[Matt_Cohn]

My partner and I did not play well in the US Four-Ball, but it was still a memorable week for me, in great part because of the five golf courses I got to play. There are some people from this site who made my extra rounds at Fenway, Yale, and Friar's Head possible; I don't know that I want to call them out by name here, but if you're reading this, you know that I am very appreciative!

It seemed worth jotting down a few thoughts, and if you all have any questions, please shoot.

Fenway (fun round #1): Fenway is especially cool for its variety, which Ran captured well in his profile. There's no one thing that's distinctive about it – rather what's distinctive is that it has so many different neat things all incorporated into one place. It doesn't look as muscular as Winged Foot, but there are plenty of difficult holes, especially 2, 5, 6, and the first five holes of the back nine. Otherwise, the challenge is in the greens. If they’re fast, things could get crazy. If they’re not runaway fast, then maybe half of the holes are still hard and the other half are pretty tame. It won’t blow you away, I don’t think, but it’s a subtly strong golf course.




Winged Foot East (tournament course #1): This is a tough championship golf course; it is not a “little brother.” I started referring to it as False Front National. Not exaggerating, 17 of the greens had at least some portion of the front that wouldn’t hold a golf ball, ranging from a couple of yards in the front-right or left corner to a full 10 to 12+ yards of the green that rolled off into the fairway. But overall these are some of the most interesting and complex greens I’ve ever seen and they certainly make the course. I thought the stretch from 7-10 was probably the weakest stretch on the property (a high standard!) — all dogleg-left par 4’s to various degrees, all of which are good holes but maybe not as distinct from each other as one would like. That said, 11-18 might be the best stretch on either course: a great variety of distinctive par 4’s, two unusual and spectacular par 3’s, and a solid mid-length par-5 with a rolling green. I’d probably split rounds pretty evenly with the West if I had the choice.




Winged Foot West (tournament course #2): How hard can a golf course be? I can’t imagine playing this place in US Open conditions. And we didn’t even play it all the way back. It’s got everything — it’s really narrow, the rough is extremely healthy, and the greens are difficult (thought not as complex as the East). The greenside bunkers are all maintained with packed faces and raked bottoms, so a shot that’s barely off will roll all the way into the bottom of the bunker, which is often 5 or 6 or 8 feet below the green. And many of the greens have shoulders, so you’re hitting from fluffy sand, up 8 feet, to a downhill slope….I’m a good bunker player and I was getting frustrated by an ongoing series of basically impossible bunker shots. It’s just a hard test in every way, but there’s nothing tricky about it. Incidentally, you can see where a few of the greens have maybe shrunken a little, and where a few of the bunkers have lost some of their shaping. I’m glad the club is having Hanse do some touch-up work and I can’t wait to see how it looks when that’s done.

As a championship host, by the way, the club could not have done any better.




Yale (fun round #2): Maybe there are other places like Yale, but I haven’t seen them. But then as far as I know this was my first Macdonald and first Raynor. I really enjoyed most of it, and I disliked a few small parts of it, but I was never anything close to bored. That’s the danger of subtle golf courses, right? But put a 6 foot deep swale or a 5 foot mound in a green, or a 15-foot-deep bunker next to it, or make a blind approach shot over a rock ledge, and you might be many things, but you won’t be bored! Yale is in good condition, but the transition from pristine Winged Foot to Yale the next day is affecting my thoughts a bit; Yale is rougher around the edges and it wasn’t playing fast or firm that day. I sure would love to see it that way, and I think if I did I would probably find it to be really fascinating around the greens, whereas now my impression of Yale is mostly tee-to-green other than maybe 4 holes. Since somebody will ask, no, I didn’t really like 18. It’s challenging and it’s not unfair, but it felt constricting. I didn’t think it detracted from the experience though. For comparison — and I didn’t mind 18 at Cypress Point at all — but for those who dislike 18 at Cypress, I think it’s because 15, 16, and 17 are such a climax, so 18 makes a big difference. At Yale, there’s not the same kind of rhythm: the course is basically of consistent intensity all the way from 1 through 17, so finishing on a slightly down note doesn’t affect the experience as much. That’s my opinion, anyway.




