[Ronald Montesano]

The Mark Twain golf course, owned and operated by the municipality of Elmira, New York, is a $25 ticket for 18 holes, regardless of where you live. The course (http://www.cityofelmira.net/mark-twain-golf-course) was designed by Donald Ross and some argument exists as to whether the Scottish Donald set foot on the property or did his thing via topos. Resolution of this debate is not the purpose of this thread.

Course Routing


Welcome


Hole # 1...Par 4...399\382\352\302

The opening hole heads uphill toward a green shelved on a ledge. The hole is the #5 handicap, probably based on the 10% yardage increase for the uphill climb. The fairway is unblemished by sand, although three bunkers protect the front portion of the green. The first sits front left, about forty yards shy of the front collar. The other two begin front left and right and extend halfway up each side of the putting surface. The green is circular in all respects save the back left, which has been pulled away a bit, extending to a back section. Although the influence of the hills is felt, the full power of the greens is not yet evident.

Tee shot


Approach Shot


Approach Shot Closer


Approach Shot Closest

[Jaeger Kovich]

Ronald, I know that there are a few different routing plans (allegedly Ross plans) that exist from Mark Twain. Which leads me to believe that he was on site if only for a day, otherwise, why would you mail in 3 routings?! I remember the main differences were how to get in and out of the top left corner of the map. I'm not sure if the various ones are still hanging in the clubhouse but I can refer you to someone who has done a decent amount of research on Mark Twain, if that interests you.

I only played the course once, but I did enjoy my mid-fall round there a few years back. It way exceeded my expectations for a Finger Lakes/Western NY muni. I would have it in the same class as Split Rock and Bethpage Red as far as NY goes. Looking forward to more pics.

J

[jeffwarne]

Ronald, I know that there are a few different routing plans (allegedly Ross plans) that exist from Mark Twain. Which leads me to believe that he was on site if only for a day, otherwise, why would you mail in 3 routings?! I remember the main differences were how to get in and out of the top left corner of the map. I'm not sure if the various ones are still hanging in the clubhouse but I can refer you to someone who has done a decent amount of research on Mark Twain, if that interests you.

I only played the course once, but I did enjoy my mid-fall round there a few years back. It way exceeded my expectations for a Finger Lakes/Western NY muni. I would have it in the same class as Split Rock and Bethpage Red as far as NY goes. Looking forward to more pics.

J

After 1 hole...

1-0 Bethpage Red
Strong praise indeed as the Red is quite good.

Look forward to the rest of the photos

[Bruce Leland]

Was in Elmira on business last month and didn't know of this gem.  Next time!

[Ronald Montesano]

May have been closed by then. Let us know when you'll be there and we might be able to meet you for a round.

RM

[Ronald Montesano]

Hole # 2...Par 4...416\397\278\272

The second hole directs itself slightly uphill toward a green set a bit beyond a diagonal swale. The hole is the #3 handicap, although I can't precisely recall why. The fairway is again unblemished by sand, with two bunkers protecting the green. The first is a curled potato chip, front right and away, like a stray whisker. The second is ovular in nature, abutting the putting surface on the left side. The green is an oval that mirrors in larger fashion the left bunker, excepting a taffy-pull on the front left portion. I don't recall the severity of the green, although I will say that I believe it is the last benign green for a while.

Hole Front To Back


Tee Shot Back


Tee Shot Up


Approach Shot


Hole Back To Front

[Jud_T]

Ron,

Thanks for posting.  Still pissed that I spent my formative years in upstate New York and didn't play golf with all these great old tracks around.  

[Ronald Montesano]

Hole # 3...Par 5...470\446\430\344

The first par five kinda cruises along the escarpment, as I like to call it, heading south by south. The hole doglegs gently to the right after passing three consecutive, somewhat circular, bunkers up the right rough. Coming into the green, two bunkers attract attention up the left side, precisely where the hillside influences balls to roll. The green itself is wicked, with a tantalizing high right to low left cant. The hole may play like a par four from tee to green, but it plays like a par three from green to hole.

Shot from Tee to Green


Tee Shot


Fairway Shot One


Fairway Shot Two


Final 100 Yards


Shot from green to tee

[Ronald Montesano]

Hole # 4...Par 3...173\153\142\140

The first par three, like all the rest, plays uphill (although only slightly here.) The green is nearly as wicked as the previous one, as it shares the same hill influences, albeit at a different angle, on a flatter mesa. The putting surface is hidden from the tee and is protected by a series of bunkers. Three come into play, while a fourth sits rather benignly about 40 yards shy and right of the green. All that my solitary photo does is convince you of the veracity of this insinuation. When I get back, I'll take more and better photos.

Tee shot

[/img]

From The Rear

[Jud_T]

Ron,

#4 looks like a cool hole.  Does the green kick right to left?

[Dan Grossman]

Ronald -

Thanks for doing a photo tour of Mark Twain.  When I was at Bucknell in the late 90's, I made it up to MT twice to play and really enjoyed it both times.  If memory serves, there are a number of bunkers which have been grassed over and the course would benefit nicely from a sympathetic restoration.  That said, it is very enjoyable in its current state and certainly affordable (especially for a college student).  Looking forward to the rest of the tour to jog my memory a bit.

[Ronald Montesano]

Jud,

It does kick from right to left, so it has redan-like qualities.

Dan,

I've played it once and would like to get back in 2012 to play it again. I'll do my best to jog your memory. Grassed-over bunkers would not surprise me.

