[Sean_A]

Jud

I spose I look at Yale as an exceptionally difficult course to maintain well and cheaply.  Of course, there is a certain percentage of union wage wastage as well.  

I belonged to Pennard so I know about ropey conditions.  Being in your camp, I would have been very much against spending tons of money to make the course comparable condition-wise to Porthcawl.  Its fine the way it is - there really isn't a middle ground.  Much more water is needed to improve conditions, but then there has to be a way of retaining the water for more than 5 seconds!  The site is so sandy and sloping toward the sea that an incredible amount of water would be wasted unless the course were overhauled to better suit watering needs.  I guess I look at Yale that way except their 1.7 mil is their low end for that site whereas Pennard can get by as is on a fraction of 1.7 mil - its all relative.  I could be wrong though, but man that site looks very extreme.  All that said, I do agree that in general clubs spend too much money on maintenance.  Even though I am a keen golfer, I would be all in favour of charging clubs excess fees for water over certain limits or if there is significant wastage/leakage.  Private or no, clubs shouldn't be allowed to pour water away (unless they own the supply) regardless if they can afford it.  

Ciao

[Stewart Abramson]

Yesterday I played Yale for the first time and OMG is right. The Course was fantastic as was the day. Why did I wait so long?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/sets/72157636605032736/with/10302615064/  =Full set of pix


Yale #1 from tee r by tewiespix, on Flickr


Yale #2 pitch frpm left side of fairway red by tewiespix, on Flickr


Yale #3 from tee r by tewiespix, on Flickr


Yale #4 from tee r by tewiespix, on Flickr


Yale #5 'Short' par 3 from back tee r by tewiespix, on Flickr


Yale #7 from front tee zoomed r by tewiespix, on Flickr


Yale #8 chip to green r by tewiespix, on Flickr


Yale #9 200+ yard par 3 r by tewiespix, on Flickr


Yale #10 view from credt of hill r by tewiespix, on Flickr


Yale #13 par 3 200 yard redan r by tewiespix, on Flickr


Yale #14 pitch to green r by tewiespix, on Flickr


Yale #15 par 3 Eden r by tewiespix, on Flickr


Yale #17 from tee r by tewiespix, on Flickr


Yale #18 par 5 approach r ed by tewiespix, on Flickr

[Mike Policano]

The Metropolitan Hickory Society held its final tournament of the year, "The Old School" at Yale on Tuesday. It was a full field two man best ball tourney.  The day was picture perfect and the greens were humming.

What a wild ride Yale is with hickories! Everyone loved the course. It was like walking back in time playing such classic architecture with 1920's clubs and mesh reproduction balls.

[Andrew Buck]

I noticed Illinois recently shot 33 under to win Yale's tournament by 25 shots.  It really is amazing how good these collegiate golfers have become.

[Tim Martin]

I noticed Illinois recently shot 33 under to win Yale's tournament by 25 shots.  It really is amazing how good these collegiate golfers have become.

A couple of years ago when Yale hosted the NCAA regional a freshman from the University of Texas named Cody Gribble shot 63 in the opening round. Although distance is not an issue the green speeds were close to the limit considering the amount of slope and contouring. Pretty darn solid for someone who just saw the course for the first time the week of the tournament. His dad told me that he had quite a bit of success on Golden Age courses as they were members of Tillinghast's Brook Hollow in Dallas.

[Jim Hoak]

Those photos are amazingly good.  And the day looked spectacular.
It's funny how seeing pictures of golf holes from long ago in your life brings back a rush of memories of so many extraneous things--kind of like a song does.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Stewart,

Great photos.

# 10 has to be one of the great par 4's in golf.

It is incredibly unique, from tee to DZ to green.

And, it's incredibly challenging.

The architectural creativity is pure genius.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Stewart,

Great photos.

# 10 has to be one of the great par 4's in golf.

It is incredibly unique, from tee to DZ to green.

And, it's incredibly challenging.

The architectural creativity is pure genius.

I agree 10 is unique, Pat... And that green is a beauty...

But No. 8 trumped it for me. Had a fondness for 14 as well... And 3... 17 too...

