Plainfield and Aronimick

[cary lichtenstein]

I had the opportunity to play both Plainfield and Aronimick last week and enjoyed both courses quite a bit.

Since I only got 1 look at each, I would be very interested in hearing from the Treehouse how you compare the 2, and which you think maybe better given the opportunity to play them numerous times and learn all the special things that comes from multiple plays.

[ChipOat]

Cary:

I think AroniMINK's green complexes are more interesting than Plainfield's and prefer, as a piece of golf architecture, AroniMINK as a result.  However, I also know AroniMINK much better having only played Plainfield once.

AroniMINK is too tough for me as a steady diet so my already-weak game would age better at Plainfield.

I also find Plainfield much easier to spell than AroniMINK.

[Tyler Kearns]

Chip,

How do you spell Aronimick?

TK

[Matt_Ward]

Cary:

How bout you step out on a limb and declare which of the two you preferred?

I have not played Aronimink since the work by Ron Prichard so my comments are more from a dated positoin.

I have played Plainfield since the work of Hanse / Bahto and frankly see the course as being one of my personal top 50 layouts in the nation.

The measurement of Plainfield comes from a variety of ingredients ...

1). Superb setting -- the flow and naturalness of the property is simply first rate stuff.

2). The juxtapostion of the holes -- you are constantly kept off any particular pattern. When you get a combination like the par-4 10th (save for the silly pond), the delicious par-3 11th (with its false front) and the spectacular par-5 12th with its serpent like creek and unique rib cage that splits the two sections of the green, you can feel the qualities of a well done layout that never bores you.

3). The par-3's -- with the lone exception being the overal difficult 14th are truly enjoyable.

4). The green contours are well done and place an emphasis on fine approaches and deft control of the blade.

5). The lone weakness -- the lackluster 18th. It was the 16th for the early days but I have never really thought much about how the round comes to an end at Plainfield.

6). The opening hole at Plainfield is one Jersey's best and IMHO as good as the starting hole at PV. Well done restoration has now brought back into play the left fairway bunker and the demand on the tee shot grows for the better player now.

[cary lichtenstein]

Matt:

I kind of liked them both equally. If I had to give a nod to one it would be Aronimick, 18 solid holes, no weaknesses.

I thought the "corner holes" at Plainfield weren't Ross originals and kind of weak as well as the 18th.

I rated Aronimick a tad higher cuz of that, but I'm sure the locals who play them alot know them a lot better than I do with multiple plays.