Longmeadow ( Ross ) in Mass.

[mark chalfant]

Any thoughts on this course,

Im wondering if the land has character,

I believe theres a great  short par  4  here.    Any


other memorable and strategic holes ?

If you only had  3  or  4 hours,  would  you choose

Orchards,  Taconic,  or Longmeadow.


thanks.

[DTaylor18]

I have never played Longmeadow, but Taconic and the Orchards are two of the best courses in the state.  I am biased, but I love the Orchards as a true Ross gem which I think will be highlighted well during next year's Women's U.S. Open.  Taconic is wonderful, with my only complaint being its lack of a real driving range.  For a three or four hour walk on a nice afternoon, it's hard to top either one in my book.

[Bill Weber]

In the clubhouse at LCC there is a long ago top 100 listing that includes Longmeadow.
The topography is gentle hills and the course for years has had the reputation of being the best maintained in the area.
I know nothing about a recent restoration other than by all accounts it was a rousing success.
The short par four mentioned is the 5th.
One of my favorite holes, the 17th, is one that seems to get it's share of brickbats as being contrived. It was much to my delight the first time around Dornoch to find it's ancestor the 17th.
I agree with both Taconic and the Orchards as being among the best in the commonwealth and love The Orchards more than the others.
There was an issue of The Massachusetts Golfer Winter 94-95 that listed the 9 best holes in Western Mass. Of the 3 courses mentioned The Orchards 4th, 13th,and 18th Taconics 3rd and 9th and Longmeadow's 8th were amoung the nine. The holes were picked in an MGA survey of the regions top amateur players.

[DTaylor18]

Those are three great holes at the Orchards.  #18 is a brutal finish.  I also love the par 3 10th hole, a harder than it looks hole with a great inverted saucer green.  A typical Ross green.  Also, the par 5 16th hole will be an interesting hole at the Open.  It's a par 5 for the membership, but a very short one. It will play as a par 4 at the Open and wil lbe interestign to see how they play it.  The apporach shot requires a carry over a stream and the green os very small with an inverted saucer that makes it very hard to hold and putt on.  Especially if one is coming in with a long iron/fairway wood.

[Bill Weber]

I haven't played The Orchards in over 5 years and am very interested in the changes if any that have been made since the Palmer group took over.
The 10th and 16th greens were very steeply sloped in the front, back when I played it often, and couldn't be used for hole locations. Have they been altered?
I believe the par 3  7th is another great hole and will also be a real test for the ladies.
Have there been other changes? Maybe Brad Klein will weigh in.

[higkgins]

#10 & #16 greens haven't changed, although there is a new set of tee(s) on 10, as well as #'s 5,6,7,11,13,17(+20 yds). new drainage has made the course more playable than in the past, and lack thereof was a primary reason for the worse playing conditions in recent memory this past yr.
#'s 7 & 18 might be two of the best holes on the course with the front left pin on #7 one of the most sever on the course & will definitely challenge the ladies in '04
 

[DTaylor18]

The drainage has been improved dramatically.  Also, the greens are being enlarged to bring them back to the way Ross intended them.  This will allow for some good positions that over the years were no longer viable.  There also have been a number of trees taken down, most notably to me were the ones around the second green, which had been hte most problematic green on the course.  They couldn't keep it in good shape.  I asume that with more sun on it it will grow better.  I hope they cut a few tress on the 9th tee as well, as that is a great strategic hole.