Reviewed by: bethpageblack75, Shoots in the 70s, from ny, ny usa Summary:
golf course review: architects
I played for the second time, Architects in New Jersey near the PA border. Friday in great weather, my partner and I were the ribbon cutters.
Service is great, maybe a little too good. I don't like pampered so much. I was the only car in the parking lot at 7:15am and as soon as I pulled my bag out of the trunk, Walt was ready to grab them for a cart - whoa, fella, give me a few minutes to settle on which 14 clubs make the trip, let me grab my ball markers, divot tool out of the front pocket, etc. Relax. We were told we would start at 8am, so my buddy and I walked over sans clubs, to the first tee to look at the view and the head greenskeeper dressed us down for walking on the grass while there still might be frost. A little anal, but an example of the fine detail and care they put into the new course.
The obligatory speech by the starter (carts on the path, yardage markers, etc) that makes me feel that I'm walking onto the Love Boat, but again, it was nicely done.
We played the gold tees, 6532, instead of the blues, 6863, and it doesn't make much of a difference.
The theme of the course is each hole copied from the philosophy of 17 different classic designers, with Ross getting two holes.
You would think that this would make it a mish-mash of ideas, kind of like mixing drinks all night, but it works together nice with the only exception being the size and countours of the greens not allowing your putter to get in a groove.
Nice and rolling terrain but few billy goat uphill or sidehill lies. That's a good thing.
The par 3's are all very beautiful if not long - 185, 135, 187, 182, 180 - but play shorter than that. Most I used was a 5 iron on the first. All of the 3's are beautifully bunkered, yes, classical as they were intended to be. The last par 3, the 17th (Stanley Thompson) was the best of the bunch. Awesome bunkering, best I've seen with the exception of Black's 17th.
The par 5's were all fairly easy, with only one setting up for a dramatic shot, the 13th is Alister MacKenzie's and it's an Augusta type 15th with a brook in front (the only water carry on the course).
The front par 4's were pretty easy with the exception of Donald Ross's 9th - long drive to a crest, but only 150 in with a pond left of the devilish green (410 from the tee). The back nine stretch of 14 (Maxwell 454), 15 (Ross 432) and 16 (Wilson 443) all were real legit tests of driver, long iron. The most underrated par 4 on the course is Tillie's 7th, a shortish dog leg left that is a nicely tucked hole.
The 18 was a fine risk reward to end the round, RT Jones. Iron lay up or thread a heavily bunkered pinched fairway with a driver.
All of the greens were pretty freak'n tough. Fast and undulating. Off the tee box, the course was really really fair, no hidden trouble. All of the trouble was visable off the tee box, which I like very much. The greens were in great shape, terrific for anytime northeast never mind November.
Play was fast, well we were the first group out, and we played in 3 hours. A twosome. The head pro drove out on 17 and said hello to my buddy who plays there often and both hail from Ohio (Buckeye national championship chatter). The whole place is like that, very friendly, and I take back my comments about being a bit anal over doing the service. Bad Note: the course doesn't drain well at all. Nice Note: beautiful scenery of rolling hills, no houses on the course with the exception of a faux moonshiner looking shack that looks like it belongs there.
Score? Ouch. I have not played in 3 months. I was prepared for bad but I actually struck the ball well but...the putter...an Odyssey Tri-Force 2 soon to be seen on ebay...
BECAUSE I HAD 45 PUTTS...and shot a 90 for the day. My partner shot a sloppy 80 with 35 putts. I had no clue out there and did not get to use the practice green before hand (the mentioned frost police). It looked like I was playing knock-hockey out there.
On the other hand, the purple Nemesis debut was outstanding for her first trial. The 7* loft was very true loft and created the boring shot I was hoping for. Bravo SMT. Only two misfire slices all day. No hooks. I'll be posting putter shopping questions for the balance of the winter.
Thumbs up for Arcitects. Customer Service:
outstanding, second to none, all staff members are terrific
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5 of 5
