"Maidstone In Her Original Glory"

[David_Tepper]

Article on the Coore & Crenshaw renovation at Maidstone:

http://digitalmag.globalgolfpost.com/20130826/20130826#&pageSet=30&page=0

[Jerry Kluger]

I played Maidstone about 5 years ago and I have to say that I was very disillusioned as I just couldn't understand what was so great. I was told that the members liked the dandelions around the bunkers and felt the overall conditioning was really good.  (I guess I should mention that I paid the unaccompanied guest fee which was really steep and may have tilted my opinion a bit.) It is great to see that it has now been brought back to its original glory and is the masterpiece that it once was.  Hopefully I will have the opportunity to go back and see it as it should be.  

[Jon Wiggett]

I played Maidstone about 5 years ago and I have to say that I was very disillusioned as I just couldn't understand what was so great. I was told that the members liked the dandelions around the bunkers and felt the overall conditioning was really good.  (I guess I should mention that I paid the unaccompanied guest fee which was really steep and may have tilted my opinion a bit.) It is great to see that it has now been brought back to its original glory and is the masterpiece that it once was.  Hopefully I will have the opportunity to go back and see it as it should be.  

Jerry,

what were the greens like, did they putt well? Did the fairways offer a good surface to play off?

Jon

[Dan Byrnes]

One of the courses I want to play.  I like the old classics that aren't necessarily rated extremely high, especially after they have gotten a tune up.  I put Sleepy Hollow in that camp.

So Maidstone is up there with Eastward Ho for top courses I want to play not that I would pass on the Pine Valley or Augusta's but prefer these others.  Perhaps Fisher Island as well.   Reality could spend a lot of time on LI and be thrilled with the options.

Thanks for posting that.  


Dan

I also had seen the Maidstone Logo and didn't know what it was just different than the Vineyard Vines  clothing line.

[JWL]

I have got to get back to Maidstone and play since the renovation.    I have to admit that I have never been so disappointed in a highly rated course as I was at Maidstone.    I saw two nice holes and the rest seemed like a walk in a pasture.   Ugly bunkering and uninteresting greens.   I will chalk it up to me not paying attention, because so many revered Maidstone, so it must be on me.
Therefore, it is on my golf bucket list to revisit and give it an open mind.    

[Jerry Kluger]

Jon: I played it on a summer day that was cold and wet so the conditions were kind of tough and I was greatly disappointed that I didn't get to check out the scene at the beach club.  I just felt that back when I saw it 5 or 7 years ago, I felt it got a pass where other courses would not.  Maybe its just me but I felt disappointed with the first and eighteenth holes as well as crossing the street to play a hole.  I was fortunate to play Shinnecock, NGLA and Friars Head on that trip and was immensely impressed with them.  Someday maybe I will be able to go back.

[Tom_Doak]

I have always admired the course for its simplicity.  The new pictures look better, but I don't understand the sentiment that the course has been completely transformed just because they've opened up more sand and edged the bunkers more beautifully.  Has the judgment of golf architecture become entirely about the packaging rather than what's inside?  Or has what's inside the package at Maidstone changed more than the article indciates?

[Sean_A]

I have always admired the course for its simplicity.  The new pictures look better, but I don't understand the sentiment that the course has been completely transformed just because they've opened up more sand and edged the bunkers more beautifully.  Has the judgment of golf architecture become entirely about the packaging rather than what's inside?  Or has what's inside the package at Maidstone changed more than the article indciates?

I side with you.  My questions about renos revolve around

improved drainage
expanded greens
trees/rough cut back
expanded mowing lines
changes in angles of tees
bunker placement

Yet disappointingly, bunker look seems to be the over-riding appeal.  What happens in 10 years when the lacey look is out?  Is it back to the drawing board?  Bunker looks come and go, the other stuff is the meat of the matter.

Ciao

[Niall C]

I have always admired the course for its simplicity.  The new pictures look better, but I don't understand the sentiment that the course has been completely transformed just because they've opened up more sand and edged the bunkers more beautifully.  Has the judgment of golf architecture become entirely about the packaging rather than what's inside?  Or has what's inside the package at Maidstone changed more than the article indciates?

I side with you.  My questions about renos revolve around

improved drainage
expanded greens
trees/rough cut back
expanded mowing lines
changes in angles of tees
bunker placement

Yet disappointingly, bunker look seems to be the over-riding appeal.  What happens in 10 years when the lacey look is out?  Is it back to the drawing board?  Bunker looks come and go, the other stuff is the meat of the matter.

Ciao

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