Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Jon Cavalier on February 27, 2015, 05:36:25 PM
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Fishers Island Club
Fishers Island, NY
The Biarritz
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Some golf courses are special. We all know that feeling we get when we play one of these courses. Our senses are heightened, our memories are sharpened, our spirits are lifted, and our love for the game of golf is strengthened and vindicated by the experience.
Fishers Island is a special golf course.
The Short
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Designed by CB Macdonal protege Seth Raynor and opened for play in 1926, Fishers Island Club sits at the eastern end of Fishers Island, which in turn sits in Long Island sound. Fishers Island is in many ways a throwback club -- it has resisted adding length, which has enabled it to preserve Raynor's original intent as well as the enjoyable nature of a round there, and is one of very few remaining clubs to have avoided installing a fairway irrigation system, which provides for some of the firmest, fastest playing conditions that I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing on the east coast.
The Eden
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I had the great pleasure of playing Fishers Island on a perfect September day. Bright sun, 70 degrees, enough wind to keep things interesting. The combination of the setting, the weather, the club and the golf course combined to make my day at Fishers Island one of the most memorable experiences of my golfing life.
The Punchbowl
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I had been somewhat reluctant to do a photo tour of Fishers Island as, quite frankly, I was concerned about the difficulty of doing the course justice. But several of you have kindly requested this tour, and so I am happy to accommodate. To that end, you may notice that this tour has more photographs and less words than some of my past tours -- Fishers is that kind of place. For additional information on Fishers Island, please check out Ran's excellent profile here: http://golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/fishers-island-club/
Home
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I hope you enjoy the tour.
Fishers Island Club
As noted above, Fishers Island is a 1926 Seth Raynor design. As such, it is chock full of excellent template holes -- Redan, Biarritz, Eden, Short, Knoll, Cape, Road and Double Plateau are all present, and arguments can be made for several templates as the best in class. Fishers Island remains largely unchanged from Raynor's day -- the course tips out at a par-72 6556 yards. While it is not "suited for championship play," Fishers Island is suited to provide golfers of all abilities with an extremely enjoyable, exciting and memorable round of golf. More's the pity that so many other clubs have abandoned that noble goal.
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Getting There - The Ferry
As my private aircraft was in for repairs, I was forced to take the more common route to Fishers Island -- I drove up from Philadelphia and caught the 8am ferry. That one must take a boat to get to Fishers Island only adds to the experience. I have made many long drives to play golf and I always enjoy the time that such a drive provides to look forward to the coming round, anticipation building as the course draws closer. The 45 minute ride on the Fishers Island Ferry across Block Island Sound only heightens that sense of anticipation and further differentiates the experience of a round at Fishers Island from other clubs.
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The Clubhouse
I like clubhouses that suit the environs. The austere and imposing clubhouses of Winged Foot and Sleepy Hollow fit their surroundings as well as the casual and charming clubhouses of Eastward Ho and Myopia Hunt. Fishers Island's clubhouse reminds the player of a weekend escape or an isolated beach house.
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The Logo and Scorecard
The iconic Fishers Island logo is a simple green outline of Fishers Island on a white background, with the red pin placed carefully at the location of the Fishers Island clubhouse. No words necessary. I am a fan of this logo.
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As many Raynor courses do, Fishers Island provides the names of each individual hole on its scorecard.
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A routing of the golf course is also provided.
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The course plays to 6544 from the back tees and 6138 from the white tees, with each set playing to a Par 72.
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The course mascot
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The Putting Green
The practice green sits mere steps from the clubhouse and right next to the first tee.
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The view from the practice green gives a hint of the many spectacular views to come.
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The Course
Hole 1 - "Raynor's Start" - 396 yards - Par 4
While the first at Fishers Island is one of the longest two shot holes on the course, the landing area is quite generous, with fescue separating the first fairway from the 18th and a small pond down the right that is in play for well struck shots.
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Note the browning of the fairway, due to the lack of fairway irrigation. Fast, bouncy conditions tee to green!
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The first green is open in front across the full width of the fairway, allowing for balls to be run on. This front pin is treacherous, as anything short will roll back, leaving a very delicate pitch or putt.
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This view from the left side of the first green illustrates Raynor's penchant for pushing up his greensites, which deepen the greenside bunkers and add to the challenge of the approach.
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The view from behind the first green, with the gorgeous clubhouse above.
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Hole 2 - "Redan" - 172 yards - Par 3
The first of the usual Raynor quartet of one shot holes, the Fishers Island Redan is a softer (though quite beautiful) version of this traditional template.
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All of the required elements are present, but the effect of the right side kick slope and the tilt of the green is less pronounced than on other Redans.
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The view from the right side of the green:
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The view from the left side of the green:
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What this Redan lacks in severity, it makes up for in setting. The view from the back of the second green:
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Hole 3 - "Plateau" - 335 yards - Par 4
Standing on the tee of the third hole at Fishers Island is where, for the first time player, the fact that he's playing a truly special and unique golf course really starts to sink in.
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A short par 4, the third reminded me of the "Cliff Hangers" game from the Price Is Right -- it climbs and climbs, until it stops and dives off a cliff. The challenge off the tee is to carry as much of the ravine as desired so as to leave the correct distance for an approach.
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There are horizon greens, and then there's the third at Fishers Island.
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Once summitted, the third green treats players to a 360 degree view which includes the clubhouse and the fourth hole (visible in the left hand side of the photo below).
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The third green is a hit it or else proposition, but long is extra-dead.
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The third green provides the first of many incredible views at Fishers Island.
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This look back at the third green complex gives the player a feel for the incredible job Raynor did in siting and building his greens.
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Hole 4 - "Punch Bowl" - 397 yards - Par 4
An Alps/Punchbowl combination, the fourth hole at Fishers Island is your author's all-time favorite version of the punchbowl template.
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A visually arresting hole, the fourth plays out over a chasm to an elevated fairway bordered by woods on the left and a steep drop to the sound on the right. The Alps feature provides visual interest off the tee and a point of aim.
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This view from the far left hand edge of the fairway reveals the green. The pin is just barely visible on the left.
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The Alps feature makes nearly every approach shot into the fourth green blind.
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Upon ascending the Alps, the incomparable Punchbowl green is revealed.
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One of the deeper Punchbowls still in existence, the walls of the fourth green are five feet high in spots, nearly sheer, and cut to fairway height.
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The putting surface runs back to front and is bisected by an internal ridge that makes three-putting common.
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Just beautiful.
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Hole 5 - "Biarritz" - 207 yards - Par 3
Narrowly edging out the ninth at Yale and the ninth at Piping Rock for the title of your author's favorite Biarritz, the fifth at Fishers Island plays uphill to a tiered Biarritz green surrounded by deep bunkers. A wonderful setting for this template hole.
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There are worse places to miss than short on this hole.
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The fifth possesses an added degree of difficulty as a ridge runs through the rear of the putting surface perpendicular to the Biarritz swale. Even a pin-high tee shot does not guarantee a par.
