Whitinsville Golf Club, MA (Ross / Silva) - A Photo Tour!!

[David Harshbarger]

You couldn't cram 18 holes into this property.

Good point about cramming in 18, but back when Ross was hired clubs would get a top designer even if they only had plans for 9.  Going over the Ross catalog, I lost count of 9 hole designs around 40.  How many has Doak done?  I think it's around 0, and if not that exactly, I'm sure it rounds to that.  What percentage of designs by Nicklaus, Fazio, or Rees Jones (or Hills, or Brauer, or any modern architect, except maybe Randy Thompson down below the Tropic of Capricorn) are 9 holers?

My point about cramming in 18 is about the modern need for 18, not the appropriate use of a small parcel for 9 in the Golden Age.

The lost art of the 9-holer is a shame. it's unfortunate that there aren't more opportunities to design 9-hole courses, as a good, local club can function well around 9 holes.  

[JNC Lyon]

I've got family in this area, so I've wanted to check out this course for quite some time.  I'll have to amp up my efforts!

For those who have played both: 9 at Whitinsville or 4 at Yale?  Go!

[jeffwarne]

do 9 holers share an unfair advantage for ratings since they only present 1/2 the opportunity to have "weak" holes?

Who knows how many parcels have had 18 mediocore holes squeezed in where but 9 fine holes were there to be found?  

or had a fine 9 holer spoiled by the addition of 9 more mediocre holes to get to the magic 18 number
the UK has many of these

[Anders Rytter]

You couldn't cram 18 holes into this property.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but i think that i read somewhere that the clubs own some adjacent land.

[Ronald Montesano]

9 at W is more dramatic than 4 at Y. The forced carry over the swamp, even to the bail-out left, is more daunting there. Elevated tee, low swamp, elevated fairway, low between landing zone and green, elevated green. Way more topsy-turvy at W than Y.

I don't remember green #4 at Y well enough to compare it to W. I know that W 9 green is big enough to hold the medium-to-long shot that comes in. It has enough fall-off to require an accurate play as well.

It depend on the tea you prefer to drink.

[Tim Martin]

9 at W is more dramatic than 4 at Y. The forced carry over the swamp, even to the bail-out left, is more daunting there. Elevated tee, low swamp, elevated fairway, low between landing zone and green, elevated green. Way more topsy-turvy at W than Y.

I don't remember green #4 at Y well enough to compare it to W. I know that W 9 green is big enough to hold the medium-to-long shot that comes in. It has enough fall-off to require an accurate play as well.

It depend on the tea you prefer to drink.

Agreed that Whitinsville wins the prize for drama in the comparison although Yale 4 has the larger and more interesting green. No need to quibble as they are both fantastic golf holes. JNC has been on the milk carton for the better part of the last year and swoops in to stir the pot and is gone like a thief in the night.

[Ronald Montesano]

I agree...I would have made a comparison of W#9 and some other hole of greater land variety at Y, like #1 or #17.