Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Bill McKinley on October 21, 2012, 09:58:57 AM
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Yeamans Hall Club, Located in Hanahan South Carolina, just outside of historic Charleston, opened in 1925 and was designed by Seth Raynor. The club was named after the original land owner Sir John Yeamans and started on the principles that it would be very nice winter retreat for northerners, mainly Metropolitan area golfers. Initially when the club was founded, the idea was to have 36 holes with home sites available for the membership but for whatever reason, only 18 holes were constructed and there are very few homes on the very large property. Raynor's initial design remains very much intact today thanks in large part to the membership's decision to commission our own Tom Doak's company in the late 1990's to restore a lot of the greens to their original state.
The vibe of the club is that it is a very private place and the members like to keep it that way. But what I found when talking to employees and members during my visit is that it is very private, but it is also very laid back and low key. Not up tight and stuffy at all! The whole place just oozes southern charm.
I arrived at the gate a little after 7:00 in the morning in mid October. The gate is very cool, sorry the picture didn't come out too well but it was actually pretty dark still! My man Daryl at the gate was extremely welcoming. He being a former mid westerner, we chatted about a few things and then he gave me directions to the clubhouse.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/entrygate.jpg)
After a wonderful winding drive on a narrow dirt road, your anticipation to play the golf course really goes up a notch when you drive across the first fairway and get a look at the amazing 1st green complex, then see beautiful Redan green of #6. If you weren't excited to play YHC before, you definitely are now! Then you arrive at a the clubhouse, locker room and golf house, all separate buildings.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/clubhouse.jpg)
I thought the locker room house was really cool...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/lockerhouse.jpg)
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/lockerroom1.jpg)
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/lockerroom.jpg)
The golf course plays to a par 70 from every set of tees. It is at very low elevation as you can imagine in South Carolina "Low Country". We were warned to play a 1/2 club more, but we still opted for the back tees which are called the Rust tees at Yeamans. I will give yardages from the Rust and Yellow tees during the tour.
Rust: 6808
Yellow: 6494
After checking in at the golf shop and talking to some more very friendly folks, we were off to the practice range to hit a few balls, putts and be the first group off of the day!
Hole #1 Double Plateau. Par 4. 427/403
The first hole is a longish par 4 that is a gentle dogleg right. The fairways at Yeamans are some of the widest I have played in the US and the 1st hole his no exception. You just need to hit a solid tee shot that puts you in play because the first hole is all about your approach and putting!
Here's the 1st tee shot...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/1a.jpg)
The approach plays over the entry road and the restored principles nose bunker, which isn't in play for many golfers. But getting to the green is where all the fun starts! As has been said before, no picture can do justice how much slope is in this magnificent green structure, but here's some pictures that will try to do it justice. The back right hole location is one of the toughest.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/1c.jpg)
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/1e.jpg)
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/1f.jpg)
#2 Leven. Par 4. 384/358
The 2nd hole begins with you recapping your experience on the first green. Yeamans just recently hosted a Society of Seniors event just prior to my visit. I'd really like to know the putting stats of those guys during the event. It had to average over 2 putts per player. Anyway, to the 2nd, it's a shortish dogleg left that definitely favors a right to left shot off the tee. There are 3 bunkers down the right side that will make the proceedings very difficult if your tee shot happens to find one.
From the tee...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/2a.jpg)
After hitting a good tee shot, the golfer is faced with an approach with most likely a short iron or wedge. However, as is Raynor's nature, it's not just an easy shot. The green is protected with a large, deep bunker on the left side. Hole locations on the left, like when we played that day are tricky because the shot plays uphill and you cannot see the putting surface. Also, you still are not sure how far the ball is flying this early in the round. However, I did find this hole to be rather benign, especially being sandwiched between such standout holes as #1 and #3.
Here's the approach...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/2b.jpg)
#3 Short. Par 3 147/136
After you walk off the 2nd green to the left, the 3rd green comes into view and it is a special one. The Short hole at Yeamans Hall is a great rendition. The hole is almost completely encircled in bunkers and your depth perception is really thrown off by the lack of a backdrop behind the green. The setting is tremendous with the low country marsh lands in the distance. It is played on flat land, not downhill at all, unlike some other Shorts that I have played.