Friar’s Head (fun round #3): I was told by a certain someone that “after playing it once, whether you think Friar’s Head is the greatest thing you’ve ever seen or the biggest piece of shit that you’ve ever seen, you’re wrong.” Well, I’ve played it once, and I’m trying to convince myself it’s not the greatest thing I’ve ever seen. It hasn’t really worked yet. The course far exceeded my expectations. I’d seen a handful of pictures, but nothing that came close to capturing the expanse of the place in person. It’s drop-dead beautiful and not a single hole is less than exceptional. But there’s so much to take in during just one round; it’s clearly one of those courses where everything changes with the wind, the tee and hole locations, etc. Everything at Friar’s Head is done with fastidious care — this was both directly and indirectly clear. As just one example, guests are instructed not to fix ball marks. That is the caddie’s job, lest a guest use the improper method and tear the roots. If you can imagine this level of care and detail applied to every aspect of the design and maintenance of the course, you’ll have some idea of how Friar’s Head has become what it is — #23 in the US according to Golf Digest, and maybe my favorite golf course according to me.

Questions are welcome and I'll check and offer my best replies.

[Joel_Stewart]

Nice post.  Congratulations.

[David Wuthrich]

Agree, all fun and great courses!

[Mark Chaplin]

WFW is crying out for some decent run offs around the greens, it such a shame short game is one dimensional with thick rough surrounding the putting surfaces.

[Joe Schackman]

Great trip around NY golf courses!

[Tim Martin]

The 5 par # 4 hole on WFE is really one of the great risk reward holes I can think of. The mortals play left of the tree and swing twice more to get on the green in three shots while the flat bellies play right of the tree and then over water eliminating the slight dogleg and try to knock it on in two. The second option requires a big set of balls and visions of eagle 3. Right up there with Bethpage Black # 4 as one of Tillinghast's New York inventory of great par 5's.

[Matt_Cohn]

The 5 par # 4 hole on WFE is really one of the great risk reward holes I can think of. The mortals play left of the tree and swing twice more to get on the green in three shots while the flat bellies play right of the tree and then over water eliminating the slight dogleg and try to knock it on in two. The second option requires a big set of balls and visions of eagle 3. Right up there with Bethpage Black # 4 as one of Tillinghast's New York inventory of great par 5's.

By far the hardest part of this hole is that, if you want to go for the green in two, you have a downhill and left-to-right lie in the fairway with a long iron or fairway wood — when there's water right and your ideal shot would be a high draw.

[Tim Martin]

The 5 par # 4 hole on WFE is really one of the great risk reward holes I can think of. The mortals play left of the tree and swing twice more to get on the green in three shots while the flat bellies play right of the tree and then over water eliminating the slight dogleg and try to knock it on in two. The second option requires a big set of balls and visions of eagle 3. Right up there with Bethpage Black # 4 as one of Tillinghast's New York inventory of great par 5's.

By far the hardest part of this hole is that, if you want to go for the green in two, you have a downhill and left-to-right lie in the fairway with a long iron or fairway wood — when there's water right and your ideal shot would be a high draw.

Matt-The shot is frought with danger as you know. How did you play the hole?

[Matt_Cohn]

The 5 par # 4 hole on WFE is really one of the great risk reward holes I can think of. The mortals play left of the tree and swing twice more to get on the green in three shots while the flat bellies play right of the tree and then over water eliminating the slight dogleg and try to knock it on in two. The second option requires a big set of balls and visions of eagle 3. Right up there with Bethpage Black # 4 as one of Tillinghast's New York inventory of great par 5's.

By far the hardest part of this hole is that, if you want to go for the green in two, you have a downhill and left-to-right lie in the fairway with a long iron or fairway wood — when there's water right and your ideal shot would be a high draw.

Matt-The shot is frought with danger as you know. How did you play the hole?

Practice round I hit a good drive and got my second shot right of the green, but it was uncomfortable. Tournament I drove in the right rough and of course had to lay up. The pin was on the front little knob; I saw Cole Hammer spin it about 20 yards back into the fairway.

[Bill_McBride]

Friars Head is amazing, one good hole after another and back and forth from the upper dune land to the lower flatter terrain via the four par 4's, which I thought of as the "escalators," two down and two back up. 

[Matt_Cohn]

Friars Head is amazing, one good hole after another and back and forth from the upper dune land to the lower flatter terrain via the four par 4's, which I thought of as the "escalators," two down and two back up.

The four par 5's?

[Tom_Doak]

WFW is crying out for some decent run offs around the greens, it such a shame short game is one dimensional with thick rough surrounding the putting surfaces.

Mark:


Your post is difficult to relate to.  Winged Foot West has deep bunkers to the left and right of 17 of its 18 greens.  There's almost nowhere on the course where there is space for a chipping area, apart from short right on #18.

[Bill_McBride]

Friars Head is amazing, one good hole after another and back and forth from the upper dune land to the lower flatter terrain via the four par 4's, which I thought of as the "escalators," two down and two back up.

The four par 5's?

Sorry, tyop.  2 and 11 take you down, 7 and 14 (two outstanding par 5s) take you back up.

