[Andy Hughes]

Water Gap was a course I used to play as a kid, and hadn't seen in 25 years.  Not much has changed in those 25 years apparently--it felt like a period piece as a kid and still does.  It is not a  'great' course, nor is it particularly difficult. But I do find it to be fun and 'sporty' certainly applies.  There is also a certain feel to a course that has been around for 80 or more years that is very hard to describe but feels comforting.  And all of that is enough for me in a course. It was also quite nostalgic; interesting to play a course after a 25 year hiatus.  In short, Cirba would (does?) like it and Matt Ward would would wonder why the heck he crossed the Delaware River to play it. 

Oh, Walter Hagen held the course record with a 64 from back in the 1924 Eastern Open (I may have the year slightly wrong). Those guys were good!

Below is a smattering of the pics I took. Please let me know if you need explanations of any of the pictures.

First hole




Second hole




Third hole




Fifth




Ten


Eleven


Twelve (tough!)




Thirteen


Fifteen


Seventeen

[Mike Hendren]

Very appealing "bread and butter" course.  I never tire of looking at old courses, particularly those lesser versions that remain untouched by well-intentioned committees, upwardly mobile memberships or architectural wannabe's. 

I wonder if the people who play it day in and day out appreciate what they have?

Thanks for posting.

Mike

[Richard Hetzel]

I played Water Gap CC last May. It was an extremely FUN round of golf. If in the area, definitely stop and play it. The features here are outstanding....not long by today's standards, but the course itself demands, and rewards, accuracy in many places.

[Mark McKeever]

Reminds me a good bit of Wyoming Valley CC in Northeast PA (Tillie 1896).  Who designed Water Gap?

Mark

[Mike Cirba]

Andy,

Awesome pics.

I think you should title the thread, "The Poconos Strike Back, Matt"   

[Phil_the_Author]

Water Gap CC was designed by Robert White. Originally it was named Wolf Hollow and held the Eastern Open championship there.

There are some, including the Club itself, that believe that Tilly designed it and that White finished it, but this is not the case. The reason they think this is because Tilly did design a course in Pennsylvania named the Water Gap CC and that is what has created the confusion. They were different designs.

[Andy Hughes]

"I wonder if the people who play it day in and day out appreciate what they have?"

I suspect the core group does, as well the resort people who return year after year. But I worry those numbers are not very large--the hotel seemed like it was just a bit more worn than the last time I had been there. The course seemed just the same, though shorter!
"bread and butter" course--I like that Bogey, really fits.

Richard, were you able to hold the 10th fairway?    I don't believe I have ever actually hit AND stayed in that fairway.

Mike, do you have the photo TMac once posted of the 4th hole, the par 3?  It was fercious-looking back in the day.

[Joe Bausch]

Your memory is pretty good Andy!  1926 was the year.

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