From the tee
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/3a.jpg)
Today's hole location was right inside the horseshoe or thumbprint feature on the green. The photo doesn't do it justice because of the early morning light, but trust me you can see the horseshoe very clearly on the green when you play it. Really cool!
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/3d.jpg)
Taken from behind the green, a beautiful wraparound bunker, that makes it very difficult for players to make 3 if their tee shot fails to find the putting surface. Notice the bunkers are flat. No easy uphill lies in these bunkers! Shots do also get caught up in the big slopes by the greens, again making it tough for the player to get it up and down if their shot misses the generously sized green.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/3g.jpg)
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#4 Bottle. Par 4. 480/420
Right behind the 3rd green you will find the Rust tee box for the 4th hole. It's a stout 480 yard par 4. I believe the idea for creating this back tee was to help with the "bottle" nature of the hole, but if players are playing their proper tee box, the center bunker still doesn't come into play. The tee shot plays out of a chute into a generous fairway. It is a difficult one, only because you really feel like you have to bust it.
From the tee directly into the sun...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/4a.jpg)
My pics of the approach didn't come out due to the morning sunlight, but the green is flanked by bunkers to the left and right while being open for run up shots. But the false front and the spine down the center make the 4th hole one of the most difficult on the course.
From behind the green...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/4e.jpg)
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#5 Alps. Par 4 419/404
The 5th hole is a famous Raynor template of Preswick's 17th hole in Scotland. This rendition is on completely flat terrain, but is a wonderful example of how good of a golf course architect Seth Raynor was. The hole plays back towards the 1st green and really plays tricks with the whole way.
From the tee, you can't tell which bunker is in your landing area, to me, it looked like the squarish center bunker was in the landing area, but in fact it was about 360 from the tee I played. Definitely not in my landing area!!
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/5a.jpg)
The approach really fun. If you've managed to avoid the bunkers off the tee, you are faced with this look. As you can see my drive finished well short of the center bunker...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/5b.jpg)
A closer look at the approach reveals a wonderful trench bunker which completely gobbles up any shots hit short or with not enough carry. Imagine trying to hit your 2nd shot over that bunker with 1930s equipment!! I'm sure most players had to lay up short of it back in those days and try to get up and down with a pitch and a putt to try and make their par.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/5e.jpg)
One final look back at a great designed golf hole...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/5f.jpg)
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Bill,
Thanks for the tour. A round at Yeamans in September was one of the highlights of my year. This is truly one of those 'could play everyday' type courses.
A couple questions/observations (for the group):
- What was the evolution of the 1st green? Particularly, what did it look like before Tom/Jim got their hands on it?
- As you pointed out, the 5th hole is really difficult for the first timer. The shape and size of the mounding really mask how far each of the bunkers are, though your 2nd picture proves there is more than enough room. Unsure of what to do, I just aimed for the right rough!
Looking forward the rest of the tour. I played with my father-in-law (a Mac/Raynor virgin), and he still can't talking about our round here.
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Thanks for the tour Bill. Do you have any pictures of the Principal's Nose? Any thoughts on how it impacts play?
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Great pics! It is a shame that you had an issue and couldnt show the false front on No 4. It may be open and invites the ground game but how do you get a ball to run all the way up that slope? Also the green on the Alps is absolutely huge. These greens play small due to the ridges in them. I love Yeamans and could play there everyday. Next up the Redan!
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Thanks for the tour Bill. Do you have any pictures of the Principal's Nose? Any thoughts on how it impacts play?
Mark, I'll have to look through and see if I can find any good shots of the Principal's Nose bunker on #1. But, as far as how it impacts play; it would block a players view to the green if their tee shot finds the left side of the fairway or left rough. It also works as a "penal" bunker in that it will make bad shots much worse. If you miss hit your approach, you could find the front or backside of it. I will work on putting an aerial image of it on here, that shows it off the best. Essentially the bunker is a grass mound with sand on the front slope of it and on the back slope of it. Overall, my opinion of the bunker is that I'm glad it's there because it is a cool feature, but I don't believe it impacts play that much.
