Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Jon Cavalier on September 15, 2014, 10:41:12 PM
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Based on several requests in the 12th hole thread, I've decided to post these as a photo tour (hope you don't mind the separate thread). I can't really express how much I enjoyed this golf course, so for the most part, I'll let the photos speak for themselves. Enjoy.
The Garden City Golf Club (Garden City, NY)
1st hole, par 4 - from the tee:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3877/15252893912_deebeab89e_c.jpg)
1st hole, approach:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/15252895752_b433d548aa_c.jpg)
2nd hole, par 3 (truly a great short par 3):
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3879/15253289105_1244241339_c.jpg)
2nd hole - from down in "the pit" (even this photo doesn't do justice to how deep this bunker is, and the little pot bunker at the top left is just as deadly):
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3886/15230290226_47dd5f0ac3_c.jpg)
3rd hole, par 4 - from the tee:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3921/15252913142_e9ae944e18_c.jpg)
3rd hole - approach:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3894/15230295346_5d5c3d43ec_c.jpg)
4th hole, par 5 - from the fairway (note the great contouring):
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5584/15253280945_ffb72308ca_c.jpg)
4th hole - reverse view:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5551/15230279536_6d07b40d42_c.jpg)
5th hole, par 4 - from the tee:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3850/15066748678_71e2b42609_c.jpg)
5th hole - from the mounds right of fairway:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5564/15066615290_9d76fbc205_c.jpg)
6th hole, par 4 -tee shot:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5566/15250211171_9dfd0e70df_c.jpg)
6th hole - approach:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5568/15230302936_ceeda79147_c.jpg)
7th hole, par 5 - from the front of the fairway, showing cross-mounding):
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5590/15252924872_b3b232f0cb_c.jpg)
7th hole - approach from divided fairway:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3859/15230306476_9af89cd964_c.jpg)
7th hole - reverse view:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5591/15230786656_c5662831cf_c.jpg)
More to come tomorrow...
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Wow! Well posted. Looking forward to the rest of the tour.
What is the yardage of the 2nd hole? It looks terrific.
Would these mounds be rocks collected together during/after construction and later covered over with earth and grass?
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5590/15252924872_b3b232f0cb_c.jpg)
atb
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Looks very reminiscent of Walton Health and Sunningdale New in places, albeit a very green version.
Despite the greenness, do the fairways ever play fast?
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Looks very reminiscent of Walton Health and Sunningdale New in places, albeit a very green version.
Despite the greenness, do the fairways ever play fast?
The course had just had some fairly significant rain and I thought it still played very fast, all things considered. And I could see how, under normal conditions, it would fly.
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Ryan,
The intent is for the course to playl F&F.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature doesn't always co-operate.
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Ryan,
The intent is for the course to playl F&F.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature doesn't always co-operate.
Pat
That is fair enough. Even many of the great links don't sometimes from one year to the next. We go on about nature being the dominant factor and then bleat when it doesn't play ball.
I think the pictures still look great and looking at some of the greens and surrounds, I can't help but think how great our courses such as Hankley Common or Woodhall Spa could be given more attention to the contours of the green complexes and bunkering.
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Ryan,
As terrific as GCGC is, there are nuanced improvements that can be made.
"Time" is often the enemy of architecture.
Grass grows and mowing patterns shift at almost imperceptable rates, so over time you see bunkers that had fairway immediately adjacent, become isolated behind a buffer of rough.
In many cases, the terrain fed that bunker, but, the introduction of a buffer of rough has defeated the architect's intent.
I think that's a fairly common trait in golf courses.
Few see the disconnect and fewer are willing to remedy the disconnect.
It's attention to detail and budget that separates the architecturally pure courses from the others.
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Pat,
I greatly enjoyed the time you hosted myself, Geoff Child's and Tommy Naccarato. That was a special day at a special place.
Jon,
Wow! Great pictures. Love how you captured #2.
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Here's holes 7 through 18. Enjoy.
