Hanse to Restore Yale

[Tim Martin]

University endowments -- especially old ones -- are also highly restricted.

Not arguing, just stating fact - 24% of Yale's endowment is "unrestricted":


https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55db7b87e4b0dca22fba2438/t/607e4da7bc999d01b4752ea2/1618890160689/2020+Yale+Endowment.pdf


While I am disappointed in the handling of their now former employees, I am happy to see Yale Golf Course (hope they go back to that name) gets some appropriate attention. $25 million seems awfully high for a course that was recently #83 in the world - https://golf.com/travel/courses/top-100-golf-courses-world-2020-21-edition/, but I get that there is a bunch of other stuff in that number.

Mike-They have gone back to the Yale Golf Course name on the current scorecard.

[Steve Lang]

   ... as I said, "its a commitment" and in my mind that's the take-away from this story, not earth shattering that Yale folks have means to fund whatever they want... however their priorities rank

[Mike_Trenham]

Hopefully Gil can get Hanse Golf Course Design partner Bill Kittleman on the site for this project.  Bill is a 1954 graduate of Yale.

[Tim Martin]

Hopefully Gil can get Hanse Golf Course Design partner Bill Kittleman on the site for this project.  Bill is a 1954 graduate of Yale.

+1

[Joel_Stewart]

I am not familiar with Hanse’s restoration work, but I do hope that Yale will be a restoration versus a reimagined renovation. I have been at least somewhat underwhelmed by the original work I have played (Castle Stuart, PH4, and SS Black).  Yale certainly is not a course that lacks historical records nor does it need to be toughened up based upon some notion of original intent.

Are you kidding?  Look at his web site.  Yes theres always been a question about his original work but he's arguably the best restoration architect out there.  Los Angeles Country Club and Sleepy Hollow are two of the best restoration/renovations in American golf history.  Now he's transformed Oakland Hills which is getting positive feedback.

[Tim_Weiman]

University endowments -- especially old ones -- are also highly restricted.

Not arguing, just stating fact - 24% of Yale's endowment is "unrestricted":


https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55db7b87e4b0dca22fba2438/t/607e4da7bc999d01b4752ea2/1618890160689/2020+Yale+Endowment.pdf


Mike,


As you understand, even having 24% of Yale’s large endowment doesn’t mean the university is willing to spend that on athletic facilities.


FYI, about fifteen years ago an old prep school friend and Yale alum called me as part of a fund raising effort to build a new swimming pool. He knew I went to Princeton, not Yale but still thought I might contribute.


When I asked him how much of a check he expected, he responded “nothing, what we want is for you to fly to San Francisco for a special event”.


My friend went on to tell me the special event was a group swim from Alcatraz to Fisherman’s Wharf. Apparently some Yale alum was willing to donate a large amount of money to the new swimming pool if a large enough group would make the swim from Alcatraz.


When I asked “isn’t the water really cold?”, my friend said not to worry the would provide wet suits.


When I then asked “what about sharks?”, my friend said they were planning to have guys in boats with guns!


I don’t think the Alcatraz swim ever happened, nor has Yale ever gotten a new pool. The existing pool, like the Yale Bowl, was special when built, but no longer.


Bottom line: Yale’s endowment isn’t going to sports facilities.

[Jonathan Mallard]

The article in GCI makes it clear that the fund, $25 million worth, is to cover restoration, long-term operational deficits, clubhouse renovation, driving range work and maintenance equipment.

This begs the question of how does an entity with a supposed fiduciary duty to the broader public determine just how much good money is justified to throw out to chase bad money.

[PCCraig]

Regardless of who won the job, the fact that Yale is hiring a high quality firm to restore and architecturally preserve their golf course is great news. Nice to see that the University and its alumni appreciate what they have.

[John Blain]

Great news but just curious what took so long to get this point?  It seems like it was common knowledge that Yale GC was a national treasure and a tremendous asset to the school so why did the course seemingly get no respect for all these decades? 

[Drew Maliniak]

Yale was the Shadow Creek of its day. I believe it cost $450,000 to build the initial track in the 1920s.

I can't wait to see the double punch bowl on three.

Hope Yale decides that it wants to host major tournaments (NCAAs, U.S. Amateurs, U.S. Women's Opens). It's really the best course in CT, by far.