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#6 Redan. Par 3 190/182
The 6th hole is the second and most copied of all the template par 3s. Playing from the proper yardage, you will play a long iron that will chase onto the green, a right to left shot is preferred, dare I say needed, to get the ball close to the hole. The dominating features on this hole are the giant trench bunker on the front left of the green, almost covering the entire width of the green and the big kickboard mound on the extreme right side of the green. For a player that draws the ball it is a comfortable shot, well as comfortable as a 4 or 5 iron would be for a lot of players. But for the high number of players that fade the ball, it's a very tall order to get a shot onto this green.
From the tee, right into the sun again! You can also see the directional bunker well short of the green that confuses the players depth perception.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/6a.jpg)
From the front right of the green, standing on the the kick board mound...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/6b.jpg)
From left of the green, showcasing the deep trench bunker that will get a lot of action I'm sure...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/6d.jpg)
From behind the green, the slope in the left of the picture looks softer than in person, but it's about 3/4 as high as the flag
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/6f.jpg)
Great hole and a really tough par!
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Bill, thank you for the great photos & commentary. I played YH about 20 years ago and had no idea then what a treat it was. I have just returned from experiencing Camargo & Shoreacres - that + your images make me keen to re-experience YH. I am back down there in April 2013 so i might investigate that. Thanks again.
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RE: Redan...most copied by whom?
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- What was the evolution of the 1st green? Particularly, what did it look like before Tom/Jim got their hands on it?
Jim:
A couple of years before Jim and I started working at Yeamans, the club had rebuilt the 1st green to USGA specs, presumably as a test for the other greens. The left part of the green had been abandoned before that, so they only built the front right and back right parts of the green, and they made a very toned-down version of it. I can't remember exactly what the area that used to be the front left looked like, but it had been flattened out.
So, when we went to rebuild all the greens, they didn't want to do the first green that they had just spent so much money on. So we rebuilt 17 greens, all except the first. And then about three years after we finished, they decided to rebuild the first green to match the rest, which actually took a couple of tries for everyone to be happy with. [The first attempt was even more severe, if you can imagine that!]
That sixth hole is amazing. When I played at Chicago Golf a couple of weeks ago, Mr. Shean volunteered that Chicago's Redan was the best he knew, and after thinking about it for a while, I said the one I liked best was Yeamans'. He has never been there, but I think he's going to go now.
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I have only played The National once, so I think their Redan is very good. I haven't played all the highly touted Redans by Raynor or McDonald, but of the Redans I have played Yeaman's is the best. Somerset Hills could be the best, but the lower half of the left green needs fixing.
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RE: Redan...most copied by whom?
I would say that Flynn, Tilly and maybe Ross also used the Redan template. Also modern day architects like Silva and Nicklaus have used it as well. I can't think of another template hole that is used more. Can you?
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#7 Road. Par 4 435/428
The 7th hole at YHC is a long uphill par 4 that's tee box is located just beyond and to the right of the 6th green. The driving area is very generous with the bunkers not really coming into play for a well struck tee shot. But this hole plays plenty long, uphill all the way.
The line off the tee is right over the left edge of the right fairway bunker. If you're a little right of that, that is fine because approaches from the left will have to deal with the Road hole bunker. Approaches from the center or right side of the fairway will be open to the green, but beware of missing to the right of the green due to the "Road." A long, narrow bunker is on the right of the green at angle, that really does look like a dirt road!
