Built: 2008 Architect: Pete Dye Website: www.poundridgegolf.com
Description: Legendary golf course architect Pete Dye’s first design project in New York is a spellbinding layout that winds its way through hardwood forest and opens to rolling meadows. With 14,000 feet of rock walls surrounding trees, wetlands and water hazards, the course offers different shot-making opportunities on all 18 holes that will satisfy every avid golfer.
The short, downhill par-4 10th doesn't give you much room to miss off the tee. (photo courtesy of poundridgegolf.com)
Wtih a ample amount of mounding -- made by the massive quanity of rock that had to be blasted out of the ground -- the land itself is quite dramatic. There are a lot of forced carries, depending on what teeing area you use, and that can lead to a lot of lost balls if one isn’t careful (or a long-drive champ). There is a definite emphasis on accuracy, as all the different angles Dye sets up through the use of mounding, hazards and trees, makes course management a necessity to break 100 from the back tees, even for the most skilled golfer.
There are also some very interesting elevation changes, which contribute to the four great par-3’s on the 176-acre woodland property. To match those four par-3’s are four par-5’s, equally as stunning in their appearance as their risk-reward versatility.
Reader Comments: An absolutely stunning round of golf; worth every penny ... Way too hard, from any teeing area ... The most enjoyable Pete Dye torture I've ever experience ... What a course! The setting is magical.
Description: One of the area’s best maintained facilities, the greens and fairways here are kept like any quality private course. The front nine is built around the reservoir with many of the holes playing alongside it and some playing over it. The back nine offers numerous ponds and streams - and even quicksand on the 15th and 16th holes. The layout offers numerous doglegs, blind shots, and some very hilly holes with sloping fairways, making it tough to find a flat lie.
The beautiful, serene setting at Richter Park. (photo courtesy of richterpark.com)
Water comes into play on 14 holes. The greens are mostly large and multi-tiered, normally aptly bunkered and not easy to approach. Club selection off the tee is always a vital decision. It’s a tough, but fair test for even the low-handicapper.
Reader Comments: Beautiful, scenic, park-like setting with all the water makes it one of the prettiest courses around ... Challenging and difficult but fair and immensely enjoyable ... Fabulous design, very well kept ... Great mix of holes ... A must play for every serious golfer ... A very special place! We’re lucky to have it in our area.