So many great holes

[J Cabarcos]

Stewart, Great Pictures.  I too had the privilege to play Yale a week ago.  I just did not get the great day for photos you had as I had a weak Nor'Easter blanket the sky with grey clouds.  Nonetheless, I was blown away having played the course for the first time.

Hole after hole, the course rarely gives you pause, as it's one great hole after another.  I will agree with many here though that as unique and special as the the #10 Biarritz hole is, the preceding hole, #9 Cape has to be the showstopper.  I'd like to hear GCA'er opine if there is Cape better than #9 at Yale anywhere.  The peculiar angle of the tee shot, a semi-blind landing area, the actual two tier cape green with an abyss left and very formidable bunkers right.  The hole plays with your head big time.

Of note also...

#11 Carries, where your second shot is targeted to something equivalent to a the roof of two to three story house is quite a memory for this Florida Golfer.

#14 Knoll.  Fairways sloping downhill from right to left in golf are everywhere except Florida)   However here at Yale, the unique green complex is set upon a knoll.  It is one of the few small and demanding GIR to hit, especially with the predominant side hill fairway lies.

#18 Home, encapsulates the course.  There is no let up of show stopping holes, around and over a mini mountain in three shots to hit a par five green.  Crazy.  Crazy Good Stuff.

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

Tom,

Late to the game here and I can't go back to read every post so forgive me if this is repetitive.

I have always referred to Yale GC a an example of the MacDonald school of golf architecture on steroids.

Unfortunately, there are major issues with golf club maintenance at Yale. Those huge bunker facings and other steep banks are not mowable except by hand. Therefore they do bot get mowed. That is possibly a reason why similar features are not built today.

Yet, hat's off to Raynor for building this course. Probably his finest!

Malcolm

[Will Lozier]

Hole after hole, the course rarely gives you pause, as it's one great hole after another.  I will agree with many here though that as unique and special as the the #10 Biarritz hole is, the preceding hole, #9 Cape has to be the showstopper.  I'd like to hear GCA'er opine if there is Cape better than #9 at Yale anywhere.  The peculiar angle of the tee shot, a semi-blind landing area, the actual two tier cape green with an abyss left and very formidable bunkers right.  The hole plays with your head big time.

J.,

You mean #8 & #9.

[Mike Sweeney]

Unfortunately, there are major issues with golf club maintenance at Yale. Those huge bunker facings and other steep banks are not mowable except by hand. Therefore they do bot get mowed. That is possibly a reason why similar features are not built today.

Malcolm,

When was your last trip to New Haven:



Scott Ramsey is down to two issues in my mind.

1. A tiny bit of speed in the greens. I am told this Fall has killed a bunch of historical issues and that the greens are the best ever. Sadly I have not seen it in person since August when the summer was very tough.

2. Fairway consistency/drainage in a few spots. I would say the issues are 50% of what they were 5 years ago, but it is a BIG course and takes time.

Come to New Haven soon.

Mike Sweeney

[Patrick_Mucci]

Tom,

Late to the game here and I can't go back to read every post so forgive me if this is repetitive.

I have always referred to Yale GC a an example of the MacDonald school of golf architecture on steroids.

Unfortunately, there are major issues with golf club maintenance at Yale. Those huge bunker facings and other steep banks are not mowable except by hand. Therefore they do bot get mowed. That is possibly a reason why similar features are not built today.

I'd disagree, NGLA, Fishers Island and almost every Charles Banks course have those same huge bunker facings and steep banks.
Yale's maintenance issue is budget related, not technique related.

As to being built today, I think it may be "Fairness" rather than maintenance that's the impediment

Yet, hat's off to Raynor for building this course. Probably his finest!

Fishers Island and NGLA are equally as impressive

Malcolm

[Joe Bausch]

I played Yale again last week.  The lighting was good at times and hence I've built another photo album choosing pictures from my 4 or 5 visits there now:

http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/albums/yale3/

[Chris Mavros]

Yale is definitely one of my favorite courses.  Raynor's designs intrigue me, mainly because it's fascinating how he made such rigid geometrical features seem so naturally blended in the terrain.  Beyond the design, the atmosphere is terrific, with the drive in going past the Tenth and Eighteenth, then curving around to get a glimpse of the First.  Just a great example of distinct design that makes for a particularly enjoyable round.

