Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Ran Morrissett on October 12, 1999, 08:00:00 PM
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I just got back from playing Red Tail in London, Ontario. It has one of the neatest clubhouses I've ever seen. It is not big, can sleep about 12, and the whole lower level fells like one big den. There are sofas scattered everywhere, a bunch of nooks and crannies, a roaring fireplace, wood paneling everywhere, and an excellent selection of older golf books.It would definitely make my top five, as coincidentally would another clubhouse associated with a Steele course, Skibo.For the remaing three, I would go Brancaster (before it falls into the Ocean), R&A (because you have to), and ...I'll have to think about it.Other nominations?
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Shinnecock Hills--Other than the R&A probably the most recognizable clubhouse in all of golf.The shingle-style clubhouse was designed by the most famous American architect of his day,Stanford White.Cypress Point--The Spanish colonial clubhouse looks as if it grew out of a grove of Monterey cypress.Gorgeous view.Crystal Downs--The views of Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes are breathtaking.The Golf Club--My favorite for low key atmosphere.Whistling Straits--The dark stone clubhouse has an almost gothic feel and adds to the Irish links atmosphere.One of the best bars in all of golf.
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To Ran:Tell me what you know about Mr. Steele. I just read that he is completing work on a new course near Charleston. TS
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I won't nominate my own course clubhouse as that would show bias.1) The Australian clubhouse is like the course, big. What I like about is that it has a fully functional bar in the men's locker room, and the prevailing etiquette at the club is to shower and then have a beer "au naturale" with ones playing partners. Golf really does epxpose all areas of your personality at this course!2) Barwon Heads - idyllic setting, great restaurant, old world feel3) Royal Cinque Ports.....and winner of the worst clubhouse relative to the quality of the course:Royal Melbourne!!! Proud owner of one the worst tributes to 60's (70's?) architecture in Australia, if not the world.
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The clubhouse at Pine Valley is pretty special.
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The clubhouse to the new private Lookaway G.C. (Rees Jones), Buckingham Township, Pa. is a great stone add-on to a beautiful historic stone farmhouse which technically makes the clubhouse the oldest clubhouse in America.The idea might have been taken from Stonewall G.C., Elverson, Pa. which evolved from a cow barn and is also very special with a neat putting green inside the barnyard and a beautiful 18th hole that sort of melds into the barn buildings and barnyard wall. Also looking down on the clubhouse and breathtaking vistas to the northeast from the 11th and 13th high above is memorable.Other Memorables:Gulfstream G.C., Delray Beach, Fla. stunning Addison Mizner architecture.Seminole: Might also be Addison Mizner and perfect for the club in form and function. Probably the world's greatest men's lockerroom.Long Vue G.C., Pittsburgh. Breathtaking view from the lockerroom bar of stunning stone clubhouse looking down the Alleghany River 500ft below.Biderman G.C., Wilmington, De. Just an old farmhouse, unadapted, and lockerrooms in an old barn.The old Links Club, Long Island (NLE). Just an unadapted L.I. farmhouse with pro in the barn (no pro shop). Memorable home cooked Sunday lunch (only service) from Bert, himself hall of fame in American clubhouses. Had a knack of bringing the members drinks without asking what they wanted. Apparently never made a mistake! Maidstone G.C. From the road leading to it might be #1 in the world that makes you want to grab your camera!
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KENNEMER GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB in Zandvoort, Holland is a structure that would have been modern when it was built. Yet, it has a thatched roof. The public areas are ample, yet intimate. The building footprint is similar to the Newport Clubhouse. The interior spaces flow in an open plan, and rooms are divided by sliding pocket doors.NEWPORT COUNTRY CLUB seems grand, but in fact is very small inside. The building was designed by the same architect who designed the Grand Central Terminal. Compared to the great houses in town, it is in fact quite small, and reflects the mission statement of the membership of a small golf club.SHINNICOCK Hills, is great to see from the exterior, but its image has been destroyed by the horrible attempt to build a pro shop that relates to White’s design. Too bad.HCEG’s Clubhouse is almost perfect, and the recent addition of a smoking room overlooking the 18th hole is excellent. The vanity table in the locker room does the same, and I can think of no better place to comb your hair.SEMINOLE really does not have a clubhouse. It has the locker room. I was told that the locker room is based on a chapel at a Connecticut prep school. A church plan provides a great basis for a locker room. The high and generous windows provide light, privacy, and wall space for lockers. I would love to hear a chamber ensemble perform in that room.CAVES VALLEY is an excellent example of intimate scale provided by a campus organization of buildings which form a nice exterior space in the middle. CASTLE PINES has great milk shakes, and a wonderful view of Jack’s bunkering on the 18th hole.
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Tom--I agree about Crystal Downs, but are you sure that is Lake Michigan you see?
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Robert--Excellent points and a professional perspective on architecture -- I don't feel qualified to respond. Am I correct in thinking that you do not judge a clubhouse in which you have not spent some time (i.e., that the interiior is just as important as the exterior)? (Also, what is the history behind the word "clubhouse"?)As you are the only one I know who has recently played in Holland, how about a report (in a separate topic)on those Colt courses? We would be interested in a course-by-course summary (a few sentences each) of your trip to Scotland as well.Thanks.
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George's comment on Royal Melbourne inspired this question: Which clubhouses do not "fit" their courses? Hardly any immediately come to mind.
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ClarkCrystal Downs is unusual in that it has two 'clubhouses'. The one you are thinking of hovers over the 9th green and looks out over the front-9 and Crystal Lake beyond.Up the hill a little further, there is more 'formal' clubhouse, that sits on a high bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.JohnRegarding clubhouses that don't fit. The description of Royal Melbourne, made me think of the addition to Pinehurst's clubhouse.It must be circa 60s or 70s and is totally out of character with the original building. And although I haven't seen it ,Banff Springs built a 'modern' octagon shaped monstrosity that looks terrible in pictures.Especially in comparison to the original clubhouse that overlooks the Spray River.On related subject,I have seen an old book on the subject of clubhouses. There must be nearly 100 photos of old clubhouses and the two that were the must surprising were Oyster Harbors and Fishers Is. They were both hotel-like structures, which I guess was not uncommon in 'summer colonies' at one time.They were both about the size of the Mid-Pines hotel in Pinehurst, maybe larger. I know Oyster Harbors' burned down, but didn't know if Fishers Island's was still standing.
