The Country Club. The name sounds a bit arrogant, but it really is not. It was the first Country Club in the United States, and so the name was absolutely appropriate. The club was founded in 1882, but it was not until 1893 that golf formed part the of the offerings at the club with a Willie Campbell designed 9 hole layout.
In 1894 The Country Club was one of the five charter clubs which founded the United States Golf Association. The original purpose of the USGA was to sponsor an undisputed national amateur championship, which was first held in 1895. The first U.S. Open (almost an afterthought) was held the following day.
Golf had continued to become more popular, and by 1910, Campbell had extended the course to 18 holes. With golf being an afterthought, there were many disputes between members regarding use of the club facilities. The golf course actually used grounds occupied by the club horse racing track, and it remained this way for a long time.
One of the best holes on the property appears early in the round. The beautiful par four 3rd hole. Surrounded by pieces of local "pudding stone" and a pond at the rear, the view into the green is one of the great vistas (excluding ocean views) in golf. In winter, when the pond freezes, it is used as an ice skating rink for the members.
The Country Club is famous for some impressive events in golf history. The first of note being the 1913 US Open, held only 3 years after becoming an 18 hole facility. It is in this event that a little known, 20 year old amateur, and former Country Club caddy, Francis Ouimet, defeated greats Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in an 18 hole playoff.
Ouimet loved this hole, the par four 4th. Teeing off from the lower tee to the left, all you see is a grassy embankment. In Ouimet's day, there were no unplayable ball rules, you kept playing it until you got it out. This embankment could ruin a round before it had even really started.
There are only three par threes here in normal play (the 2nd converts to a par three in tournament play), and this, the 7th, is the best of them all. A stunning double plateau green, on what is essentially the original version of Campbell's hole from 1894.
The green site of the par four 8th.
The par four 9th hole, the first of two holes back to back that are not part of the championship course. In fact this becomes the practice fairway for the tournament,.
The green site of the short par four 10th. A brilliant little hole, with a tough approach to a small, steeply sloping back to front, green. A shame it is not in the tournament layout.
This hole certainly is in play. The par five 11th. It becomes a par four for tournament play. An elevated tee shot encourages you to go for more than you should, as the fairway cuts off at driving distance. And when I say cuts off, I mean cuts off.
Go too far and you are in this. An outcrop of pudding stone.
This stone when looking back from the green provides a great feature across the hole.
The view toward the green site. The 11th is one of the best holes here at TCC.
The short downhill par three 12th. This hole is currently being reconstructed, with the green being laid only the day before our visit. A very small target, surrounded by bunkers. I like the look of it. Has a 7th at Pebble vibe, without the ocean obviously.
Oddly, for all of its history and charm, the championship course at The Country Club was considered very good, but hardly great, until architect Rees Jones restored it in 1985. He rebuilt and expanded the greens, relocated the bunkers, rebuilt the tees, lengthened the course and incorporated different types of grasses.
Gil Hanse has been entrusted with the next phase of the club's history, and the work he has done thus far has been perfect. There has been quite a bit of strategic tree removal, but not the full stripping away that some clubs have done. There are still enough trees to help frame the place, but it no longer feels crowded, or indeed heavily shaded by an overgrowth.
These two shots are of the par five 14th. A great par five requiring a well shaped shot from the tee. Should you get far enough down, or even when you approach with your third, then beware. The green has a false front, and anything not pin high will likely come back off the green. When it comes back, it also rolls 60 yards back down the fairway.
The famous par four 17th. Famous for two reasons. Firstly it was here that Ouimet gained control of the playoff over Vardon in 1913. An over aggressive Vardon got caught in the fairway bunkers guarding the left side of the fairway, and made bogey. Ouimet made birdie, and went on to win.
Secondly, it was here that Justin Leonard holed his long (40 foot) birdie putt in his 1999 Ryder Cup singles match against Jose Maria Olazabal. The ensuing eruption and celebration from his teammates, prior to Olazabal attempting his putt, were quite controversial. Olazabal missed his putt, and birdied the last to halve the match. This gave the US a 14.5 to 13.5 victory, and some significant celebrations on the balcony of the locker room.
The stunning clubhouse looking over the 18th green.
We had a magnificent day, having been hosted by 12 Country Club members. A lunch before golf, and some drinks on the lawn behind the 18th afterwards allowed for a really friendly and relationship building day. One of my favourites on the tour.
Wendy Pullar was our winner today.
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