Aerial of the Day #44 - 12 Mar 2002

[Scott_Burroughs]

I really was planning on showing this course before a very recent thread appeared on this course, so I'm not just trying to be "topical".  Otherwise, this would be considered a bit of a toughie to figure out.  You can also see people/carts in the left side of the pic and the diagonal striping of the fairways.

[SPDB]

Scott - are you sure you're not being "topical"? seems like a pretty obscure course to be be aerializing.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Sean,
    There has been discussion on this course in the past.  Most of it centering around the fact that it is a true hidden gem, especially considering the more famous golf very close by.  I would also consider Whisper Rock and Boca Rio more obscure than this one.  Lu Lu and The Orchards would also be obscure if not for the Philly contingent here and the Women's Open nod for Orchards. How many people outside of Ohio and this site have heard of Kirtland?  Could almost put Siwanoy on that list.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Somewhat obscure YAPCR* Clue: Jm J. Bullock (Not a misspelling!)





*Yet Another Pop Culture Reference

[SPDB]

As Scott mentioned in the opening post, there has been some DOCTRINAL discussion of this course recently.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Good one, Sean.  Took me a few seconds on that one.

I wonder if Norma Jean Baker ever played here?

[Dan Kelly]

I got it!

Some Like It Hot G.C.!

Right?

[Dan Kelly]

Era of Good Feelings C.C.?

[Patrick Hitt]

Hey, Schmales, thousand bucks you miss that put !

[Scott_Burroughs]

Without further ado, this is Monroe GC, a Ross gem outside Rochester, NY and very near the more famous Oak Hill, both courses also originally by Ross.  It is on Ran & John's wish list of the "Next Fifty" to play here: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/THE_NEXT_FIFTY.html

Here's the thread from yesterday explaining how true to the original the layout is: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/YaBB.cgi?board=GD1&action=display&num=1015818313

Here's Monroe's web site: http://www.monroegolfclub.commentioning the distinguished amateur tournament held there annually, of which Tiger played in at least once.

Monroe superintendent Patrick Gertner used to be a semi-regular on GCA, but hasn't participated in a while.

Norma Jean Baker is, of course, Marilyn Monroe's birth name (Some Like It Hot).

"Doctrinal" referred to the Monroe Doctrine.

Jm J. Bullock is the actor who played annoying neighbor Monroe in the TV sitcom "Too Close For Comfort".  Later seen on Hollywood Squares.

[Dan Kelly]

And the Era of Good Feelings was coincidental with James Monroe's presidency.

Of course I'd never heard of the course. Strike me dead!

[THuckaby2]

I guess I get struck dead as well - first one in this series I have bbsolutely never heard of.  Oh well!

TH

[Scott_Burroughs]

As I mentioned earlier, Monroe was also tossed around as being a true hidden gem, it's even on the famous John Conley-compiled Certified Hidden Gem List, submitted then by Patrick Hitt above.

[THuckaby2]

Very cool Scott.  I gotta pay more attention!

TH

[John Foley]

Scott,

Your killing me!!!!! From where I sit right now I'm no more than 2 miles from Monroe and drive by it all the time. I actually went for a run about a month ago thru the course and was amazed!! The green sites look amazing.

I was tied up most of the morning and did not get a chance to view this untill now.

I'd love for someone (Patrick?) to post the hole numbers.

[Patrick Hitt]

Thanks for another favorite Scott. Here are a few pictures that I posted a year or so ago.  
First here is the par 4 second with some great approach bunkering

Here are two views of the bunkers on the fourth.


My favorite, the seventh, with bunkers dug down into the sandy soil guarding the run-up shot

here is the great uphill par 3 13th from the right side

and the routing for the curious

[Scott_Burroughs]

Now we're talkin'!  This is the stuff I like, ground pics and a routing to give an idea of what we're looking at.

[Patrick Hitt]

If I could focus a camera I would have alot more
The course has gentle elevation changes that don't translate in the photos. The bunker complex that extends from 7 green into the 4th fairway and the cross bunkering on 15 are real artistry.

[PGertner]

Thanks to all for the nice comments about Monroe.  

I always introduce myself to people in golf as the Super of the best Ross golf course you have never heard of.  It seems from this thread, this may be accurate.  

Monroe is well loved by our members.  I give them plenty of credit in that they have not made wholesale changes to the golf course.  Also, they do know they play something very special.  In the late 1980's, they amended the by-laws to prevent misguided changes to the golf course.  

Rochester has tournament ready Oak Hill East.  I have always thought that travellers come to Rochester, play Oak Hill East, and move on.  I believe they miss two Ross gems, Oak Hill West, and Monroe.  Therefore, we are off almost everyone's radar screen.    

We have 15 original green sites.  Bunkers, both fairway and greenside, are deep, and Ross originals.  Recent bunker rebuilding has been gentle, using a soil probe as our guide to return bunkers to their original dimensions.  

Currently, much needed new irrigation is being added.  Also, Gil Hanse comes in this year to build a small 3 hole practice area.  If approved, greens reclamation may begin this fall.  We continue to address tree overplanting problems, like many other courses of our vintage.  

Once again, thanks for the nice comments.  Incidently, I love showing Monroe to interested Ross fans.  Give me a call.  

Patrick Gertner