NLE Course you're most sorry to have missed....

[Pat Burke]

Overhills


Greylock Glen


Second is a personal/family related thing

[Peter Flory]

For ones that I have a personal connection to, I would say OFCC #3 and Illinois Golf Club.

[Ben Stephens]

The original Northampton GC - the hills and hollows designed by Willie Park jr now mostly a park with some golf course features still recognised and 18th is now a supermarket

[Matthew Rose]

I've only played Commonwealth once (in 2002) and from what I understand it was a much better course in the 60s and 70s. Would like to see that for myself.

Also, not quite the same thing, but I would have liked to have seen Thornberry Creek in Wisconsin (which I lived on for a few years) built with the three holes on the other side of the road that were in the original routing.

[Richard Fisher]

Thomas D has already bagged one of my nominations (Rhayader): my other Welsh selections in this context (both seaside) would have been the nine holes of the Merionethshire Golf Club at Fairbourne  ( a founder member of the Welsh GU in 1895) and the famous links of the Barry Golf Club at Aberthaw, which disappeared under a power station in the 1950s. Both are covered extensively on Missing Links. Rhayader incidentally must be unique for a course designed by Dr Mac in having precisely thirty-five active members when it expired in the 1960s...

Elsewhere in the UK, I would loved to have seen the heather and silver birch of Bramshot (Hampshire) and, perhaps most romantic of all, the nine links holes of the Royal Isle of Wight Golf Club on the Duver at St Helen's Bembridge, where it is still possible to stay in the original clubhouse. Amongst other distinction the RIofWGC was the venue in1895 for the first county match ever held in England, between Hampshire and Yorkshire, and I understand that a full-scale history is currently in preparation of what was once one of the most important and influential golf clubs in the UK.

[Ryan Van Culin]

I would like to have seen High Pointe, and Belmont, in Richmond, VA.
I had intentions to see Belmont, but procrastinated until 2 weeks before it shut down for renovation by DL3 group.


As others have mentioned, I would love to have seen the greats as they were originally. Namely Ojai, Augusta, and others from the Golden Era.


Not necessarily for the architecture, but I would have loved to see some historic matches in person, like "The Match" with Venturi, Ward, Hogan, and Nelson, the 1913 US Open playoff, and an early Open with Old Tom.

[JC Urbina]

The course I came upon a few years back that  NLE was called,"Tupancy Links" I walked a few of the holes and did some research.


It was on the North Shore of Nantucket and is now governed by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation.


You can still see some old green sites, the land runs adjacent to the coast line and averaged 30 feet above Sea Level.  I alerted Mr Wexler since he has been fascinated about these types of golf courses.  It would qualify for his book "Lost Links".


You can learn more about it from the Nantucket Conservation Foundation if your interested.




The land is now open space never to be developed.

[Tim_Weiman]

The NLE course I would most like to have seen is the original course (9 holes) build in Pelham Manor, NY just off the Boston Post Road by Dr. Edward Fowler circa 1900.


The course was on land that I later grow up on and only existed about 15-20 years due to real estate development in Pelham. The house I lived in was on Fowler Avenue and was built in 1925. According to town archives, houses in this area were partially built with stones collected when clearly land for what because the 18 hole Pelham Country Club, site of the 1923 PGA Championship. An entire side of my house was stone, so it is likely to have come from the new course site.


Like much of Westchester County, the land around my house had lots of ideal elevation change. It was probably a pretty good course that Dr. Fowler built.


Speaking of Pelham Country Club, the course was designed by Devereux Emmet, but was re-done in the 1950s when the New England Thruway was build. I missed that by about 10-12 years. Would have been great to also see that version of Pelham CC.

[Tommy Williamsen]

It is my understanding that Wolf Run closed. I belonged to Four Streams, which was designed my Steve Smyers, and wanted to see this course. Never made it.

[Sven Nilsen]

The course I came upon a few years back that  NLE was called,"Tupancy Links" I walked a few of the holes and did some research.

Pretty sure Tupancy Links was originally the 9 hole Nantucket GC (aka Nantucket Island and Nantucket Golf Links) and dated back to 1898 when it was attributed to Alex Findlay.  By at least 1908 it had 18 holes.


The Donald Ross Society notes that Ross built an entirely new 18 hole course in 1917.  The 1917 Annual Guide has a notation that Ross was rebuilding the course.


You can make out a good bit of the holes from the Ross Plan in the current aerial.

[Tim Martin]

Original Deepdale by MacRaynor.

[Tim Rooney]

Winding Hollow (1990/A.Hills) excellent course closed by L Wexner in New Albany,Oh. Better architectural work than Longaberger on a flat piece of land.

[Mark Mammel]

Interesting that the 2018 list from the Donald Ross Society shows the Nantucket Golf Club as a 9 hole layout! The Tufts Archives sat otherwise.

