Plainfield was the best presented parkland course I have experienced. From the proximity of the bag drop to the putting green and the pro shop to the first tee the feeling was "This is all about the golf". (I will excuse the brick steps up to the first tee for the moment.)


       The fairway undulations and the well placed bunkering led to challenging but approachable green complexes. The greens were quick enough to punish a misread or mishit but not so fast as to put one totally on the defensive. The speed matched the contours of the greens allowing for some interesting pin placements.The greens were firm but not rock hard. It seemed that as a 12 handicapper I could play the course.

      The trees I understand have gone through extensive management and it shows off the attractiveness of the property.It also allowed for all the designed in angles to be played. The use of fairway running up to the bunkers and selectively around greens and up to tees was what I want to see at my home course.


      Of course, John Lovito was a generous host who guided us through the course and concisely updated us on the recent changes.His assesssment that the course can be scored on when good shots are made but punishing when you are off the mark was proven true to me.


    My feeling about the "tunnel" (I think that is what he called them) holes was that the diagonal use of water and the dimpled par three green were fine substitutes for the less inspiring land in this short stretch of holes.

        My bias is clearly toward parkland courses that have elevation change and interest in the fairways. This course provided many different looks off the tee from rollercoasters to uphill or downhill. The thing that gets me about this is how it makes me think about playing the shot.


     Clearly it is the best Ross I have enjoyed.


   


       It is a classic era course that has been uncovered and "made up" to show off its best features.



       I hope that Tom Goutman , who is a member of a Phila. Ross course--Torresdale Frankford, doesn't get too depressed by how much TF needs to do to uncover its charms like Plainfield has.

Mayday

it is great isn't it.  I was blown away after the first hole.

Tommy

thanks - I didn't know (couldn't recall) that it was Gil Hanse who has helped the club through.  I had the pleasure of meeting a past course chairman, and he was an absolute delight,

Plainfield has cross-hatched fairways - something I don't always like.  But it shows off he undulation fantastically.

Pictures another time.

James B

ps  the first green has 7 feet of elevation change without any tiers!

Mayday, great 15 holes of golf.

Mike,

  When I used the word "presented" I meant that it seemed to be  the most in harmony with my expectations for a classic parkland course. The penal rough at Merion reduces the presentation value.I think the use of fairway around bunkers near greens and extending to the next tee was the most impressive part of the presentation.

  Tommy,

     I expected others more knowledgeable about the specifics to discuss Gil's work there.

I just looked at Ran's review . The tree removal is dramatic compared to those photos. For those that have  been there before as you stand on the second tee you can see all the property in front of you and to your left over to #16 (I think).


   This kind of removal is to be applauded because it takes guts and diligence. I know how hard it is to achieve.

   This is why I spoke of the presentation.


   WHY WOULD YOU COVER UP COURSES WITH BEAUTIFULLY FLOWING LAND LIKE THIS?

Bill,

   I sympathize. Why bother having a course with such an appealing design when you end up eliminating so many of the wonderful shots that were intended to be played. You might as well have hired some hack to design it. I think Plainfield enlightens the thinking of Ross in a wonderful way and that TF can be the best example of his strategic thinking in Phila.

Mayday:

As of Friday, most of the rough at Merion East got mowed down to 2 1/2 inches. The course looked as "Parkland" as I've ever seen it.

When it comes to Rolling Green and trees, I'm glad to see the club starting to work on taking some out but you guys have a long way to go. It's a shame that numerous views across that golf course aren't possible. The topography on that course and how Flynn's holes use it is stunning and it would enhance the course so much if it could be seen from other than the hole one is on.

My hope is that Manufacturers and Rolling Green will begin competing with each other to see how many trees they can both take off the interior of their golf courses.

Both would be stunning if you could see across a good deal of the interior of those courses. However, what both need to always keep in mind is to never remove trees that would open up any view of what's all around the peripheries of both golf courses. That would be a real mistake.

BillS:

I know Torresdale pretty well and I never thought about the course having a bunch or really good par 4s but you're right about that. And they are so different from one another. All the short par 4s are real birdie holes but even a slight mistake on any of them can cost you a bogie or so.  Perhaps the most subtle is the 15th. That hole is really simple looking but getting too aggressive off the tee and making a mistake can hurt. Most everyone I knew there (from the Kerwin Cup) hit iron on that tee. #12 looks pretty simple too but it's not hard to miss that fairway with a bit too much aggressiveness, and of course going even a little long of that green can be a real disaster.

I guess I could be persuaded otherwise but I never liked the 18th. It's just a very uncomfortable looking and feeling hole to me but there's no question you can make all kinds of different mistakes on it.

 Wayne,

   That's some very fine stuff in your last post. I agree with most of it. I think TF can be the best example of Ross's stategic thinking in Philly. That is intended to be more of a supporting statement to those pressing for change there than an argument.

     It seems fairly clear that the elevation change has been severely compromised in its strategic impact by the trees. If after TF does what Plainfield has done the course falls just short of some other Ross in Philly that won't be bad.

The qualities of Plainfield are self evident -- what's so funny is that the folks at Digest opted to drop the course 50 spots even after the superlative work of Hanse.

Yes, a few more trees could come down and that woiuld certainly help. What's inane is how certain power types within the club opted to bag the superintendent because of the demotion demonstrated by the ignorance of the panelists with Digest.

The previous super is now at Liberty National.

Plainfield, IMHO, is generally unknown outside a 75 miles radius and for that main reason gets little continous hype beyond those who post here.

I have always said that the top two spots in Jersey golf are PV and Plainfield -- the gap between #2 and #3 is indeed a wide one given what Ross did so well there.

Mark:

Hold the phone partner -- I didn't say you but the simple fact is the collective weight (shall I use the term?) blew it big time with Plainfield.

The finished work of Hanse was nearly done prior to the ratings period and the course DROPPED 50 SPOTS !!! The work Hanse provided actually improved what was already first rate to start with. If the actual product has improved then plenty of eyes who should know better need to open up a good bit more.

That is inane and indefensible.

No less than the overreaction at the club to bag their superintendent in connection with their standing by Digest.

Plainfield is indeed what people have said here. From the courses I have played the layout is a solid top 50 in the USA at worst.