Fooling with Flynn

[archie_struthers]

 

Caddied at Woodcrest CC in the late 60's to mid 70's . It is in Cherry Hill , NJ , built in 1929 , fit into a smallish parcel with some fabulous holes. Played there today in a winter league event and still love the place , some fabulous holes in spectacular condition.  But .....two of Flynns original greens were changed , no doubt because they were quite plain (subtle ).  What a shame

Greens being 7 and 15.    Changed dramatically in early seventies (7).  And mid 80's. (15).   Just bad decisions by greens chairs

[Joe Bausch]

Are these two greens from the Gordon's, Archie?

[Bob Harris]

Fred Ruttenberg, a GCAer, was on the board and may in fact have been President of Woodcrest at the time, should be able to provide the history of those greens

[Sam Morrow]

I walked it one evening a few years ago and thought the place was pretty cool, glad to hear it's in good shape.

[Jim Sherma]

While I like CC of Harrisburg there does not seem to be much Flynn left except for the routing and a handfull of greens. Even with that it is an awesome routing on a pretty severe piece of land. It's an early Flynn so not sure what could be reclaimed - the attribution itself should be worth some investment.

[Carl Rogers]

2 weekends ago, I finally got to play at the Cascades.  Wonderful experience and will go back. every hole distinctive and memorable.  I cannot believe the 5th, 9th and the 12th holes are not written up more.  An interesting dynamic balance between the nines.  I have many of the same observations and experiences on the greens at the Cascades.  Very subtle and at times slightly counter-intuitive to the adjacent terrain.  I have no idea concerning the evolution of the course.

Staff has told me that Omni, the present owners, spent almost a million $ on the roughs and green approaches.  My take away perception is that the playing corridors are wider than the pics in the profile.   I think the course profile on the site needs updating.

[archie_struthers]

 


Hope all is well Joe ! 

I believe both greens were done on house , number seven in the early / mid 70's and number six much later . Construction supervised in house by  superintendents  Joe Shane and the latter by Pat Lucas. 

Both construction jobs ok but re-design of greens awful relative to the Flynn originals. In trying to make the holes sexier, the integrity of the design dropped way off.  No "nature faking" on either.

This being said Woodcrest is a treat, lots of quality golf holes , number 12 might be in the top five par fours in Philly.

[fred ruttenberg]

The nines were changed several years ago so the current routing ends with a par 5 at the clubhouse.

Hole 7 was changed in the 60s and copied a green from the original Flynn design (across the street) that was never built.  The original green was flat and uninteresting.

Other green changes were made in jthe late 80s(?)/  Hole 2 was a small flat green and some contour was added.  Hole 3 (across the pond) was changed several times (in the 70s by Reese Jones) where there was severe drainage problems.  The current green is quite good and maintjains well.  Holes 4,5 and 6 also had rebuilt greens in the late 80s to mid 90s.  I do not know who actually designed them but the greenskeeper, Patrick Lucas , was involved.  They were built by an outside contractor.  All three are excellent while the originals were uninteresting.

The original 15th was also rebuilt inhouse by Patrick.  The original had a high bunker guarding the appjroach but otherwise was small and flat.  The current green is terrible with severe roll and almost no pin positions.  Anything hit on the front 3rd rolls back to the front of the green.

Overall the chages were a significant improvement.  The back nine (with the exception of 15) are all original Flynn greens and very interesting.

The course is in great condition (Patrick is still there and ,perhaps,,  the best greenskeeper in the Delaware Valley.  The current owners are running the course well and a large portion of the former members have returned.  Overall members is sgtrong, although a limited amount is outside play is allowed.


Hope you have been well Archie.