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Joe Bausch

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A couple of year ago I presented JE Ford's North American article on North Hills CC:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,39060.0.html

Many chefs were involved in the evolution of NH:

Original nine holes:  William Ridgeway, Frank Meehan, and Frank Sheble.

New 18 holes::  Alan Corson, Hugh Wilson, Frank Meehan, and Ab Smith [Edit:  and William Flynn!]

In the process of researching this course, I contacted the pro there (a 'Nova grad, Mike Reilly) with my findings.  From him I received a copy of the early club minutes.  Of note was that an A. W. Tillinghast was paid 25 bucks in 1913, I think.  I'm assuming that was for him surveying the additional land they bought to give the course an 18 hole layout.

Recently I was fortunate to play North Hills, with currently on GCA hiatus Mike Cirba.  I now have a new leader in the clubhouse for a Philly area club almost completely flying under the radar.  What a treat it was.  The remnants of three abandoned iron mines are nicely used, in particular on the short par 4 10th hole.

The routing at NH is very similar to that from 1917 (see article in previous thread above).  Here is the routing on a 2010 Google earth aerial:



#1.  Par 4 (340 yards).

This is a straightforward opening hole, running a wee bit downhill and a small green pitched slightly from front to back.

Tee view:



From 100 yards out:



From just left of the green:



#2.  Par 5 (504 yards).

This hole runs uphill for about 400 yards, to a green with chocolate drops surrounding it that will remind some of features at Seaview Bay (another course Wilson was involved with).

Tee view:



2nd shot view, with the flag pole in the distance as a line aid to the green:



Approach shot view:



From near a chocolate drop over the green:



#3.  Par 3 (187 yards).

A real fun pin this day on this slightly uphill par 3.

Tee view:



Zoomed viewed:



From the back of the green looking back to the tees to the right of the chocolate drops, with also the very long par 5 4th hole in view to the right:



Another three holes later today.
« Last Edit: December 12, 2019, 03:41:34 PM by Joe Bausch »
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

Doug Braunsdorf

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Re: North Hills CC: a photo tour of PHL's most under the radar course?
« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2011, 11:40:37 AM »
North Hills was a fun place to play a few years ago.  I always wondered if the shape of the routing "N" was intentional or just coincidence.

It was always fun to look at this club, and Sandy Run a few miles up the road, from the windows of the R5 heading to Philadelphia in the mornings en route to work and watching the grasses change color, coming out of the winter, and watching the golf course get prepped for the season. 

"Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction."

Joe Bausch

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Re: North Hills CC: a photo tour of PHL's most under the radar course? New
« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2011, 01:10:38 PM »
This is the 1917 Public Ledger article describing the new 18 with a routing that is similar to what is on the ground today.



« Last Edit: December 12, 2019, 03:36:04 PM by Joe Bausch »
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

Joe Bausch

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Re: North Hills CC: a photo tour of PHL's most under the radar course? New
« Reply #3 on: December 11, 2011, 01:21:24 PM »
....
« Last Edit: December 12, 2019, 03:36:43 PM by Joe Bausch »
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

Ed Brzezowski

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Re: North Hills CC: a photo tour of PHL's most under the radar course?
« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2011, 01:30:18 PM »
nicely done Joe, it is a fun course to play. Grew up caddy there for a priest from St. John of the Cross. Inever knew the iron mine part. If we get a good day let's do Concord.

ed
We have a pool and a pond, the pond would be good for you.

Joe Bausch

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Re: North Hills CC: a photo tour of PHL's most under the radar course? New
« Reply #5 on: December 11, 2011, 04:47:14 PM »
Ed, please check your work e-mail.

#4.  Par 5 (616 yards; No. 1 stroke hole).

Tee view:



Second shot view:



From short of the green:



From over the green:



Aside:  do you think Hugh Wilson liked the 4-5-3-5 start at Merion East so much that he had a hand in the same par sequence (and even somewhat similar yardage holes) at North Hills?

#5.  Par 4 (364 yards).

A slightly downhill hole with an undulating fairway that the pictures have trouble fully capturing.