8th hole, par 4 - tee shot:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5562/15066641580_b6ed8aaf89_c.jpg)
8th hole - reverse view:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5580/15250241251_5688af9d3a_c.jpg)
9th hole, par 4 - tee shot:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3838/15253350015_8aeb3a5919_c.jpg)
9th hole - reverse view (note the nasty little plateau at the rear of the green):
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3865/15066666160_d590d93025_c.jpg)
10th hole, par 4 - tee shot (with flag on left marking bunker):
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3850/15077559247_35708efba2_c.jpg)
10th hole - approach with fairway bunker:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3859/15077384319_b7ffbd279d_c.jpg)
10th hole - green view with crossbunker:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3902/15241126666_d4ea7510de_c.jpg)
11th hole, par 4 - tee shot:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3835/15077569868_272048e682_c.jpg)
11th hole - reverse view (with cool little mound in the fairway):
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3907/15077441130_434cdd264b_c.jpg)
12 hole, par 3 - tee shot (see also other thread for more pics):
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3869/15044044969_0b7445256e_c.jpg)
12th hole - crossbunker and mounds:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3862/15044252107_3b0105526e_c.jpg)
12th hole - green, mounds, inverted bunker:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3878/15207803256_146a52a2c7_c.jpg)
13th hole, par 5 - tee view:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3848/15261050951_9b3b65cb95_c.jpg)
13th hole - approach (with 15th green in background):
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3881/15261053241_852bb62e49_c.jpg)
14th hole, par 4 - tee view:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3888/15077581988_13cc78e02e_c.jpg)
14th hole - approach from right side (with mounds and pot bunkers):
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3900/15077403729_8d6c8df03d_c.jpg)
14th hole - green view:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5577/15263762642_7b1203ceeb_c.jpg)
15th hole, par 4 - tee view:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3840/15264158055_2e310a4535_c.jpg)
15th hole - crossbunkering:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3853/15241150196_8fefa796ba_c.jpg)
15th hole - green (with 13th green behind):
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3859/15264162795_f54840f499_c.jpg)
16th hole, par 4 - fairway:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3835/15077593507_b9d7f63982_c.jpg)
16th hole - green view (from 17th tee):
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3849/15077416599_3afbc61021_c.jpg)
17th hole, par 5 - tee view (blind shot):
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3890/15241158286_043d408d20_c.jpg)
17th hole - green view (from left):
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3908/15263777062_dac737bf94_c.jpg)
18th hole, par 3 - tee view (this is a magnificent par 3 closing hole):
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3864/15241164346_f943774100_c.jpg)
18th hole - left greenside bunker (the bunker of death - you could bury a school bus down there):
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5585/15077474850_c06c39c554_c.jpg)
18th hole - rear "Travis" bunker:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3915/15241171196_199ca9233b_c.jpg)
/Garden City Golf Club
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Jon,
Fantastic Photos!!!
What camera are you using, if I may ask?
Where are the Springdale Photos you took when I had you up this summer? You should see the conditioning now. Wow! back from a month in Scotland and I am shocked at how fine it is in NJ!
All the Best,
Malcolm
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Jon, thank you for posting. These photos brought back some awesome memories.
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Jon
Thanks for the pix. Garden City has always interested me.
What are the flags in the rough near bunkers?
I am quite surprised at the many forced aerial shots there are. I had no idea the course was bent so much toward the penal school. Was this the M.O. of Emmet/Travis?
Ciao
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Sean A,
The red and white checkered flags are warning flags for those on the tee.
They signify a deep and dangerous bunker not visible from the tee.
They appear on # 4, 10, 14 and 17.
I'm told that there were more of them many years ago.
They are a neat and distinctive feature, and serve their function well.
What "forced aerial shots" were you referencing ?
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I like how the bunker to the left of #1 green just sinks down and disappears while the ground all around it stays relatively flat. That's not something I recall encountering too often. Anyone know if there is there a name for that particular kind of feature?