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In your author's humble opinion, the most beautiful Biarritz in the world.
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Hole 6 - Olinda - 520 yards - Par 5
The first three shot hole at Fishers Island, the sixth begins with a tee shot over the crest of a ridgeline which obscures the landing area.
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Cresting the ridge reveals the spectacular natural terrain and the remainder of the hole.
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The firm, fast fairways coupled with the substantial undulations make for some highly entertaining shots here.
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A look back up the sixth fairway reveals some of the most rollicking terrain on the course.
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Hole 7 - "Latimer" - 363 yards - Par 4
Some consider the seventh hole the signature hole at Fishers Island. I would't argue.
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A mid-length par 4 made shorter by the fast, downhill fairway, the seventh culminates at a green that appears suspended over the sound.
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Even shorter hitters off the tee must be careful not to lose their ball to this hazard on the right.
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Anything missing left will run straight through into the greenside bunkers . . .
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and anything long is wet.
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Hole 8 - "Road Hole" - 465 yards - Par 5
A short par 5, the eighth is perhaps the most difficult tee shot at Fishers Island. The fairway is hemmed in tightly on both sides by long grasses and water, and the firm terrain will magnify any ball not squarely struck. The ideal shot is off the redan-like mound running down the right side of the fairway.
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Nearly all safely hit tee shots will have a legitiimate chance to go for this green in two.
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The Road-style eighth green as seen from the right side, with the road bunker rapping around the right rear.
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The eighth green and large fronting bunker, as viewed from the left side.
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Hole 9 - "Double Plateau" - 364 yards - Par 4
Another exciting, unique and extremely fun hole, the ninth plays over a large ridge which houses the course's lone fairway bunker (easily carried by most players) and obscures the landing area and the remainder of the hole.
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From the top of the ridge, the remainder of the wonderful hole is revealed.
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In typical conditions, this hole is reachable by longer hitters willing to take the risk, as tee shots run forever down the back side of the ridge.
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The gorgeous double plateau green adds challenge and excitement to both the approach shot and the putts.
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This view shows the heavy contouring of the double plateau green . . .
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. . . as does this view from the left side of the green.
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Hole 10 - "Knoll" - 401 yards - Par 4
Perhaps the most difficult hole on the course, the tenth begins with a drive to a generous landing area. Care should be taken to find the preferred side of the fairway, as a difficult approach awaits.
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A level lie is seldom found on the tenth, which only adds to the degree of difficulty faced on approach to the elevated green.
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The hill fronting the tenth green is steep. Anything short will roll all the way back to the base of the hill some 40 yards short of the green, leaving a very difficult third shot.
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The horizon green makes judging the distance to the target very difficult.
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Par is a good score on this beautiful par 4.
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Hole 11 - "Eden" - 164 yards - Par 3
In his profile, Ran calls this hole "Raynor/Macdonald's finest Eden, and the finest in the US as well, with only the home hole at Garden City Golf Club a possible rival."
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Your author agrees. Everything about this hole is perfect, from the construction and placement of the deep Hill and Strath bunkers . . .
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. . . to the horizon green . . .
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. . . to the spectacular setting of the hole itself. A wonderful hole.
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The "Eden" peninsula, as viewed from the fifteenth fairway.
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Hole 12 - "Winthrop" - 389 yards - Par 4
The twelfth plays as a two-shot reverse Redan, with the tee shot hit over a cross ridge protruding from the left into the fairway.
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The green at the twelfth plays more like a traditional Redan than even the second hole at Fishers Island.
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The fronting kick mound is larger and steeper, the front bunker is deeper and more hazardous . . .
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. . . and the green slopes more severely from front to back.
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A thrilling hole to play.
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Hole 13 - "Waterloo" - 400 yards - Par 4
A longer two shotter playing through a rolling fairway, the thirteenth is one of the few holes at Fishers Island on which the green is fronted by a hazard.
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Ponds front both the left and right sides of the approach short of the green, leaving only a narrow land bridge for the player to cross.
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The ideal approach at thirteen to a front pin is to land short of the green and allow the ball to bounce on. As you can see, this leaves little room for error.
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The green itself is heavily undulated, and tilted significantly from back right to front left, making any conservative approach hit long a difficult two putt.
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The view from the right side of the thirteenth green.
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This section of the golf course (holes 11 through 15) is one of the rare portions of the course at Fishers Island where holes run parallel and are visible to the golfer. This panoramic shot shows the thirteenth and eleventh greens.
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Hole 14 - "Cape" - 425 yards - Par 4
A sweeping dogleg left around a large pond, the 14th is yet another gorgeous hole. I have been told that long hitters can attack this green directly - I was not confronted with that choice, and played down the prescribed righthand route.
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From the fairway, the player must carry the pond. The closer the player dares to come to the pond off the tee, the shorter the approach will be.
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A large oak guards the rear of the fourteenth green.
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The green itself is set perfectly in a grove of trees at the base of a hill, and provides one of the day's many incomparable views.
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Hole 15 - "Long" - 545 yards - Par 5
The longest of the three shot holes at Fishers Island is still not long by contemporary standards, and the generous fairway beyond the ridge allows players to have a go at the green in two. There is more room left than it appears.
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The fast conditions that predominate at Fishers Island turns the par 5s into potential birdie holes, but also brings an added element of danger on every hole.
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As so many greens at Fishers Island are, the fifteenth green is open in the front the full width of the fairway, which further incentivizes the player to attempt to get on in two.
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Deep bunkers await less than well struck efforts.
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Hole 16 - "Short" - 146 yards - Par 3
In your author's opinion, the sixteenth is in competition, along with the sixteenth at Sleepy Hollow, for the most beautiful version of the "Short" template ever built. Note that this green is no pushover.
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While this Short does not have the full wraparound bunkering like the Shorts at places like Sleepy Hollow, Whippoorwill and Fox Chapel, the more natural-looking surrounding bunkers here are perhaps more appropriate for the setting.
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The view of the sixteenth green from behind, with the tenth and twelfth greens in the distance.
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Hole 17 - "Coast Guard" - 415 yards - Par 4
A long, straight par 4, the penultimate hole at Fishers Island is also one of the more challenging. Over a pond (carry is not an issue) to a relatively wide fairway bordered on both sides by long grasses and hazards, the sixteenth requires both accuracy and distance.
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Once more, the green is fully open to the fairway across the front. One of my favorite features of this golf course.
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The seventeenth green is one of the most testing on the course -- many internal ridges, mounds, and swales make lag putting from distance very challenging. A tough par before the easier eighteenth.
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Hole 18 - "Home" - 452 yards - Par 5
A short par 5 finishing hole, the eighteenth at Fishers Island is a fantastic match play hole.
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At only a hair over 450 yards, many players will find it within their capabilities to reach this green in two.
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The green is slightly elevated, sloped steeply from back to front, and defended by a deep pot-like left bunker. However, as with the other three shot holes at Fishers Island, the majority of the green is again open in front, allowing for long second shots to be run on to the putting surface.