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I do not think that you can judge any architecture without experiencing it. I know of one writer that writes about so called great golf holes by looking at pictures, and reading scorecards, but that is just plain irresponsible. In order to be great, a building must be great inside and out. Unfortunately, clubhouses get decorated and quite often, it is impossible to tell the flotsam from the jetsam. Shinnicock has a nice interior, but the thing that stands out most to me, is the image on the hill. The R&A is iconic in that sense. The HCEG clubhouse is by far and away the best that I have seen, and placed next to an Edwin Lutyens Building, it holds its own quite well thank you. I think that on a golf course, the exterior image is more important than the interior’s. Royal Troon, Royal Lytham, and Royal Liverpool are great structures, and while each could use work inside, the exteriors exude the concept of the golf clubhouse. I do not want luxury and expensive materials in a clubhouse, but I want to be able to see play occur on the course from a vantage point inside the club.
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Club, House, Clubhouse:When I was in Iowa in 1993, I visited a public golf course, and at the entrance, there was a sign that read “NO CLUBS IN CLUBHOUSE”. This made me wonder about the word club. Where did that word come from? Did it mean organization before it meant implement? When did it become a verb? I don’t think so. I think that clubs to hit things and balls existed first, and that it is possible that the clubs might have been stored in a “club house”. The British have a habit of chopping words down, (British are BRITS for example), and I can see where club as organization could have come from golf club house.
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Can't narrow it down to just five, but for various reasons particular to each of them, I will offer a Baker's Dozen: Pine Valley, Los Angeles, Baltusrol, Garden City, Sweetwater, Sleepy Hollow, Olympic, Indian Creek, Vintage, Brook Hollow, Mid-Ocean, C. de G. Mexico, and Sankaty Head.
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Three I forgot: Meadow Brook, Deepdale, The Country Club (Ohio).
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For Ran's benefit, I have to say that Garden City Golf Club is one of the best. Fortunately, I'm headed there tomorrow for the club's centennial dinner.I'm also partial to The Valley Club and to Desert Highlands -- an original design if there ever was one.
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Another cheap shot - Shakespeare would have written something about my Garden City torment.In a cruel twist of fate, Ray Lange, the pro at The Devil's Paintbrush, had Garden City's club history book!! Am I safe no where? Unfortunately, it is first rate and the hole by hole photos were quite striking - it didn't look like the place John and I sloshed around with aerated greens.
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My top five (plus five) in NO particular order: Pine Valley, Newport CC, Garden City GC, Shinnecock, Mid-Ocean Club, Seminole, The Floridian, Myopia Hunt Club, NGLA, Hudson National.
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It is interesting to me that so many of you mention the clubhouse at Mid Ocean as one of your favorites. To me, the clubhouse doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the place. It seems a bit too contemporary for the golf course. Inside the bar area, they have photos of the previous clubhouse (which apparently burned down) which looked fabulous. It would have made my list if it still existed. Also, in the club history of Fishers Island by Charles Ferguson, there are photos of the original clubhouse at Fishers Island. It was a massive building which look awesome as well, and would have been on everyone's list.TS
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Ted--I have to disagree about the FI clubhouse. I think the present one "fits" the place better -- comfortable and low-key.A drawback with the Mid-Ocean clubhouse is that they have goofy plaques listing people who have made holes-on-one there.
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Ted and John -- I agree with much of what each of you posted about the Mid-Ocean clubhouse: contemporary vs. traditional style, meaningless placques (one of which even mentions one R. Morrissett). However, if scenery is the essence of the Bermuda experience, and I believe it is, how do you like the view from the terrace in the bar/lounge? Remember, Jim Brown couldn't block and Secretariat couldn't pull a plow.
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Photos of the original Fishers Clubhouse look a bit out of place with their environment. The existing one is classic. I agree that Garden City is tough to beat for ambiance, as is the view from Mid Ocean. However, there is nothing on this planet better than feasting on lunch at NGLA with the ghosts of CB Macdonald and Judge Morgan O'Brien creeping around the clubhouse on a sunny afternoon. Of course with a 2nd round still ahead. That, gentleman is my idea of heaven. Runner-up: Seared Ahi on the veranda bar at Kapalua Plantation with the sun setting between Lanai and Molokai. Honorable Mention: Bandon Dunes. New, but after battling the brisk Oregon wind, somehow the comfort of the clubhouse and a warm toddy is tough to beat.
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I don't really have a top five but your reference to plaques put me in mind of Winged Foot. I'd Say its a very well done facility perhaps not an architectural gem but certainly handsome and I was there after a snowfall so the perspectives looked good but I couldn't fully appreciate them. What I do really remember are the understated framing and location of original large 8x11 real photo's (b&w) of Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Tommy Armour from the 28'(?) and other opens and tournaments played there.What a great feel it gave to the place as if you were sharing it with the presence of the legends of the game. I hope other clubs of similar heritage take advantage of their connection to that era like WF.
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Tom Egan: Being a big fan of both I take strong exception to what you said above about Jim Brown couldn't block and Secretariat couldn't pull a plow. Secretariat could have pulled a barn down; they just never strapped a plow to him and Jim Brown could do anything he wanted to, he just wouldn't block.
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For a picture of a big time clubhouse, go to our write-up of Royal Sydney in this site - now there's a clubhouse!!