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/15252895752_b433d548aa_c.jpg)
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I like how the bunker to the left of #1 green just sinks down and disappears while the ground all around it stays relatively flat. That's not something I recall encountering too often. Anyone know if there is there a name for that particular kind of feature?
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/15252895752_b433d548aa_c.jpg)
Mark:
Couldn't agree more. And there's a lot of that at GCGC.
As you can see below, that bunker isn't small either:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3922/15244508776_23642196a7_c.jpg)
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Jon,
Fantastic Photos!!!
What camera are you using, if I may ask?
Where are the Springdale Photos you took when I had you up this summer? You should see the conditioning now. Wow! back from a month in Scotland and I am shocked at how fine it is in NJ!
All the Best,
Malcolm
Malcolm,
The Garden City photos were shot with a Leica.
Here's a Springdale photo for you (pretty sure I just had my phone that day):
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5572/15080879480_2623bb625b_c.jpg)
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Decent looking track. Looks English.
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Envy is too small a word.
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"Malcolm,
The Garden City photos were shot with a Leica."
Not your everyday point and shoot camera.
Wonderful color and contrast. As for the bunker style, NGLA has it's fair share as well.
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Looks really fantastic and fun to play. Thanks for sharing these photos, Jon.
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Excellent tour Jon, many thanks!
Mark
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I like how the bunker to the left of #1 green just sinks down and disappears while the ground all around it stays relatively flat. That's not something I recall encountering too often. Anyone know if there is there a name for that particular kind of feature?
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/15252895752_b433d548aa_c.jpg)
To invoke "Princess Bride", it looks like The Pit of Despair!!
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The bunker on the 1st looks like a great way to get the most out of a flat piece of the property.
Course looks fun to play - thanks for sharing.
Greg
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Great photos. Thank you for sharing.
I spent many a morning (on the way to high school) wondering what the men's club looked like.
One day!
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Garden City Golf Club is one of the more compelling courses that I've seen on these photo tours. For a flattish course to photograph so beautifully is really special and a testament to the varying textures through the course. Many very good courses fall victim to the monochrome of grass and trees (especially when they are pines). GCGC just looks so interesting from a playing standpoint. The browninsh native type areas look very playable with a chance at recovery shots however reckless the decision may be. Thank you for sharing these pictures.
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Thanks so much for the photos, Jon ... no other course gets my blood pumpin' like Garden City. Seriously, what else do you need?
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What the photo below doesn't capture is the decision making nature of a relatively short opening hole.
Obviously WIND is a factor.
Usually, the wind is at your back, helping.
On the tee, you have several decisions to make.
Driver
Fairway wood
Iron
Directly at green (shorter carry) but it brings the bunker and the carry over the bunker into play.
Right of green (longer carry) but, unencumbered approach into green.
It's a neat opening hole.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/15252895752_b433d548aa_c.jpg)
To invoke "Princess Bride", it looks like The Pit of Despair!!
[/quote]
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That was an excellent tour! Thank you for sharing. Very special.
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Great tour. All such photo tours should have the benefit of being shot with a Leica.
The red and white checkered flags are warning flags for those on the tee.
They signify a deep and dangerous bunker not visible from the tee.
They appear on # 4, 10, 14 and 17.
I'm told that there were more of them many years ago.
They are a neat and distinctive feature, and serve their function well.
What is the function on a members' course where you know each hole?
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Great tour. All such photo tours should have the benefit of being shot with a Leica.
The red and white checkered flags are warning flags for those on the tee.
They signify a deep and dangerous bunker not visible from the tee.
They appear on # 4, 10, 14 and 17.
I'm told that there were more of them many years ago.
They are a neat and distinctive feature, and serve their function well.
What is the function on a members' course where you know each hole?
There are several answers I could offer.
One is that some of those tee shots are blind to various degrees with each of the deep bunkers being totally blind.
