I played Williamsport CC yesterday and came away very smitten with the place. Even though I scored and played poorly I really want to revisit and get a few rounds in as I think the course has loads of interest. Unfortunately I am not a picture taker I will talk through my thoughts and impressions.
As per the website history (
https://wcc1909.com/About_Us/History_(1)) the course was originally 9 holes by HH Barker (1910 - #'s 1, 2, and 12-18) and then taken to 18 by Tillinghast (1923 - #'s 3-11). I am not sure what Tillinghast did to the original Barker holes but as of today there are pretty distinct flavors to the two sets of holes.
There is use of trees to drive interest on certain holes and except for a couple of places I did not this that the course was overly treed. The greens have significant movement on them and if/when they speed them up I imagine that they would become nearly unplayable from anywhere other than directly below the hole.
The holes can be seen on the club's course tour:
https://wcc1909.com/Golf/Course_Tour and
https://wcc1909.com/Golf/Course_Tour/VideosThe Barker holes - I think I tended to like the Barker holes more than the Tilly holes as a set. Not necessarily because they were better holes but because they have great character and use of land that you just don't see too often. Some highlights
1: Cool start to the round with a downhill shot to a flat area with OB left the whole way. Trees on the shoulder of the escarpment right makes hitting a draw visually tough and any fade will have to be started at the OB. Nice use of chocolate drop mounding short right of the green challenges those who aggressively attack the green off the tee - they also serve to act to visually black the green via alpinization for anyone who bailed out right away from the OB.
2: Flat hole with a green that has some nice internal contours. Good green but there was not too much for Barker to work with here.
12: 12's tee shot (left hand tee) is through a chute and must deal with a large tree on the corner that really pushes tee shots to the right - probably too much impact in my opinion, but not sure what you can do in the short run - I am sure that some big boys just hoist their tee shots up and over the tree these days. barker's tee must have been the right tee on the flat to the right of the 2nd green. Tilly's routing of 11 up on the hill to the left must've allowed for the current left had tee to created. The high point is that 12's green is a great old school push up green with some native growth allowed to grow on the back side threatening those that get too aggressive. More use of chocolate drop type mounds short left adds interest.
13-14: These holes tack up the slope through trees back to the club house. 13's right hand tee is one of the most tree constrained shot I think I have ever seen. Once navigated it leaves a nice uphill second with a lot more trees for those that are not in the fairway. Tee shot reminds me of Schuylkill's 18th but with more trees. 14 is straightaway through the trees and fine if kept on line.
15-18: After playing 13 and 14 you cross the entrance road and play four holes over terrain that would likely not be used for golf in this day and age. 15 is a medium length downhill par three while 17 is a short uphill par three - both have severe greens. 16 and 18 are par fives that play over rolling terrain with blind shots and uneven lies. Not much in the way of man made challenges but good challenge all based on execution.
Tillinghast holes: As a group these are likely the better set of holes, but also holes that do not feel quite as unique to me at least.
3: straightaway par 3 over flat ground - but nothing too exciting
4 and 5 are mid length par 4's with 4 still on the flat and 5 more uphill - 4's green has a lot of internal contour and 5's green is a very nice two tiered affair with a couple of bunkers that must get a lot of play
6 is a down and up par 5 with a very sloped green tucked into a corner with OB close to the left and in back - simple hole but a lot of possible scores are in play
7 - very good hole that I unfortunately made a hash of - downhill drive with a lot of room left (based on personal experience I suggest you make use of the left as right is bad) - tough green with a lot of slope off the right side bunker
8 - I did not see a lot if old cups on much of this green - significant back to front slope with a funnel effect down to the front center
9 - Downhill and nothing special but nothing bad either
10 - Nice short Tilly par 3 - the world needs more holes like this
11: Down and up hole with a big tree blocking the right side of the fairway - pretty much need to hit a fade to find the fairway with a driver - of the holes where trees dictate a shot shape this is the best of the bunch in my opinion - the green is very sloped back to front except for a counter-sloped area deep right that must be a brutal pin to play to as this area looks like it runs off the back right.
All in all I would strongly recommend a trip to Willimasport CC - Mike Cirba, I'm talking to you. The course is wonderfully presented with the Barker holes having nice use chocolate drop mounding covered with native type turf without overdoing it. The Barker holes offset nicely with the Tillinghast holes to really show the progression of GCA from 1910 to the 1920's. Well worth a day trip to see someplace very cool.