Things I all hate to write as a Princeton graduate. But hopefully, this means that Princeton will keep Springdale. 

[Tommy Williamsen]

Nothing wrong with this hole:

I'll bet the bland bunkers get changed.

[Cal Seifert]

I believe that green originally had a kicker slope on the front right portion to kick balls to back left pin locations safely without taking the risk of the 20’ deep hazard. I’ve heard that somewhere.

[Amol Yajnik]

Hanse already on site: https://twitter.com/BradleySKlein/status/1442953654047174666


Text of the tweet: "Field work on Yale restoration underway: Gil Hanse with design associates Ben Hillard and Kevin Murphy, and Yale super Jeff Austin (r.) yesterday, took four hours to walk through four holes. Plan basically is to make the place as big as it used to be."

[Jimmy Muratt]

I am not familiar with Hanse’s restoration work, but I do hope that Yale will be a restoration versus a reimagined renovation. I have been at least somewhat underwhelmed by the original work I have played (Castle Stuart, PH4, and SS Black).  Yale certainly is not a course that lacks historical records nor does it need to be toughened up based upon some notion of original intent.


Ira

Go play Ohoopee Match Club, Caprock Ranch and Boston Golf Club and I think you'll come away with a different opinion of his original work.   The three of those are certainly in the top tier of best modern courses.

[Adam G]

This slider of old versus current aerial views is interesting. Used to be a lot bigger bunkers. http://golfcoursehistories.com/Yale.html

[corey miller]

As big as can be is fine and good but what will be the choice for the areas of rough?  Will it be high and punitive which seems to be Gil's preference in his NYC area restoration work.   Or perhaps that is what the "members" desire? Who will be left to make such important decisions for the Yale Golf course?

[John Kavanaugh]

The Hanse article in Cigar Aficionado was really something. 

[John Foley]

Were other considered for this? I would think so but not sure. It was pretty quiet that it was even going on.

[Jim Franklin]

I am not familiar with Hanse’s restoration work, but I do hope that Yale will be a restoration versus a reimagined renovation. I have been at least somewhat underwhelmed by the original work I have played (Castle Stuart, PH4, and SS Black).  Yale certainly is not a course that lacks historical records nor does it need to be toughened up based upon some notion of original intent.

Are you kidding?  Look at his web site.  Yes theres always been a question about his original work but he's arguably the best restoration architect out there.  Los Angeles Country Club and Sleepy Hollow are two of the best restoration/renovations in American golf history.  Now he's transformed Oakland Hills which is getting positive feedback.

He did an incredible job at Baltusrol as well.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I am not familiar with Hanse’s restoration work, but I do hope that Yale will be a restoration versus a reimagined renovation. I have been at least somewhat underwhelmed by the original work I have played (Castle Stuart, PH4, and SS Black).  Yale certainly is not a course that lacks historical records nor does it need to be toughened up based upon some notion of original intent.

Are you kidding?  Look at his web site.  Yes theres always been a question about his original work but he's arguably the best restoration architect out there.  Los Angeles Country Club and Sleepy Hollow are two of the best restoration/renovations in American golf history.  Now he's transformed Oakland Hills which is getting positive feedback.

He did an incredible job at Baltusrol as well.

I agree, Jim. I think what he did to holes 2,5,7,15-17 was just wonderful.

[Mike Sweeney]

I am a Cornell grad along with Gil Hanse and Tom Doak. I was a member (15 Rounder) of Yale for 20+ years as I married a Connecticut Girl and fell in love with the course. I was always very accepting of the flaws because:

• The Staff was very kind to my Son with Autism;
• The Course is/was that good;
• I loved the "European Style Membership". I played with brothers of US Presidents, PGA Pros and Caddies (at Hartford for TPC River Highlands), Mr Moore from Brown, and many locals;

During Covid, I saw what they did to my friends and student writers of Yale Daily News. It was as ugly as this green:



Tommy Naccarato - You were right and I was wrong!!

Peace.

[Tim Martin]

The golf course will be open Tuesday April 19th.

[Mike Sweeney]

The golf course will be open Tuesday April 19th.

Tim,


They won't be supporting Dustin Sweeney any longer. How is your son?

[Tim Martin]

Yale is hosting the 2022 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Golf Regional from May 15th through May 18th. It’s always fun watching these guys get it around especially at a course like Yale.