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San Francisco GC and Somerset Hills because the rooms are practicable and without unnecessary glitter and the food is great either before or after golf; Portmarnock (I like the barometer on the wall); and Shadow Creek (low key compared to the $37M course); Merion--no need to explain
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I have to add Royal Aberdeen to the lsit as the Merion like front window facing the first tee and the Ocean are a superb nerve-wracking distraction for those starting their round as well as a cozy functional atmosphere. But then again, I like everything about the place.Pine Valley, especially on a sleepover, going to the library.Garden City with a special award for the lockers waning nostalgic Junior High School basketball practice.The NGLA for its CB Mac haunted house feel set in the middle of 1 and 18, even without lunch.And I think I'll finish with a shower for my bad back at Merion. It makes the list on showers alone, but has much, much more.\Honorable mention to Stonewall for 18th hole setting and possible longevity,(4 foot thick walls will survive the next ice age) and to the Valley Club for understatement.BV aka redanmanOh yes, I agree with RWalker's comments about the poor integegration of new building at Shinnecock, it really disrupts the imag from the road. I liked the old pro shop much better.
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One great clubhouse that nobody has mentioned is the clubhouse at Seattle Golf Club. The entire old structure is really nice but what makes it great to me is that the primary views from the clubhouse are not east towards the golf course, but west out to Puget Sound and the Olympic Peninsula across the sound. The clubhouse is on top of a hill and you look through the trees form the decks they have on that side. A great place to sit and have lunch on a rare sunny day in Seattle.
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Doak beat me to it. Check out Desert Highlands, if you can find it. Fits right into the desert landscape. Don't forget Bel Air, men's grill stares out at practice putting green, first tee and UCLA campus. 10th tee is 10 feet from pro shop.
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The understated single story clubhouse at Kingston Heath is my favourite in Melbourne. Big is definitely out (and probably was never really in), as you can tell from reading the vast majority of the above posts.
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Isle of Purbeck with pre-Cambrian fossils in the walls and a great view.Kingston Heath with a great library and a superb seafood buffet.In the Northwest Tacoma CC, Seattle CC, Waverley CCLoch Lomond appears to near the top of the list, but I've never been there.Really felt comfortable at Prairie Dunes, Rye, Barwon Head, New South Wales, Brancaster, Royal St George, Waterville.Henry Longhurst liked Thunderbird in Palm Springs because you could sit at the bar and have an unobstructed view of the mountainsWoking,
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Ran, your description of the club at Red Trail is exactly the same as what they have at Wolf Creek in Alberta, Canada. The log cabin with the roaring fire place and also beautifully and tastefully furnished. It was a great setting to sit and overlook a great golf course.
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Loch Lomond is the nicest clubhouse I have seen -- superb transition from a baronial country manor into a rich, detailed clubhouse. Smallish rooms but with high ceilings and dark, full furnishings lend a distinctive air to each room. Rooms for overnight upstairs are probably too opulent but extremely well done. The lockers and grill area downstairs were added on and are very great, comfortable spaces to relax after a round. Add to that the great setting on the loch and it is unbelievable.Mike DeVries
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After this Florida trip, I can only whole -heatedly agree with the above nominations of Seminole and Floridian. While most are aware of the appeals of the former, the latter is just tremendous -- Robert Walker might never make it out of the clubhouse and onto the course if he went there. Everything, from the architecture of the building to the wood panelling of much of the interior to the yacht basin out front to Dan Marino's personalized urinal, is absolutely first class. A guest feels guilty walking around it in softspikes.The clubhouse at Medalist (especially the men's locker room and sitting area) is world class. The reports are that the women's part is one of the best in existence.
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The new clubhouse which opened October 98'at Cruden Bay.Simple,yet elegant with the greatest view I've ever seen.If you were there prior to that time there was no way to appreciate the view.
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I just can't limit my choices to 5 so here are my favorites:1. The Valley Club of Montecito, Santa Barbara, Calif.(See Tom Doak's choices)(My home course - ok, so I'm biased but I've lots of company. Also,it has a wonderful locker room as well. 2.Succession G.C., Beaufort, South Carolina3.Augusta National GC4.Redtail G.C. St. Thomas, Ontario5.Toronto G.C. Ontario6.Bel Air CC, Los Angeles7.Cypress Point G.C,8.The Tradition GC, La Quinta,Calif9.Stock Farm Club, Hamilton, Mont.10.Winged Foot11.EastLake GC, Atlanta12.Interlochen CC, Minneapolis, Minn
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The Dominion in San Antonio, Texas (Boerne). In addition to the architecture and dining facilities, the locker room is one to covet.
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Wow, what a great old thread...look at those names...is there a Dr. Kratz still in the house?
1) Oakmont (by far)
2) Shinnecock
3) NGLA
4) Augusta National
5) Austin Golf Club
Honorable Mention: Waterville, East Lake, Mayacama
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I remember this thread - why didn't I post??
The $64,000 question is, on what do you base your definition of "favorite"?
I have several criteria but, at the end of the day, mine would be based on, "If I sprained my ankle and couldn't play golf, where would I most prefer to hang out and walk around all day in lousy weather with a couple of deli sandwiches, some bottled water and without speaking to anyone else?" My reasons are many but they don't include food, beverage or other genial people.
I have to give the nod to National although the library and pictures at ANGC and PVGC could keep me busy for more than just a day. Other, more narrow criteria would create other short lists of candidates - some of which have already been mentioned here (e.g. Somerset Hills).
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I f you're talking about architecture then you need to include chicago golf and the dunes club...if you're talking about atmosphere or service then you need to include Forest Creek and Bob'o'link...
