Newport Country Club

[RDecker]

This past Tuesday I had the pleasure of playing this masterpiece in RI.  I had the course all to myself as the
season is winding down here in New England and went off
the first tee in 30 degree temps with a howling wind, true
links weather I suppose.  The course was still in excellent
condition and I had probably the best experience I've ever
had on a golf course in spite of not scoring well.  I had played
the Kittansett club the day before which was also a great
experience but I don't think it was in the same league as
Newport.  My question is this, Have any of you out there played Newport and if so what were your impressions?

[Patrick_Mucci]

RDecker,

This is the first year in sometime that I haven't played Newport.

It is one of my favorite courses, especially when the wind is up.  I also like # 1 and # 12 as par 4's.

# 5 is one of my all-time favorite holes, sandwiched between two excellent holes.

It is one of those courses that one could play every day and never tire of it.  It is just a lot of fun.

Don't know about the 30 degrees though, that's a little cool for me.

If they could, I'd like to see the club obtain a little more land behind the 18th tee, as I think a little more length would make it a great finishing hole, especially after # 17.

I think Ron Forse did a great job in his restoration work, and members like Barclay Douglas are to be applauded for getting the work implemented.  I think they chose a more prudent method for implimenting the restoration work, over time, without the adoption of a member approved and debated "master plan".

It is such a great course at a great wind swept site.

[RDecker]

Pat,

I agree with you on #5 and also about 18.  As I was walking
up to the 18th green I was also struck by the potential problems the U.S.G.A. may have with pin placements for the
women's open.  With such a severe slope and hot and windy
summer conditions there won't be alot of options.  The simplicity and class of the place was so apparent from the
clubhouse to the scorecard and even the club logo it makes
one feel as though Mr. Tillinghast just left a few years ago.

[Patrick_Mucci]

RDecker,

One of the things that really suprised me was my expectations of an elite membership and white gloved service.

As you drive up the drive way, the Chateau like clubhouse reinforces that impression.

Imagine my surprise, upon walking into the clubhouse, to see a chalk board with Tuna sandwhiches, Meatball parmigian subs, etc.,etc.. as the lunch menu.

I understood that some members were dismayed when the club began serving food.

But, it is a wonderful place, no air conditioning, great views from the men's locker, shower and bathrooms.

If I lived nearby, I would certainly want to join that club, everything about it is terrific.

Do you know the story on how the club acquired the current back tee at # 18 ?

[Robert_Walker]

One of my favorite pictures is of Newport CC.
http://www.walkerpix.com/group%201.html

[Robert_Walker]

It is the lower left thumbnail!

[Mike_Sweeney]

I have not played the course since 1984 when I was a caddy there the summer after graduating from Boston College. Basically all my caddy money from NCC went into the Wharf Deli of Newport drinking beer with the leftover Australians from The Americas Cup   I must play golf in that country !!That summer I saw my first and only hole in one with a fellow caddy on an early Monday morning, and caddied in a very early Senior Tournament at NCC for Jerry Barber who won The Masters once and was about 14 inches shorter than me.

It is a great course. Back then they had some drainage problems on the back 9, but I hear that there has been work done on the course and thus its recent climbing back up in the rankings. It would be a great course/town for a US Amateur or Walker Cup. The course logistics out on the ocean would be hard for a big tournament.

PS. Look for an upset this weekend in South Bend, Indiana when BC takes away ND's National Championship hopes. This is our Bowl Game

[Patrick_Mucci]

Robert Walker,

That's a great picture of the uphill 13th hole, a par 3.

That hole has been lengthened, and I'm not so sure the added length benefits the hole.

Lost in your neat photo is the almost severe pitch of that green, and the effect of an ocean breeze on your ball.

RDecker,

At pace, the 18th green and a few others could get dicey,
especially with some wind.

Tommy Naccarato,

Are you going to just stand there and let Mike insult you ?  

[RDecker]

The photo is great but it doesn't give a good view of the horseshoe bunker on the left side of that green, a Tillinghast calling card as Ron Forse explained it.  One of my favorite things was the names of the holes( the Cop, Polo shed, Bretons reef...).

[SBusch (Guest)]

I had the extreme good fortune to play Newport two days before my wedding two years ago with my father, my father-in-law, and my best man.  Many thanks again to our gracious host.  It was a rare 70 degree day in late October, and I will never forget the experience.  The course was outstanding (my game was not) but what I remember most - is what is bandied about much on this board, understated elegance.

[Mike_Cirba]

Robert Walker;

That's a SUPERB photo, and if one can't judge a course from photographs as many here contend, then why do I have this sudden urge to want to drive to Rhode Island??  

[johnk]

It's simple - those photos are porno for golfers
Great stuff!

[CHrisB]

But, it is a wonderful place, no air conditioning, great views from the men's locker, shower and bathrooms.

The only time I've played there was in the US Am in '95 (I didn't win), but I've got to agree with Patrick here--best view from a golf course bathroom that I've experienced.  I remember standing at the urinal and looking out the window (that was just at the right height) over #'s 1 and 14 and south toward the sound, with afternoon sunshine and a cool breeze coming in.  Ahhhhh....

Oh, by the way, I absolutely loved the clubhouse (still have a picture I took of it displayed in my house) and the back-to-back par 3's (#13,#14) on either side of it.  Concur with all the positive things said here about the course and the atmosphere.