[Ronald Montesano]

Hole # 5...Par 5...564\521\442\440

Numbers five and six represent the southern border of the golf course. Five is a downhill par five, played left to right. The tee shot descends from the elevated tee to a landing area not at all cloistered by trees. The hole turns starboard (the dogleg/elbow) and heads, semi-blind, downhill again to a rolling, second landing area. The green has an interesting location, appearing raised yet actually in harmony with the surrounding land, save the bunkers at front left (visible) and front right (hidden by fairway rise). Joyfully, a runner can be played into the putting surface, although a fair amount of precision is required to negotiate the entrance between the bunkers.

Entire Hole


Tee Shot, Long


Tee Shot, Closer


Landing Area and Second Shot [semi-blind]


Third Shot, 150 Out


Third Shot, A Bit Closer

[Ronald Montesano]

Hole # 6...Par 4...395\387\308\295

I like a sequence of holes, meaning 2 or more, that follow the same descent or ascent. Don't know why, but the 5-6 sequence does just that at Mark Twain. After the long 5th, the 6th plays like a short par four, due to its constant descent from tee to green. Unlike the previous dogleg, this one runs straight from start to finish. There is no real trouble in the drive zone, so a hammered tee ball finds reward in a shorter approach. However, an awkward return pitch awaits an over-zealous approach, so measure your distance well here. The bunkering on this hole serves to deceive, as both left-side traps sit 15 yards or more from the putting surface. The right side bunker is closer to the green, but still not against it.

Tee To Green


Tee shot


Approach Shot


Approach Shot Closer


From Behind Green

[JC Urbina]

Ronald,

It has been years since I stepped foot on this course.  I found the greens to be fascinating, I can't tell from your pictures if they have softened them or not.  Thanks for the pictures, looking forward to the rest of the back nine.  I think hole # 11 and 15 were my favorite green surfaces.

If you have any close ups of the greens please post.

[Ronald Montesano]

Jim,

I'm failing miserably at the greens portrayal. John Lyon just reminded me how great they are. I'd like to get there this Spring with my posse for some better pictures, etc.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Ronald,

It has been years since I stepped foot on this course.  I found the greens to be fascinating, I can't tell from your pictures if they have softened them or not.  Thanks for the pictures, looking forward to the rest of the back nine.  I think hole # 11 and 15 were my favorite green surfaces.

If you have any close ups of the greens please post.

Jim,

I played Mark Twain a couple of summers ago for the first time since the mid-80's, when it was one of our away HS match courses.  The greens didn't appear to be softened EXCEPT the vaunted #11 green.  It was obviously changed...and softened, probably out of necessity due to increasing green speeds.  Back in the 80's, there were times when it was tough to keep balls on that green (along w/Towanda CC's #8 green), so I'm sure it became impossible with new strains of grass/faster greens.  The old #11 was simply severely tilted back to front....and now it's tiered (back higher and still tilted somewhat).





#3 and #4 have some major slope to them as well....#3 is high right-low left as Ronald states above....I liked the variation from the more typical back-to-front that is more typical of Ross greens benched into a hill.  #3 goes along the slope of the hill instead of into it, so the natural slope is right to left.

[Ronald Montesano]

If your ball were front left and the pin were back left on #3 green, this is the path you might logically choose for the best chance at a two-putt:

[Ronald Montesano]

Hole # 7...Par 3...158\145\140\116

The seventh traces a steeper uphill grade than the previous shortie, and is rivaled only by the ascent on the penultimate hole at the Elmira course. The hole easily plays 1-2 clubs longer than advertised, given the carry needed to the elevated green. .
I feel badly that I am not able to offer shots of the putting surfaces. Most of those who commented recall their cant, roll and severity (not to be construed as unfairness.) I'd like to return in 2012 and reshoot the course. These images are at least 5 years (and a lifetime of experience) old.

Entire Hole


Back of Tee


Front of Tee


Back Right of Green

[JNC Lyon]

How courses do you know where all four par threes are uphill?  Any of them?  It's hard to think of one, but Mark Twain has that feature.  My two favorites are the 7th, which is pretty much straight uphill with a wild green, and the 11th.  I remember the 11th green being plenty steep, even after alterations, and it's a great long par three.

5 and 6 are plenty cool as well.  Not to criticize Montesano's photogs, but pictures have a hard time capture this golf course.  The whole layout is on the side of a mountain, and most of the holes manage to play uphill.  On the front nine, 1-4 and 7-8 are uphill, but 5 and 6 are two of my favorites, tumbling downhill with industrial Americana and more Southern Tier mountains in the background.  The greensite at 5 is a gem, and the 6th green is very subtle if I remember correctly.

We should do a mini-GCA outing here soon--it's an absolute blast, despite the overwhelming number of pine trees.

[Ronald Montesano]

13 clubs plus chainsaw in all bags keeps us within the rules of golf.

[JNC Lyon]

13 clubs plus chainsaw in all bags keeps us within the rules of golf.

It's community service, really.

[Ronald Montesano]

Hole # 8...Par 4...392\360\296\276

I think that I remember this hole least of all, which is sad. The drive appears to be over a hidden pond, the approach is blind, over a knoll, to a hidden green. All I can say is, wait until Spring 2012, when we get back there.

Entire Hole


Tee Shot


Tee Shot Closer


Blind Approach

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