From the tee right...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/7a.jpg)
From the approach. As you can see the road hole bunker on the left is menacing, but not in line with the flag for today's hole location
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/7b.jpg)
A look at the "road" feature to the left of the green. That bunker is probably about 40-50 yards in length. Probably the best "road" interpretation that I've seen outside of the real road at St. Andrews. The only difference was I played a shot off the road at The Old Course and did not get that "experience" here at YHC. ;D
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/7e.jpg)
From behind the green. Again, a huge green! Back left hole locations have to be really tough to get close to, but front left would probably the toughest on the entire green.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/7d.jpg)
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#8 Creek. Par 4 426/411
The 8th hole is another really good par 4, and one of the reasons why I love to play Raynor courses so much. The 8th is called Creek, after Goose Creek, locate behind the green, and I believe it is an original hole to Yeamans Hall. You see, before I play a MacDonald or Raynor course I am always eager to see that version of the Redan or Short or Cape or whatever. But then after playing, or during, it is great to see what "non template" hole jumped out at me. Like the 12th (Channel) at Camargo, or the 18th (Colony House) at Mountain Lake or the 8th (Plateau) at Fox Chapel, Creek was a great hole from start to finish!
From the tee, a very generous landing zone but there's not a whole lot for the player to aim at.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/8a.jpg)
Zoomed in from the approach, not much depth perception to help judge your shot. The front hole location is relatively benign, but I imagine a back flag will be very tough to get to with that backdrop.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/8e.jpg)
Close to the green that is not pushed up at all and the bunkers aren't too deep either, great setting!
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/8f.jpg)
Look back from the back part of the green. Very clean!
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/8h.jpg)
One more, just because!
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/8g.jpg)
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#9 Long. Par 5 530/523
The 9th hole is a par 5 that's tee box has almost an island feel to it. Directly behind you, you will find Goose Creek and expansive marshlands. It's a very picturesque low country setting. In front of the tee box is a small pond that you must carry for your tee shot. It's not much of a carry at all, maybe 80 yards, but it does create kind of an isolated island tee box kind of feel.
The hole bends gently to the right and your tee shot should be played just inside a well placed fairway bunker on the left side of the fairway. A good drive should leave longer players with a chance at going for the green in 2, but it would have to be two very good strikes. Normally a 530 yard par 5 would be a length that I could reach with 2 good shots. But, after a good tee shot, I was nowhere near in the go zone on the 9th at Yeamans. More evidence that this golf course plays much longer than the 6800 yards on the scorecard.
Here's a look at the setting of the 9th tee...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/9d.jpg)
View from the tee...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/9a.jpg)
Charming little halfway house, complete with a fire pit in front and a great view of the low country...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/halfwayhouse.jpg)
Taken from just right of the well placed left side fairway bunker...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/9e.jpg)
From the approach, about 60 yards from the green. You definitely need to get your yardage right. A pretty severe false front on this green and good deal of internal contours are present in this green.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/9f.jpg)
This shot showcases the squared off false front to the 9th green...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/9h.jpg)
The look back looks kind of tight, but I never got the impression of that when playing the hole
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/9g.jpg)
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#10 Cape. Par 4 365/347
The first hole of the 2nd nine is a short par for that has a dogleg to the right. Unbeknownst to me, the 10th hole does start close to the clubhouse. It's actually behind the clubhouse and hidden very well by trees. I didn't have a great sense of where I was on the property after we finished #9, but I did notice that the 10th hole does run parallel to another hole but I wasn't sure what it was at the time, turns out it was #18.
Let me show the look from the tee and then we can talk about how the hole plays...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/10a.jpg)
Being a Cape hole and a short par 4, I believed there was some merit for trying to go down the right hand side and carry the bunker on the right side of the fairway. The hole sets you up for a left to right shot but in reality, I believe you want to hit a right to left shot, aiming at the fairway bunker and turning it away from there. I believe this is the correct play because I hit my tee shot with a little fade, finishing over the middle of the right hand fairway bunker. I was very happy with this shot off the tee. My friend hit a good drive that I thought was going to be a little too far to the left, but in the fairway nonetheless, but it would leave him with too long of a shot into a tough green surrounded by deep bunkers.
But, to my surprise, my playing partner had a perfect angle into the green from about 110 yards, position A in my opinion. My shot was closer, about 100 yards, but I had a wicked angle over a fairway bunker, with not much green to work with to get my shot close. I did hit a good shot, but it found a big bowl in the middle of the green leaving me with a difficult two putt from about 30 feet.
