The Creek Club - one of CB Macdonald's best?

[Jimmy Muratt]

I am unfamiliar with the Creek Club and would love to learn more about the course.  How does it stack up to some of CB Macdonald's other works?  Does it cover terrain that is similar to the NGLA or Shinnecock?  

I have heard that the course gets much tougher and better on the back nine and provides some spectacular views.  Did Macdonald incorporate his trademark holes (Redan, Eden, Cape etc.) into the design.

Does the Creek Club find a place in your personal top 10 on Long Island?  I appreciate any info on the course.

[Robert Kimball]

If you haven't already read it, I would recommend George Bahto's book, "The Evangelist of Golf." It has lots of good stuff in it. . .

I do know that the creek has a Biarritz style island green. I assume that was rare in those times.

It was AOTD #92 if you want to do a search for it.  Looks great from the air.  

[Robert Kimball]

Here is the link. And as you can imagine, there was much discussion.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=4070

[Jimmy Muratt]

WOW, thanks for the link!  There are some great pictures on there.  The course appears to have quite a bit of variety in the land.  It has some parkland holes and some right along the water which remind me of NGLA.  

The view from the 13th tee really reminds me of the view from the 17th tee at the NGLA.

#10 appears to be a great Cape hole and #6 is just gorgeous.

Keep the pictures coming if anyone has more!  

[iamafrog2]

I love the course.  the first five holes are not very interesting.  After that the course is as good as most and very fun to play.  The sixth hole has a spectacular view.  IT is a downhilll dogleg left that is protected by a big mound in front of the green.  the  ninth is a great par four that has an elevated green with interesting bunkers on and at the bottom of the hill.  ten is a great risk reward hole that you choose how much to hit.  It can be very hard with the wind coming off the water right there.  Very tough 320 ish par four.  You can look up 11 in many books great par three island green with a biaritz green.  Two good par fours after that.  Then there is a good par four with a somewhat blind tee shot since you cannot really see the fairway.  Second shot to an elevated and very tough green...keep it below the pin.  I really like sixteen which is a great dog leg left.  Second shot to an elevated green.  eighteen is a good finishing hole because it is a reachable par four that can also be doubled with a bad drive.

Great course I love it.

[iamafrog2]

I have only played three on long island...The Creek, Friar's Head, and Atlantic and I like them in that order (i think many might like Friar's head more though).

[iamafrog2]

Actually i played bethpage red and black also the order would be

The creek, Friar's Head, Black, Red/Atlantic.

[ChipOat]

#6 = my favorite hole in all of golf.

Fabulous strategy off the tee, marvelous reverse Redan green complex, and what a view!

Haven't played it in 5+ years and am concerned that equipment has taken the "dangerous left side" strategy out of the tee shot.  Can one now just bomb away directly at the green and get so close that the angle of attack on the approach no longer matters much?

Maybe it isn't my all-time favorite hole any longer

[Patrick_Mucci]

iamafrog2,

You didn't find the 1st green fascinating, a redan type green on a par 4 ?

You didn't like the skyline green effect at # 5

While the course gets more interesting after the plateau holes, I wouldn't dismiss the first five holes.

I'm not so sure that # 17 and # 18 are that strong or interesting.

[iamafrog2]

No i don't think that 17 is  a good finishing hole.  I Like 18 simply because in stroke play, one fairly easily have a 3 stroke swing on that hole.  a double in the fesque or OB against a two put birdie is somewhat interesting...although the architecture may not be spectacular.  i do appreciate the skyline view of 5 but I think that the hole is very bland being unchallenging off the tee with an easy wedge to an easy green.  I do very much like the green on #1.  I think it is very tough.  I am not sure what makes a redan green or a reverse redan green for that matter.  I am relativly new (well compared to most GCA members) at deep analysis of golf architecture and would love a defenition of a redan green.


JM

[Patrick_Mucci]

Iamafrog2,

Get George Bahto's book, "The evangelist of Golf" which explains redans and a lot more.

It's a terrific book and a great starting point for you.

# 8 could be deemed to be a reverse redan

[George_Bahto]

Chip: I think 6 is one of the great par-4 on Long Island

by the way: the original concept of hole 1 - the green complex - according to an article I just uncovered written in 1922 (when the course was being built) was a Road Hole green complex - a bit of a stretch but that's what it said (NY Times Aug 13 1922)

many think the 10th is a Caape hole - NOT - it is the Leven hole at Creek - note the high berm hiding much of that green

[SPDB]

You didn't like the skyline green effect at # 5

Pat - we've been over this. the 5th is not a skyline green, unless you've rope hooked your drive severely left and short of the tennis courts.

need to settle this wager and make payment on the merion bet.