[V. Kmetz]

As historic and diverse as the extant legacy of Westchester County remains, there are still are a number of interesting NLEs (almost all but obliterated in the landscape), dotting the county. In Yonkers alone, where American golf first started to root permanently, there were once contained 6.5 different golf courses in the First and Golden Ages. Only the 2nd and 3rd remain:

• [/size]St. Andrews (its first four courses counting as 1 before moving just north over the Yonkers line to Hastings in 1897)
• [/size]Dunwoodie (a private constructed in 1903 [by whom]?, 7 holes altered markedly upon conversion to county municipal in 1957 to present)
• [/size]Sprain Lake (an extant 1925 municipal/county attributed to Winton)
• [/size]Grassy Sprain (a 1927-8 "super course" intended to be a grand venue which seems to have been gone by 1942)
• [/size]Lawrence Park - a utilitarian, owner built executive/9-holer which transitioned from private to public and all but faded out by the late 1950s.
• [/size]Saegkill (a 6, then 9 holer womens satelitte of St Andrews formed in 1897)...which became the one I wish I got

HUDSON RIVER GC -  Donald Ross - 1915-1968

Saegkill operated as a womens off shoot until 1913, when it became a full M/W club and expanded from the area of what would roughly be its back 9 northward with a completely revamped, original Ross design. Even though I was too young to absorb any sight of it as a golf course, I know this property well as I was born and have made dozens of visitations for family in the hospital now across the street... some board locals will know the area as today's Executive Office Park, now centered about a massive water tower with the bloc letters "YONKERS" which lords over the entirety of that last northern remove of the city limits.  This must have been quite a course, coursing over, around and through the valley and dale of a saddled ridge that itself sits on the highest point of the area, commanding 360 views south down to NYC, west and north past the Jersey Palisades and Tappan Zee and east to Long Island Sound upon playing the hilltops off what was #s 6 and 7. And containing the rare 18th hole Par 3.

An additional spike for my interest in this course is my lifelong familiarity with this North Yonkers neighborhood which is at such a striking remove from the city's urban areas and retains a gothic sense of mystery and hint of spooky menace, like a Scooby Doo episode. Up until 20 years ago, this area was marked by decayed grand estates, dilapidated ruins, an abandoned institution laboratory and the foreboding Untermeyer Park (which was the long ago site of "demonic coven" tableaux and a place of interest in the Son of Sam killer, David Berkowitz's personal activities during the time of his murder spree.) To wit, up until 5 years ago, the last remnants of HRCC's gracious living could still be seen in the skeleton of the gazebo, near the club drive's northern spillway. Check out that gnarled tree in the foreground:

A last bit of archaelogical worth about this course, is my possession of what I'm certain is the last piece of the place left ... this ceramic tray (a member-guest type prize? a clubhouse cast off?) depicting the 18th hole, which I found in an antique store in Monroe CT (of all places):

[Craig Disher]

Saegkill operated as a womens off shoot until 1913, when it became a full M/W club and expanded from the area of what would roughly be its back 9 northward with a completely revamped, original Ross design. Even though I was too young to absorb any sight of it as a golf course, I know this property well as I was born and have made dozens of visitations for family in the hospital now across the street... some board locals will know the area as today's Executive Office Park, now centered about a massive water tower with the bloc letters "YONKERS" which lords over the entirety of that last northern remove of the city limits.  This must have been quite a course, coursing over, around and through the valley and dale of a saddled ridge that itself sits on the highest point of the area, commanding 360 views south down to NYC, west and north past the Jersey Palisades and Tappan Zee and east to Long Island Sound upon playing the hilltops off what was #s 6 and 7. And containing the rare 18th hole Par 3.

While researching some NJ courses, I came across an aerial of this one and spent months trying to identify it. Eventually, the Boyce Thompson facility gave it away. The roll that contained the aerial was identified as NJ and I was too dense to realize that the flight could have gone over parts of NY. I was surprised that the course was of such high quality and visited the site to see if there was anything left. I took some photos, one of which is similar to yours.
The gazebo:


The entrance which was located on the south side of the clubhouse grounds:


The remnants of the pond that was near the 16th and 17th fairways.


I was also fascinated by the Boyce Thompson lab and took a few pictures of it. I was certain it would be gone in a few years but if google maps is correct, it's still there and repurposed.


This image of the first green shows what fun this course would have been. Note the spine along the middle of the green. The bunker fronting the green is great depth deception. The rows of trees were most likely a later addition and, as usual, added nothing to the course.

[Tim Passalacqua]

The original 1920's Ocean Course at The Olympic Club.

Great call.  I would agree with this.   Originally, I believe there were nine holes on the west side of skyline Boulevard.  It looked incredible.  Some of us got to play those four holes that were built on that piece of property in the 90s. It was always exciting to play through the sandy dunes, iceplant, and have a wonderful view of the ocean.......and we’re in San Francisco! Who knows, maybe Gil can get a few holes over there in his master plan!