[Mike Sweeney]

Wow.

For a course that has been WAAAAAAAAY over documented on GCA.com, there are some fabulous pictures on this thread. I forwarded them to the Big Guns at Yale.

 

[Mark McKeever]

How come Shi$ hasn't commented in this thread..

MM

[Charlie_Bell]

Agreed with Sweeney.  These are such good photos that I think we should commission Stewart to tour the top 20 courses, camera in hand.  The pictures are outstanding on several levels.

By the way, what camera did you use?

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

Mike,

Nice to see that Yale has stepped up the budget and is mowing the steep faces! My dad is a Yale alumna (1961) and always praised the course while bemoaning the lack of course maintenance. When I played it last many years ago the faces were hayfields.

Had an invitation to play there this week with a friend who is an Outpost Club member but had to decline as I was entertaining customers at my club in South Carolina, Musgrove Mill.

Like Mr. Doak I need to get back,

Mike and Tim, I will be in touch! Let me know if you are planning to be in Princeton so I can take you onto Springdale.

Patrick,

I have played at Yale and Fisher's many times and Yale seemed by far much more bulked up with deeper bunkers and extreme green contours. Sad to say that I have not seen NGLA as of yet, but have played Piping Rock many times which was pretty subdued in it's features, I may be incorrect but I attribute, based on my readings, the Creek, Yale and Fisher's more to Raynor.

Is NGLA similar to Yale in it's oversized features? I really enjoyed having the opportunity to see it on TV this summer with the Walker Cup

One of my favorites of this genre is the Charlie Banks set of nine holes at Montclair GC., almost as severe as Yale.


Malcolm

[Mark McKeever]

Malcolm, The Knoll has some pretty severe features as well.  If anyone hasn't been there yet, its a daily fee course and worth a visit!

Mark

[Patrick_Mucci]

Malcolm,

I think that the terrain has a good deal to do with the dramatic features found at  Yale, Fishers Island and NGLA.

I think you could say the same about the 4th nine at Montclair and to a degree about the Knoll, a wonderful, underrated golf course.

NGLA has some of the same large, bold features, integrated with subtle features.
It's special and shouldn't be missed.

[Stewart Abramson]

Thanks to all for the kind comments. It's hard to take credit for these photos though as it is the course itself and the weather that makes them what they are. There aren't many courses that provide as many favorite holes as Yale.

It's funny how seeing pictures of golf holes from long ago in your life brings back a rush of memories of so many extraneous things--kind of like a song does.

Jim - Before I started taking photos of courses I had a difficult time remembering much about many courses that I played only once or twice. The photos enable me to remember just about every shot and lots of "extraneous" things like who told what joke where, and what song I was whistling at the time. Even if I played like crap, the photos seem to provide good memories.

Insert Quote
 I think we should commission Stewart to tour the top 20 courses, camera in hand.  The pictures are outstanding on several levels.
By the way, what camera did you use?

Charlie - Where do I sign up? Shoot, I'll be happy to photograph any of the top 20. I used a Lumix FZ 200. It's a bit bigger than I'd like, but for a non SLR it is not bad and provides enough range to pan and zoom that you can frame a shot nicely from wherever your ball lands and it is pretty good in low light for twilight rounds.

[Mark McKeever]

Malcolm,

I think that the terrain has a good deal to do with the dramatic features found at  Yale, Fishers Island and NGLA.

I think you could say the same about the 4th nine at Montclair and to a degree about the Knoll, a wonderful, underrated golf course.

NGLA has some of the same large, bold features, integrated with subtle features.
It's special and shouldn't be missed.

Pat, you need to go convince those guys at the Knoll to expand their greens out to the original sizes.  The course would be dramatically improved!  When I was out there last year, that was my biggest concern...otherwise, its great!

Mark

[Patrick_Mucci]

Mark,

When you consider who owns The Knoll, I think my advice would fall on deaf ears.

Years ago my club in Wayne considered a swap for The Knoll.
I wish we had executed that swap.

[Mark McKeever]

What kind of swap?

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()