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The green itself is multi-tiered, with high right and rear sections bordering a lower left section. The slope is substantial enough that a player can attack pins on the lower left shelf by playing the ball off the high right section, similar to a Redan.
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This view from the left side of the final green reveals the many undulations of the putting surface.
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A beautiful conclusion to a special round of golf.
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After the Round - The Ferry Home
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Much like the pre-round ferry ride over to Fishers Island allows excitement and anticipation to build, the ferry back to the mainlaind gives the player a chance to think back on the special day he has just had, to reminisce about shots made and shots missed, to talk with his friends and playing companions about their shared experience, and to pause for a moment of reflection to consider how fortunate he is to call himself a golfer.
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Fishers Island is a special place. While it is frequently a point of discussion as to whether it is over- or under-ranked on the various top-100 lists, no golfer would seriously debate that a day at Fishers Island is as good as it gets. Were I left with just one round to play, I might choose to spend that round at Fishers Island -- there is no higher compliment that I can give.
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I hope you enjoyed the tour.
Past Tours:
Sleepy Hollow CC (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,60419.0.html)
Somerset Hills CC (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,59808.0.html)
Eastward Ho (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,59919.0.html)
Myopia Hunt Club (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,59738.0.html)
Old Town Club (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,60356.0.html)
Whippoorwill Club (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,60050.0.html)
Ballyhack (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,59991.0.html)
Garden City Golf Club (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,59549.0.html)
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Wonderful tour Jon, many thanks. Not many courses can match those aesthetics!
Philip
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Wonderful tour. Striking photos. Great prose. Thank you for the wonderful afternoon treat
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Fishers Island + Donnie Beck + Jon Cavalier= WOW!
Donnie is the super, and one of the best at providing for the way golf should be presented, as far as I'm concerned.
Thanks for the winter warm-up, Jon.
Joe
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John,
Thank you for the Tour. I came but late to Fishers Island and put it in my top five. Alas, I unable to return but your photographs will get some heavy handling in the next few months.
Bob
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Golf porn at its apogee!
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A lovely course I am sure, but everything seems to be square. Tees and greens all seem very angular and very much in contrast to current style. Was this a style in the US at the time?
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Rectangular tee boxes were pretty universal in golden age design, and square edged greens were very much a Raynor hallmark.
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Thank you for another outstanding tour Jon.
The photo that corresponds to the below quote for the Knoll hole might be the most beautiful golf photo I have ever seen. Something about its simplicity is just stunning.
"The horizon green makes judging the distance to the target very difficult."
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Wonderful tour Jon. You really paint a great picture of the course through your pictures and words. What a great setting for a classic course.
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My thanks too, Jon. My goodness, what have us bums done to deserve not one but two new and outstanding golf course profilers. You and Benjamin should start a company. I can drive and book the accomodations. I'm driving straight to Eastward Ho, and then if you can ever get me to leave there -- I'd just need a typewriter, golf clubs, a cartoon of Camels, and a bottle of Wild Turkey -- right over to Fisher's Island. The only thing that's missing is a young Kate Hepburn.
Thanks again
Peter
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My goodness but what a magnificent presentation. This is truly epic in every sense of the word. We'll done, Jon. Such a special looking place!
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Thank you very much, Jon. Another sensational course profile.
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I join the chorus (it's a big one) in congratulating Jon for another spectacular photo tour. Of course the course looks fantastic. Question for those of you who know Raynor and CBM courses: how do the greens and green complexes compare on courses Raynor designed solo?
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Jon,
What a beautiful tour on the perfect day at Fisher's. Thanks very much for taking the time to do this and kudos to your camera skills. I had the pleasure to enjoy a similar day in October with a hard wind from the looks of it about 3 clubs more and seemingly from the opposite direction. It made me wonder how much better golf in the US could be if they only limited the irrigation the way they have done so at Fisher's.
One other point I noticed with Fisher's is that for me it was extremely hard to evaluate my personal feelings for the course's architecture without taking the setting into account. I do think it's a course that is at it's best in a high wind similar to many links courses. I just wonder a little bit if you take away the setting and the amazing views on every hole what I would feel. I'm certain I'd still love it however, the criticism is often whether or not Raynor really hit a home run given one of the best pieces of property to ever have a golf course built upon it.
That doesn't take away that this is arguably one of the most amazing days of golf out there and one that leaves you buzzing long after. It's one I would always jump on playing again and even worth the price of a plane ticket over from Europe just to have another go.
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What a location and what a course! :)
Another fantastic photo tour and narrative Jon. Well done.
A question - does the course suffer at all from coastal erosion or storm damage?
atb
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Short of being there myself, I'm not sure there's a better way I could have started my Saturday morning. Well done!
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Jon,
Well done! Are those yardage markers I see, the short striped poles?!
Cheers
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Thank you, Jon, from the bottom of my frozen golf soul! As a Raynor lover this tour and photos shall warm me until the thaw! I can't imagine a much more beautiful place for golf.
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Marvelous photo tour, Jon, of an exceptional golf course just a toss away from my home state. And thanks, too, for the permission to paint two of the most beautiful holes out there. It seems my choices and yours are similar.
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Bravo, Jon! You certainly know how to brighten an 18-degree morning here in New York.
All the pictures are wonderful, but I especially love the oak-framed picture from behind 14 green. And an uphill Biarritz? That seems almost cruel, even if spectacular. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on whether it plays significantly different from the majority of Biarritz holes, which, to my knowledge, are played either downhill or across flat terrain.
As for Peter's suggestion, I'll PM you to discuss ;)
Many thanks again,
Benjamin
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Jon,
What kind of camera and glass did you use? Looks like you did a enhancement in post but I'm incredibly impressed by the wonderful job you did. The shots beautifully captured the severity of the greensite contours and fall-offs - the reason I (Heresy Warning) have always wished that Raynor's plans had built Cypress Point instead of Mackenzie.
One niggling point, my recollection is the greensite on #12 is actually a Reverse-Redan par-4. The Superintendent at the time (2001) had not recognized the feature work and grown rough over the entrance. I pointed it out to Uncle George and Charlie Ferguson - one of the few times I observed something George had not already figured out - and it is my understanding Charlie made sure the error was quickly reversed. There is great advantage to being the Unofficial Mayor of Fishers Island.
GREAT WORK my friend. Just fantastic.
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Gib--
My guess is a polarizer (filter) was used. The deep blue seas without random light reflections. No matter, great shots and a good choice if a filter was used.
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Jon,
Congrats on an excellent thread.
Great pics and descriptions.
LOVE the 'tan' turf.
Compared to the fairways, how firm were the greens?
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Thanks for the comments, guys. Glad you're enjoying.
Gib and Dave:
No filter. Minimal post processing beyond cropping. I do all edits on my iPad and I do very little - it takes too long. The dark blue water is both a result of the day and the light as well the way I had the camera set up (on that day, I think I had the contrast notched up a little along with some other tweaks).