[Sean Ogle]

Fantastic trip.


I think Yale is one of the most underrated courses out there. Sure the 18th is odd and felt forced, and the course always feels a little shaggy - but I haven't played many courses that are more fun or have such a good collection of classic holes.


Also cool to hear your thoughts on Friars Head! As a big Coore/Crenshaw fan, that's been on my list forever. But I'd heard mixed things, so was happy to hear the positive review. Did you find it had a similar feel to some of their other designs?

[Keith OHalloran]

Sean,
If you have had people saying less than flattering things about Friars Head, you should stop listening to their opinions! 

[Sean Ogle]

Sean,
If you have had people saying less than flattering things about Friars Head, you should stop listening to their opinions! 

haha agreed. In my head it was kind of one of those "I'm going to take anything you say in the future with a grain of salt" moments. But I hadn't played it myself, so I couldn't judge!

[Keith OHalloran]

Sean,
If you have had people saying less than flattering things about Friars Head, you should stop listening to their opinions! 

haha agreed. In my head it was kind of one of those "I'm going to take anything you say in the future with a grain of salt" moments. But I hadn't played it myself, so I couldn't judge!

Always go with your instinct!

[Matt_Cohn]

Also cool to hear your thoughts on Friars Head! Did you find it had a similar feel to some of their other designs?

This was only my third C&C course, and the last time I played one was in 2001, so I don't have a lot to compare it to. I'm not quite sure what criticisms of Friar's Head would even be. Maybe some people don't like the little centrally located little bunkers on four of the holes, feeling that they would "randomly" catch balls? But I wouldn't agree with that criticism; I thought they were all ideally placed and make things much more interesting. Maybe some folks think it's too open for the long bombers, but I don't agree with that either; I think you benefit from hitting the correct lines off of tees far more than you do at most other courses I can think of. I don't know...I'm reaching here because I just really don't know what someone would find objectionable about Friar's Head.


I guess I'm almost curious now what those people said!

[corey miller]

Any objections to Friar's Head are in the context of it being a top course.  When judging places in that league it does allow folks to be a tad persnickety.  I have no objection to anyone saying it is their favorite course or favorite place to play as it is that good. 


My objections however are that I don't particularly care for #4 , and though I really admire that they built #10 it does not do it for me.  And obviously not a negative, but the course is more fun once you have played it a time or two. 


I am sure the comments above qualify as "less than flattering" but again look at the league it is rightly in.

[Matthew Prince]

My only objection to Friar's Head is that I can't play it whenever I want  .  In my book, easily among the greatest courses built in the modern era (and probably among the greatest of any era).

[Mike Sweeney]

Yale is in good condition, but the transition from pristine Winged Foot to Yale the next day is affecting my thoughts a bit; Yale is rougher around the edges and it wasn’t playing fast or firm that day. I sure would love to see it that way, and I think if I did I would probably find it to be really fascinating around the greens, whereas now my impression of Yale is mostly tee-to-green other than maybe 4 holes. Since somebody will ask, no, I didn’t really like 18. It’s challenging and it’s not unfair, but it felt constricting. I didn’t think it detracted from the experience though. For comparison — and I didn’t mind 18 at Cypress Point at all — but for those who dislike 18 at Cypress, I think it’s because 15, 16, and 17 are such a climax, so 18 makes a big difference. At Yale, there’s not the same kind of rhythm: the course is basically of consistent intensity all the way from 1 through 17, so finishing on a slightly down note doesn’t affect the experience as much. That’s my opinion, anyway.

I played Yale today and had a pretty good round. I will counter to say:


1) I really don't want the course set up in the same way as Winged Foot. The greens at Yale would be insane under the same conditions. But I understand that your comments are meant to reflect more than green speeds. I saw wild turkeys and deer on the course today. It really is an inspirational place.


2) The 18th hole needs to be played at least 3 times to start to figure it out. It is the greatest match play final hole in golf, at a course that host VERY long stroke play college players. Some of them turn into pros, so it  will always be a controversial hole. Thankfully.


3) I have been here a pretty long time, and I am trying to be appropriate, but comparing Yale 18 versus Cypress 18 is not a good comparison in my mind. Cypress 18 is a limiting hole in how it can be played and Yale 18 may have too many options. Thus the comment about at least 3 plays.


4) 16 Yale is the weakest hole on the course. I have been playing there for many years and that is a pretty consistent opinion. Thus, I believe you need another look.


5) Today was pretty soft at Yale with recent rain. It is clay in Connecticut, so firm days do happen, but it is probably similar to powder day in Vermont versus Utah

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