[Ran Morrissett]

http://golfclubatlas.com/wykagyl-country-club/

Surely, the dispersion of information about exceptional golf architecture is at the center of GolfClubAtlas.com. Be it Sean Arble's strolls around country courses in England or Jon Cavalier's photo tours that make you ache to be outside, we all win when exposed to these riches. They act as timely reminders of why we fell in love with the sport. Same too for when we chronicle the return of a hidden gem. It makes us appreciate how reliant a course is toward good governance and thankful that clubs take their time and get things right. Such is what happened at Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle.

At the end of its profile, Bill Coore notes that the stream and intersecting valleys at Wykagyl provide hints of Old Town. Here is what I wrote about Old Town in Volume 2 of The Confidential Guide:

'Across America, articulate people helped drive the restoration of fundamental design principles to their Golden Age courses.  Overstating the importance of this movement is impossible as these Golden Age courses are located where it matters most: in population centers where they are enjoyed on a regular basis, making them integral to people's lives.'

Old Town is just one great example of golf enhancing your daily life, not complicating it. So too are Southern Hills and Los Angeles CC and ….. Wykagyl, a scant twenty minute drive from Manhattan!  I am tempted to call it the 'Somerset Hills of New York' because something unexpected and different seems right around the corner on this 6700 yard gem that meanders up, down and through valleys, across streams and past rock ledges. Out of bounds inserts itself three times, otherwise, you are cocooned in a wonderful pocket of nature.


Above is the 1st, one of four holes NOT featured in the Holes to Note section. It's a twisting 535 yarder downhiller, reachable in two featuring a stream that passes at an angle 25 yards short of the green. I post this picture to emphasize how 'deep' the course is top to bottom.

There are bigger 'name' clubs in the MGA but one thing that has impressed me is that the few Wykagyl members whom I know joined because it was 'fun', 'it made me like golf again', and 'I just love walking around here.' That's music to my ears - you are there because of the qualities YOU find inherent in the course versus the mystique of a place purported by OTHERS. Importantly, bright members who appreciate what they have generally bodes well for a luminous future too.

This profile is made extra special by the highly quotable Bill Coore and joins Moraine in ringing out 2016 in an outstanding way. Given how Wykagyl has 5 par 5s and 5 par 3s, I asked Bill if it had in anyway influenced his work at the mighty 6-6-6 Cabot Cliffs. He didn’t exactly scoff like my hero Bill Belichick but it was close! He responded: 'Not in the least and in fact I don't think about Wykagyl's pars like that. Those are just the best holes for that land, whatever the number on the card says is fine with me.' There you have it – further confirmation that the best architects of today have moved away from the formulaic approach that marred golf course architecture just a few decades prior.

The world wide web connects us all and the sharing of information as it relates to golf course architecture has never been better. 'A rising tide raises all boats’ and the more we can share about superlative work, the better off we will be. Having said that, the work at Wykagyl has been complete for a decade. Does anyone feel like it has gotten its due? I don’t! What a travesty for this course and the work done here not to be put on a pedestal. Please have a read - tell me what the design flaws are because I find only a few quibbles.

Best,

[MCirba]

Thanks for an insightful look at Wykagyl, Ran. 

Wykagyl has been on my short list for some time now and your profile, particularly showing the stellar work of C&C have me particularly motivated to get there this next year.   

[Ben Stephens]

This is why I love Golf Club Atlas! Brings out real hidden gems and always a fascinating write up by Ran!

[Eric LeFante]

I really enjoyed this profile. I hope I can get out at Wykagyl in the near future. There was a Hogan photo in this profile as well as the Forsgate profile. Maybe Ran is as big of a Hogan fan as I am!

[Stewart Abramson]

Super article. I've long been a fan of Wykagyl, especially since the C&C work. Courses like Wykagyl and Whipoorwill don't get as much attention as they deserve with so many strong courses in the NY metro region. I'm glad to see they removed the large tree that was in front of the left portion of #4 green. Here is a "before" photo from 2007.



Wykagyl #4 par 3 140 yds  [size=78%]https://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/albums/72157631868010507[/size]

[BCowan]

Ran,

   Thanks again for bringing these wonderful courses to light.  This is what makes this site so wonderful.  I'd like to see more tree removal exposing the creek on the one hole and many other land forms. 

[Frank M]

Wykagyl is one of the courses I always love seeing.

[B.Ross]

i played wykagl from the middle tees last summer in an outing, and it left a bit to be desired honestly. perhaps i wouldve enjoyed it more from far back but i got 2 par 5s in 2, one w/ a hybrid the other with a 6 iron. maybe my expectations were too high given what i had heard about it. it was far from bad, but i think i expected more. i like nearby fenway quite a bit more if we are comparing the 2nd tier of westchester clubs.

[Kevin_D]

If anyone has interest in playing Wykagyl while supporting a great cause, you can do so through the CBSBB Golf Outing on July 23rd.


The club is hosting the Met Open in August so should be in top form.


https://app.etapestry.com/cart/TheCatholicBigSistersBigBroth/default/index.php

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