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Shoreacres
Oakmont
Detroit Golf Club (The Horton Smith Room)
Old Elm
Onwentsia
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Valley Club (absolute perfection in my book)
Maidstone
CPC
LACC
Creek
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Royal Zoute (also wins the best food category by a landslide, hands down, blindfolded, with the Coquilles St Jacques)
Morfontaine
Ravenstein
Lytham
Deal
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My two favorites:
NGLA
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s196/jmayhugh/ngla/nglclubhousewindmillfrom18.jpg)
Royal Cinque Ports aka Deal
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s196/jmayhugh/england%20quirk/P1040927-1.jpg)
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Going all the way back to Ran Morrissett's original post on this thread which was just about ten years ago and about the clubhouse at Red Tail, Ontario, I should add that clubhouse itself and the last third or so of the 18th hole and green that runs right along side the clubhouse was designed and done that way for one additional and interesting purpose that I've never really heard of or seen before.
Well, let me preface a bit. Red Tail has always had two owners, Goodwin and Drake, and given that Red Tail is something of a destination course like Sand Hills where most of the golfers stay in the clubhouse and given the national body posture of most all good Canadian is that posture that looks like they are hanging onto a bar-rail, Red Tail's clubhouse and approach and 18th green is designed so that they can fire up these awesome flood lights and run out somewhere in the approach and play golf shots to the eighteen green in the middle of the night half or even fully in the bag.
It is a total blast, I'll guarantee you!
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1. Leopard Creek in South Africa has an AMAZING clubhouse...certainly one of, if not, the best I have seen...
2. Pinnacle Point...lovely..perfectly positioned
3. The porch and clubhouse at Diamond Creek are delightful and perfect for the surroundings.
4. The bar at Ballyneal is amazing and it means you are at Ballyneal
5. Sleeping upstairs at Yeaman's was a true treat.
Bart
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My top 5 are: White Bear Yacht Club, Minikahda Club, Chicago Golf Club, Shoreacres, Aronimink-no specific order.
Jack
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The aforementioned clubhouse at Lookaway:
(https://www.memberstatements.com/Clubs/CSGLookawaygolfclub/Uploaded/FacilityPics/club1.jpg)
https://www.memberstatements.com/tour/tours.cfm?tourid=40236
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I might say one of the very best clubhouses I've ever seen in a particular way was Old Head in Ireland and not because of the architectural significance or the significance of the clubhouse itself or anything like that but because of the thought put into its low lying position and non-prominence on the land and its windows out onto a site that arguably is one of the most anthropologically significant in the world---a site that was the home of the original Eierrean people---the precusor of the Irish!
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Newport Country Club is one of my favorites.
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For a modern clubhouse, I really like Bayonne.
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A few spots that have not been mentioned yet
1) Eastward Ho!'s porch sitting above the 18th green
2) Sakonnett's array of small free standing well weathered shingled buildings
3) The gigantic locker room at Forest Creek gets high marks from me and my preference is old and low scale.
4) The main part of Farmington in Charlottesville VA was designed by Tomas Jefferson and is really cool
5) The atmosphere in the locker house at Whitemarsh Valley is reason enough to join
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I must say that the recently renovated clubhouse at Western Gails retained the ORIGINAL locker room comprised of lockers cabbaged together of rough sawn planks dating back to days of yore for sure. Very authentic and so pure
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ok One more
Panmure has a splendid Scottish stucco "Dutch" clubhouse with pro shop detached. Inside is a remarkable sets of silver/glass/ceramic trophy's and memorobilia cleverly displayed dating to 1854 and with a set of portraits of i think 4 generartrions of club captains.
In the "Board " room are original John Sargent Singer( sic) portraits of their sponsors, the Earl of Dundee, very cool
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No particular order(though all in New York):
Shinnecock Hills
National Golf Links
The Maidstone
Winged Foot
Oak Hill
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Woking
Prestwick
Hoylake
Royal Blackheath
New Zealand
Honourable Mention: Swinley Forest, Gullane & Worplesdon
Ciao
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Sean - Interesting choices, and very much in the "understated" camp. Swinley and Woking stand out not for the clubhouse as much as their verandas, IMO.
Tom - Excellent call on Old Head. Significant thought was put into making that clubhouse blend in well to the surrounds and provide extraordinary views to the patrons.
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1. Olympia Fields (Men's locker room is 12,000 square feet with 40' ceilings)
2. Shoreacres (The view from the bluff is extraordinary)
3. Cypress Point (Understated and very cool)
4. LACC (Gimme a break, it's just great)
5. Medinah (Almost makes me wish I were a Muslim or whatever godforesaken religion inspired the nutty architecture)
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Going with a more modern twist....
1) BlackRock - Just a superb facility with an excellent locker room, eating facilities, tastefully done pool area. I could really see myself hanging out there.
2) Promontory - The dining room is fantastic with large bay windows and granite everywhere that provides for an epic experience.
3) Sanctuary - Nice locker room and the grotto is a neat little spot.
4) GlenWild - Excellent facilities and the dining can be converted to outdoor dining with movable walls.
5) MPCC - A very cool spot to hang after playing a round with some nice views to boot. (Had my best ever Long Island Ice Tea here) ;D
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Long Vue PA.
Milwaukee charming both inside and out
Hidden Creek low key, welcoming, good food
The Country Club Pepper Pike
CC of Buffalo Beautiful interior rooms
Franklin Hills exceptional old world elegance
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BT
Ravenstein
St Georges Hill
Cheeca (kinda cheating)
Noordwijk
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Sadlyy wife didn't enjoy the clubhouse at Woking as she wasn't allowed in!
I can't believe no one has mentioned Stoke Park; built by the son of William Penn it was described by Darwin as "a vision in white marble". It was also used in the James Bond movie Gold Finger. The grounds are spectacular, landscaped by Capabilty Brown. There is also a small Norman Church which has the gravesite of one of England's most famous poets, whose name escapes me right now. All this in close proximity to the lovely village of Slough!
(http://www.stokeparkclub.com/photos/facs01.jpg)
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The only clubhouse I have spent time in for the purpose of experiencing the clubhouse:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3361239970_26cf45ef0e.jpg)
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The Bridge. I love the modern look of that structure.