Tee view:



Approach shot view:



From just short of the green:



#6.  Par 4 (430 yards) [plenty of room to stretch this hole out further if they really want to].

More of that old-time mounding look on the left, and an uphill approach shot (heck, I think this is really a harder hole than the 4th).

Tee shot view:



Approach shot to a well-bunkered, elevated green:



From just short of the green:



From just over the green:



More tomorrow.   :)
« Last Edit: December 12, 2019, 03:40:17 PM by Joe Bausch »
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

Joe Bausch

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Re: North Hills CC: a photo tour of PHL's most under the radar course? New
« Reply #6 on: December 12, 2011, 09:56:47 AM »
#7.  Par 3 ('high tee' at 165 yards, 'low tee' at 195 yards).

On this day the back tee was up high.

Tee view:



View of green from the 8th tee box:



From over the green you can see the 'high' tee to the left, and 'low' tee farther to the right:



#8.  Par 4 (421 yards).

This straight par 4 runs fairly flat for about 250 yards, then downhill to the green.

Tee view:



A decent drive leaves a glimpse of the top of the flag:



Long drive gives a cleaner look:



From left of the green:



#9.  Par 3 (189 yards).

Another nice green site (#1 green in the background):



From short of the green:



From over the green:



Back nine starts tomorrow with the quarry par 4!
« Last Edit: December 12, 2019, 03:44:25 PM by Joe Bausch »
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

Dan Boerger

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Re: North Hills CC: a photo tour of PHL's most under the radar course?
« Reply #7 on: December 12, 2011, 09:57:08 AM »
Joe - Thanks for sharing. Only in a golf rich area (like Philly) would a course this good get overlooked. Fun, challenging and a great membership. I recall they redid the 18th green to make it a bit more receptive and less penal (which it needed). 3rd hole is terrific IMO and best 1-shotter on the course. I may be in the minority here ... but I think the 16th is a better hole with the tree lined rough. You need to be strong and fairly straight off the tee to have a decent look in.
"Man should practice moderation in all things, including moderation."  Mark Twain

mike_malone

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Re: North Hills CC: a tour of PHL's most under the radar course? front 9 up
« Reply #8 on: December 12, 2011, 10:47:49 AM »
 Joe,

  I agree with your assessment of North Hills. I wish they would remove all the trees lining the quarry to reveal that signature feature.
AKA Mayday

Steve_ Shaffer

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Re: North Hills CC: a tour of PHL's most under the radar course? front 9 up
« Reply #9 on: December 12, 2011, 11:06:40 AM »
Speaking of quarries, the Alan Corson mentioned in the article must have been of the Corson family,the owners of the former Corson Lime Quarry,founded in 1822, in nearby Whitemarsh Twp., on Stenton Ave.,near Sunnybrook GC and the Militia Hill course of Cricket.

I agree that NH is overlooked in the area.
"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

Joe Bausch

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Re: North Hills CC: a tour of PHL's most under the radar course? front 9 up
« Reply #10 on: December 12, 2011, 12:03:57 PM »
Joe,

  I agree with your assessment of North Hills. I wish they would remove all the trees lining the quarry to reveal that signature feature.

Absolutely Mike!  And many other trees could go as well to my eyes.  They have really nice terrain there that I'm guessing is very fragmented when the trees are leaved.
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

Joe Bausch

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Re: North Hills CC: a tour of PHL's most under the radar course? front 9 up
« Reply #11 on: December 12, 2011, 12:04:51 PM »
Speaking of quarries, the Alan Corson mentioned in the article must have been of the Corson family,the owners of the former Corson Lime Quarry,founded in 1822, in nearby Whitemarsh Twp., on Stenton Ave.,near Sunnybrook GC and the Militia Hill course of Cricket.


Now that's good quarry knowledge Steve-o!
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

Dan Herrmann

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Re: North Hills CC: a tour of PHL's most under the radar course? front 9 up
« Reply #12 on: December 12, 2011, 05:08:26 PM »
Wow - who knew?  And I used to spend a lot of time in Glenside at the Keswick Theater too...

As usual, great photos!

