Glen Falls Course Profile posted

[Joe Andriole]

During this season of renewal and reflection it's rather apropos to finally post a review of The Glens Falls Country Club. A few summers ago while based in Syracuse I literally stumbled on the place during some random explorations of golden age courses in upstate New York. At the time, I had yet to see mention of Glens Falls in the Discussion Group.
 
Clinton's Erie Canal had enabled an upstate industrial powerhouse, where a wide range of products and much great golf was manufactured. The heart of the Empire State near the nation's industrial core was Manhattan's summer playground and a political and cultural juggernaut. This is an area of colonial battles, Indian heritage and industrial revolution. Today, Upstate is AND isn't what it used to be. It's high on charm and low in tech. Factories have been abandoned and infrastructure rusts but its shrinking cities retain glimpses of their former glories and remnants of their historical past which include scores of really good fields of play crafted by Emmet, Travis, Ross, Tillinghast and the like. These great designers plied their craft amid the hills, forests, rivers and lakes that constitute the realm. In the day there was no shortage of cash or compelling land. Now many of those golf gems are victims/beneficiaries of the new economic realities but retain their original designs by necessity/choice. Based on my travels within a two hour radius of Syracuse and seeing dozens of courses, Glens Falls surely ranks among the best, most complete.

That first summer's eve round was magical and the club kindly allowed me to return in the fall. Though my picture taking ability sadly wants, a few miserable i-phone shots were enough to have Ran enthusiastically list the course (misspelled for a while) among the 'Next Fifty'. I waited, cajoled and waited again. While he embraces the moniker 'most beloved' he is as much 'Godot'. Finally, this past November after years of good intent he made it with 2 friends to the little burg of Glens Falls, camera in hand, ready to document and promulgate.
 
Below is the link to this wonderful slice of the past with bits of nostalgia and renascence woven into a course profile:
 
http://golfclubatlas.com/glens-falls-country-club/
 
The course is so good and was seen by so many influential people in the Roaring Twenties, that I wonder why Ross's talents weren't employed more often Downstate, since he served Upstate so nobly.
 

[Ronald Montesano]

Downstate, as in Long Island? Heaven knows his body of work in the western portion of the state, specifically Rochester, is stunning, albeit mildly exclusive. I haven't read your profile yet, but Kevin Lynch and I played Glens Falls a few years back and suffice it to say, it had us at "Hello" (as well as goodbye.) It's so hard to plant a leaning oak, just as it is to build a leaning tower


I'd like to see a comparison between the inverted coffin green on the 5th hole, and the one he (purportedly) also built at Thendara's 9th, not too far away as birds fly.


I'll disagree with Mr. Brown's insistence that 17 is the best two-shotter on the course. I don't believe it is as good as #7, and I think that at least 4 others top it, but that's the beauty of opinions and other things we all possess.


Curious why you didn't mention #16, a tremendous par five on the same type of land that hosts #5. Not a Ross hole in its entirety, but you'd never know it from the putting green environs. Also, a bit on the old par three that abuts the 17th tee (and used to cross the public road, no?) would certainly be informative. Ahh, but that might be picayune.

[RDecker]

I always thought Glens Falls was the most underrated Ross in the Northeast.  Always in good condition and alot of fun to play while still challenging.

[Ran Morrissett]

For those of you stuck knowing Joe Andriole, you understand that heeding his advice leads to checkered results - at best. He once suggested buying a barrel of wine at the annual Hospice de Beaune wine auction as a way to head off my evening trips to the local wine store. On the surface, a good idea until I realized that purchasing something Corton would necessitate a second mortgage on GCA world headquarters!

In the one instance of Glens Falls, I am compelled to admit that his strong affection for the place is spot on; playing the empty course as I did with friends on a mild late fall day with the trees bleeding red was magical. I always associate hidden gems with those who exposed them: Tom Ramsey and Newcastle GC, Tom MacWood and Eastward Ho!, Tom Doak and St. George's Hill, Jim Finegan and Brora and now Joe. Ian Andrew also sounded the bugle a few years ago so it is shocking that this charmer still flies under the radar.

Part of it had to do with its presentation. Below is a 2009 'before' picture looking up the second hole:



Here is the current view where the heaving ground (up to and including the 12th hole) is so much more evident - and appreciated:



I played Glens Falls with a couple of hammers, two slim-waisted gentlemen who routinely unleashed huge torque at the bottom of their swings (versus the wrenching twisting motion I employ on my right knee and lower back). Check out the photo in the profile of the idyllic first tee along the lake: before Hammer No. 1 hit, the leaning tree on the tee was perfectly vertical - I swear!  

Anyway, Hammer No. 1 swung and there was a mighty explosion of wood and ball with the tee ball happily sailing over the finger of the lake and well into the fairway. The club didn't fare so well; as seen in this picture, its head floats in the lake, never to be recovered.



Advantage Morrissett! My opponent was reduced to 7 clubs and his confidence had to be fragile not knowing how long the remainder of the hickories would hold up! Hammer No.2’s driver similarly perished on the 10th tee when the clubhead decided to part ways with the shaft and 'walk-about', careening wildly left into the woods.

