad either! Conditioning more predictable since they put the watering in prior to the Women's Open there about 5-6 years ago.

So is Newport a Ross with Tilly's influences or did Tillly do a full resign? Huge Tilly fan but just love a good/great design regardless.

[Niall Hay]

Newport CC is as good a golf course as I've ever played when you consider the "whole package"--setting, course, general atmosphere.  I'd love to play it someday in weather better than 35 degrees, gale-force winds, and rain.  But even so, it was incredible.

No one's mentioned Carnegie Abbey, a Donald Steel course at one of Peter de Savary's outposts.  I've heard good things about it.

Yeah, the clubhouse and setting alone make it a top priority but no one has really spoken about Newport CC and its design merits or as one of the great along with some of the Ross (No. 2, Seminole) or even Tilly (SFGC or WF). Seems to be very much a "whole package" or full experience (which is certainly appealing) but as a straight golf course no one has yet said great. Or how it compares with some of the other well regarded courses in the area. Or relative to Wannamoisett in particular.

As for Carnegie Abbey I have also heard great things and the Steel tie in seems more than appropriate this month. Very good course with another great setting and atmosphere.... complete with Scottish bartenders and such.

[Niall Hay]

Does anyone know if there is lodging at Newport CC?

[Nick Campanelli]

My boss belongs at Wannamoisett...he invited me a few times last year to play and i was blown away by the course, an original Ross design that has stood the test of time with little "length enhancement."  Its a par 69, but five of the par fours could pass as par 5's on any other course.  Well worth a round if you can get on.  It will test your game and patience immensely.  Conditioning of the greens and bunkers were impeccable.  Staff and caddies were also welcoming and very polite.

[Niall Hay]

My boss belongs at Wannamoisett...he invited me a few times last year to play and i was blown away by the course, an original Ross design that has stood the test of time with little "length enhancement."  Its a par 69, but five of the par fours could pass as par 5's on any other course.  Well worth a round if you can get on.  It will test your game and patience immensely.  Conditioning of the greens and bunkers were impeccable.  Staff and caddies were also welcoming and very polite.

Very cool, thanks Nick. Big fan of Ross and they have a great history with good amateur play...

[Brad Tufts]

Niall,

Newport is a truly unique experience in New England, if not the entire east coast.  The course generally runs hard, playing generally firm and fast.  The site is generally treeless, making the wind and weather very important.  There are few courses that have the same type of history and "links feel" that are located north of Long Island.  The holes are wide open with long rough to the far outsides, and the greens generally accept ground shots as well as those in the air.  The bunkers are many, random, and deep, and they are filled with a unique local beach sand that could be described as a fine gravel.

As far as I know, the course's origins were found at the very beginning of golf course design in the US.  Ross modified and expanded this original layout, and Tillinghast totally revamped it to the point where the Ross influence (beyond spiritual) is minimal today.  I would be interested to see/know why Tillie was called in relatively soon after Ross's redesign, and if it had more to do with logistics than anything else.

And they do not have lodging.

-Brad

[Niall Hay]

Niall,

Newport is a truly unique experience in New England, if not the entire east coast.  The course generally runs hard, playing generally firm and fast.  The site is generally treeless, making the wind and weather very important.  There are few courses that have the same type of history and "links feel" that are located north of Long Island.  The holes are wide open with long rough to the far outsides, and the greens generally accept ground shots as well as those in the air.  The bunkers are many, random, and deep, and they are filled with a unique local beach sand that could be described as a fine gravel.

As far as I know, the course's origins were found at the very beginning of golf course design in the US.  Ross modified and expanded this original layout, and Tillinghast totally revamped it to the point where the Ross influence (beyond spiritual) is minimal today.  I would be interested to see/know why Tillie was called in relatively soon after Ross's redesign, and if it had more to do with logistics than anything else.

And they do not have lodging.

-Brad

Great insight, thanks Brad.

Do you think the course will be firm and fast even relatively early in the season? May 20-22 or so? What time of year is optimal for RI golf?

[PCCraig]

RI Golf begins and end with Newport CC....just a fantastic course and overall experience.

Newport National is pretty good from what I remember, but I only played it once years ago on a wet fall day.

[Niall Hay]

RI Golf begins and end with Newport CC....just a fantastic course and overall experience.

Awesome, that’s what I was looking for thanks Pat. Newport sounds like the place to play.

That said, have you played Wannamoisett?

[PCCraig]

RI Golf begins and end with Newport CC....just a fantastic course and overall experience.

Awesome, that’s what I was looking for thanks Pat. Newport sounds like the place to play.

That said, have you played Wannamoisett?

I haven't, but have a good friend who played there a good amount for his College team and says good things.

[Niall Hay]

Any others you recommend Pat?