My reason for this story is I was surprised to have a poor angle when I played the bold line on the Cape hole. Maybe I'm wrong on this assessment but I didn't think that was the idea of a Cape hole. My friend hit a good but safe drive and he had the easier shot of the two of us. Do I think this means #10 is a bad hole? Absolutely not. But I question why it would be called a Cape. Help me out all!!
Anyway, here is the view from the front right of the green. Deep bunker short and right of the green, also you can see the back right shelf that the hole is on. The slope is probably about a foot high.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/10b.jpg)
From behind the green looking back a the players left side of the green. Again a deep, flat bunker will gobble up wayward approaches and make for a difficult up and down.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/10c.jpg)
It's a shame I didn't get more pics of the green structure because it is a good one, but as you can see they were rolling the green at the time. Oh well, next time!
#11 Maiden. Par 4 414/400
The 11th hole is a straightaway par 4 that uses the rolling terrain extremely well.
The tee shot is played to a generous fairway and unless you're playing from the wrong tees or you can bomb it off the tee, the right hand bunker that you see is not reachable.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/11a.jpg)
A view of the hole taken from 17 green
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/11b.jpg)
Ok, so the right hand fairway bunker looked reachable to me from the tee but I hit a solid tee shot and noticed that it was definitely short of that bunker. The reason for that is that there is a very big low area in the fairway that collects a lot of tee shots. It leaves you with this look from the center of the fairway.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/11c.jpg)
Awesome stuff! You can see the flag right in the middle of the picture above. My driver was just right of center and I could not see the flag at all, but my aiming point was the tallest tree in the background. Coincidence?
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/11d.jpg)
The second shot obviously plays significantly uphill into a false front and this devilish little coffin bunker to the left of the green can ruin your score on this hole.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/11e.jpg)
Very charming look back on Maiden. A real treat to play!
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/11g.jpg)
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Bill, I thought I would supplement your excellent tour with a couple of the pictures you've lamented missing thus far. Hope you don't mind! Unfortunately, I also don't have a good picture of the principal's nose bunker on #1. Here are a few others, though.
Here is a good look at the "thumbprint" in the 3rd green.
(http://filebox.vt.edu/users/bross/IMG_1912.JPG)
Here is the 4th green from the fairway.
(http://filebox.vt.edu/users/bross/IMG_1920.JPG)
And here is the 4th from the left. This gives a good perspective of the back to front slope.
(http://filebox.vt.edu/users/bross/IMG_1921.JPG)
Here is the 10th from the fairway just short of the green. Pretty awesome green complex.
(http://filebox.vt.edu/users/bross/IMG_1995.JPG)
Here's a good look at the Maiden green at #11.
(http://filebox.vt.edu/users/bross/IMG_2011.JPG)
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Great stuff Brian!!
Thanks for helping out. Love the pics of 10 &11 especially.
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"My reason for this story is I was surprised to have a poor angle when I played the bold line on the Cape hole. Maybe I'm wrong on this assessment but I didn't think that was the idea of a Cape hole. My friend hit a good but safe drive and he had the easier shot of the two of us. Do I think this means #10 is a bad hole? Absolutely not. But I question why it would be called a Cape. Help me out all!!"
....interesting....maybe the 10th is actually a very rare "Cove" hole that many are unaware of! ;-)
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#12 Narrows. Par 4 363/348
The 12th hole is a fairly straightforward short par 4. The tee shot must avoid the fairway bunkers. The left bunker can be carried with a well struck tee shot. The right hand bunker is well placed, especially with today's left side hole location.
From the tee...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/12a.jpg)
You can see from the picture above that the 2nd shot plays up hill, but the green is very wide, and not too deep, especially by Yeamans standards. Proper distance control is required on this green and you can see from the picture below that long is no good. There is also a deep flat bunker fronting the green as well. This picture taken from the right edge of the green illustrates how wide it is.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/12c.jpg)
The look back...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/12b.jpg)
I thought the 12th was more of a connector hole than anything else. It does have an interesting green complex, like pretty much all the holes at Yeamans, set at angle to the golfer, but the wide, generally flat green, won't showcase the greenside hazards due to the fact that most players will be able to hit the green with a short iron or wedge.
