NYC vs Philly who's got the best starting five?

[archie_struthers]

 


Before you know it the "season" will be here in Philly. I was thinking how blessed we are to have so many good courses to play in our area. How good you might ask?


Top five in Philly vs NYC   who wins ?   I'm going to limit it to a one hour drive (sans traffic) from Billy Penn's Hat or the Empire State Building ! Give me the winner with reasons


I'm a homer but gonna give the home team a 3-2 win    but we shall see

[Jeff Schley]

Not knowing enough about Philly, I had to look up Billy Penn's hat.   
I guess you have Pine Valley, Merion, Aronomick.  Would there be a consensus on 4/5?
NYC would probably be: Winged Foot, Garden City. I think Somerset Hills is right on the edge. Baltursol, Bethpage, Piping Rock or Creek.  Quakers Ridge is in that 3-5 group certainly.
Tough one.

[archie_struthers]

I know Mayday and Tim Martin will weigh in and help me. Let's make it a team event.  My top five is going to be a little controversial as it's still evolving ...I opted out Lehigh and Lancaster as you can't get there in an hour from Billy's Hat


so here goes


Philly


PVGC
Merion
Rolling Green
Philly Cricket
Galloway (yep I said it)


the NYC guys can bring their best but hard to beat  Philly 1 or 2

[Joe Bausch]

I doubt I will fully partake in this thread as I've not sampled a voluminous amount of courses in the NYC area.

One thing is true: if you live in either area, you have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to golf. Unbelievable, really.

[Tim Martin]

I know Mayday and Tim Martin will weigh in and help me. Let's make it a team event.  My top five is going to be a little controversial as it's still evolving ...I opted out Lehigh and Lancaster as you can't get there in an hour from Billy's Hat


so here goes


Philly


PVGC
Merion
Rolling Green
Philly Cricket
Galloway (yep I said it)


the NYC guys can bring their best but hard to beat  Philly 1 or 2

Archie-Still thinking about my lineup but I love Galloway.

[Tim Martin]

NYC

Winged Foot West
Garden City GC
Sleepy Hollow CC
Winged Foot East
Somerset Hills CC


Sleepy Hollow would be my pick if only given one play of the five. Tough to beat for me at least in the flat out fun category.

[C. Sturges]

am I mistaken?   Philly isn’t in New Jersey.    haha

[Chris Hughes]

In no particular order (ex. NJ)...

Garden City
Sleepy Hollow
Bethpage Red
Winged Foot (East)
Quaker Ridge

[Stewart Abramson]

Don't we run into the same issue that was discussed in the rankings threads... What are the ranking criteria? 


While PV and WWW are great courses, ( and likely highest ranked on the magazine lists) they would not be at the top of my personal  list for either city as the course I'd most want a return play.  Should the list  be best architecture  or favorite courses we'd prefer to play regularly ( or something else)?

[Chris Hughes]

Don't we run into the same issue that was discussed in the rankings threads... What are the ranking criteria? 


While PV and WWW are great courses, ( and likely highest ranked on the magazine lists) they would not be at the top of my personal  list for either city as the course I'd most want a return play.  Should the list  be best architecture  or favorite courses we'd prefer to play regularly ( or something else)?

I thought about this and decided that for me it is:


1.  Clearly architecturally significant.
2.  Have played it.
3.  Appeals to me!

[Jim_Coleman]

   Archie’s list looks right, except I’d replace Galloway with Aronimink.

[archie_struthers]

 


Fair enough question Stewart but this wasn't my favorite course list. Chris and I would be closely aligned as it's architecturally significant, you played it and or know it intimately  and has a special feel or "IT"


Only been to Sleepy Hollow once but it's really good!


Philly not as deep as NYC but think the top five are better ...got two all world picks 

[Keith Phillips]

Is Galloway National really a one-hour drive?

[Pierre_C]

I live a few blocks from the Empire State Building, so NY is a winner for me. Without traffic, these are my favorite courses within one hour - no order & driving time sans traffic.

- Baltusrol (Lower) - 40 mins
- Somerset Hills - just under 1 hour
- Piping Rock - 50 mins
- Winged Foot (West) - 40 mins
- The Creek - 55 mins

Realistically, with traffic these are the best courses within 1 hour drive of Empire State Building.
- Quaker
- Winged Foot (West)
- Sleepy
- Garden City
- Ridgewood (NJ)

[Pierre_C]

Keith,
Surprised me... but leaving on Sat at at 08:30, otherwise it's 1 hour or longer.


