Anyone been to Garden City lately?

[S.Mann]

Just got back from Garden City Golf Club and that course gets better everytime I go and play it.  I hope T. Doak can enlighten us on bunker renovations and tree removal of late.  I have not played there in a few years but it definitely looked a lot more open than I remember it.  Any comments from our discussion group?

[Ran Morrissett]

The three courses in the world I most want to give another chance (in the highly unlikely event that my poor play influenced my thinking - ha!) are Merion, Sunningdale Old, and Garden City. On past return visits, Muirfield and San Fran proved as I remembered   I just saw GCGC's club history book for the first time and the photos make you want to grab your sticks, that's for sure.

[DBE]

To:  S. Mann and RanGarden City can be better explained by Tom Doak as the club hired him a few years ago to put back some things that had changed. I play there at least once a year in their invitational called the "Travis".  The members love showing off their course to outsiders and that week the course is firm and fast (weather permitting).Tom returned a sandy area about 150 yards in front of the third tee, enabling the semi-blind drive to be aimed at something, rebuilt the fifth and 14th greens, cleared out the area between the fourth and fifth holes and got the club to remove lots of trees so that there are plenty of views between holes that had disappeared.  I know that some bunkers have been reworked, but don't know which ones Tom did.  Tom told me he'd like to redo the 12th green (ruined by RTJ long ago) but until the two greens he redid grow in better, he doesn't think the club wants any more greens redone.  Apparently this 190 yarder had a lip around its green perimeter--now it is almost an upside down saucer.The course is always in good condition, although the same areas have standing water every time I play.  There was a piece I read that said the soil at GCGC was the best in the US to grow the type grasses to play golf.Ran, you've come 180 degrees in the last 30-60 days on GC--and without even playing it.  Perhaps you have finally come to the realization that even though the 17th is usually an easy five, there's nothing wrong with having to make a four to keep up.In my opinion, GCGC is one of the ten best golfing experiences in the world.  Golf, friendship, food, drink and a great shower are the most important things from the time you drive into the club until you leave.  Don't forget your jacket, though.

[S. Mann]

Boy, I sure would like to see T. Doak restore that 12th green.  I saw an old photo in the clubhouse and it use to have a big mound right in the middle of the green.  Looked very interesting.  Question is.....will the members go for it??I was lucky to play there the day before the centennial festivities began.  The course was perfect as David mentioned the only problem was the wind was gusting up to 50 MPH.  Still, I agree with David, just an amazing place from quality of golf to clubhouse, tradition and understated.  The showers are the BEST, hard to beat those old urinals as well.

[Ran Morrissett]

I have never met one person who has anything remotely nice to say about RTJ's 12th green - it sticks out like a sore thumb. What are the members' reservations about restoring it? Anything, and I mean anything, would be better.

[Patrick_Mucci]

I'm working on it !!!!!Tom, everyone feels the same way !!!Full speed ahead !!!!!!

[TEPaul]

I thought this group insisted on staying on the golf course, sticking to the archtitecture and staying away from clubhouses, ambiances and things. Can't help yourself though, can you?-now you're praising the urinals-I love it!What is Rita Marley going to say about this? She may not want to use them but now you're going to have to show them to her!

[Paul Perrella]

 In reading all your collective comments about GARDEN CITY I was wondering if anyone else thought the aiming bunker on #3 was almost impossible to carry. Two in our group had the same thought.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Paul,I'm a little confused about your question, are you sure it's hole # 3, a straight away par 4, or are you referencing the directional flag marking the bunker in the fairway on # 4 ?

[Ran Morrissett]

Pat, How is the weather holding up there? With the pending Labbance Feature Interview, I need to get lots of pictures of Travis's handywork from GCGC. Cheers,

[Patrick_Mucci]

Ran,The weather has been pretty nice lately, and it's forcast to continue for a while.Let me know when you plan to arrive.

[GeoffreyC]

Patrick- nice weather?? Sunday playing on Long Island the winds were 45 mph, temp low 40's, wind chill 20's or less and then it started snowing on the back nine.  