#13 Eden. Par 3 187/174
The 3rd of Raynor's template par 3s was playing a very long and burly 202 yards for us on the day we played it. It was also into a breeze, but the breeze was blocked a little bit by the large trees behind the green. The green again is very wide with 2 penal bunkers about 40 yards short of the green and green side bunkers left, right and long.
From the tee...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/13a.jpg)
The bunker behind the green is very attractive, while at the same time menacing to your score. The green has some very good internal contours as well. Very good and tough par 3.
From behind the green...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/13d.jpg)
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#14 Knoll. Par 4 412/394
The 14th hole at YHC is a straightaway par 4 with a fantastic green complex. The ideal line off the tee is right over the center of the bunker you can see in the forefront of the picture below...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/14a.jpg)
Hitting your tee shot on that line with give you a favorable line into this knoll green. The fairway starts to run downhill and to the right. This will complicate your 2nd shot if you really bust a drive, you'll then have a downhill, sidehill lie to a green that sits well above the two greenside bunkers. The bunker on the left is really really deep, I would estimate about 10-15 feet below the putting surface.
Here's the view from the fairway. We had a fairly easy hole location on that day. I would imagine a back-left spot would be awesome on this gigantic green
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/14c.jpg)
This shot from behind the green gives some perspective on how large this green is.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/14e.jpg)
And zoomed in view showcases the rolling terrain in the fairway..
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/14f.jpg)
One more view from behind the green, looking at the golfers right greenside bunker. Very nice
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/14h.jpg)
I found this hole very fun to play and definitely a standout hole on this marvelous golf course. The size of the green and the surrounds make me think it would play differently almost every time you play it.
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Hey, Bill...just caught your question referencing my question. You answered it with hole #10...Cape. I think that, if a study were done, we'd find at least twice as many Cape holes in evidence as Redan holes. The reason might not satisfy purists: the Cape is sexy while the Redan is not, at least to contemporary owners. It seems that everyone wants a green tucked into a march, a pond, a wasteland, whereas a Redan is given its due respect only by those with a historical bent.
Feel free to dispute my assertion.
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Is the 8th a Hogs Back?
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Jim,
The fairway on the 8th hole is just undulated more than anything. There are a couple high spots, with the middle being one of them, but there's also a high spot on the right side. There are just a couple swails in the fairway as opposed to a hogs back, even though I can see from the photo from the tee that it may seem like there is a hogs back. Either way it's a great hole!
Stan,
I see where you're going there with the Cape and Redan comparison. By that rationale, if the "definitions" are loose as to what a Cape hole is, then yes there would be many more Cape's than Redans, but if we're talking about templates or copies, then I still think there would be more Redan copies than anything else. It's also tough to define where the original Cape hole came from, whereas we all know where the Redan originated. Thanks for commenting, it is certainly an interesting debate!
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#15 Lido. Par 4 458/444
The 15th is a strong par 4 that bends from right to left. I've heard this hole referred to as Raynor's Prize Dogleg before, but referring to the back of the YHC scorecard, they refer to this as Lido. As many of you know, Lido refers to Lido Golf Club, a CB MacDonald design in Long Island that unfortunately is NLE. I'm not sure what hole at Lido this could be compared to but I have not researched it enough to make a stab at it. Side note, after talking to Tom Cecil the HP at Camargo, who also worked at YHC and Fishers Island Club, said that many people have told him, including Claude Harmon that Lido might have been the best of all of CBM and Seth Raynor's work.
Now back to business. This hole starts out with a wide tee shot, but with the length and direction of the hole, you would like to hit it down the left side to bite off some of the distance.
