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Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
I played Deal on the Jersey shore this past week. It is an old course designed in part by Donald Ross. I am not sure how much was Ross and it seems neither does the club. It is on a small relatively flat piece of property. It was brilliant. At under 6400 yards it was challenging and fun. The greens complexes were exceptional. It is one of those courses that young architects should study to see what can be done on a relatively boring site.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Peter Pallotta

Re: Would be architects should see Deal Golf and Country Club
« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2016, 06:43:34 PM »
Tommy - you're a good player, so your words re challenge and fun on a 6400 yard course carry weight. We had a thread a while ago about a compact routing being worth "three good holes".  I'm curious, as I don't know Deal except from write-ups:  a) would you say that the course had a few so-called "weak/breather holes" and b) if the answer to that is yes, did you mind?
Peter

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Would be architects should see Deal Golf and Country Club
« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2016, 07:21:00 PM »
Peter, the first two holes were gentle handshakes. The rest of the course asked for a decent derive and good shots into the green. The greens had excellent movement and bunkering. Bogies aren't hard and par requires good but not but not extraordinary shots. Birdies are more difficult because getting close to the hole isn't as easy as the distance would indicate. You don't get beaten up and the course is playable for all handicaps. I think I shot about 77. I hit the ball well but not extraordinarily. It was fun but asked for good execution. It is a fascinating course. I could play it every day.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Brad Fleischer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Would be architects should see Deal Golf and Country Club
« Reply #3 on: June 26, 2016, 08:10:48 PM »
Deal is a fun layout. I know they supposedly don't share members but a deal/Hollywood membership might be the best one two punch distance wise in the entire state of NJ. It's a driver away a wedge for some.

Jon Cavalier

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Would be architects should see Deal Golf and Country Club
« Reply #4 on: June 26, 2016, 09:07:55 PM »
Deal is a fun layout. I know they supposedly don't share members but a deal/Hollywood membership might be the best one two punch distance wise in the entire state of NJ. It's a driver away a wedge for some.

So true. Two terrific courses with enough variety, fun and challenge to keep players entertained for a long time. Deal is a really fun course, and Hollywood is world class. I'm a big fan of both.
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Pat Burke

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Would be architects should see Deal Golf and Country Club
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2016, 12:18:35 AM »
I grew up at Deal.  Left New Jersey in 1980 for the left coast.
When I was playing, I would always try to get a round in at Deal.  The last time I played there, there were so many changes being made, that I really haven't had the desire to go back and play.  Not really anything against the changes per se, it's just not the nostalgic trip it used to be.
As far as the course
1) drive and wedge to a small green with a cool little spine in the back center
2) pretty good hole OB down whole right side.  Small green with decent back to from slope
3) semi blind tee shot leaves a short approach to a well bunkered green with some really nice movement
4)lay up tee shot (about 210-220 if I remember).  Leaves a downhill 130 or so.  Nice little creek guards right and back of green.  Used to be a cool bunker short of green with a big mound that made the recovery blind.  I believe the mound has been removed
5). This hole has been changed so often I'm not sure what to say about it
6) very good uphill par three, about 190.  Well guarded sloping green with a subtle tier in it.  Tough hole imo
7). Pretty straight forward tee shot left a mid iron to a green that was crowned and fell off in all direction.  Some drop mounds left could create recovery challenges.  Probably the green that would represent a "Ross" look, though I'm not certain it was a Ross green ???
8) my least favorite hole on the course.  About 180 par three to a severe green with a big left to right slope.  Top pin was borderline unplayable even in the 70s
9) uphill par five.  Pretty good tee shot with slope left that I believ has changed with bunkering that made the tee shot pretty sill imo.  Pretty good green with really nice movement
10). Kind of a meh par four. Downhill tee shot left short iron to a small non descript green set against OB. A hole that reflected the small property imo.
11) based on photos this has changed a bit.  A short uphill par four that used to have two huge cross bunkers short of the green.  The green had an upper right tier, and low left tier.  Hit the wrong side of the green, and thre putts were common
12). This hole was changed a bunch and looks like it is from another course imo
13) a short 125-130 par three that used to be surrounded by tough bunkers and a tiny green.  Played across a ravine.  Has been changed and looks much more sterile.
14). Easiest par five on the course, but had one of my favorite greens on the course.  There were a couple of features that were very unique to me.  A chocolate drop type mound on the back could really make things tough if in the wrong spot.  Easy fun hole.
15) for me, was the toughest hole growing up.  It has been changed a lot, the green being moved well left to wear the old 16th ladies tee was.  Another hole that now looks like it's from different course.
16). A good par four with a small green with very nice subtle contours.
17) another hole with enormous changes, this time I actually liked them.  Used to have a little creek right of the green, replaced by a pond that really sits nicely into a pretty flat (for deal) green.
18) a closing par three that plays right alongside the beautiful old clubhouse.  Used to be surrounded front and sides by tough bunkers.  Green was hourglass shaped and very flat with a spine dividing then front from the back I'm the middle of the hourglass.  A tough par three that broke my hard numerous times as a kid trying to break 80 for the first time!