Quote author=Keith Phillips link=topic=73632.msg1767215#msg1767215 date=1740885163]
Is Galloway National really a one-hour drive?

[John Handley]

Let me throw this into the mix.....London


Sunningdale Old
Sunningdale New
Swinley Forest
St. George's Hill
Walton Heath (Old)

[Chris Hughes]

Is Galloway National really a one-hour drive?

Possibly...under optimal conditions.


Very interesting backstory on the impetus to build that one, I'm sure most here are aware...

[John Emerson]

NYC

Winged Foot West
Garden City GC
Sleepy Hollow CC
Winged Foot East
Somerset Hills CC


Sleepy Hollow would be my pick if only given one play of the five. Tough to beat for me at least in the flat out fun category.

If we are talking NYC (5 Burroughs), aren't all of those outside of NYC?

[MCirba]

Arch,


If you can't get to Lancaster or Lehigh in an hour you're not driving fast enough!   


Tim,


Can you get more than a few blocks from downtown Manhattan in under an hour? 

[Pierre_C]

John,
Yes, they are outside of NYC. No courses in Manhattan, but 16 muni courses within the 5 boroughs.

6 courses Queens
5 Bronx
3 Staten Island
2 Brooklyn

my ranking of munis
- Ferry Point (Bronx, now managed by Bally Sports)
- Van Courtland (Bronx)
- Clearview (Queens)
- Pelham / SplitRock (Bronx)
- Forest Park (Queens)

NYC

Winged Foot West
Garden City GC
Sleepy Hollow CC
Winged Foot East
Somerset Hills CC

Sleepy Hollow would be my pick if only given one play of the five. Tough to beat for me at least in the flat out fun category.

If we are talking NYC (5 Burroughs), aren't all of those outside of NYC?

[Tim Martin]

Philly not as deep as NYC but think the top five are better ...got two all world picks

I’m with Archie in that PV and Merion East have the top two spots locked down.


Philly


PV GC
Merion GC East
Rolling Green GC
Philly Cricket Club Wissahickon
Manufacturers Golf & CC ( )

[V. Kmetz]

I doubt I will fully partake in this thread as I've not sampled a voluminous amount of courses in the NYC area.
One thing is true: if you live in either area, you have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to golf. Unbelievable, really.

My golf life sure has been spoiled rotten, but I just can't believe the Philly-AC belt can compete past the starting five.  You'd have to divy up NYC Met Section into Westchester-Fairfield, LI, and North NJ-Rockland before it's a fair fight....even if Merion and PV are somehow determined to lead the pack at 1-2, a cut above the Winged Foot courses, Quaker, Sleepy...

[Joe Bausch]

I doubt I will fully partake in this thread as I've not sampled a voluminous amount of courses in the NYC area.
One thing is true: if you live in either area, you have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to golf. Unbelievable, really.

My golf life sure has been spoiled rotten, but I just can't believe the Philly-AC belt can compete past the starting five.  You'd have to divy up NYC Met Section into Westchester-Fairfield, LI, and North NJ-Rockland before it's a fair fight....even if Merion and PV are somehow determined to lead the pack at 1-2, a cut above the Winged Foot courses, Quaker, Sleepy...

VK: you didn't need to quote my post to make your statement! Goodness, gracious.

[Chris Mavros]

For Philly, my starting 5 would be PV, Merion East, Wissahickon, Gulph Mills, Aronimink. 


For NYC, Garden City GC, Creek, Piping, WWW, Somerset Hills.


Goodness, that is close.  Going more into the numbers after ranking them from 1 - 10,   


Philly avg. - 5.4
NYC avg. - 5.6


Told you it was close! 
 

[Stewart Abramson]

Fair enough question Stewart but this wasn't my favorite course list. Chris and I would be closely aligned as it's architecturally significant, you played it and or know it intimately  and has a special feel or "IT"


Only been to Sleepy Hollow once but it's really good!


Philly not as deep as NYC but think the top five are better ...got two all world picks

Based on arch significant, of the courses I've played,  I'd say


WFW
Garden City
Sleepy
WFE
Baltusrol Lower


But, FWIW, if I was choosing faves, I'd say


Sleepy
Garden City
Whippoorwill
Piping Rock
and toss up for #5 among Tamarack, Baltusrol Upper, Ridgewood or Wykagyl

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