John:
The greens were perfect. Firm but not crazy, and fast without being ridiculous. Being out of position could cause trouble, but the greens were very receptive to good shots.
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that is sensational golf porn! I had a friend work there on a student exchange one summer and getting many a game. having never heard of it at that time I was not as impressed as I should have been! great tour.
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Thanks for the tour, Jon. Fantastic stuff.
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So please explain
Lovely views to be sure, and some nice ground movement. But I look at these pics and google earth and I see a bunch of straight holes, with straight mowing lines, playing into rather square greens flanked symmetrically by straight bunkers?
On the surface then, which I concede is as far as my knowledge of the place goes, I fail to get excited about it.
Clearly there is something going on, but damned if I can see it as it clearly lacks the visual impact of RM, NGLA or Cypress, and yet it seems to get mentioned in the same breath.
Is it really that good and if so, how is it demonstrated as I suspect it is a course that very few people have ever actually played
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So please explain
Lovely views to be sure, and some nice ground movement. But I look at these pics and google earth and I see a bunch of straight holes, with straight mowing lines, playing into rather square greens flanked symmetrically by straight bunkers?
On the surface then, which I concede is as far as my knowledge of the place goes, I fail to get excited about it.
While I will always agree that pictures often don't capture the spirit or full scale of a place,
I am STUNNED that anyone could look at these incredible pictures and not get excited.
Turn off your google earth(2 D overhead lends nothing to this course or any other for that matter) and soak in the pictures.
Great terrain fully utilized in the design, great texture, ultra firm and fast, fascinating greens, many of a template nature but completely unique to the site.
I've played the course quite a few times and I've never thought of any of the holes as "straight"
The 6th hole may look "straight" from an overhead, but the hole is a virtual pinball machine that is played anything but Straight.
Look at the picture of #10 (or almost any other hole) and try to tell me that's not exciting-yet from overhead probably looks like no big deal.
Plenty of people play it, though I'm not sure that has anything to do with the discussion
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These are some of the best pics of a course I have ever looked at on GCA. You and Doc Joe have the gift. Brightens up a dreary morning.
Thank you.
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I fear it is a course I will never be able to appreciate unless I play it, and that is unlikely to ever happen.
Perhaps I am simple minded and cannot get past the geometrical symmetry of so many of the features. I see these identical long narrow bunkers symmetrically either side of so many greens, parallel to the lines of play, and I just think that was lazy architecture. Where are the great angles? Perhaps they are there but don't translate well to pictures.
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Jon,
WOW! Thank you so much for posting such a great photo tour of a great course!
Josh,
Wow. Google Earth analysis?
There are plenty of Raynor bashers on gca.com. But even they are blushing now.
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Now don't be a prat Bill. I am simply voicing an opinion on the basis of the information that is available to me, which is all anyone can do.
Not being American I do not feel the need to gush and fawn over this place because of its exclusiveness or history. I see what I am able to see and comment accordingly without bias. And I see lots of dead straight holes that seem to favour straight on approaches from the middle of the fairway. I happily concede that may not actually be the case as aerial analysis is far from ideal and certainly not the whole package, but its still part of the package. Would Mackenzie, if given this lovely piece of sandy country, designed such unnatural geometric features - possibly not.
I am not suggesting the course is not worthy of its high regard, I am saying that these pics and google do not allow me to make an assessment. It is a course that is utterly closed to the public so playing it out of the question, and it seemingly lacks the artistic sculpturing that we would consider a requirement on such a fine site.
Perhaps Raynor is a genius, in hiding his light under a bushel, but I happen to like lights.
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Now don't be a prat Bill. I am simply voicing an opinion on the basis of the information that is available to me, which is all anyone can do.
Not being American I do not feel the need to gush and fawn over this place because of its exclusiveness or history. I see what I am able to see and comment accordingly without bias. And I see lots of dead straight holes that seem to favour straight on approaches from the middle of the fairway. I happily concede that may not actually be the case as aerial analysis is far from ideal and certainly not the whole package, but its still part of the package. Would Mackenzie, if given this lovely piece of sandy country, designed such unnatural geometric features - possibly not.
I am not suggesting the course is not worthy of its high regard, I am saying that these pics and google do not allow me to make an assessment. It is a course that is utterly closed to the public so playing it out of the question, and it seemingly lacks the artistic sculpturing that we would consider a requirement on such a fine site.
Perhaps Raynor is a genius, in hiding his light under a bushel, but I happen to like lights.
What in the world does being an American have to do with gushing and fawning over this course?
Jon provided pictures to evaluate it-normally i would say pictures don't do any course justice, but in this case he has captured the place quite nicely.
I completely fail to see the geometry , straight lines,and unnatural features you keep describing.
If the images of Google earth paint a negative image of the course for you, I say don't look at them.
Why evaluate a course from the air?-nobody plays it from there>
I'll probably never play Royal Melbourne because of its great distance from me, but that doesn't mean I couldn't appreciate outstanding pictures depicting its greatness.
I keep relooking at the pictures to see what you're talking about but I simply can't find one image Jon posted that paints anything but a positive image of the course.
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It is perhaps a good example of the extreme subjectivity of it all
It is my personal aesthetic that I find it too hard edged and abrupt. Table top greens with sharp drop offs rather than flowing contours.
It is not a criticism of how the course plays, but rather of how it does not appeal to my eye. But that's my eye, and it clearly differs from yours.
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Fair enough Josh.
I love the look of Royal Melbourne, and I love the look of Fisher's.(especially in these fabulous pics)
The water you see around there is all solid ice at the moment and yet another winter storm is pounding the area (about the 10th since mid January)
Stranded in Florida for another day ;) ;D
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Josh,
Royal Melbourne is superb; perhaps the finest example of using width and playing angles to create a great golf course. But that is not the only way. In your Google Earth study of FI and RM, try zooming out a bit. Note that while RM is landlocked, FI sits on the tip of an island in the middle of the Long Island Sound. Try to imagine the near-constant wind. Then go back and carefully study the photos that Jon posted and try to tell us that Fishers Island is not one of the most compelling places in the world to play golf.
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Purely by happenstance, I met Jon on the very ferry to Fishers Island pictured above the morning we played the course and he took these fabulous photos. We all can hopefully look forward to another of his remarkable photo tours when he accompanies me as my guest at an Outpost Club event in May at another Raynor gem, Fox Chapel.
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Takes more than pics to impress me I'm afraid.
I am more than willing to reassess and then if necessary apologise profusely, if they were to let me on for a game so I can form an educated opinion.
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These are some of the best pics of a course I have ever looked at on GCA. You and Doc Joe have the gift. Brightens up a dreary morning.
Thank you.
Ed,
I don't recall ever seeing a better collection of pictures of a course on GCA.
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Takes more than pics to impress me I'm afraid.
But you can be unimpressed by pics. As Peter Pallotta would say...interesting.