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Arguably the most exclusive clubhouse yet mentioned on this thread:
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr120/philmcdade/jans/jans054-1.jpg)
It's so exclusive, I'm not sure any of the club's members have ever been in it. ;)
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I can't believe no one has mentioned Stoke Park; built by the son of William Penn
(http://www.stokeparkclub.com/photos/facs01.jpg)
Wasn't it Christopher Wren who designed it?
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Here in the Detroit area, architect Albert Kahn designed many of the best clubhouses in the area - Country Club of Detroit, Franklin Hills CC, Bloomfield Hills CC, Detroit Golf Club.
Are the other cities in the USA where one architect designed many great clubhouses?
DD
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Aside from a few great one's aready mentioned, the golf experience seems to be tainting the judgement of the clubhouse. Among the the great courses with great clubhouses not yet mentioned:
Indian Creek--I have yet to be in a more impressive clubhouse
Oak Hill
Sleepy Hollow--the clubhouse cost a few million to build in 1905 and was one of the Vanderbilt's trophy houses
Friars Head--It took years to build because Kenny was not going to settle for less than greatness. Just check out the attention to
detail in the floor level molding.
Plainfield
Great clubhouses on not quite great courses:
Bridges (in Rancho Santa Fe)
The Reserve
Muttontown--formerly the Fonda estate
Old Westbury--formerly the Post estate
Hudson National
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Mentioned a couple of times on this thread, still my all-time favorite: The Valley Club of Montecito.
Fifteen green with clubhouse behind, a photo.
(http://www.golfclubatlas.com/images/vcm15.jpg)
Here's Michael Miller's painting, really captures the serene beauty of the eighteenth hole with clubhouse behind.
(http://golfclubatlas.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/aandamillervalley18.jpg)
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I can't believe no one has mentioned Stoke Park; built by the son of William Penn
(http://www.stokeparkclub.com/photos/facs01.jpg)
Wasn't it Christopher Wren who designed it?
David
I think you are about 100 years out of whack. The estate had something to do with Penn's (not sure which one) return from the States after the Revolutionary War. Compensation money from his confiscated PA holdings was used to build Stoke Park - the mansion and gardens. I can't recall the archie's name right now, but he was a VERY famous archie in the time of King George III's reign. He may have been a Scots - I think his name sounded Scottish. Must be a see you Jimmy deal.
Christopher Wren was the guy who built shit loads of churches in London (including St Pauls) after the Great Fire in the 1660s. This will give me a great excuse to dive back into one of the great books of history - The Diary of Samuel Pepys.
Ciao
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Capital simply has to be in the running. No other course in the world surely has such a magnificently lit dunny.
(http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj26/fingal_album/Dunny.jpg?t=1254993883)
The pro shop isn't too shabby either.
(http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj26/fingal_album/Proshop.jpg?t=1254993980)
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It would be dificult to top the King Kamehameha Golf Club:
(http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo90/PhiltheAuthor/img010.jpg)
It was designed by John Rattenbury at the Frank Lloyd Wright Talesian.
From the 18th faairway:
(http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo90/PhiltheAuthor/img018.jpg)
The interior is even more stunning than the exterior. I can honestly say that this is the only golf club that I want to visit FIRST for the club house...
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Stoke Park - The Mansion was designed by James Wyatt, architect to George III, who worked on the development of the house and monuments from 1790 to 1813.
My favourites;
Old Elm
Chicago GC
TCC - especially the locker room building
Royal St Georges
R&A
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[
Wasn't it Christopher Wren who designed it?
David
I think you are about 100 years out of whack. The estate had something to do with Penn's (not sure which one) return from the States after the Revolutionary War. Compensation money from his confiscated PA holdings was used to build Stoke Park - the mansion and gardens. I can't recall the archie's name right now, but he was a VERY famous archie in the time of King George III's reign. He may have been a Scots - I think his name sounded Scottish. Must be a see you Jimmy deal.
Christopher Wren was the guy who built shit loads of churches in London (including St Pauls) after the Great Fire in the 1660s. This will give me a great excuse to dive back into one of the great books of history - The Diary of Samuel Pepys.
Ciao
Wren also designed the original buildings at William & Mary College in Williamsburg Virginia. He also designed the public market building in Windsor, outside the castle gates. Good story here, he wanted to build a post and beam building with a handful of columns based on his engineering skills. The town fathers insisted on a whole raft of columns because they didn't trust his engineering, so Wren gave them what they wanted -- but most of the columns stop several inches below the beams!
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My mistake about Wren. For some reason the style made me think it was him.
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Now, as to some others noted, frankly, I've never understood why everybody goes ga-ga over the Shoreacres clubhouse. There's nothing all that special about it architecturally, it's really no better appointed than any other nice clubhouse, and views like that are all over the place up and down the north shore (albeit, most of them costing high 7 or perhaps 8 figures). Don't get me wrong. It's damn nice, but it ain't top 5 or even top 20 in my book.
Agreed. I didn't think that Chicago Golf was all the special either. If I'm allowed to count the lodge at Pebble, I'd have to put that up there.
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Sean - Interesting choices, and very much in the "understated" camp. Swinley and Woking stand out not for the clubhouse as much as their verandas, IMO.
Tom - Excellent call on Old Head. Significant thought was put into making that clubhouse blend in well to the surrounds and provide extraordinary views to the patrons.
While the great gin palaces located on courses are wonderful, I prefer the charming, but not ostentatious house which serves its purpose gracefully and without great expense. Hoylake is the one exception to this only because I think it fits the neighbourhood beautifully.
I should have mentioned Gullane. That club has the right idea. Its not among my top favourites but I have loads of time for its simplicity and directness to the job it fulfills.
Ciao
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I'm kind of partial to this one...
(http://www.kiawahresort.com/templates/images/hdr-img/ocean_course_clubhouse.jpg)
with its Ryder Cup Bar...
