Ballston Spa

[Ronald Montesano]

I'm trying to assemble a route for a quick-six this June for me and a journalist friend. I've always wondered about Ballston Spa, so I went to their site () and immediately red-flagged this bit:

Ballston Spa Country Club was established in 1925, during golf’s Golden Age of course architecture, when course design icons such as Donald Ross and Alistair McKenzie were creating some of America’s classic golf layouts.
BSCC is an exemplary parkland design with greens and fairways that typify courses of this age.

And your course was laid out by ...

Has anyone played Ballston Spa? If so, what are your thoughts.

I hope to keep this thread as BS-Pure (that's Ballston Spa-Pure) as possible.

If you want to know the first five courses on the route, PM me.

[Paul Perrella]

Ronald,

   I have played Ballston Spa and I would put it in the fun category. It has some fairly narrow holes but also has some birdies out there. I had attributed the course design to Pete Craig who did 6 or 8 courses in the central New York region but a Pete Craig website does not have BS accredited to him. I have played most of the courses in this area so if you would like some help please feel free to let me know.

   Paul

[Dan Byrnes]

Played it once.  Its not at the level of Mohawk for instance.  I do remember it as a fun course. older style. 

Some other ideas in the area.

Have you ever played Wolfert's Roost (A.W. Tillinghast) or Schuyler Meadows (Devereux Emmet) and Gill Hanse renovation plan?  Not sure what architectural folks would think of them but I like both.  I also enjoy Pinehaven but its also isn't going to hold up architecturally but is a fun course.  Also Troy Country Club (Walter J. Travis) which was written up here on GCA last year perhaps by you.

Dan

[Ronald Montesano]

Jim Kennedy found an article attributing Balston Spa to Henry King.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Ron,
I noticed Dan cites AWT at Wohlferts on the Balston Spa thread.
Wolferts has a 'checkered' history. Here are a few articles, some old, some I've had for awhile
Jim

search tag - "wolferts roost"
http://tinyurl.com/kd4hty8
http://tinyurl.com/may5l4t
http://tinyurl.com/m22znst
http://tinyurl.com/mxh9cs4
http://tinyurl.com/k9fkp7s


search tag - "Len Rayner
http://tinyurl.com/kclrvuf
http://tinyurl.com/mkxa73u

I'd like to read Mahar's complete article, but I haven't found an Albany Times Union archive

http://tinyurl.com/lmtfvas

[Ed Homsey]

Played Ballston Spa, once.  I suppose it could be called a 'fun' course; or a quirky course.  Not one that I would return to.  While I was in that area, I dropped down to Amsterdam, to play the Amsterdam Muni.  I would like to go back there sometime.  Dare I say that it was designed by Trent Jones, Sr in the late '30s? 

[Ed Homsey]

Glens Falls CC has had some great reviews on this site, particularly from Ian Andrew.  A private club, but would be worth the try to get on.

[Dan Byrnes]

Ron,
I noticed Dan cites AWT at Wohlferts on the Balston Spa thread.
Wolferts has a 'checkered' history. Here are a few articles, some old, some I've had for awhile
Jim

search tag - "wolferts roost"
http://tinyurl.com/kd4hty8
http://tinyurl.com/may5l4t
http://tinyurl.com/m22znst
http://tinyurl.com/mxh9cs4
http://tinyurl.com/k9fkp7s


search tag - "Len Rayner
http://tinyurl.com/kclrvuf
http://tinyurl.com/mkxa73u

I'd like to read Mahar's complete article, but I haven't found an Albany Times Union archive

http://tinyurl.com/lmtfvas

Interesting history.  Just took that from their website.  They claim it as but it appears what connection to a AWT is a reconstruction

http://tillinghast.net/Tillinghast/RECONSTRUCTIONS.html

What do folks think about the place?  I always liked it but some really dislike the course.  Any GCA'ers have an opinion?

Dan

[Philip Caccamise]

I have a few times on my way to Saratoga about 15 years ago. It was a reciprocal of Ontario GC when I was a member there. It's an OK golf course, nothing great, on par with a Brierwood. I remember it having very few bunkers. Can't be Pete Craig unless he redesigned it later- it's much older than Craig who did his work in the 50's/60's/70's (and almost exclusively in the Rochester area).

[Ed Homsey]

Ron--If you're traveling east along the NY Thruway, you might want to give some consideration to Cedar Lake GC, southeast of Utica.  For me, it has been a truly fun course to play over the past many years.  I have no idea who designed it.  I'm not sure that the club itself can identify the original designer.  It doesn't have any hallmark of a significant designer.  But, I'd play it tomorrow, if the weather allowed.  The one claim to fame of the course is that Moira Dunn, of the LPGA, grew up on the course.  She won the NYS Women's Amateur back in the 1980's when it was held at Stafford CC.

Ed