Rip Van Winkle CC (Ross, 1919) in Pictures

[Richard Hetzel]

This past week I had the opportunity to play Rip Van Winkle CC (and tell the story of RVW to my son while playing) in the Catskills Region (Palenville, NY) of New York. We were on our way to Lake George and thought what a great way to sneak in 9 holes. This little 9 hole course, although soggy in a few spots was extremely fun, and worth playing if driving north or south on I-87 in New York. This course must be a real survivor, this area of NY appears to be quite depressed, with golf probably not on most people's minds here. As a kid, we camped many summers at North/South Lake which is just up the road a bit. Brought back many memories and made some new ones after playing here. They also scored points for NOT charging my son, unlike a certain county course in Bergen County, NJ that would not even allow him to play.....$28 for both riding in cart....before air travel, the Catskills was the hotspot for people in NYC, I would really like to have seen this course back then...and I hope the locals know what they have here....

Enjoy the pics...

Hole # 1/10 (Old Rip/Nine Pins)




Hole #2/11 (Village Tavern/Schnapps) This hole had some pretty cool mounding, that was natural and not mowed. Nice hole.







Hole #3/12 (Young Rip/Last Drink) Par 3, nice green complex and surrounds...






Hole #4/13 (Dame Van Winkle/Long Sleep Par 5





Hole #5/14 (The Glen/Thunder,Lightning) Short, yet great par 4. Since I birdied it, I like it even more! Has a semi-shared fairway with a par 3 number 7. Sorry no pics of the tee box view for some odd reason...




Hole #6/15 (Dog Wolf/Rips Awakening)





Hole #7/16 (Bowling Green/Long Beard) A little over 400 from the back, soft fairway with no roll at all. Good testing Par 4 unless of course you drive it 300+.




Hole #8/17 (The dwarf/Rusty Gun) A nice par 3, that plays with your depth perception. Guarded right with a marsh/pond. The 2 square shaped bunkers are unique to this hole only.






Hole #9/18 (Hudson's Crew/Journey Home)

[Peter Galea]

I have been touting this course for many years.
John Smith the owner and superintendent clearly "gets it".
I played the course last Saturday and it was great.
Few soggy spots left, a break in the weather since almost 30" of rain in the past 2 months.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Rich,
I play this course regularly and it never fails to bring out a fun round. The locals know what they have and RVWGC gets a lot of play. The Smiths' are a wonderful golfing family.

Did you know there was a course up at North/South lake area that was reached by a cog railway from rt. 32. This was before the road (built by convicts) up the mountain was constructed. You can still make out the 'cut' in the mountain.

[Richard Hetzel]

I knew about the cog railway, but was not aware that there had been a course up near the state park. I camped at that state park every summer with my Great Aunt and Uncle. The view up above RVWCC is tremendous, to say the LEAST. A course up on top of that mountain would be unimaginable.

I could play that course every day and be happy. I don't say that about too many places!

Blackberry pic of the view....

[Richard Hetzel]

Is the old cog railway line the cut through the middle of this picture?

[Jim_Kennedy]

Rich,
I think that's it.

Here's a couple of views for you.

Same rock, looking a bit more N and E

and another:


Here's the course, looking back to the west, towards what was called Sunset Park

[Jim_Kennedy]

Here's the view, going downhill, on the 'Otis Elevating Railway'.



So far so good!


What a ride:

[Jim_Kennedy]

Here's the whole kit and kaboodle. The contours shown in your screen print match the contours of the hills.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Rich,
Thought you might enjoy this:
http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/otiselev.Html

[Richard Hetzel]

Server must be down, check back for the pics of the course.

[Mike Worth]

Here's the view, going downhill, on the 'Otis Elevating Railway'.

Jim.  The picture of the golf course you posted are of what was locally called the Twilight Park course.  That's different from the course affiliated with the Mountain House, which was situated around North/South lake.  The Twilight course, I found through research, was designed by Jack Vickery around 1900.  Twilight was designed for the exclusive use of the residents of Sunset and Twilight Parks.


The North/South lake course was apparently in the area near the old Laurel House and was also situated near South lake. 


So it's actually 2 different courses

[Joe Bausch]

Photos of the Rip from my visit last year:


http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/albums/RipVanWinkle/index.html

[Ronald Montesano]

Three consecutive greens (3-5) seem to cry for sunlight. Do they get enough?


How hard is it to hit and hold that third green? Looks tricky.

[Joe Bausch]

Three consecutive greens (3-5) seem to cry for sunlight. Do they get enough?


How hard is it to hit and hold that third green? Looks tricky.

3 in particular is crowded with trees.  Cirba hit a dart on that hole and it held.  At 135 yards, it is reasonable.

[Mike Worth]

Three consecutive greens (3-5) seem to cry for sunlight. Do they get enough?


How hard is it to hit and hold that third green? Looks tricky.

3 in particular is crowded with trees.  Cirba hit a dart on that hole and it held.  At 135 yards, it is reasonable.

I played there last year.  Size-wise it reminded me of #8 at Troon.  I missed the green, but my playing partner hit it.


I grew up in Tannersville, on top of the mountain 7 miles away, but have only played the course twice -- once in high school and once last year.  I do remember Ray Smith, though.