Saucon Valley wins Golf Digest's Best Remodel award

[Bill Brightly]

Here's a link to an article by a local newspaper with some quore by Mike Davis and Ron Whitten. You all get to see the course on TV this summer when it hosts the US Women's Open

http://www.mcall.com/sports/golf/all-centertext.6697400dec05,0,7771296.story

[Willie_Dow]

Bill

There is a good article in the Press Journal, down in Florida, by another Bill (Hilbig) citing Hawk's Nest, here in Vero at #7, which puts it at #1 in Florida for reno's.

Jim Fazio really did a great job here, and the replacement of bunkers "was the most striking change to the course", said Pat Fallon, the club manager.

[Mike_Cirba]

Bill,

This thread had some good discussion of the changes at Saucon Valley Old.   Thanks!

http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,35918.0.html

[Carl Nichols]

I think Saucon Valley is a really cool place, and I enjoy the courses a lot.  I also haven't played the Old Course since this work.  But I find preposterous the idea that the other two could be considered top 100 in the U.S.

''Saucon may well compete,'' Whitten said. ''[The Old Course] has two other fine sister courses [the Grace and Weyhill], and they're all strong contenders for the Top 100 list.''

[Mike_Cirba]

Carl Nichols,

About 20 years ago, the Saucon Valley Grace course used to be in Golf Digest's Top 100 in the country.

Then again, so did Hershey and Mayacoo Lakes and Wilmington South and a host of other courses that don't get much discussion at that level these days.

[Carl Nichols]

Mike:
Like I said, I really like the courses (and the entire place).  But with all of the courses that have been built in the last 20 or so years, plus renovations at other courses, I couldn't see Grace or Weyhill being anywhere near top 100 in the U.S. as they presently exist.  Seems like you might agree? 

[Mike_Cirba]

Mike:
Like I said, I really like the courses (and the entire place).  But with all of the courses that have been built in the last 20 or so years, plus renovations at other courses, I couldn't see Grace or Weyhill being anywhere near top 100 in the U.S. as they presently exist.  Seems like you might agree? 

Yep...we definitely agree on that point.   My other point, not well made admittedly, is how much the "taste" that drove these lists has changed since 1980.

[Bill Brightly]

Carl,

Even as a member, I can't argue that Grace and Weyhill belong in the top 100 anymore. However, I think long range plans include bunker restoration, etc. on the courses and I can't wait! Both courses are on superb pieces of land, Weyhill's terrain is particularly striking:

[Matt_Cohn]

Huh? Is this a par-3 or par-4 or...

[Bill Brightly]

Matt,

It is a Par 4, 361 from the Whites, 419 from the Blues. Downhill off the tee, then uphill to the green. Always one of the favorites of first-time guests!

Key is hitting drive long enough so you can hit 7 iron or less up the hill.


Different  view

[Carl Nichols]

Bill-
I love the quarry holes at Weyhill--what a terrific stretch. Do you have a sense of when you'll be doing the work on it and Grace?

[Bill Brightly]

I don't believe any announcements have been made about when the work might be done or who will do it. My guess is that with the Women's Open coming they would not attempt any major work in 2009.