Here, I demonstrate my more refined, 'patient' swing (unfortunately the horizontal stripes accentuate a life devoted to pizza).



One of the sharp-tongued Hammers cruelly insinuated that it’s difficult for a 90 mph swing to dislodge much - that's beside the point! A keener eye will espy the magnificently athletic Benny Hogan position at the top and that my hickory club remains intact at the penultimate hole.

In this regard - beginning and completing the round with a full complement of functioning clubs - I triumphed over the two Hammers. Great courses do produce great champions!

[Ronald Montesano]

Write, then celebrate...not the other way around...Glens Falls is top notch.

[Adam_Messix]

Ronald

Great catch on 16.  The new green (1980s vintage) is really good and fits in nicely with the rest of the course.  Also neat to see the old green still there.

Had a chance to visit GFCC this Fall.  Wonderful course and great use of a property with plenty of movement.  This is one course where the aerial does not do the course justice.

[MCirba]

Presentation with a capital "P"!

Definitely on my short list for 2016.  Thanks for the tour Ran and Joe.

[Ronald Montesano]

Here's the "wee review" from the great and powerful BuffaloGolfer from 2014: http://buffalogolfer.com/wordpress/a-wee-review-of-the-sagamore-glens-falls/

[Ian Andrew]

On June 29, 1938, Donald Ross visited the Club.  He explained that the 4th, 10th, and 15th greens "had not settled".  They were designed for hit and run approaches - not pitch shots. 

He agreed the 16th could be made into a par 3 and a par 4.  By doing that the short 18th would be eliminated, and the 17th would become the 18th.  The estimated $1,300 cost was not affordable.

Interesting eh?

[Kevin Lynch]

So glad that Ran was able to get out to Glens Falls.  It was one of the highlights of my 2014 season, and I loved the big & bold elevation changes.  A few years earlier, I had fallen in love with the rolling topography at CC of Troy, but felt the course lacked the meat to require use of the full set of clubs.  I described Glens Falls as CC of Troy on steroids.




"Though the author lives in the Southern Pines/Pinehurst area, even he acknowledges the overwhelmingly superior advantage and allure of the Northeast’s tumbling topography."



Looks like Ran understands why I will always be a bit of an "elevation whore" (to borrow a phrase from other threads).  The variety of challenges, whether it be uneven lies, blindness, distance judgment, etc. will always draw me in more than a strategically placed hazard on a benign piece of land.  While I may appreciate the latter, the former will always inspire a more passionate response.  From the moment we pulled in, I knew this was going to be a course I would love.


The stretch of holes from 6 - 12 was one of the most dramatic I played that year.  For that matter, 1-12 were all phenomenal, with #5 as the only "breather" in there (the green notwithstanding).  Holes 13-15 almost felt like a letdown, but I think that's more a function of the preceding dramatic stretch.  I'd probably appreciate the subtlety of these holes upon more plays, but their memory was a little fuzzier.


I agree with Adam that the rebuilt 16th green fit in nicely with the theme and feel of the course.  You could tell that it was different, but still enjoyed the playability. 


Like Ron, I'd disagree with Mr Brown about 17 being the clear best par four.  As I finished experimenting with various shots on #6 green, Ron had run ahead to shoot pictures and yelled down "this is going to be one of your favorite holes of all time."  He was right.  As much as Ran appreciated the tree removal on #2, I saw a "before" photo" of #7, and the difference was remarkable.  The removal of trees on the left amplified the siren call to hit driver, and obscured the danger of a pulled tee shot.

[John Mayhugh]

Based on Ian Andrew's comments, I made it out to Glens Falls in late 2013.  Here are some more photos for those that may have missed it the first time around.
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,57779.msg1350877.html#msg1350877


I didn't like the 16th green complex at all.  Both the green and bunkering/surrounds would be fine on another course, but they didn't seem to belong on this one.  Wish I had taken more photos, but instead just moved on to the 17th.

[John Blain]

As much as I love GFCC I think the course could be even better with the additional removal of 200-300 more trees, especially pine trees which I am sure were put in by members over the years.
Anyone have any thoughts on how GFCC compares with it's neighbor, The Sagamore Resort & GC? I played them on back to back days this fall and though I would prefer GFCC on a daily basis I thought the Sagamore was a fine Ross course with many outstanding holes. With all the praise being heaped on GFCC it's almost as if The Sagamore has been forgotten [size=78%] One thing I will say about The Sagamore is that love it or hate it there is certainly nothing easy about it. They have hosted numerous USGA qualifiers over the years (Mid Am and Senior Open) and other than the occasional 69 (par is 70) no one ever tore the place up.[/size]
On a side note GFCC has one of the great PGA Professionals in the country in Tom Haggerty. Just a very classy man who is passionate about the game and GFCC.   

[Ronald Montesano]

Haggerty welcomed us with a firm handshake and stories galore.


Sagamore is a tough one. I put together a wee review of both in the same piece in 2014: http://buffalogolfer.com/wordpress/a-wee-review-of-the-sagamore-glens-falls/