[V. Kmetz]

Wow Craig, very smiley to see another following those same leads...


In the 1980s, I started having occasion to visit that area regularly (on smoke breaks from visiting family in the hospital) and used to tramp those woods all the time.  With scant evidence there even then, each successive year the gnarled ground would swallow more and more...I used to have a picture of a greenskeepers' jeep front end that was literally flattened and absorbed into the ground.


It must have been one spectacular course.


cheers   vk

Saegkill operated as a womens off shoot until 1913, when it became a full M/W club and expanded from the area of what would roughly be its back 9 northward with a completely revamped, original Ross design. Even though I was too young to absorb any sight of it as a golf course, I know this property well as I was born and have made dozens of visitations for family in the hospital now across the street... some board locals will know the area as today's Executive Office Park, now centered about a massive water tower with the bloc letters "YONKERS" which lords over the entirety of that last northern remove of the city limits.  This must have been quite a course, coursing over, around and through the valley and dale of a saddled ridge that itself sits on the highest point of the area, commanding 360 views south down to NYC, west and north past the Jersey Palisades and Tappan Zee and east to Long Island Sound upon playing the hilltops off what was #s 6 and 7. And containing the rare 18th hole Par 3.

While researching some NJ courses, I came across an aerial of this one and spent months trying to identify it. Eventually, the Boyce Thompson facility gave it away. The roll that contained the aerial was identified as NJ and I was too dense to realize that the flight could have gone over parts of NY. I was surprised that the course was of such high quality and visited the site to see if there was anything left. I took some photos, one of which is similar to yours.
The gazebo:


The entrance which was located on the south side of the clubhouse grounds:


The remnants of the pond that was near the 16th and 17th fairways.


I was also fascinated by the Boyce Thompson lab and took a few pictures of it. I was certain it would be gone in a few years but if google maps is correct, it's still there and repurposed.


This image of the first green shows what fun this course would have been. Note the spine along the middle of the green. The bunker fronting the green is great depth deception. The rows of trees were most likely a later addition and, as usual, added nothing to the course.

[Mark Pritchett]

Links Club for me.


Also wish I had made it to RTJ”s Waterway Hills in MB. 

[Jordan Standefer]

Just one hole.  Original #7 at Rustic Canyon (pre flood).
Ocean Trails, also.

[Jon Heise]

Mill Road Farm in Lake Forest Illinois.

First I've heard of this one.  Intriguing stories...


For me and like others, it's High Pointe.  Had the chance to play, drove past, never made it back up. 

[Alex Miller]

Just one hole.  Original #7 at Rustic Canyon (pre flood).
Ocean Trails, also.

Why Ocean Trails? I never played the full 18, but the remaining 15 weren't much to write home about even before Trump added the nonsense waterfalls. Maybe you can rest easier knowing it was nothing but an overpriced nice walk (well ride) with views of the pacific. You can play better versions at Pelican Hills today, so rest easy  !

[Jordan Standefer]

Just one hole.  Original #7 at Rustic Canyon (pre flood).
Ocean Trails, also.

Why Ocean Trails? I never played the full 18, but the remaining 15 weren't much to write home about even before Trump added the nonsense waterfalls. Maybe you can rest easier knowing it was nothing but an overpriced nice walk (well ride) with views of the pacific. You can play better versions at Pelican Hills today, so rest easy  !

I never played it either, I just assumed whatever was there before was better than what's there now.  I'm curious.  There has to be some good golf to be found with that setting (but you already chose Royal Palms!)

[Garland Bayley]

Just one hole.  Original #7 at Rustic Canyon (pre flood).
Ocean Trails, also.

Why Ocean Trails? I never played the full 18, but the remaining 15 weren't much to write home about even before Trump added the nonsense waterfalls. Maybe you can rest easier knowing it was nothing but an overpriced nice walk (well ride) with views of the pacific. You can play better versions at Pelican Hills today, so rest easy  !

I never played it either, I just assumed whatever was there before was better than what's there now.  I'm curious.  There has to be some good golf to be found with that setting (but you already chose Royal Palms!)

Donald Trump participated in the broadcast of an LPGA tournament there. He interviewed several of the ladies after their rounds, and explicitly asked them what they thought of the course. Not one of those nice ladies made a comment that I could construe as complimenting the golf course design or playability. They all complimented the views. IMO you can get views of the ocean for free without going there and paying a green fee.

[Jordan Standefer]

Noted!

[David_Tepper]

I would liked to have seen the original Hollywood Golf Club course (circa 1900) off of Cedar Avenue in West End, Long Branch, NJ. Not sure if it was 9 or 18 holes.  I grew up in a house (circa 1960's) just around the corner from there.

I would also liked to have seen Tillinghast's Norwood Golf Club course (circa 1930) in West Long Branch, NJ.