Joe
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Marvelous tour and if I ever needed reminding of how special a place Fishers Island is....now I am indeed reminded.
Super golf course, maintained to perfection and one of the most enjoyable golf courses with regard to fun I have ever had the pleasure of competing upon.
One of the few tournaments I have ever played where I truly wasnt too conecerned with my score and enjotyed the surroundings.
thank you Michael Sagner for the invite many moons ago.
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Josh claims that his fundamental issue is that he doesn't see many angles in play. Just tabletop greens with parallel bunkers running alongside them. Photos and aerials make it hard to grasp angles, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Can someone who has played the course describe the angles and strategies in play on two or three holes and explain to him why his secondhand impression is incorrect?
Josh, have you ever played a Raynor or MacDonald course? I don't ask so that I can lambast you when you reply that you haven't. I ask so that I can understand your perspective a little better.
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So please explain
Lovely views to be sure, and some nice ground movement.
But I look at these pics and google earth and I see a bunch of straight holes, with straight mowing lines, playing into rather square greens flanked symmetrically by straight bunkers?
Josh,
Do you feel that the most thorough, intelligent evaluations of golf courses are those made solely through an assessment based upon Google Earth.
Or, do you feel that the assessment of a golf hole/course is better accomplished by adhering to the recommendation on page 295 of "Scotland's Gift".
On the surface then, which I concede is as far as my knowledge of the place goes, I fail to get excited about it.
Clearly there is something going on, but damned if I can see it as it clearly lacks the visual impact of RM, NGLA or Cypress, and yet it seems to get mentioned in the same breath.
Is it really that good and if so, how is it demonstrated as I suspect it is a course that very few people have ever actually played.
Do you feel that the degree of access determines the merits of the architecture ?
Of the limited number of people who have played FI, what are their opinions ?
Where does CPC stand in your assessment.
Has Ran ceased administering the AMRT in conjunction with the GIQ test ?.
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I find it hard to believe that someone who has never seen the course in person has caused others to feel that they need to defend FI. Truly one of the great iconic courses in the game can stand on it's own without anyone feeling the need to come to it's rescue. I recall another thread where Josh acted as the lone outlier and his provocative stance seemed solely for the purpose of ruffling feathers. ::)
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Feathers are there to be ruffled are they not? Surely having to explain this place to someone who has never seen it is rather fun.
I confess the lack of access to many of Americas top courses does tend to make me mark them down. I know that is just envy and so a bit intellectually feeble on my part, but on the other hand in an attempt to defend the indefensible, is the ranking of say TOC more valid after millions of rounds of golf by possibly a million different golfers, than that of FI where maybe only a few thousand different individuals have been around it in recent times. Perhaps
I think the regular posters here have outgrown the natural tendency to be gushing in praise of some place that is all but impossible to get on so I wont try that one, but I am not about to apologise for not blindly accepting other people's opinion.
Let me ask you (again this is from genuine ignorance, not fishing for a response here) - could those of you old enough, think back 30 years to the 80's, in the dark days before internet or GCA. Had you ever heard of FI, and if so, what was your view? Did you think it great, or just some strange WASP bolthole upstate that never saw the light of day, and not a patch on the great championship venues like Congressional and all the great cutting edge stuff being built in Florida?
When was it "rediscovered"
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Fishers Island is "upstate?" When did it move?
Sven
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Sorry, forgive my geographic ignorance, its "up there" somewhere isn't it?
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Sorry, forgive my geographic ignorance, its "up there" somewhere isn't it?
Are you sure you have a current edition of Google Earth? ;)
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Sorry, forgive my geographic ignorance, its "up there" somewhere isn't it?
Josh:
You'd be better off quitting while you're only slightly behind.
Or you could take another approach, perhaps seeking out why what you see in the photos as unnatural or unbefitting a golf course works so well.
And I'd leave out the parts concerning access and the state of private golf in the United States, it just makes you look like you have a chip on your shoulder. No one wants to get into a conversation with someone who has an agenda.
Sven
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Sorry, forgive my geographic ignorance, its "up there" somewhere isn't it?
Josh:
You'd be better off quitting while you're only slightly behind.
Or you could take another approach, perhaps seeking out why what you see in the photos as unnatural or unbefitting a golf course works so well.
And I'd leave out the parts concerning access and the state of private golf in the United States, it just makes you look like you have a chip on your shoulder. No one wants to get into a conversation with someone who has an agenda.
Sven
Sven-So if I am correct you are saying that calling Fishers Island a "Wasp bolt hole" is not the quickest route to securing an invite? Lucky for Josh he will be able to continue to hate it from afar. ;D
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I have stated before that I don't understand aiming poles on private courses. It does seem to ruin a view.
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Sorry, forgive my geographic ignorance, its "up there" somewhere isn't it?
Dear Josh,
Putting your geographic ignorance aside, can we learn a little bit about your level of intelligence with respect to golf course architecture?
Have you ever played a Seth Raynor course? If yes, was it fun?
Have you ever played a C.B. Macdonald course? If yes, what did you think?
Do you approve of CBM's "18 great hole theory?
Do you think he was he wise to be so heavily influenced by the greatest holes in Europe?
Or was Macdonald just being "lazy" at NGLA like Raynor was at Fishers Island?
Do you think CBM had a profound influence on golf course architecture in the US, and given the sheer numbers of American golfers and the courses that would be built, the world?
Do you understand Raynor's connection to CBM?
Do you think that CBM and Raynor's work might possibly have motivated other architects like Ross, Mackenzie, Colt, Tillinhast and others to "step up their game" to compete with the Macdonald school?
Bonus question: how many holes did Raynor oversee the construction at FI?
Thanks for your thoughtful responses.
Your friendly prat,
Bill
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Getting back to the original post, thanks Jon for a great photo tour. Probably one of the best on this site.
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Getting back to the original post, thanks Jon for a great photo tour. Probably one of the best on this site.
For what? Do you now want to join Fishers Island more than before? Who has he done a service?
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Getting back to the original post, thanks Jon for a great photo tour. Probably one of the best on this site.
For what? Do you now want to join Fishers Island more than before? Who has he done a service?
I thought we were here to discuss architecture, not to discover our new golf home. Not that anyone here has joined a club due to anything they've seen or read on this website.....
Jon, sorry for any of my posts that aren't on topic, or highlighting something I've seen in your pics, or to question whether a hole, or the course, are really what it appears to be.
Joe
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Question for Donnie Beck, if he still lurks and posts here:
There are a lot of rigid shapes and lines on the course, primarily around bunkers and the slopes around greens. This must present some challenge and added cost to the maintenance of the course. If the design of the routing, bunkers, tees and greens were the same as today but(hypothetically) soften the shaping to make things more maintenance friendly, would the playing characteristics change dramatically?
Thanks,
Joe
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Joe,
I Googled Fishers Island images and didn't see anything more than what is on this thread. I don't get the value of seeing vacation photos of people on this site. Nothing wrong with it, just no value. Where is the architecture discussion?