The second is that I'll let you play the course ten times and guarantee that on your 10th play that you can't pin point how far out the bunker extends into the fairway/DZ. You may have a general idea, but often on holes # 4, 14 and 17 you don't have an accurate or precise idea.
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Guys:
Thanks for all of the comments. I'm glad that you all seemed to enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed shooting them.
I couldn't agree more with the comments about making the most out of a flat peice of land. I thought that every hole had its own unique challenges and strategies, and the course never felt boring or repetitive. It's a wonderful golf course and a truly special place.
Jon
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Awesome photos, thanks for sharing. I've lived on LI my whole life and never played there!
A couple of holes had flags next to fairway bunkers. I've never seen that before. What are they for?
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Jon,
I can see what all the talk has been about on this course. Thanks for the really good tour.
Jon
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Awesome photos, thanks for sharing. I've lived on LI my whole life and never played there!
A couple of holes had flags next to fairway bunkers. I've never seen that before. What are they for?
Frank:
Someone mentioned these back up the thread. They are used to mark the position of a particularly nasty fairway bunker that is blind to the tee. I think Pat mentioned there were four in total:
No. 4 - left side (this one is particularly nasty)
No. 10 - left side
No. 14 - right side
No. 17 - left side
I thought it was a really nice feature that served its purpose well, provided a nice point of reference on tee shots where the fairway wasn't completely visible, and were a unique touch.
Jon
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Garden City looks absolutely phenomenal.
Are there any similarities between GC and Friars Head?
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Garden City looks absolutely phenomenal.
Are there any similarities between GC and Friars Head?
It's high on my list, but alas, I've never played Friar's Head. On speculation, I would guess that one pronounced difference would be that GCGC is on a flat piece of ground while Friar's Head (from what I understand, anyway) has some significant elevation change.
If anyone has played both, I would love to hear your thoughts on how they compare.
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Apart from the obvious (18 tees & greens!!!) I cannot think of any real similarities between GC & FH....but maybe I'm not thinking hard enough. From the moment you approach each club you are aware that one is a small, classic, old, beautifully managed look back in time. The other is a big, bold, modern, flashy club with all the right facilities (including a wonderful course).
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Jordan,
There are similarities, but certainly not in the terrain.
Both courses' greens often transition seemlessly from the fairway.
Both courses have an "open" feel. Rarely, does the golfer feel confined.
Both courses are maintained as "golfers" courses.
Both courses enjoy a good breeze most of the time.
Both courses are easy to walk.
Both courses bunkers present a far less than pristine character.
Both courses are fun to play.
Both courses are challenging
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I would add that both courses, while challenging, left me wanting to go right from the 18th green to the 1st tee. The only course I can think of that evoked that feeling even more than these two is National.
Of course, there are many differences.
As many pointed out, FH is much hillier (though still not a bad walk) and sandier looking.
You have to almost try to lose a ball at FH, while an offline drive on some holes at GCGC can result in a re-tee. (OK, maybe very off line...what can I say)
While almost British in feel, GCGC is probably the most unique course I've ever played. As you can see on this thread, almost every hole is filled with quirk and interest. I can't think of another course like it.
FH is also somewhat unique, though some of the front 9 holes are similar to other C&C courses. I do not say that as a bad thing - I think the front at FH is underrated simply because the back is so spectacular. I would put the final 5 holes at FH up against almost anywhere in the world.
As for non-golf stuff, I would not call FH "flashy" (the entrance is unmarked!). The clubhouse is certainly first rate, though very classically done, and I think will age well with time. It is also not as big as it looks in some pictures.
The clubhouse at GCGC may be the coolest golf-related place I've ever been. The mere fact that it exists makes me happy.
In the end, there is not much similar about the courses, other than the fact that a round at either place is guaranteed to be incredibly fun.
One final point: some people commented on how green these pictures look. When I played GCGC last year (in July or August) it did not look so lush, and played very F&F. I am guessing the presentation here has more to do with weather than anything.