Yeamans Hall renovation

[Ted Sturges]

Joe,


The biggest change on 17 to me, is the relocation of the cross bunkers near the landing zone.  At my age, I can't hit it into those bunkers, but for the long hitters, they will have to think before launching driver on 17 now (seems to me they are at least 10 yards closer to the tee).  The green complex is terrific.  I liked it before, but it was always a bit of a stretch to declare that hole a punchbowl green when comparing it to other Raynor/MacDonald punchbowls.  The way the greenside bunkers work with the punchbowl features is very cool.  I think this is without a doubt, one of my favorite green complexes on the course.  Ran said to me (and I echo this) that YHC now has two of the very best golf holes in the world built on flat land (5 and 17).  Both are fantastic holes and both are so fun to play!


TS

[Carson Pilcher]

I now have had the pleasure of enjoying several rounds at YHC since it reopened this fall.  Like most others who have seen it and played it since it was reopened, I believe the course is the best I have seen it since my first visit there in 1991.  We have re-grassed the fairways and they are a better and more consistent playing surface than I have ever seen there.  We have also rebuilt all the greens and several were "softened" just a bit, including 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 15 and 16.  By softened, I mean that the "thumb prints" or "hogs back" features are slightly softened from their previous versions, and I believe all have been improved. 


I echo the sentiments above which compared YHC favorably to Chicago Golf Club.  I have long been a fan of YHC and first joined there in 1998.  Though I don't have the breadth of world class course viewing that Ran and Tom D have (who does?), YHC remains on my very short list of places I most enjoy playing.  I now believe YHC is a Doak 9. Over the years, I have gone between a Doak 8 and a Doak 9 on Yeamans.  An "8" is:  "One of the very best courses in its region, and worth a special trip to see.  Could have some drawbacks, but these will be clearly spelled out, and will make up for them with something really special in addition to the generally excellent layout."  A "9" is:  "An outstanding course and certainly one of the best in the world with no weaknesses in regard to condition, length or poor holes.  You should see this course sometime in your life."  (Doak Scale).


There are zero weak holes.  The routing is ideal.  There are several world class holes. The conditioning is firm and fast.  The ambiance of the place is off the charts.  I can't list twenty other courses I have played that I would rather play than YHC.  To me, it's a 9.


TS

I agree with you Ted.  It is a "9" in my book for sure.  I only played it once (45 holes in one day!), but I loved every shot.  I look forward to the day I can re-visit it.

[Tim Gallant]

I just saw a few comments online that Yeamans is doing more work and the course could be closed for a substantial amount of time. Anyone know any more details? Apologies if this is not true - genuinely interested in the course as it looks fantastic.

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

Tim:


Apparently the unseasonably cold spells in that part of the universe dinged up the new grass on some greens so steps were taken to get that taken care of.


Anthony

[BigEdSC]

Because of the cold weather this year, the greens will need to be resprigged.  They are closing May 15, and hope to reopen Aug 1.

[Tim Gallant]

Thank you Anthony and Ed for the information.