My point is that these threads take away valuable time and discussion from worthy topics like the one started by Sven.
You know I love you, so why quibble?
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Sorry, forgive my geographic ignorance, its "up there" somewhere isn't it?
Josh:
You'd be better off quitting while you're only slightly behind.
Or you could take another approach, perhaps seeking out why what you see in the photos as unnatural or unbefitting a golf course works so well.
And I'd leave out the parts concerning access and the state of private golf in the United States, it just makes you look like you have a chip on your shoulder. No one wants to get into a conversation with someone who has an agenda.
Sven
Sven
I'm flattered you had me only slightly behind, I thought I was way back there.
There is no agenda, I am just annoying. I think it is from a life of being a scientist and being taught from youth to question everything.
I suppose from experience there are two general ways in which those who dare to question received wisdom are dealt with.
The easiest way is to gather a group of like minded comrades, pin the unbeliever in a corner, point fingers and scream "he's a witch"
The more complicated approach, while still considering him an idiot, is to attempt to see where his coming from, and in so doing, lift his intellect to the point where he be brought into the fold.
If you tell me that RM or Dornoch are nice tracks, then I will go and look for myself as being a bit of simpleton, I need to experience things first hand.
But if you tell me FI is a nice track, then I struggle as I know that experiencing it first hand is not an option. These photos are lovely and a testament to the artistry of the photographer and the beauty of the region but they do not satisfy my innate curiosity. And so I ask questions.
My dear Prat Bill, I wont dip into your questions as they are beyond me. I have no knowledge of any of those things - I am still at the point where I know what I like but I don't know why. I can see where digging down into the theory might appeal to some, but I am not there yet but rather still focussed on how things were built rather than why they were built.
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Josh is this a rant about not being able to judge a course from (excellent)photos?
or a rant about access
I'd venture that most Northeastern US golfers would find it easier to find a way to play Fishers than it would be to fly across the ocean to TOC or Royal Melbourne.
I really don't see why you think playing it is not an option, though if you keep typing you will be right ;) ;D
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Josh,
I share your dismay for the exclusiveness of so many good American courses, but there's little to be done about it. However, I hereby offer you a chance to play a somewhat unspoiled, little altered Raynor course -- as many times as you'd like -- if you can make the trip to northwest Connecticut. Hotchkiss is a 9-hole public course which I've been playing for the past 55 years or so. Though you'll find almost every hole straight as a motorway, I think you'll find the topography of the fairways and the contours of the greens make the course endlessly fun. It hasn't bored me yet.
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My dear Prat Bill, I wont dip into your questions as they are beyond me. I have no knowledge of any of those things - I am still at the point where I know what I like but I don't know why. I can see where digging down into the theory might appeal to some, but I am not there yet but rather still focussed on how things were built rather than why they were built.
[/quote]
That is about what I figured, Josh. You know nothing about Fishers Island and precious little about golf course architecture. This is a serious site. Rather than banging your fingers on the keyboard, I suggest you work to formulate answers to the questions I asked. Spend some time in the Courses by Country tab on this website. Research Macdonald and Raynor. Learn the history behind their templates. You might well be fascinated: these holes pay homage to holes from your side of the pond. It truly is a fascinating study.
Well over 90% of the regular posters here could answer every queston I asked without hesitation. When Ran allowed you on the site, he hoped that you might be the type of student of gca who would have something to add to the site, or take the time to learn. Not attempt to be a provacateur.
And when you call me a prat, I'm tempted to respond in kind. But I will not. I truly hope you take the time to learn a little. Post less, think more.
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Josh,
Buy a camera.
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As I mentioned in regards to Benjamin as well, Jon seems to be able to capture not only the ambience of a course but also its essence.
For me these photos were a revelation. I think for the first time I was able to understand/appreciate the almost poetic beauty of Raynor's architectural expressions, i.e. the purity with which fundamental, essential and timeless principles of design are made manifest on the ground.
Somehow 'templates' now seems a poor word to describe what I'm seeing. 'Forms' is even worse, and 'ideals' (as in platonic ideals) is too heavy handed. But whatever *it* is, I see it at Fisher's Island.
Peter
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These photos remind me of Gib's writing. Words, words, words, words, my God, so many words.
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These photos remind me of Gib's writing. Words, words, words, words, my God, so many words.
JK,
Lots of people have said nice things about Gib's writing. I bet none have pleased him more than this.
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Feathers are there to be ruffled are they not? Surely having to explain this place to someone who has never seen it is rather fun.
I confess the lack of access to many of Americas top courses does tend to make me mark them down.
Josh,
Please inform Ran and the magazines that provide the ratings that there's a new category for determining a golf course's architectural merits, namely, whether you can gain access to it.
I know that is just envy and so a bit intellectually feeble on my part, but on the other hand in an attempt to defend the indefensible, is the ranking of say TOC more valid after millions of rounds of golf by possibly a million different golfers, than that of FI where maybe only a few thousand different individuals have been around it in recent times. Perhaps
Wouldn't that depend upon the average architectural IQ of those who have played TOC and FI ?
I think the regular posters here have outgrown the natural tendency to be gushing in praise of some place that is all but impossible to get on so I wont try that one, but I am not about to apologise for not blindly accepting other people's opinion.
Let me see if I can rephrase the above statement.
You'd rather remain in the dark than accept the opinions of those who have played the golf course.
You'd rather wallow in ignorance than accept the opinions of knowledgeable golfers with personal first hand experience.
Any fool can learn from his own experience, but it takes a wise man to learn from the experiences of others.
Let me ask you (again this is from genuine ignorance, not fishing for a response here) - could those of you old enough, think back 30 years to the 80's, in the dark days before internet or GCA. Had you ever heard of FI, and if so, what was your view? Did you think it great, or just some strange WASP bolthole upstate that never saw the light of day, and not a patch on the great championship venues like Congressional and all the great cutting edge stuff being built in Florida?
OK, I get it, this thread is meant to be a joke, as no one would be so uninformed, so ignorant or so moronic as to make the above statement, absent jest.
But, to answer your question, the Internet and GCA didn't create intelligent thought.
Informed, intelligent thought existed prior to the introduction of the Internet and GCA.
Yes, intelligent, interested, well informed golfers knew about FI, NGLA, BPB, CPC, PV, WFW and many other great golf courses.
When was it "rediscovered"
That's a question that predisposes an erroneous answer.
FI was never lost.
It wasn't rediscovered, it was only recently discovered by the uninformed, the uninterested and the ignorant.
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JakaB,
I love Gib's writing
JeffWarne,
Very funny......... And on the mark.
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Getting back to the original post, thanks Jon for a great photo tour. Probably one of the best on this site.
For what? Do you now want to join Fishers Island more than before? Who has he done a service?
You must have the reading comprehension of a 10 year old. When did I ever say I wanted to join Fishers Island? He took time to put together a good photo tour and discuss the different holes in detail. Why don't you stop trolling and add some value on this site for once.
