Pat
I am most happy you made it back to Sleepy Hollow and even more happy you think so highly of the course.
In the MET area, I would consider Hudson National a more difficult walk. Sleepy is difficult (few know this as well as I as I jog the course during the off-season) but for a variety of reasons:the compelling architecture,most of hilly terrain is traversed during play of a hole,and the fabulous "walk in the park", it does not seem as severe as it really is.
Some more tree work will be done during the winter, perhaps not as much as you or I or Gil would like but we certainly have accomplished more than most places in our renovation/restoration. I am also confident for the future as we have set up a long-term architectural committee committed to actually listening to Gil
, as well as having empowered our Superintendent (with support of the board) to keep focusing on the "detail" work (expanded greens,appropriate mowing lines,short grass feeding into bunkers,bunkers in fairway) which few if any "regular golfers" notice. I like to think we are most excellent in this regard especially relative to the classic era courses in this area.
Obviously, you were correct on your analysis of #5(did you play the back tee here? diagonal tee shot makes the hole), a great hole (my favorite on the course), a fantastic view, and a wonderful skyline green. Certainly the skyline aspect was obvious to Gil and George and a few on the committee but we had a plan in place to do a lot of the tree work gradually hoping we would get some support from those who might have been opposed when originally presented with the ideas.
As for the "old 12" remaining in play? I was just fighting to build consensus to build a "new 12"
This solved many problems on the course, bringing us closer to #13 tee (in fact we were able to increase the yardage of the course while also shortening the total walk) while also allowing us to return #15 punchbowl back to an appropriate yardage for a second shot as it previously was a par 5 into a wind.
"old 12" was a long slog up a hill with far to many trees interfering, many thought, because of difficulty it was the "best" hole on the course.
I think in the end, ultimate acceptance of the plan, and what we had done and Gil's vision necessitated taking the old hole out of play. I might add, that in contrast to many other "two-green holes", we would have had to maintain both two green-sites as well as two fairways which also doesn't even take into account the difference in par between the two holes.
I was hoping to work with Ran on a few more pictures, perhaps with some help I can post a few before and after.
I must sign off for now but am quite interested on the thoughts of all who have posted. I would argue that the most impressive thing about Sleepy Hollow, relative to other well regarded classic era courses is the routing and certainly (and GW guys forgive me if I am using a GD term
) the "walk in the park test". Though it is a difficult walk, it is a wonderful walk that certainly I am sure rates highly in most golfers mind.