The final instalment of my trip last year covers the NJ and PA regions....whilst the weather conspired against me for the majority of my time there - I could not help to appreciate the wonderful array of golf courses in that region.
An invite to visit
Pine Valley (PV) is the golfing equivalent of winning “a major jackpot”. Opportunities are rare and I am sure very few would ever contemplate saying no to such an invitation. I know of only one and even he admits his regret in doing so.
Long considered the best golf course in the World and I am sure not too many people would argue against that notion having had the opportunity to see same. Crump’s grand vision and legendary attention to detail is very much evident in the wonderful routing of the course.
Put simply - it has the strongest collection of holes I have seen. I struggle to contemplate a hole that has any significant flaws or weaknesses – unless one considers the concept of forced carries a weakness ? That and PV’s obvious difficulty ?
Variety in the P3’s, vision + depth in the P4’s and strength in the P5’s - this course has it all. Those who get to play it on a regular basis would certainly be tested by the visually intimidating challenges of the course as there are certainly no “breather” holes at PV.
With the who’s who of famous Golden Age architects being involved at various stages: Colt, Travis, Alison, Flynn, Wilson, Thomas and Maxwell etc it’s little wonder PV is held in such high esteem and it’s influences are obviously immeasurable.
Holes I noted:
1st = (P4: 420 yds) the opening hole sets the tone of the round and one had better be accurate with their approach to the bunkerless green – otherwise you could be faced with a pitch uphill to a target that is a few yards above your head as the green drop’s off on three sides !
5th = (P3: 235yds) is obviously a brute from the plates – not for the carry across the water which will only capture the very poor golf shot. The difficulty lies in the location of the narrow greensite up on the hillside surrounded by trees and the severe back to front slope therein.
7th = (P5: 636yds) after playing up and down various slopes the 7th is on what one could consider one of the flatter parts of the PV layout. With the famous “Hell’s Half-Acre” to contend with at the 280 to 300 yard mark off the tee the golfer also has to consider that the green is surrounded by a sea of sand. Only after three exact shots will find yourself on the peninsula putting surface.
8th = (P4: 326yds) one plays a tee shot over the rise and past the famous halfway (pump) house to either a small upper or lower plateau green. Either is obviously a rather difficult target to hit off a downhill / sidehill lie.
9th = (P4: 459yds) this hole is deceptive not only in the width off the tee but also the shots into either of the B2B dual greensites.
10th = (P3: 161yds) is a lovely short P3 with one of the famous bunkers in the World – “Devil’s little ass-hole” ever-present off the tee. I thought the Road Holes bunker was claustrophobic ?
13th = (P4: 486yds) is one of the best holes I came across in America. This hole has it all in terms of risk v reward strategy on the approach shot into the green. The ability for one to be able to hit such an approach along the ground makes it even more impressive - that or try a 200 yard carry across sand and scrub with very little margin for error ?
14th = (P3: 220yds) a dropshot P3 down to an island green. What an impressive run of holes the 13th through 15th make in terms of their diversity and terrain changes with the later’s ever increasing narrowness all the way to the green.
16th = (P4: 475yds) is another strong hole with a green set near the water with a set of large bunkers protecting the left hand approach.
18th = (P4: 483yds) it would be remiss not to provide a look at one of the more tougher finishing holes in golf. Plenty of trees / sand / rough and water to contend with - is there a more exacting finish to a round of golf out there ?