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Everyone wants to play Fishers Island so I thought putting up the capital to become a member could be a benefit of these wonderful photos. Scott W, I figured since you post under a fake name you had the means. My apologies.
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There are some interesting and horrible developments going on in golf architecture today and this site is being distracted by vacation photo albums.
We have the media calling for soft greens and lower tournament scores.
We were just shown the greatness that follows when a water hazard is on every hole.
For two weeks in a row the 297th ranked player in the world won as a direct result of the architecture.
No discussion as another pretty pinwheel is blown in front of our faces. Good for us.
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I understand what you're saying, JK, but just try to think of Jon's photo-tour as the equivalent of snuggling-in to watch the Ed Sullivan Show during those tense years of war, Watergate and social upheaval. After working hard and thinking sad thoughts and having divisive arguments all week long, America needed and relied upon the comforting familiarity and community togetherness that this old master of the variety show genre could bring us every week. Don't hate us for loving Jon's tour of Fishers Island -- I bet even you as a youngster looked forward to spending an hour of simple and relaxing fun watching Carol Channing and Red Skelton and Jim Morrison and impressionist Rich Little all on one show.
Peter
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Oops, I hope I haven't picked a scab here?
For what it is worth I thought the pics were wondrous, even if I did not glean as much from them as I should. I am a photo tart for nice golf courses but an utter failure at producing them myself. I have tried at my course, with huge undulating fairways and huge undulating greens, and my pics look like I took them in a carpark. Perhaps my Box Brownie is no longer up to the task.
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Oops, I hope I haven't picked a scab here?
Nope. No need to flatter yourself, your just a participant here just like the rest of us....
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If I don't flatter myself, no one else will.
This site does seem to be a little more excitable that it once was. Has it been a long winter?
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If I don't flatter myself, no one else will.
This site does seem to be a little more excitable that it once was. Has it been a long winter?
You have no idea...Perhaps you can find Michigan on the google... ;)
Joe
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You have my sympathies, I really lack the spine for winters like that. Pleasant 32 Celsius today, had my morning swim at the beach, couple of hours at the office and will then toddle down to the club for Wed afternoon comp, washed down with roast lunch and bottle of red.
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There seems to be some animus to the presentation of Fishers Island and it its place in the golfing scene and even some sniping regarding course photography.
It was some six years ago that my good friend here, namely Dan Taylor, invited me to play Fishers Island. I have had the good fortune to have played some very decent courses in my life but I must say that the whole charm of Fishers took me back to a different era. It was that I might have been playing alongside some of the greats of the amateur heroes of a different generation, but the pro shop reminded me that it was the same now as ever.
Fishers was my last trip out of California and I do not see it as a lesser experience than Cypress Point.
Bob
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FI interests me, as much as its is probably a decent track, but also that is does seem to be so un-American.
I mean that in the politest possible way as I have no first hand knowledge. But I can imagine a simple clubhouse, no pretty boys taking your bags from the car, no shoe shines, no carts, no mobile phones, dress rules, no gambling beyond a $2 Nassau, good simple food, - in short, no pretension or outward displays of excess
Or in other words, so British.
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FI interests me, as much as its is probably a decent track, but also that is does seem to be so un-American.
I mean that in the politest possible way as I have no first hand knowledge. But I can imagine a simple clubhouse, no pretty boys taking your bags from the car, no shoe shines, no carts, no mobile phones, dress rules, no gambling beyond a $2 Nassau, good simple food, - in short, no pretension or outward displays of excess
Or in other words, so British.
Josh-You really should quit while you are ahead. The continued shots at the US and it's culture seem to me to be little more than a cry for attention. You even have a preconceived notion of what the bets should entail. Would a $5 Nassau be less "British"? GMAB. ::) ::) ::)
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We've all been trolled.
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We've all been trolled.
Yes, by the guys posting the photo tours. Ben and Jon are the new darlings of this site and courses worldwide. Photos are the new words of this generation.
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Have you seen what happens around here when people type? Photos replacing words with this generation ain't exactly the same tragedy as FREDs replacing cabooses.
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all the great cutting edge stuff being built in Florida....
Josh please do elaborate on all this great stuff ??? ??? ???
Are you referring to the likes of PGA National and Doral and that type of architecture?
Please let us know what is appealing to you as cutting edge?
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We've all been trolled.
Yes, by the guys posting the photo tours. Ben and Jon are the new darlings of this site and courses worldwide. Photos are the new words of this generation.
John:
You've figured me out. Posting photographic tours of golf courses is all part of my master plan to troll the readership of a golf course architecture website. I apologize for tricking you into clicking on the link. Next time I do a Fishers Island Club photo tour and appreciation, I will name it something less deceptive than "Fishers Island Club - A Photo Tour and Appreciation" so that you can avoid it, if you choose.
By the way, you ever figure out whether you were going to buy your father a dog?
Thanks as always for checking in,
Jon Cavalier
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There's no reason this site cannot have photo tours alongside in-depth discussions of the finer points of golf course architecture. For instance, I appreciated the recent thread on John Low and his influence of GCA at Woking even more for having played Woking. I might not have even known of Woking if I hadn't stumbled upon this site many moons ago and read the course review of Woking (with photos!). And I referred back to both my memory and the photos of Woking on this site while reading the two fantastic articles that were linked in the John Low thread.
Now if winter would only end so I'm not forced to resort to daydreaming through photo tours for my golf fix....
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We've all been trolled.
Yes, by the guys posting the photo tours. Ben and Jon are the new darlings of this site and courses worldwide. Photos are the new words of this generation.
John:
You've figured me out. Posting photographic tours of golf courses is all part of my master plan to troll the readership of a golf course architecture website. I apologize for tricking you into clicking on the link. Next time I do a Fishers Island Club photo tour and appreciation, I will name it something less deceptive than "Fishers Island Club - A Photo Tour and Appreciation" so that you can avoid it, if you choose.
By the way, you ever figure out whether you were going to buy your father a dog?
Thanks as always for checking in,
Jon Cavalier
Jon,
I usually do a good job of not bothering to react to JK's posts. I'm not smart enough to know where he is coming from, but I'm sure most of it is some kind of attempt to stir the pot. (His "play slow, golf is too great to be rushed" theory is actually pretty cool if you think it it through...Where else would we rather be stuck than on a golf course?) I know he has had some tough times, so I almost never respond. Even Mucci lets his moronic posts slide, so I try to follow suit.
But as someone who has posted photos, I just have to respond to Jaka's last pile of crap.
It takes an incredible amount of time and effort to do what Jon has done. You have to take the photos, download them to computer, label the hole numbers, load them to something like Photobucket, copy and paste the ones you want on GCA.COM, then add you comments.
I think Jon and others do this site an amazing service with their photo tours. I absolutely love these tours, especially at a place like Fishers Island that few get to play.
I say that you have to be a sad SOB to be critical of these efforts...
