[Jim Franklin]

Let me preface this by saying I have not played here for three years, but I really liked it when I played it. My question is, a friend of mine and good player played here recently and told me he liked it better than Winged Foot, Quaker Ridge, and Bethpage Black. All of the courses were played the same trip.

I have not played Quaker Ridge, but I did not think Hudson was better than the others and I heard Quaker could be better than Winged Foot. I am confused. What gives?

[John_Conley]

Your friend likes glitzy courses and wasn't bothered by the golf car rides (even for those walking) uphill to get to the next tee.

[Wyatt Halliday]

Jim,

On a confusing note, I have friend who said that he prefers Oak Tree over Southern Hills and Karsten Creek.

He loves Pinehurst but hates Tobacco Road.
He thinks Bandon (just Bandon Dunes) is so-so.
He also he said hated the Kingsley Club while stating that Arcadia Bluffs is the best course he has ever seen.

I think his opinions (like most of the public) are entirely based on visual appeal and overall "condition green".

WH

EDIT: Also, add in the misconception that difficult = good.

[Joel_Stewart]

Jim:
I haven't played it but I understand their are a collection of really great holes mixed with some not so good holes?   They think their under rated on the rankings and I've been invited a few times to play but just haven't had the time.

[corey miller]

There is no accounting for taste.   I would be hard pressed to name the "really great holes" and can quickly name a few holes that are worse than "not so good"

I am not a big fan of the NYS Tillie courses but HN is nowhere near these four.  Of course they think they are under-rated for the large investment to join, they doubtlessly want better than the Doak 6 that it is.

[Brian Potash]

corey,

which holes do you think are worse than "not so good"?  im assuming #8, the long par 3 over the environmental area,  but which others? 

just curious.

[corey miller]

Off the top of my head in the worse than "not so good" category:5,6,8,17,18.  Perhaps I am being harsh.

Add in, after numerous rounds the fact that I have no memory of the difference between 1 and 3, and the fact that you take a mini-bus up to the third tee (could they have played around the hill?).

You would think they could have built a compelling par 3 with 5 on the property, but that did not happen. 

As for the views?  Off property vistas are often argued about as part of the "architecture" and routing but I must say, in spite of some great views of the Hudson, Marzolf does not route you in a way in which you actually enjoy them.  It is always "look right as you play #4" or "turn around as you play #17" or "go up fifty steps to the half-way house before teeing off on #10" in order to feel like you are overlooking the Hudson. 


Doak 6 is a good score on a tough property, but I suspect it should not be top 20 in NYS.

[Matt_Ward]

Jim F:

Couple of quick replies ...

1). Those who see QR as better than WF / West are saying such a thing because they can score on the former but the latter doesn't treat their 240 yard tee shots with much respect -- especially if they dare to handle the tips and then still badmouth the course because it would not "accomodate" their game.

I will tell you this - QR is not very far ahead, if at all, of Fenway in nearby Scarsdale for overall architectural pedigree IMHO.

2). Hudson National is a fine TF layout but it would not sniff my top ten TF layouts I have played throughout the USA. Jim, the reality is that TF has developed a very successful course model program with impeccable conditioning and the usual assortment of holes with the standard operating order of maximizing the visuals. HN is no where near the pedigree of BB or WF. Those who think so simply need to really understand what fine architecture is about because those are the same people who equate McDonald's as real food.

Corey M:

You are not being "harsh" but very honest concerning HN.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Jim, I played Hudson national last year and was prepared to like but not really respect the architecture.  I thought it was excellent.  It is a tough walk (no carts) but Fazio did a wonderful routing.  I think routing may be his best thing.Clubbing is difficult because of elevation changes.  I like the par fours the best.  They require accuracy and thought off the tee and well thought out second shots.  I did not think the place was all that glitzy.  It was comfortable. 

That said I would not put in a par with  Winged Foot West or Quaker Ridge.  I would rank them WF West, QR, HN, WF East.

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()