I remember hearing from more than one person that week that the 10th green is the oldest green in continuous use in the U.S.--can anyone here confirm?

[Brad Tufts]

I played NCC on Oct. 20, on one of the best fall days I've ever experienced.  It was about 55 degrees...maybe a 15 mph wind....and sun that glinted of the ocean just perfectly.

I have to agree with the above assertions about holes 1 (as a par 4), 4, 5(played about 500 from the back tee into a gale), 6, 12(as a par 4)

I also like a few of the others, namely 8 with a partially hidden green, 10, from which is one of the greatest panoramas I've ever seen on a golf course, 11, a great par 4 at just under 300 yds, and 15.

How does 14 stack up as a redan?  I've only played two others, at Yale and Mid Ocean, and I noticed that it was in much more cramped quarters than the others between a rock and a dropoff, and the pin was in front, in an almost ridiculous position only allowable by the medium speed of the green that day.  The high area on the right side of the green was not built up, as in other redans, as it was part of the hillside.

Shot 73 from back tees (par of 70, 6735 yards) with birdies on 3 (SW to three feet) and 13 (huge breaking putt from 40 feet)....bogies on 4, 5, 9, 14, and 17.

Fantastic place.

[Jeff Mingay]

Pat,

I've spoken with Ron Forse on several occasions about Newport, and I agree... the way he and the club have gone about "restoring" the course over the past few years -- meticulously taking on a few projects per year -- has worked great. Their methodolgy, which, by the way, has been employed elsewhere too, should serve as a model for other clubs looking to restore their classic golf courses.

Instead of rushing to spent $1 million + on a bunker renovation project, spend some quality time and effort getting the mowing patterns right, and taking down a few trees here and there... then, perhaps, rebuild a few bunkers each year -- by hand, of course  

[Mike_Cirba]

Jeff;

Isn't that the truth!  

Has anyone seen an example of a good, accurate restoration project that was done in a hurry?

[Patrick_Mucci]

Jeff Mingay,

More importantly, no membership debates, approval and funding are required as in the adoption of a "master Plan".

They understood the situation and selected the best, surest solution, which has worked very well.

It's a great golf course and a unique spot.

Mike Cirba,

The ten hole short course at Pine Valley

[Doug Wright]

RDecker et al,

Here's a link to a discussion of Newport from last June. Embedded in the thread is a post by Scott Burroughs linking to two other threads regarding the 5th at Newport and AOTD #49 of Newport. Seems like a special place...

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/YaBB.cgi?board=GD1&action=display&num=1024422606

All The Best,

[RDecker]

In Regard to Ron Forse's work I would like to say in his behalf that in walking the course at Newport and taking an entire roll of film of the bunkers in particular I was struck by how seemless the work had been done.  It appeared as if what was there had always been there.  Also I recently walked my own course with Ron and in discussing the renovations and improvements I hope to do with his help one thing became clear, Ron doesn't do what he does to make money(he won't get rich at my club thats for sure) but rather for love of the game and it's classic venues.

[Jeff Mingay]

Further to your comments, Pat, I think the type of restorative-based work that's taken place at Newport can simply be plugged into the annual maintenance budget -- get the mowing patterns right; remove a few troublesome trees, here and there; and, perhaps, rebuild a few bunkers annually. No big deal. Most of the membership would likely perceive that type of stuff as typical maintenance... the key is an intelligent Green chairman and superintendent.  

As you point out too, Pat, this methodology might very well eleviate the difficult politiking that's required to push a a one-shot "resto-vation" type project, a la Brian Silva's work at Augusta CC for example, where they shut down the course for a period of time to complete a massive overhaul.

The recent thread on Camargo reminds me that, I think, Doak and co. worked in a meticulous, "time-consuming" (in the good sense of the word) manner there... and elsewhere, of course, including Chicago GC, Pasatiempo, Yeaman's Hall, Valley C., et.al. Correct me if I'm wrong, Tom.

[Jeff Mingay]

RDecker,

I agree. I don't think Ron Forse is doing the restorative-based work he's doing to get rich. But either are the handful of other guys out there doing equally brilliant work on classic courses across North America.  

If you broke their fees down to an hourly rate, I'd guarantee at least a few architect's have lost money on such projects. (Perhaps I'm speaking from experience!)

On the contrary, it's the golf architect who simply supplies a few "fancy" drawings for a $1 million dollar bunker renovation project, for a couple tens of thousands of dollars, you mind, and then never returns to the course again -- not even to observe the construction work! -- who's in it for the money... nothing more.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Jeff Mingay,

Change of any type is usually resisted, and if that change is accompanied by costs to the membership, the resistance increases, or at least gets louder.

After I spent some time discussing Newport with Ron Forse and Barclay Douglas, I changed my mind about the methodology for undertaking restoration type work.

If there is groundswell support for a restoration, fine, proceed with it, but at most clubs it becomes a contentious issue, philosophically and financially, and often, the attempts to implement a Master Plan are defeated.

Politically, I think the path of least resistance, and the key to maximizing project success is the incorporating of the changes into the green committee's annual projects, to be accomplished over a period of a few years, ala Newport.  

The other key is that there must be stability at both the green committee and board level.

Chris B,

I had heard the same thing about the 10th green.