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michael j fay

The Monster at Lake Kiemesha
« on: August 26, 2014, 05:53:36 PM »
The Monster Course at Lake Kiemesha (?) is a fabulous 1960-70 course done by Joe Finger and Jackie Burke. Hosted a PGA Tour Event for many years.t is in the heart of the Catskills in Sullivan County. Unfortunately this 7,650 yard (6989 from the whites) may soon disappear. There will be one casino license issued in Sullivan County and the other players have golf courses as well.

If you are anywhere near this course in the next couple of months go there and pay the $ 45.00 (which includes cart and a sleeve of balls before the drop dead date of November 1. It is is very good condition and is truly well designed. I am certain you would like it.

Up the road at Grossingers is a Tillinghast course that is facing the same fate.

Patrick_Mucci

Re: The Monster at Lake Kiemesha
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2014, 06:37:46 PM »
Michael,

Why would  they disappear ?

It was my understanding that the casino operators wanted to offer golf to their hotel and casino visitors.

Eric Strulowitz

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Monster at Lake Kiemesha
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2014, 07:05:35 PM »
The Monster Course at Lake Kiemesha (?) is a fabulous 1960-70 course done by Joe Finger and Jackie Burke. Hosted a PGA Tour Event for many years.t is in the heart of the Catskills in Sullivan County. Unfortunately this 7,650 yard (6989 from the whites) may soon disappear. There will be one casino license issued in Sullivan County and the other players have golf courses as well.

If you are anywhere near this course in the next couple of months go there and pay the $ 45.00 (which includes cart and a sleeve of balls before the drop dead date of November 1. It is is very good condition and is truly well designed. I am certain you would like it.

Up the road at Grossingers is a Tillinghast course that is facing the same fate.

Michael

Is this the "Monster" course at the old Concord resort? 

I have vivid memories of that place.  It was a grand resort for its day, being young it seemed palacial.

There was a time I believe that that course was one of the longest in the country and had a slope rating to match.  Now, length wise, just a drop in the bucket.

Ronald Montesano

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Monster at Lake Kiemesha
« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2014, 07:54:06 PM »
I find it to be a terrible golf course, filled with minimal strategic options (bombs away or take a swim) and water in play on nearly every hole. Grossingers is a little better, and I'm surprised to find it's a tillinghast. I didn't think much of it, either. I don't believe the world of GCA will be poorer with the loss of either.
Coming in 2024
~Elmira Country Club
~Soaring Eagles
~Bonavista
~Indian Hills
~Maybe some more!!

Jim_Kennedy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Monster at Lake Kiemesha
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2014, 09:21:38 AM »
The Monster was always meant to be long and tough, not for all tastes. There is water on 8 holes and you have to like the 'Heroic' if you're going to have any fun there. It could be even more of a slog when it was soft, we'd never go over unless there was a week of dry weather prior to our visit.  ;D

Last I heard, the International course (Tull) at the same location has gone to seed. It was much more fun to play and made for a good warm-up before tackling The Monster.

All in all, I'd say it's worth a look-see, especially if it's soon to be NLE.



"I never beat a well man in my life" - Harry Vardon

Keith Grande

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Monster at Lake Kiemesha
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2014, 09:38:28 AM »
Not a fan of The Monster, an overly long, wet course.

Sadly, I was just at Grossinger's, and they did mention that next year may be the last for the course.  I highly recommend a trip there as soon as possible.  It is beautiful in the fall, about a 2 hr drive from NYC.  The property has plenty of hilly terrain, uphill, downhill, sidehill holes throughout the routing, Greens are fun, and it's tough to ascertain the break due to the various hills, lakes and streams throughout the property.  

« Last Edit: August 27, 2014, 10:10:15 AM by Keith Grande »

Jay Flemma

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Monster at Lake Kiemesha
« Reply #6 on: August 28, 2014, 09:47:31 AM »
While it's not really a GCA.com kind of place - too penal and watery, it has a HUGE amount of nostalgia regionally.  People vacationed there for decades, and yes, it was the 2nd hardest course in the country for a while. (Behind Spyglass)
Mackenzie, MacRayBanks, Maxwell, Doak, Dye, Strantz. @JayGolfUSA, GNN Radio Host of Jay's Plays www.cybergolf.com/writerscorner

Jim_Coleman

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Re: The Monster at Lake Kiemesha
« Reply #7 on: August 28, 2014, 10:34:05 AM »
    My most lasting memory of the Concord  -  the smell of boiled beef wafting throughout the hotel.  Ah!!!

Jay Flemma

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Re: The Monster at Lake Kiemesha
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2014, 08:33:19 PM »
Mine was Florence Henderson trying to sing Sgt. Peppers:):)
Mackenzie, MacRayBanks, Maxwell, Doak, Dye, Strantz. @JayGolfUSA, GNN Radio Host of Jay's Plays www.cybergolf.com/writerscorner

Steve_ Shaffer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Monster at Lake Kiemesha
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2014, 06:38:18 PM »
I played there at least 15 years ago. The course was very wet. I moved up to the forward tees on some holes. I later found out that the course was perpetually wet as it was built on part of the lake. Fast and firm was nowhere to be found. I seem to remember a second course there.
"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
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Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

Ronald Montesano

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Monster at Lake Kiemesha
« Reply #10 on: August 31, 2014, 09:45:53 AM »
at one time they had 2.5 courses. They had a fun, wild course for beginners adjacent to the hotel and the lake. They also had the International (where the NYSAIS championship for independent schools was played for a number of years) and The Monster.
Coming in 2024
~Elmira Country Club
~Soaring Eagles
~Bonavista
~Indian Hills
~Maybe some more!!

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