Here's a view from the tee...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/15a.jpg)
If you hit a good tee shot, you will have a longish shot into an open front green with bunkers protecting the left and right. If you are forced to lay up with your 2nd, you will probably encounter one of these two bunkers, pinching in the fairway shown below. Also these bunkers make the depth perception tricky from the approach area.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/15b.jpg)
I might sound like a broken record here, but this is an awesome green complex at the 15th. Starting with a tiny pot bunker on the front right of the squared off green which would be almost impossible to get a normal stance or lie in. The green features a spine, some may refer to it as a hogs back, down the middle which demands a precise approach from most likely a long distance. More often than not, the golfer will find himself on the wrong side of this spine, making for a tough two putt.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/15c.jpg)
The look back showcases this large green and wide playing corridor on this difficult two shotter.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/15d.jpg)
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#16 Biarritz. Par 3 225/208
The final par 3 at YHC is the demanding Biarritz template. This hole measures 225 yards from the back tees and its defining feature is the giant swale in the middle of a giant green. This, like a good percentage of other Biarritz holes does not have the full length green anymore. Others at Chicago Golf Club, Fishers Island Club and Camargo Club have also lost the full length green, now the original front part the green and the swale are fairway as opposed to green. I have played 3 other Biarritz holes, 2 of them with the full length green and they are tremendous fun! It is a shame that the 16th at Yeamans could not have the kept or full length green. But, that being said, this is still a wonderful par 3.
Here is the view from the tee...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/16a.jpg)
From about 40 yards short of the green. Deep bunkers left and right demand a well struck approach from a long way away
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/16e.jpg)
Taken from the fairway swale short of the squared off green, it's probably about 3 feet worth of a dip...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/16j.jpg)
Here you see the golfer walking in the swale to give you a decent idea of the scale of it...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/16i.jpg)
From right of the green and behind...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/16g.jpg)
From behind the green. You can see the severity of the swale. The current green is still pretty big, i could only imagine how big the green would be if they had it at full Biarritz length.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/16h.jpg)
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#17 Punchbowl. Par 4 419/401
The penultimate hole is a wonderfully designed mid length par 4. The tee shot is straightaway with maybe a little right to left in it. The ideal line is just over the inside edge of the right side fairway bunker. This will leave a mid iron or maybe long iron if its into the wind, into this well protected punchbowl green.
Here's the view from the tee...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/17a.jpg)
From the approach, you can see the green is a very large target and the punchbowl characteristics of the green are kind of hidden from view standing 170 yards away.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/17b.jpg)
But as you get closer to the green you can see it take shape. You can see the bunker in the corner of the picture and how much room there is from it to the green. A visual trick for sure that plays into the difficulty of this approach.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/17c.jpg)
From the right side of the green, very severe slope down into a bunker. You can also see the tilt from right to left inside the punchbowl.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/17e.jpg)
Very cool long, sweeping wrap around bunker...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/17f.jpg)
From behind the green...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/17g.jpg)
Very cool hole, the 17th at YHC. One of my favs on the course and a great use of bunkering and placement of bunkers to create depth perception issues and doubt on relatively flat terrain.
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I told a friend of mine who was asking about Yeamans to check out my photo tour on gca. Then when I searched for it I realized that I didn't finish it!! Sorry to keep the entire golfing world waiting ;D
#18. Home. Par 5, 524/517
A wonderful finisher. Definitely a chance for a final birdie is there, but there are potential pitfalls out there that can ruin your score even more than the difficult 16th and 17th holes can. I didn't get any shots from the tee, but its a very wide open tee shot where you would like to favor the right side to avoid the large left bunker and to give you a better angle into the green.
Here's a shot from the tee shot landing area...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/18a.jpg)
The decision a player has to make is whether or not they want to try and carry the two long snaking fairway bunkers or to lay up short of them. Here is a view of those bunkers...
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/18b.jpg)
A look from behind the green shows the beauty of the design and shape of this hole as well as the false front, which makes getting close to this front hole location just a little tricky.
(http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k551/bmckinley24/Yeamans%20Hall/18e.jpg)
I really enjoyed my round at Yeamans Hall and I really want to have another one! It's a place you can play again and again and never grow tired of it.
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Bill, Nice pictures of Yeamans- I just returned Sunday from spending a long weekend at the club. I agree with your initial statement that it is very private but also relaxed. The staff and members could not have been more engaging. The director of golf Claude, was a great storyteller of his early days as a pro in Chicago and also his years at Pine Valley. This is an excellent layout where the green complexes are devilish and the primary defense of the course. I wish you could have displayed pictures of the many cabins that are there- very similar to ANGC. Elegant but simple.The food was outstanding. Looking forward to a return visit this Fall.