Now, this is all mostly from pre 1980 memories, so none of this will hold up in a court of law!

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Would be architects should see Deal Golf and Country Club
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2016, 05:03:46 PM »
I never played the course before the changes but sure like it now. Hollywood is just special. Never seen bunkers quite like them anywhere. I asked the GM at Deal if many had memberships at both clubs. He said,"No." Hard to believe. I could play them both forever.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Pat Burke

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Would be architects should see Deal Golf and Country Club
« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2016, 09:11:26 PM »
Tommy, did you happen to hear what memberships were going for at Deal these days?

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Would be architects should see Deal Golf and Country Club
« Reply #8 on: June 27, 2016, 09:14:48 PM »
Tommy, did you happen to hear what memberships were going for at Deal these days?


No, I try not to ask those things. I'm curious though.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Pat Burke

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Would be architects should see Deal Golf and Country Club
« Reply #9 on: June 27, 2016, 09:35:51 PM »
Understood.  I was so lucky to grow up playing golf in that area.  Played a ton at Hollywood, Spring Lake, Manasquan River, and my home course Deal.
WTG my parents!!!

MCirba

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Would be architects should see Deal Golf and Country Club
« Reply #10 on: June 28, 2016, 08:55:08 AM »
Thanks for the report Tommy. I really need to get there this year.
"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" - Calvin Coolidge

https://cobbscreek.org/

Will Lozier

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Would be architects should see Deal Golf and Country Club
« Reply #11 on: June 28, 2016, 03:47:33 PM »
Deal is a fun layout. I know they supposedly don't share members but a deal/Hollywood membership might be the best one two punch distance wise in the entire state of NJ. It's a driver away a wedge for some.

So true. Two terrific courses with enough variety, fun and challenge to keep players entertained for a long time. Deal is a really fun course, and Hollywood is world class. I'm a big fan of both.


Hollywood has some crazy bunkering and, at least on the latest aerial, one of the most unique "features" I've ever seen on a course! Who can find it?!  :o


https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hollywood+Golf+Club/@40.2517709,-74.0270584,1299m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x0:0xbae0ccfdab382d89!2sDeal+Golf+%26+Country+Club!8m2!3d40.2464736!4d-74.0103289!3m4!1s0x0:0xd0ef4a6b883a397b!8m2!3d40.2496744!4d-74.0176807

Joe Zucker

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Would be architects should see Deal Golf and Country Club
« Reply #12 on: June 28, 2016, 04:03:41 PM »
Interesting that they would leave an airplane on north boundary of the course.  ;)  Certainly a feature I have never seen before.


Other than that, it looks like a pretty awesome course.

Joe Bausch

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Would be architects should see Deal Golf and Country Club
« Reply #13 on: January 05, 2017, 02:20:15 PM »
I played Deal twice late in 2016.  I enjoyed it immensely and agree with TDub's description.

Here are some nice photos, IMHO:

http://www.myphillygolf.com/uploads/bausch/Deal/index.html

And as Pat B will tell you:  don't miss the hot dog at the turn!  Yummmm.
@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

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Would be architects should see Deal Golf and Country Club
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2017, 06:21:42 PM »
Thanks Joe, great pitctures. I only played it once last May and remembered all the holes. I loved the place.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

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