(http://www.kiawahresort.com/images/rydercup-bar.jpg)
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In no order whatosever except as they occur to me (and sort of trying to avoid the mention of some others already listed):
1. Milwaukee Country Club; like a little Merion, with a world-class locker room, a pro shop that is steps from the 10th tee and the 18th green. Just about perfect in every comfortable, usable sense...
2. Wawashkamo Golf Club (Mackinac Island, Michigan); this one is my favorite. It is, quite literally, a clubhouse from about 1910. It has 1910 wiring, it has 1910 magazines laying about. But it is a model of simple beauty for another era of golf. When you are done with your round, a horse-drawn carriage picks up you and your sticks. See also, for most of the same reasons, Wequetonsing GC in Harbor Springs MI.
3. Troon. Of all of the famed courses of the Open rota, I think this one is my favorite. Moreso than the R&A, which is like a mausoleum, moreso than Prestwick (which is really nice), moreso than Muirfield (which is so stuffy you'll feel like you need oxygen), moreso than Turnberry (which has fantastic facitlities for eating and drinking and sheltering but which isn't really a "clubhouse," and much moreso than Carnousite, where the muncipal 'clubhouse' has all the charm of Torrey Pines.
4. There are two new clubhouses that I like very much. They cannot compare, history-wise, to anything that we've mentioned here of course. Both in Michigan -- at Arcadia Bluffs and at Shepher's Hollow. If I were to commission a new clubhouse on vacant land next year, and there was an actual construction budget (thereby preventing the buidling of another Winged Foot, or Newport, or even a Sebonack or Bridge), those are two designs that I'd ask the architects to look at. Really pleasant, functional, attractive work.
5. For my last choice I think I'll add Oakmont, just because I always liked the concept. Big and rambly, with overnight rooms, and with the pro shop given its own space in a separate building. Like everything else about Oakmont, it is a kind of a perfect prototype, but done in its own way.
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In no order whatosever except as they occur to me (and sort of trying to avoid the mention of some others already listed):
3. Troon. Of all of the famed courses of the Open rota, I think this one is my favorite. Moreso than the R&A, which is like a mausoleum, moreso than Prestwick (which is really nice), moreso than Muirfield (which is so stuffy you'll feel like you need oxygen), moreso than Turnberry (which has fantastic facitlities for eating and drinking and sheltering but which isn't really a "clubhouse," and much moreso than Carnousite, where the muncipal 'clubhouse' has all the charm of Torrey Pines.
Chuck,
Have you ever been in the R&A Clubhouse?
Bob
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In no order whatosever except as they occur to me (and sort of trying to avoid the mention of some others already listed):
1. Milwaukee Country Club; like a little Merion, with a world-class locker room, a pro shop that is steps from the 10th tee and the 18th green. Just about perfect in every comfortable, usable sense...
2. Wawashkamo Golf Club (Mackinac Island, Michigan); this one is my favorite. It is, quite literally, a clubhouse from about 1910. It has 1910 wiring, it has 1910 magazines laying about. But it is a model of simple beauty for another era of golf. When you are done with your round, a horse-drawn carriage picks up you and your sticks. See also, for most of the same reasons, Wequetonsing GC in Harbor Springs MI.
3. Troon. Of all of the famed courses of the Open rota, I think this one is my favorite. Moreso than the R&A, which is like a mausoleum, moreso than Prestwick (which is really nice), moreso than Muirfield (which is so stuffy you'll feel like you need oxygen), moreso than Turnberry (which has fantastic facitlities for eating and drinking and sheltering but which isn't really a "clubhouse," and much moreso than Carnousite, where the muncipal 'clubhouse' has all the charm of Torrey Pines.
4. There are two new clubhouses that I like very much. They cannot compare, history-wise, to anything that we've mentioned here of course. Both in Michigan -- at Arcadia Bluffs and at Shepher's Hollow. If I were to commission a new clubhouse on vacant land next year, and there was an actual construction budget (thereby preventing the buidling of another Winged Foot, or Newport, or even a Sebonack or Bridge), those are two designs that I'd ask the architects to look at. Really pleasant, functional, attractive work.
5. For my last choice I think I'll add Oakmont, just because I always liked the concept. Big and rambly, with overnight rooms, and with the pro shop given its own space in a separate building. Like everything else about Oakmont, it is a kind of a perfect prototype, but done in its own way.
Chuck
Your are right, Shepherds Hollow's house is done well, if a bit corporate in its style which seems hard to avoid in new builds.
I really like Tobacco Road's except they let the pro spread his clothes over what should be the lounge. Its like hanging around laundry or something - very uncool. Also, every house should have a proper changing area and a few showers - even if its small.
There is one other house which I forgot about and it is very good - Wildwood Green in Raleigh. Simple proshop, eating area and lockeroom plus a bit of outdoor seating. Its all that is needed.
Ciao
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In the sand belt in melbourne Yarra Yarra is beautiful, heritage listed and a wonderful place to take guests. New visitors to the club come up the drive the reach a corner where the club house comes into view and it takes their breath away.
www.yarrayarra.com.au
Royal Melbourne was rebuilt a number of years ago and it is stunning, 2 storey with viewing over the course from the top level. The slate for the roof was "purchased" from a church in country victoria, as in off their roof.
In the US
The Valley Club
Winged Foot
NGLA
In Europe
Royal Zoute - simply stunning building
Morfontaine - no better place than the terrace for lunch
In the UK
North Berwick West - They opened the club house on a day it was shut for 8 of us to have dinner in the dining room, outstanding
RSG
Barwon Heads - you stay in the club house and you get run of the place, playing pool all night and using an honesty box, great memories and sore heads! ;)
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I agree with many posted here - R&A, CPC, Valley Club, Royal Sydney, North Berwick West. Some of these are smaller clubhouses, and so really get my vote. Others are just 'magnificent' a ka Royal Sydney.