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As so called purists when it comes to golf architecture, can we agree not to call a golf course a track?
Bob
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Here here Sir Bob.
And Jon - thanks for the effort - the photography and words were wonderful.
Matthew
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Yall don't get it, Josh is saying he doesn't care for what he sees. That's reverse psychology to get an invite somewhere, second he's Australian. Everyone knows Aussies can play everywhere. He might be the smartest person here.
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I do not see it as a lesser experience than Cypress Point.
Well said Sir
John
Thanks for the photo tour - brings back some great memories
Fisher's Island holds a special place in world golf. IMO - it should be a world heritage site.
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amazing number of out of this world green sites ... makes my mouth water to play a Raynor at Lookout Mt in this years Dixie Cup
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Question for Donnie Beck, if he still lurks and posts here:
There are a lot of rigid shapes and lines on the course, primarily around bunkers and the slopes around greens. This must present some challenge and added cost to the maintenance of the course. If the design of the routing, bunkers, tees and greens were the same as today but(hypothetically) soften the shaping to make things more maintenance friendly, would the playing characteristics change dramatically?
Thanks,
Joe
Just stumbled on this thread viewing the NGLA tour.
Joe,
All of the banks are mowed by hand dragging a mower across the slopes with ropes. Very labor intensive. To answer your question yes softening the slopes would change the playing characteristics drastically.
As far as angles I don't have the time to go hole by hole but angles are the genius of Fishers. Quick example try approaching either the 7th or 8th or 3rd green from the left side of the fairway. Good Luck with that. How many other 330 yd holes produce more doubles than birdies ???
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This is a great photo thread. I got to play Fishers with two great friends on May 23. Fishers is the most fun I ever had on a golf course. You encounter shots that you don't get anywhere else. The Alps/punchbowl exists nowhere else that I know of. It is a blind shot to a great green.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/q186/tomwilliamsen/D071949F-6DA9-47CF-92D7-196E9BE87359_1_102_o.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/tomwilliamsen/p/2f2c0891-b9f2-46af-875d-c56d0cf1b1f6)
The club is unpretentious and welcoming. I can't think a better place to spend a day. Just don't expect to find dinner at a local restaurant. None were open. We did find an open ice cream shop where i had a root beer float for dinner.
It begins with a nice ferry ride.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/q186/tomwilliamsen/AC5165FE-7975-420F-97C5-B20C050B18D0_1_102_o.jpeg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/tomwilliamsen/p/f323177e-95ac-4dd7-a026-b688f1ef24a7)
A buddy of mine.
The second shot on the Cape is as thrilling as it is dangerous.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/q186/tomwilliamsen/80321CC2-3282-4095-873A-20D4B0D94F0C_1_102_o.jpeg?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/tomwilliamsen/p/57637ae6-3308-4691-8c47-257cc3cc8103)
The clubhouse is perfect and reminiscent of Shinnecock.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/q186/tomwilliamsen/381D21FE-3FCD-4376-BE61-41D9580DC603_1_102_o.jpeg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/tomwilliamsen/p/4962b8b2-c534-4413-ae40-db4ca83c4491)
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Was at Sweetens last week and Rob Collins tagged me as the OP on his Instagram account. Obscenely tall people make me look even fatter. Hilarious pic.
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Ever since Bob Huntley confided that Fishers Island was probably his favorite course anywhere- and the man had played nearly all the great ones when he told me about his trip to LI- it has been near the very top of my smallish bucket list. The excellent pictures and commentary by the OP and Tommy's strong endorsement only whet my already strong appetite. I am slowly paring down that list. Shinny is one of my top three favorite courses. I wonder which one FI will likely bump out, probably one inland.
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Ever since Bob Huntley confided that Fishers Island was probably his favorite course anywhere- and the man had played nearly all the great ones when he told me about his trip to LI- it has been near the very top of my smallish bucket list.
I played with Bob that day at Fishers, and it was special. He was a great Mentor to me and many others here at GCA.
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Interesting to see this thread bumped. Hard to believe its been more than seven years since it was created.
For those who might be interested, here are a few more recent photos of Fishers Island Club.
Hole 7 (Latimer)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52114442805_c37f99bd72_c.jpg)
Hole 4 (Punch Bowl)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52114405490_d02b914289_c.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/gp/54181962@N03/MQ684w)
Hole 11 (Eden)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52112868367_6d03a7a077_c.jpg)
Holes 3 (Plateau), 16 (Short) and 2 (Redan)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52114391120_25e28f8d29_c.jpg)
Hole 5 (Biarritz)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52113896746_3a704f9132_c.jpg)
Hole 9 (Double Plateau)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52113922018_d7bc3ff32f_c.jpg)
Hole 16 (Short)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52113885906_0d212a802a_c.jpg)
Hole 4 (Punchbowl)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52114405470_85f6f5e12c_c.jpg)
Holes 7 through 14
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52113897566_9d4d635187_c.jpg)
Holes 14 (Cape) and 12 (Winthrop)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52114441015_5dbfb09ec4_c.jpg)
Holes 9 (Double Plateau) and 10 (Knoll)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52114140034_194096f2ce_c.jpg)
Hole 9 (Double Plateau)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52114440965_02db68261a_c.jpg)
Hole 4 (Punch Bowl)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52113925323_7585617670_c.jpg)
Hole 17 (Coast Guard)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52114441005_0e21ef00ef_c.jpg)
Hole 5 (Biarritz)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52114133359_0df8e1f1ce_c.jpg)
Hole 3 (Plateau)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52113971823_d09504542d_c.jpg)
Westward Overview
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52112862142_e0be6231c1_c.jpg)
Hole 9 (Double Plateau)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52114440980_67547ba5aa_c.jpg)
Holes 10 (Knoll), 11 (Eden), 12 (Winthrop) and 13 (Waterloo)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52113920568_52fea6288a_c.jpg)
Hole 7 (Latimer)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52113893811_790304fa14_c.jpg)
Hole 4 (Punch Bowl)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52113897881_49732c2577_c.jpg)
Hole 10 (Knoll)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52114440960_ac85601479_c.jpg)
Hole 7 (Latimer)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52112865162_b719ae0887_c.jpg)
Hole 4 (Punch Bowl)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52113972126_fd4b5d0c3b_c.jpg)
Special place.
- Jon Cavalier
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Thanks for the tour Jon. I missed this thread the first time round. I like what I see!
I wish there was some way to delete posts from threads. It's easy for cool stuff to get partially buried in a shit show.
Ciao
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Jon,
You have really found your craft. Thanks for posting those beautiful pics.
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Thanks Jon for the new photos. They really show the rolling terrain, especially on number four, punch bowl.
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Love this thread, Jon! I might be in the minority but every time I see FI I think of Eastward Ho!. Both special places.
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Love the updated photos, Jon.
This thread is a welcome departure from the OT: LIV threads that rack up 15 pages.
BTW,
I have your calendar hanging in my office and just flipped it to June. Great photo!
-Cal