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Dean Paolucci

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Amazing Changes at Sleepy Hollow - Part 2
« on: November 30, 2017, 05:27:52 PM »
I spent yesterday afternoon touring the changes to the second nine holes at Sleepy Hollow and will note my observations below.  Below find the link to the first nine holes from last Fall.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?action=post;topic=64553.25;last_msg=1540278

In general, trees continue to be culled, greens are back to square shapes, and bunkers have been redone removing the flash and leveling the floors.  The greens are much more protected and surfaces have been leveled and re-claimed. 

#1 - Most of the trees have been removed that separated #1 from #18 as well as the fairway bunkers on the right side.  The green is now protected on the bulk of the right side with a large bunker which is at a higher elevation than the green surface.  The green itself has been expanded and re-contoured to bring the front of the green up and permit more cupping.

#2 - The green has been protected on the right side with a massive wrap around bunker.  Like the 1st the bunker has been raised to mask most of the right side.  The green surface has been expanded and leveled to promote expanded and fair pin positions.

#3 - My favorite change!  The tee has been expanded 10 yards to the rear and leveled.  At the green, the pot bunker on the left has been removed as well as the large sloped bunkers green side left.  They have been reduced in size and leveled to create a fairer bunker shot.  On the front right a gapping bunker has been added and cut into the green reducing the landing zone.  Internal contours have been added and the surface has been leveled.

#5 - The skyline green has been expanded and improved by adding subtle ridges internal to the green surface.

#6 - The right side of the green is protected by a long bunker which runs out from the right side of the green by about 20 yards just past the Principals Nose.  The surface has been leveled to provide additional cupping area and they have created a rear shelf which will be diabolical.

#15 - The Punch Bowl green has been leveled and expanded.  I felt they could have scalloped the fairway at the approach however it was not touched.

#16 - The signature Short had its surface re-contoured and a large thumb print was added to the center of the green.  The entire green has interesting but usable pin positions. 

#17 - Largely the only improvement was the re-contouring and expansion of the green.   The fairway could have benefited from a reduction of the severe left to right slope or the addition of some mounding however nothing was touched.

#18 - The aiming bunker on the left off of the tee was rebuilt and very attractive.  At the green, the surface was leveled and expanded out to its extremities vastly increasing the square footage.

I can't wait to experience the changes first hand in the Spring and I hope pictures might be available to complement my narrative.

« Last Edit: December 01, 2017, 07:53:46 AM by Dean Paolucci »
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."  --  Mark Twain

Tim Martin

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Re: Amazing Changes at Sleepy Hollow - Part 2
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2017, 07:33:44 PM »
Dean-That sounds fantastic. As you mentioned the 16th “Short” is already one of the great versions with the Hudson River/Palisades as the backdrop. Was the thumbprint an original feature that was reinstalled or just recently added? Yale added back a thumbprint to their 5th green in the front left corner that adds another level of intrigue to their “Short”. In Yale’s case the thumbprint was an original feature that had been lost although I don’t know if the dimensions and location are exactly the same. Make sure you report back after getting a chance to play. Enjoy!!!!

Dean Paolucci

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Re: Amazing Changes at Sleepy Hollow - Part 2
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2017, 09:06:20 PM »
Tim - I actually don't know if it was original to Sleepy's 16th or just a Gil Hanse adaptation of a CBM feature.  I will try to find out or possibly some of the informed contributors could weigh in.
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."  --  Mark Twain

Jon Cavalier

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Re: Amazing Changes at Sleepy Hollow - Part 2
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2017, 01:05:27 PM »
The thumbprint feature on the 16th green is original to Macdonald, as seen in this photo taken circa 1920:



And the work by Gil Hanse & Co to restore it is spectacular:







(In this last photo, you can also see the reworked “Eden” 3rd green in the background, with new Strath bunker front right.)


« Last Edit: December 01, 2017, 03:51:28 PM by Jon Cavalier »
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David Wuthrich

Re: Amazing Changes at Sleepy Hollow - Part 2
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2017, 02:01:55 PM »

Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos Jon!


Can't wait to get back and see the course in the spring.

Dean Paolucci

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Re: Amazing Changes at Sleepy Hollow - Part 2
« Reply #5 on: December 01, 2017, 03:52:16 PM »
Jon - as always beautiful images!  Do you have more?
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."  --  Mark Twain

Jon Cavalier

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Re: Amazing Changes at Sleepy Hollow - Part 2 New
« Reply #6 on: December 01, 2017, 05:54:46 PM »
Jon - as always beautiful images!  Do you have more?


I do, Dean.  Here are a few:

Here's a comparison before-and-after shot of the changes to the 16th:



A few aerials showing the new greens at the 16th (Short), 15th (Punchbowl) and 3rd (Eden):






Another look at 2 and 16:



New Eden green with strath bunker at the par-3 3rd:



New 7th green:



New Road Hole green and bunker at the 8th:



New Knoll green at the 9th:






New green with spine at the par-3 10th:



Redone 11th green:



New green at the 12th:






Aerial shot showing the new greens at 4 and 14 (bottom left) and the new bunkering on 6 (top right):



14th green:



Redone 17th green:



Newly expanded 18th green:



By the way, the par-4 1st hole (a Tillinghast hole) is being turned into a Leven-style par-4.  You can see the work being done in some of the above photos (it's behind the 17th green).
« Last Edit: December 08, 2017, 08:23:28 PM by Jon Cavalier »
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Dean Paolucci

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Re: Amazing Changes at Sleepy Hollow - Part 2
« Reply #7 on: December 01, 2017, 06:06:45 PM »
Jon - Magnificent photos!
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."  --  Mark Twain

Tim Martin

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Re: Amazing Changes at Sleepy Hollow - Part 2
« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2017, 06:59:25 PM »
The Thumbprint is really cool and looks pretty close to the original version. Sidehill/downhill putts have to be fun!!!