Green at the 18th at Yale

[Ronald Montesano]

I've played the course twice, and I'm trying to remember if there was anything more than mundane about that final putting surface. The intervening mile of fairway (that's how long it is, right?) and other topography is the most inconceivable hole I've seen, which probably eliminates any recollection of the putting surface.


Help, please. Thanks in advance.

[Mike Sweeney]

trying to remember if there was anything more than mundane

By the time you hit 18, and then play 18, a player's brain is on overstimulation. Thus, the 18th looks flat, but I think it is a fabulous green in its subtly of break(s) and (now) gargantuon size. Here is an old 2005 picture from Pete B on a Pat M thread:




http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,19533.25.html

My guess is the green is 10-15% larger now with the green expansion. Here is 2013 from a Tom Doak thread:




http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,56565.100.html

Here is Colin's sketch of where it might go:




https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO2WGAbLvLj9aHI3-yXq2Vm14Vl_8q9azV2KH9qn9jMD1g8_KdMFMGnBnz4tQBrOg?key=cVpmNUhSM0k1NU9CZmNKZzBqYkJiZ2tueE43MmFR

[Joe Bausch]

I echo Mike's description of the 18th green.  It caps the round nicely.

Starting from here you can view the 18th hole at Yale:

http://www.myphillygolf.com/uploads/bausch/Yale/pages/page_88.html?

[Tim Martin]

I echo Mike's description of the 18th green.  It caps the round nicely.

Starting from here you can view the 18th hole at Yale:

http://www.myphillygolf.com/uploads/bausch/Yale/pages/page_88.html?

I agree with both Joe and Mike and can't say I ever thought the green was mundane even before the reclamation process started. First of all it is gigantic with a ton of pin positions due to more subtle internal contouring than some of the wilder greens like 8 and 10. The nature of the third shot for most is downhill regardless of whether you are playing from the high or low fairway and if you are lucky enough to get to the bottom of the hill in two and the turf is firm there are a lot of fun shots that can be played on the ground especially to middle and late pins. The area from the middle to right front in Colin's sketch is already identified for expansion as evidenced by paint markings that were there at the end of November and sprinkler heads that are now on the green and are marked for removal. Finally like having to follow a headliner on stage the 18th green has to follow "Double Plateau" which is a tall order. That said it is plenty interesting with 3 putts being meted out on a regular basis and some putts drifting on 45 degree angles and running away when they appear straight and flat at first glance. Although it once had the name "Odyssey" on the scorecard its now known as "Home".

[JBovay]

Completely agree with Mike's and Tim's analyses. The green looks flat, but putts tend to break wildly and unexpectedly in the direction of the 10th tee or perhaps the forward tee on the 10th. From personal experience: it took me about 20 plays before I parred the hole, and three-putting was obviously part of the problem. Probably not coincidentally, it also took me about 20 plays to realize that the right-hand fairway is significantly higher than the green. At the end of a round, after 17.5 holes of sensory overload, the subtlety of the green provides plenty of challenge.


I am amazed and excited that the club has decided to undertake further expansion of the greens. I also noticed the paint markings around several greens in November--are the changes going to be taking place this winter?

[Tim Martin]

Completely agree with Mike's and Tim's analyses. The green looks flat, but putts tend to break wildly and unexpectedly in the direction of the 10th tee or perhaps the forward tee on the 10th. From personal experience: it took me about 20 plays before I parred the hole, and three-putting was obviously part of the problem. Probably not coincidentally, it also took me about 20 plays to realize that the right-hand fairway is significantly higher than the green. At the end of a round, after 17.5 holes of sensory overload, the subtlety of the green provides plenty of challenge.


I am amazed and excited that the club has decided to undertake further expansion of the greens. I also noticed the paint markings around several greens in November--are the changes going to be taking place this winter?

JBovay-Spot on about the putts. If you do hit the green and have a birdie try the three putt is a killer and yet it’s usually lurking. Because of its size the longer putts are affected more than the read usually let’s on.

[mike_malone]

It’s a nice green for a long par five with a drop shot approach.

[Cob Carlson]

I've had the good fortune to play Yale a number of times in the past two years. It is a spectacular golf course. Wonderful routing, natural, great variety of holes, terrific green complexes (BIG), and incredibly challenging for all levels of golfers.

My most recent round there this past October was typical. You can feel a bit worn out walking off the 17th green (a beast), and then you are faced with the monster - 18. Do I drive over the hump on the right? Do I play safe out to the left? Do I hit 3 wood or driver? Then, the second shot...where exactly do I aim this thing? I have found that taking it down the right side has given me better opportunities on my third shot. But even when I have made it down to the flat with a relatively short play in, I have always come up short on my distance, even after having checked the yardage carefully. Every single time! Next time I play it, I am definitely hitting at least  1/2 club more. Consequently, I have found myself often with a 30-45 foot putt, usually in fading light and shadows. Good luck with that. The green is sneaky tough. Case in point...that last round in October found three of my foursome on the green in three. My partner was in his pocket. Somehow, I knocked in a six footer for par. My playing opponents both missed their par putts from inside five feet. The green is difficult...with tricky breaks and deceptive speeds. You must focus big time at Yale until you find yourself in the parking lot or pub.