Mark McKeever

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Re: North Hills CC: a tour of PHL's most under the radar course? front 9 up
« Reply #13 on: December 12, 2011, 07:33:28 PM »
I didnt even notice the quarry in the pics until you mentioned it.  nevermind....i thought that was the fenced off area to the left on the last picture.

Mark
« Last Edit: December 13, 2011, 11:06:47 AM by Mark McKeever »
Best MGA showers - Bayonne

"Dude, he's a total d***"

Joe Bausch

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Re: North Hills CC: a tour of PHL's most under the radar course? front 9 up New
« Reply #14 on: December 13, 2011, 10:59:33 AM »
Time to begin the back nine this morning with holes 10-12.

#10.  Par 4 'quarry hole' (326 yards), a dogleg-left that runs a bit downhill.

This hole looks pretty good with the leaves gone from the trees.  My guess is that it is a bit claustrophobic during the summer.

Tee view:



From the 12th tee you get a nice view of the quarry:



Many will just hit a 3 wood or long iron off the tee, leaving a short iron in with this view:



From just short and right of the green:



From the back edge of the green:



#11.  Par 3 (158 yards).

Forward tee view:



From short and just right of the green:



Looking back to the tees from the back of the green:



#12.  Par 5 (536 yards).

Real wide fairway here, but sloped tremendously to the right:



If your drive trickles too far to the right, the second shot is much more demanding with the tree to negotiate, a creek and lake, and not a large landing area:



From the 2nd shot landing area looking back to the canted fw:



Approach shot view:



More smallish chocolate drops to the right of this green:

« Last Edit: December 12, 2019, 03:46:23 PM by Joe Bausch »
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

mike_malone

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Re: North Hills CC: a tour of PHL's most under the radar course? 10-12 up
« Reply #15 on: December 13, 2011, 11:24:00 AM »
#10 would be a blast if those trees along the quarry  were removed. Then one would "take on" the quarry to possibly drive the green. The right to left slope of the fairway would be in play and the left front bunker would be an integral part of the hole.
AKA Mayday

Joe Bausch

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Re: North Hills CC: a tour of PHL's most under the radar course? 10-12 up New
« Reply #16 on: December 14, 2011, 11:37:34 AM »
#13.  Par 4 (373 yards).

Tee view:



Approach shot view to a long green with a wonderful small back tier:



From just right of the green:



From just over the green:



#14.  Par 3 (234 yards).

Tee view:



More old-school mounding over the green:



From a mound just over the green:



#15.  Par 5 (512 yards).

A slight dogleg left par 5 with another nicely bunkered green.

Tee view:



Second shot view:



Approach shot to an elevated green:



From the back of the green looking back down the hole:



I'll finish North Hills tomorrow and you'll also clearly see how Frank Meehan discovered the site, just like GAC at PV.  Grin.
« Last Edit: December 12, 2019, 03:48:01 PM by Joe Bausch »
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

Joe Bausch

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Re: North Hills CC: a tour of PHL's most under the radar course? 13-15 up New
« Reply #17 on: December 15, 2011, 07:57:08 AM »
#16.  Dogleg-right par 4 (389 yards).

Here a little cut off the tee can serve you well (I'm thinking many are tempted to really chop down the yardage here and drive over the trees).

Tee view:



Approach shot view:



From just left of the green:



From long and right of the green:



#17.  Par 4 (420 yards).

Tee view:



My drive was in the fairway, but to the right; with that tree in play, left of this much more favorable, in particular to this right pin:



From short and left of the green:



From just over the green:



Looking back down the fairway one can see how Meehan was easily able to see the beautiful terrain present while on a train.  Good thing Frank read all the golf publications and had learned of this technique from George Crump.



#18.  Dogleg-right par 4 (345 yards) with an uphill approach shot.

Tee view:



A fw wood off the tee can leave this short uphill approach shot:



Two views from over the green:





One last pic to help you remember this fine classic golf course!