[Patrick_Mucci]

GeoffreyC,How were Friday and Saturday ???How was it today ?What's the forcast for the week  ??One day makes for a pattern ?Since Labor Day, we're having the summer we never had, wouldn't you agree ?

[Patrick_Mucci]

GeoffreyC,I forgot to add, the bad weather Sunday wasRees Jones' fault.  He's done everything else wrong according to some of the group, so you might as well blame him for the bad weather as well.

[GeoffreyC]

PatrickSaturday was chilly with steady 25mph winds and higher gusts. It did not make Fenway GC very easy to play. Otherwise the weather is OK.  Where is your sense of humor?  Need everything be confrontational??For the record I do not blame Rees Jones for the bad weather in spite of the fact that I was playing one of his brothers courses on Sunday.

[Patrick_Mucci]

GeoffreyC,My sense of humor was my post about Rees.It was tongue in cheek, not defensive.I loved Saturday, It started out in the sixties with mild breezes which increased through the day.  It was these conditions that caused me to create my post about playing in the wind, and its impact on holes and courses.The problem with email and these posts is that you can't detect the tone, inflection in ones voice and facial expression, hence it's harder to tell if comments are in jest, serious, or critical.TEPaul,What are you doing on 11-14-00 How does GCGC sound ?  Find 4th.

[Adam_Messix]

I played Garden City in late April and the tree removal that has been coordinated by Tom Poole and Tom Doak has really improved the place.  As far as the 12th green goes, the guys I talk to believe that green may be a bit too much at the speeds they currently keep the greens at GCGC.  Although I must admit, it does perk everyone's interest when I mention the idea.

[Adam_Messix]

I played Garden City in late April and the tree removal that has been coordinated by Tom Poole and Tom Doak has really improved the place.  As far as the 12th green goes, the guys I talk to believe that green may be a bit too much at the speeds they currently keep the greens at GCGC.  Although I must admit, it does perk everyone's interest when I mention the idea.

[Gib_Papazian]

Adam,Go look on the wall at the original 12th next time you are there. It has always been my sense that Jones Sr. did that completely different than the rest of the course hoping the membership would want everything that way.This is off the subject, but has anybody ever noticed how cool the green is on the short par four ninth? There is a sharp hump at the rear of the putting surface that is just the cleverest little touch. It is too bad I hardly ever see anything like that on new courses.  

[Patrick_Mucci]

Adam Messix,# 12 green restored would be fine, and present no problem with the green speed.The mounds you see in the old photos can be placed outside of the green, on the perimeter of the putting surface.The restoration is an idea thats time has come.  Why wouldn't anyone do it ?Gib,I've always been curious about the origin and idea behind the rolling mound cutting through the rear of the putting surface.The prevailing wind is at your back on this hole and I often wondered if the mound was created to give the golfer an aid to prevent balls from rolling off the green, into rough and bunkers.  What are your thoughts on its creation.TEPaul,What ??  No response to an invite ?

[Jeff Schley]

Yes, played here first group off this morning and was my first foray into what is GCGC. I appreciate the all men’s club for the throwback that it is.  It doesn’t have to compete with the Friar’s Head’s, Sebonacks, etc. It is it’s own unique old school golf club and I wouldn’t change a thing there.  Understated locker room (great showers btw), and decor out of an old style 50’s restaurant with all the charm.  Enjoyed the signing in guest book, the card stock order cards, no tee times, veteran caddies, and jackets.  It gives you a pinch to say, be on your toes boys.


As far as the course my favorite part was the VERY walkable layout with tees right next to the greens basically. Flat and open, except on the outskirts of the property where you have some OB and trees.  Greens were fast, probably 12 or so and above the hole was dead as I found out several times. Played from the black, which was too much for me, but my host is a stick and his buddy enjoyed it. A few very long par 4’s were what stood out to me in terms of difficulty as the par 5’s are pretty getable IMO. Par 3 finishing hole is exposed to wind and with guys around the green and first tee, no shortage of a buddy trying to break your balls. 


As politically incorrect as it maybe in today’s day and age, I loved the experience. If I lived in NY it would be on a short list of clubs I would love to be a member.