One clubhouse that I am surprised hasn't been mentioned yet - Riviera.
And, the clubhouse least in keeping with the course - Painswick. The left-handed clock inside the clubhouse suits the course. The clubhouse is utilitarian rather than funky or historic, which would be a better fit. Perhaps the original clubhouse behind #8 green better fits the course.
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I think the clubhouse at Capilano is very hard to beat . The views alone of Vancouver and the North Shore mountains make it a true classic . They also have a great men's lounge in the back of the locker room .
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In no order whatosever except as they occur to me (and sort of trying to avoid the mention of some others already listed):
3. Troon. Of all of the famed courses of the Open rota, I think this one is my favorite. Moreso than the R&A, which is like a mausoleum, moreso than Prestwick (which is really nice), moreso than Muirfield (which is so stuffy you'll feel like you need oxygen), moreso than Turnberry (which has fantastic facitlities for eating and drinking and sheltering but which isn't really a "clubhouse," and much moreso than Carnousite, where the muncipal 'clubhouse' has all the charm of Torrey Pines.
Chuck,
Have you ever been in the R&A Clubhouse?
Bob
Yes, but I have to confess -- it was in 1979. It is of course a magnificent, historic place. Just not the kind of place that struck me as being comfortable for having a drink or three or four after playing. Do you wish to correct me on this? I'd actually like to hear about it.
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Arcadia Bluffs - surprised no one has mentioned this one...Hard to beat the view from their back porch at sunset
Forest Dunes
Ocean Course
Oakmont
Indianwood CC
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A vote for Stock Farm with the views of the Bitterroots, and filled with Western art to rival a small museum. And Royal Aberdeen.
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1. Leopard Creek in South Africa has an AMAZING clubhouse...certainly one of, if not, the best I have seen...
Bart
Don't have a picture of the view from Leopard Creek's clubhouse but have one of the thirteenth which will give an idea of the view from the clubhouse
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc235/pdools/DSCF0131.jpg)
1. I've never been to the Valley Club but unless that place is full of burnt orange shag carpeting and nasty velour wallpaper, that's gotta be in the top 5 in the world. It's absolutely breathtaking.
The best thing about the clubhouse at the Valley Club maybe the cabins behind the practise ground, the idea of a few shots before breakfast is very appealing and that's saying not anything about a drink while the sun is sinking on the horizon.
The clubhouse at Doonbeg is great as well, but before this was completed they used a cottage with a couple of small locker rooms, and one slightly bigger room with the bar and coffee shop at one end and the pro shop at the other end. It was extremely cozy.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc235/pdools/DSCF0319.jpg)
Of course, it's hard to beat the view from this one!!!
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc235/pdools/DSCF0436-1.jpg)
Although not the main clubhouse, the proshop/coffee shop at Crystal Downs is great as well.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc235/pdools/076.jpg)
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Park Club in Williamsville, NY and Penn Hills Club, in Bradford, PA, have clubhouses designed by Clifford Wendehack, of Winged Foot fame. I'd put those three at the top of my list.
http://www.parkclub.org/
http://www.pennhillsclub.com/
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Chechessee Creek has the best club house for my taste.
(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/mplumart/clubhouse04.jpg)
(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/mplumart/decore06.jpg)
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Penn Hills Club, in Bradford, PA
They have the working drawings for the clubhouse in the club.
BTW that clubhouse was designed for the Park CC - but it was too small - so he built the design at Penn Hills.
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Five Best I Have Seen….
Indian Creek has truly stunning architecture and the courtyard is brilliant.
Winged Foot has spectacular doorways and spaces along with some outstanding stone work
Capilano is perfect from placement to the character and the men's lounge has no rival in golf.
Delemere Forest is modest with a beautiful Tudor facade and absolutely blends into the surrounding countryside
For new … Devil’s Paintbrush – it’s a thatched roof pub!
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Wendehack's clubhouses, Mountain Ridge, North Jersey and Winged Foot are pretty neat.
Atlantic's, Metedeconk's and Tuxedo's which I believe were designed by the same fellow.
The Creek is pretty neat.
Kittansett's was a real throwback.
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In no order whatosever except as they occur to me (and sort of trying to avoid the mention of some others already listed):
3. Troon. Of all of the famed courses of the Open rota, I think this one is my favorite. Moreso than the R&A, which is like a mausoleum, moreso than Prestwick (which is really nice), moreso than Muirfield (which is so stuffy you'll feel like you need oxygen), moreso than Turnberry (which has fantastic facitlities for eating and drinking and sheltering but which isn't really a "clubhouse," and much moreso than Carnousite, where the muncipal 'clubhouse' has all the charm of Torrey Pines.
Chuck,
Have you ever been in the R&A Clubhouse?
Bob
Yes, but I have to confess -- it was in 1979. It is of course a magnificent, historic place. Just not the kind of place that struck me as being comfortable for having a drink or three or four after playing. Do you wish to correct me on this? I'd actually like to hear about it.
Chuck,
I am not saying that the R&A Clubhouse has the charm of the Valley Club or Cypress Point, but I can say that to sit in the Big Room with a gin and tonic in hand is one of life's geat pleasures.
Bob
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Five Best I Have Seen….
Indian Creek has truly stunning architecture and the courtyard is brilliant.
Winged Foot has spectacular doorways and spaces along with some outstanding stone work
Capilano is perfect from placement to the character and the men's lounge has no rival in golf.
Delemere Forest is modest with a beautiful Tudor facade and absolutely blends into the surrounding countryside
For new … Devil’s Paintbrush – it’s a thatched roof pub!
Great call, Ian, I really liked that little clubhouse. It's the perfect size, the drying room came in handy, and it had that perfect touch of genteel shabby.