[Mike Sweeney]

Ben Cowan sent me the following, enjoy:

[Jeff Loh]

Wow...Ben is a real "Evangelist."

[Jason Kang]

I've had the good fortune to play Yale a number of times in the past two years. It is a spectacular golf course. Wonderful routing, natural, great variety of holes, terrific green complexes (BIG), and incredibly challenging for all levels of golfers.

The [18th] green is difficult...with tricky breaks and deceptive speeds. You must focus big time at Yale until you find yourself in the parking lot or pub.

It ain't rocket science at Yale, folks.  Well said, Cob.  You must focus BIG TIME.  And I think it's great for such a rambunctious hole (and round) to end with such an arguably nuanced green.

[Rick Lane]

Ben Cowan sent me the following, enjoy:

WOW That first picture!   Look at where the green extends to the back right mound

[Tommy Naccarato]

Ben Cowan sent me the following, enjoy:

Mike Sweeney,
You know damn well those pictures were shot and provided by Geoff Childs who unlike you is a person of true substance.  Geoff did more to help Yale overcome its regress back in early in 2002 and 2003.  More then you ever did.

[Mike Sweeney]

Mike Sweeney,
You know damn well those pictures were shot and provided by Geoff Childs who unlike you is a person of true substance.  Geoff did more to help Yale overcome its regress back in early in 2002 and 2003.  More then you ever did.

Geoff is a man of substance both on and off the course. I had no idea, or simply forgot, that these pictures were put together by Geoff. I think Geoff was the perfect Antagonist for/at Yale. It's an institution where you need a bold voice, and I give Geoff credit for sparking much conversation at Yale, and also at Fenway which I finally played two summers ago.


I have no idea what I did to cause you angst and I apologize for anything that I did directly or indirectly. My golf taste are now for simpler courses up in Maine, come on up:


http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,64571.0.html

[Mark_Rowlinson]

My one experience of Yale was many years ago, when I played it with Mr Childs. Others, including Mr Malone and Mr Mucci were in the party. It was truly humbling. I came fresh from the UK and insisted that I needn't take any assistance and would walk the course, carrying my clubs, as any self-respecting Englishman would do. After two or three holes I was in trouble - the humidity had got me. I struggled on to the 9th, where I ate humble pie and accepted the use of a buggy. I played pretty badly thereafter until the 18th when I managed a one-putt par. What's so difficult about the hole?

[Tim Martin]

What's so difficult about the hole?

 

[Mike Sweeney]

I played it with Mr Childs. Others, including Mr Malone and Mr Mucci were in the party. It was truly humbling.

Well obviously you dominated the discussion ! What obnoxious bugger put you in THAT foursome !!


I forgot to send you a note. I played with a member of the Royal Navy this year in Annapolis, Maryland. He was stationed in Washington and came over to play the Naval Academy GC. Your books/writing came up in the conversation as the 35+ish year old Lieutenant Commander had a father that read your books. It made me realize how small the golf world is.

The countdown is on. May 2019, we (wifey and me) become empty nesters (of sorts) and it will be time to get to England.

[Mike Sweeney]

What's so difficult about the hole?

 

A Yale traditionalist emailed me this Yale 18 from The Fried Egg:


http://www.friedegg.co/golf-courses/yales-18th-hole

[MLevesque]

After navigating the long and challenging Home hole (especially from the very back elevated tee) the 18 green is sometimes an afterthought; this is a mistake.  Many of rounds have ended in disappointment with a three putt bogey when a birdie putt was at hand.  The large, often shade-covered green (afternoon rounds) takes one's undivided attention to factor in its nauances to avoid a disappointing ending.

[Mike Sweeney]

Colin Sheehan has added a number of photos to his 'Yale Course Green & Bunker Dimensions' collection:

#1 in 1934



#1 in 2017



#1 Hypothetical



I do not know the official status of this project, but it looks great to me, and here is Colin's full collection:

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO2WGAbLvLj9aHI3-yXq2Vm14Vl_8q9azV2KH9qn9jMD1g8_KdMFMGnBnz4tQBrOg?key=cVpmNUhSM0k1NU9CZmNKZzBqYkJiZ2tueE43MmFR

Colin is the Men's Golf Coach at Yale University.

[Mark McKeever]

Ben Cowan sent me the following, enjoy:

Would love to see that back right corner brought back too!