Martha's Vineyard Farmneck vs the Vineyard club

[Dan Byrnes]

Has anyone played these two courses?  Can you compare them?  Is Vineyard Club still have a multi 100K initiation?

Thanks for any information.

Dan

[Mike Sweeney]

The Vineyard Club - Pat Mucci approved, no cells phones allowed, except for Obama!

Farm Neck - cell phones allowed!

PS. There are some threads in the archives, but they are two different experiences. Architecturally, The Vineyard Club wins but the inland location is pretty flat. For views and casual Vineyard-vibe, Farm Neck wins, but you have probably seen some version of the holes somewhere else.. The golf on The Vineyard is in the good to almost very good category but there are no hidden Doak 7+'s out there.

Real Estate took a dip but has come back on The Vineyard, so I would assume The Vineyard Club held its own as it was full long before the recession.

One of these days, I will spend a September out there when the air is cool and the water is warm....

[Steve Lapper]

For a wide variety of well-founded reasons I won't get into any detailed comparisons other than to say they aren't at all similar and VC is wonderful member's club and highly enjoyable experience (that is NO knock on Farm Neck!).

What I will say is that as we speak, Gil Hanse and his terrific team are reshaping, re-routing and renovating VC. From what I understand, Gil and his team will likely produce a significantly improved routing and course. I do know much careful consideration and thoughtfulness went into this and wish all involved the best of luck.

[John Ezekowitz]

I haven't played The Vineyard Club recently, but I've played FN a couple of times in the last few years. FN has some decidedly average holes, but also some very, very nice ones along the water. 3, 4, 8, and 14 come to mind.

[Tom_Doak]

I've never been to Farm Neck.

I did go to The Vineyard Club a couple of years ago to have a look at making some changes, the work that Gil Hanse is now doing.  I had high expectations, but did not become a fan of the course, and didn't take the job because I felt it would be difficult to stop rebuilding things once we got started.  I am sure it will be better when Gil is done with it.  They're lucky I was semi-retired from golf course reviewing when I saw it.   

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

The course needed to be redone. It was really not that good of design wise before.

[Mike Sweeney]

What I will say is that as we speak, Gil Hanse and his terrific team are reshaping, re-routing and renovating VC. From what I understand, Gil and his team will likely produce a significantly improved routing and course. I do know much careful consideration and thoughtfulness went into this and wish all involved the best of luck.

Steve,

I have not been there now for a few years. Any insight on if the bunkering style will change? Currently it is pretty unique:

[Tim Gavrich]

Is Vineyard GC still completely reliant on organic fertilizer and turf treatment materials to the point where visitors must have their shoes disinfected before going out to play the course? I'd heard that a couple times and thought it was a nice idea to try it.

I'm curious to hear of its design faults. Is it toward the bottom of Donald Steel's list of work?

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Tim it has been a while since I was there. There were almost no memorable holes. There was a lake that did not fit the property at all. It seems there were a few repetitive holes as well. It had everything else for a great golf experience but a good design. I have no doubt Gil can make it much closer to being a special place in every way.

[Mike Sweeney]

Golfweek article on The Vineyard Club redo:

http://golfweek.com/news/2012/sep/03/man-island-hanse-oversees-vineyard-re-do/