Wish you well, jack
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We all have our favorites, and I have not played many of the great old courses, but of the golf I have played, given one place to play the rest of my days (may they be considerable) Yeamans Hall would be my choice. The conditions, location, design are an unbelievable combination. I was lucky enough to play there three years in a row, three days in a row and from the time I left after the first round until today I impatiently await my next round, should I be lucky enough to play there again.
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Bill,
Very nice pictures and narrative.
I'm not particularly familiar with Raynors work so it's interesting to see features like squared-off greens and his approach to using dead-ground for depth perception reasons. Some fine, tough looking green complexes as well, notably at the 10th (per Brian's added photo) and the 14th, although I couldn't help but notice that the tiny pot bunker front right of the 15th green seems rather out of character with the the bunkering seen elsewhere.
Many thanks for posting this.
All the best.
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Lovely to see and an informative commentary. Thank you for taking the trouble.
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Thanks gents for the kind words on my post. I'd go as far to say that considering the terrain, very flat and not adjacent to a large body of water, aside from a few views of the savanna, it is the most interesting course I've played.
Thomas,
Good eye on the little pot bunker on #15. I agree that it's out of character from what I've seen of Raynors work. Most of his bunkers are long, flat and deep. I wonder if came from Lido? Which is the name of the hole.
Jack,
I completely agree. And Claude is the man. I could listen to that guys stories all day. He's a perfect fit for YHC.
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I am lucky enough to be sitting in my room overlooking the practice field at Yeamans. Played yesterday and course is marvelous as usual. The greens nice and speedy! Two tournament days ahead. Those templates are calling!
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Tom: I am playing as well. All I can say about those greens is -WOW! I haven't been that impressed since I was fortunate enough to play NGLA. I was told by the golf shop that they are running at 11.5 and man that is fast for those contours. Bunkering is also wonderful and I could play YH every day for the rest of my life and be more than happy.
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Thank you, Bill. Superb.
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I believe the #15 pot bunker was added recently by the super
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Ward,
I built the little pot bunker about 15 years ago when I reshaped the greens.
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Yesterday I put my second shot about two feet left of that devilish pit! Thankfully there isn't a feeder slope into it! Greens yesterday at YHC were really fast- heard talk of 13 stimps and I used the 12 charts in my AimPoint book but they were super smooth and a riot to play. The rough is up this year and although you should not be missing fairways at YHC when you do it is really tough. Had a wonderful three days despite my seven three jacks in the two tourney rounds! Fun, fun, fun.
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The Land That Time Forgot!
What a charming community and club. When you enter the grounds through the guarded gate, you really feel like you are being transported back to 1928.
Played the course in March this year and the same month the year before, driving up the coast from C 3 - Chechessee Creek Club. I was immediately struck by how much movement there is in this land FOR THE LOW COUNTRY - especially on the drive in.
While it is an essentially flat course, there is nice movement in the land, with even slight hills to about half the holes, including 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 16. Even 18 goes a little downhill through the hole (a par 5), then back up hill to the green by the clubhouse.
Charming , interesting and good shot values. Like Yale – I feel like I am playing golf in a living golf architecture museum.
Ironically, both my children in college managed to develop friendships with students whose parents or grandparents are members at YHC.
A year ago it was quite firm and fast while the Bermuda was still dormant.
Wm Flynnfan
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I recently reprocessed (read: culled the herd, re-cropped, retouched, etc) my photos of YH from a late 2010 visit. And I added some hole diagrams. This album is a nice addition to the wonderful thread from Bill:
http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/albums/YeamansHall/
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Spent the day at Yeamans yesterday...playing with the son of Keitt Hane Sr, who served as the greenskeeper
from the mid 30s until the 60s...having grown up on the property, the knowledge that Keitt Hane Jr has of the course,
the membership, and the facility itself is second to none...
right now, the course is unbelievably firm and fast...
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What an awesome course, I always wanted to play there when I lived in South Carolina….Maybe someday!