(http://www.delameregolf.co.uk/images/Panorama1a.JPG)
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In no order whatosever except as they occur to me (and sort of trying to avoid the mention of some others already listed):
3. Troon. Of all of the famed courses of the Open rota, I think this one is my favorite. Moreso than the R&A, which is like a mausoleum, moreso than Prestwick (which is really nice), moreso than Muirfield (which is so stuffy you'll feel like you need oxygen), moreso than Turnberry (which has fantastic facitlities for eating and drinking and sheltering but which isn't really a "clubhouse," and much moreso than Carnousite, where the muncipal 'clubhouse' has all the charm of Torrey Pines.
Chuck,
Have you ever been in the R&A Clubhouse?
Bob
Yes, but I have to confess -- it was in 1979. It is of course a magnificent, historic place. Just not the kind of place that struck me as being comfortable for having a drink or three or four after playing. Do you wish to correct me on this? I'd actually like to hear about it.
Chuck,
I am not saying that the R&A Clubhouse has the charm of the Valley Club or Cypress Point, but I can say that to sit in the Big Room with a gin and tonic in hand is one of life's geat pleasures.
Bob
And all you have to do is push the button by the fireplace!
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One of my favorites: the local hangout!
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l137/garydaughters/DSC_0415.jpg)
At sunset:
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l137/garydaughters/DSC_0671.jpg)
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The five best I've stepped foot into in alphabetical order
Inverness
Merion
Oakmont
TCCPP
The Golf Club
Honorable mentions - Oakland Hills, Firestone, The Dunes Club
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I liked the clubhouse at Castle Pines, the clubhouse at Shadow Hawk is very good, it's more understated than most but very functional. Then for honorable mention of clubhouses that aren't fancy but a little more old school I would say Great Southwest in Grand Praire. I like that entire place, if I lived in the Metroplex I would join the place in a heartbeat.
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A few of my favourites....
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/yeldrab/0764PortRoyal-Clubhouse.jpg)
Port Royal, SC
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/yeldrab/6204FirestoneClubhouseAM.jpg)
Firestone, OH
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/yeldrab/Gaillardia.jpg)
Gaillardia, OK
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/yeldrab/Clubhouse-1.jpg)
Monte Rei, Portugal
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/yeldrab/AbuDahbiClubhouse.jpg)
Abu Dhabi GC, Abu Dhabi.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/yeldrab/5638TabooClubhouse.jpg)
Taboo, Canada
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/yeldrab/4041GCBradshawFarmClubhouse.jpg)
Bradshaw Farms, GA
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/yeldrab/6154HunterRanch18.jpg)
Hunter Ranch, CA
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/yeldrab/BirdsView.jpg)
The Montgomery, Dubai
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/yeldrab/1145PalmValley-ClubhouseB.jpg)
Palm Valley, CA
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/yeldrab/6967BallyliffinClubhouseOldCourse-1.jpg)
Ballyliffin, Ireland
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/yeldrab/6604ArdglassclbhsCastle.jpg)
Ardglass, N.Ireland
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/yeldrab/TheVintageClubhouse.jpg)
Tha Vintage, CA
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In no particular order:
Upper Montclair's men's grill and upper locker room is one of my favorites. It's my understanding that the men's grill is open 24 hours.
Just came back from Sea Island and they might be struggling but the Lodge is the best for a resort.
Cassique Clubhouse at Kiawah.
I've been fortunate to be able to go into the ANGC clubhouse a couple of times during the Masters. Surprisingly intimate with nooks and crannies and great wall hangings.
The old cottage at Doonbeg holds a lot of memories.
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Kinloch's is special.
WW
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Aiden,
Are those best or biggest? ::)
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none
but if forced, a 12 by 15 room with a bar/sandwich counter that sells golf balls with a bench to leave your shoes under.
(nothing I need to do besides that)
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I tend to like those that sit on a highpoint that overlooks the course.....sort of makes you want to get straight back out there
Shinnecock Hills
Sunningdale
Riviera
Barwon Heads
Valley Club
NB: I hear the R&A's is pretty special with an ale in hand and hope to experience it one-day
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Woking
Prestwick
Hoylake
Swinley Forest
New Zealand
Honourable Mention:
Kington - the simple house matches the course like no other
Ciao
In retrospect, I have to add in Gullane and likely drop Swinley. I also like Worplesdon a lot.
Ciao
In retrospect, I have to add Gullane and likely drop Swinley. I also like Worplesdon a lot. North Berwick's is good as well.
Ciao
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How amny of those referencing Norht Berwick have been in the Tantallon Clubhouse? I love the former but...
If anyone can put up a picture of the NB one I'll point it out. The Tantallon is accross the road. What it looses in position (you can see the first but not 18th) it gains in
a atmosphere
b intaimacy
c bigger window!
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(http://i52.tinypic.com/nh17dk.jpg)
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(http://i52.tinypic.com/nh17dk.jpg)
Thanks Jud. The Tantallon Clubhouse can be seen over the extension to the new. The large window you wee is in a beuatiful old high ceiling room. It oozes old world charm. Views accroso the first to the sea. A den to repair too with your mates.
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Tony
When are you going to get the chance to enjoy it as a member ?
Niall
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My top five, with apologies to others, includes:
The Country Club
Oak Hill
Royal Cinque Ports
Garden City
Swinley Forest
Coziness is the key.
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Classic -- Winged Foot
Modern -- Caves or Cassique
Resort -- Kiawah Ocean or Sea Island
Muni -- Simsbury Farms (for purely nostalgic reasons)
International -- Jockey Club (clubhouse) and Olivos GC (cafe/halfway house)
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Not sure if you can consider it a clubhouse but the Hideout at Sagebrush is a great place to spend some time.
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Someone mentioned the clubhouse at Gallardia on OKC, it's big and fancy but doesn't strike me as a place I've come to play golf, more a place to have a wedding reception or a Bar Mitzvah. I don't like the places where they have or feel like they should have bathroom attendents.