Greenacres CC (Emmet1938, G. Fazio 1971) Lawrenceville, NJ

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Bobby Weed chosen to renovate this "historically Jewish" club's course.


“Greenacres is a club with a distinguished history. Given our expertise in repurposing, we are pleased to have been chosen for this innovative project,” said Bobby Weed, President & CEO of Bobby Weed Golf Design. “The renovation of this classic parkland course will renew its beauty, enhance its playability and preserve its long-term future.” Established in 1938, Greenacres is a private full-service club featuring an 18-hole golf course, originally designed by Devereaux Emmet and redesigned by George Fazio, in 1971.


Chris Monti, senior design associate at Bobby Weed Golf Design, explained the challenges: “The golf course at Greenacres is showing typical effects of age, such as turfgrass, irrigation and drainage issues, too many trees and general infrastructure decline.”


http://www.worldgolf.com/newswire/browse/92101-Bobby-Weed-Golf-Design-Selected-Greenacres-Country-Club-Repurposing-Project

*One of the few courses in the area not photographed by Joe Bausch.

[Joe Bausch]

Greenacres is the place to be.
Farm livin' is the life for me.

 

[MCirba]

Hey ho Joe
We need to go

[Mike Sweeney]

So when a "country club" has a golf cart featured on a photo on their "About the Club" page, I am thinking they need more than a golf course renovation!


http://www.greenacres.club/About_the_Club.aspx

[Joe Melchiors]

I hope he brings many chainsaws - way too many trees there.  Some fun holes, and there would be more if you weren't hitting around, through, and over trees so much.

[Bill Crane]

Joe is right - seriously overgrown trees.  There used to be evergreens next to the fairway adjacent to landing areas with limbs all the way down to the ground to the extent that balls could not be found nor playable.

I have not played there in five years or so, perhaps they have trimmed.

There is a long straight par 5 on the back that just played through a chute of trees.    Many more spots like this.

Wonder where they are getting the money, their membership has been down for a long time.

I do agree, there are some good holes.  I believe they lost or moved several holes in the 1970s when highway 295 was built.

[MCirba]

Joe Bausch aced the seventh hole at Greenacres today.  I suspect a photo tour will be forthcoming.

[Joe Bausch]

Joe Bausch aced the seventh hole at Greenacres today.  I suspect a photo tour will be forthcoming.

That's plenty of pressure.  Easily greater than 760 mm Hg. 

[Joe Bausch]

The photo album from a visit last Saturday:


http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/albums/Greenacres/

[Bill Crane]

Wow. Still a ton of trees, although I think some trimming has been done.

I remember losing on ball in an  evergreen on the right side of the second hole less than 10 feet from the fairway.    Way too many evergreens, especially on the front.

Looks like the lower canopy of the evergreens have been cut back so you can find a ball.   Maybe even hit it if the roots aren't in the way.

There are some good holes, and some of the greens are really interesting. 

For many years G C C was known as having one of the best restaurants in Mercer Co.

I wish them well - the work could really help this course, and the club.

Bill

PS (full disclosure - I am former Membership Chair at Springdale G C in the next town.)

[MCirba]

Bill,

My understanding is the plan Bobby Weed is working on is evidently going to take out a lot of trees, particularly of the soft white pine variety is my  understanding.   The goal I've heard is to open up vistas, increase overall playability, and enhance turfgrass.    There are a number of very good holes, some unusually and cleverly angled greens, and even still a bit of old Dev Emmet left out there, including the 7th where Joe had his ace.   

[Steve_ Shaffer]

More info here:


http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2016/12/golf_course_housing_to_help_fund_country_clubs_5m.html

[Eric LeFante]

I played on the Rider University golf team so I was fortunate to play Greenacres a lot. One thing all those trees do is force you to work the ball both ways. When I was hitting it well and hitting the shots I wanted, it was very rewarding watching the ball work its way through those narrow chutes. The greens are small so it is quite an accomplishment to hit the majority of fairways and greens in regulation at this course. The greens would get firm and fast in the fall. It was a real challenge.


Holes 9 and 10 I would use 3 wood and pretend like I was playing 13 at Augusta and try to hit a big sweeping draw. I love the look off the 17th tee with that short bunker that doesn't really come into play anymore but just adds to the character of the hole. The hole is begging you to hit a nice fade off of the far left bunker.