« Last Edit: December 12, 2019, 03:49:46 PM by Joe Bausch »
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

Bill McKinley

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Re: North Hills CC: a tour of PHL's most under the radar course? all 18 up
« Reply #18 on: December 15, 2011, 10:32:45 AM »
Great Tour Joe.   Always nice to see some of the under the radar places.  Also I agree with the comments that the trees should be taken out of the quarry area, that would really be an impressive sight!
2016 Highlights:  Streamsong Blue (3/17); Streamsong Red (3/17); Charles River Club (5/16); The Country Club - Brookline (5/17); Myopia Hunt Club (5/17); Fishers Island Club (5/18); Aronomink GC (10/16); Pine Valley GC (10/17); Somerset Hills CC (10/18)

Joe Bausch

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Re: North Hills CC: a tour of PHL's most under the radar course? all 18 up
« Reply #19 on: December 15, 2011, 12:07:19 PM »
From a lurker:

Go to your photograph from the tee of #17. Do you see that big stump on the right of the fairway?
 
Back in the 1980s we played North Hills a lot in tournaments. I don't remember what they all were back then (they had an annual North Hills Invitational that drew all the good players but we played the course in a lot of other things such as the Patterson Cup and such, I guess).
 
Anyway, one time I was playing with this guy whose name I can't remember now who was a good friend of Art Kania. The three of us (and probably one more) were doing really well and all in contention. Kania's friend whose name I can't remember was one of the most potential players I'd ever seen...
 
We were on the 17th tee and GAP Executive Director showed up to watch us tee off. Although we were all in contention for some reason we'd all gotten into calling our shots and trying some crazy stuff. That guy was one of the most incredible shot makers I've ever seen and with Sykes standing there he called his tee shot as a hook around that massive tree. Sykes, asked him if he was doing well in the tournament and if so why would he want to hit a shot like that? He said he could do it as Sykes rolled his eyes.
 
That guy hit a hook right around that tree and out into the middle of the fairway. We couldn't believe it; it looked like he hooked the ball and made it turn about 100 yards.
 
Obviously that tree bothered normal golfers with a straight shot so apparently they cut it down. Next time I see Kania (who now belongs to Merion) I'm going to ask him what that amazing shotmaker's name was because it escapes me now...
 
We had some real loonies on the tournament circuit back then. Next time I'll tell you about the player who was convinced that his golf balls had little men in them that were crouched down ready to spring and if he caught the little man right in the middle of his ass that ball would really launch and fly long!
« Last Edit: December 15, 2011, 02:47:26 PM by Joe Bausch »
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

Joe Bausch

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Re: North Hills CC: a tour of PHL's most under the radar course? all 18 up
« Reply #20 on: December 25, 2011, 04:39:33 AM »
Here is Joe Dey's presentation of the 10th hole in the 1931 Waterloo series:

@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

mike_malone

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Re: North Hills CC: a tour of PHL's most under the radar course? all 18 up
« Reply #21 on: December 26, 2011, 12:11:41 PM »
 Exactly how the hole should play.
AKA Mayday

Joe Bausch

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Re: North Hills CC: a tour of PHL's most under the radar course? all 18 up New
« Reply #22 on: December 16, 2014, 06:54:12 PM »
Lester George has been hired to prepare a master plan for North Hills.  Hot off the presses, read about it here:

http://www.thegolfwire.com/story/320261

And check out my updated photo album to see one of my favorite courses in the Philly region:

http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/albums/NorthHills_2019/index.html
« Last Edit: December 12, 2019, 03:51:03 PM by Joe Bausch »
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

archie_struthers

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Re: North Hills CC: update, Lester George hired to create a master plan
« Reply #23 on: December 16, 2014, 09:12:02 PM »
 ;D 8) :-*


Nice choice in Lester , wish him all the best in the job at North Hills !   He has a great group to work with , and they will surely support his work . Good stuff indeed.

We have a group of North Hill guys who regularly play Greate Bay , they are really a pleasure to have around.  Sometimes a group of golfers really get it , they do at North Hills . Best of luck to all , will enjoy monitoring the work product
 

mike_malone

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Re: North Hills CC: update, Lester George hired to create a master plan
« Reply #24 on: December 17, 2014, 11:02:07 PM »
I'm sure Lester will get #10 right.
AKA Mayday

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