pine valley, merion & shinnecock hills · get shinnecock hills. it was not easy, not only to...

WeGolf | Ugar teche 3107, 4c | Bue nos Aires (1 425) | Argent i na

i n f o @ w e g o l f . c o m . a r | T e l ( + 5 4 1 1 ) 4 8 0 1 - 6 6 0 2 | w w w . w e g o l f a r g e n t i n a . c o m

Pine Valley, Merion & Shinnecock Hills 3 Top 10 in 3 days

August 24-26

IMPORTANT: These 3 courses are private and very exclusive, in which the access is only possible if invited by a Member. This text does not attempt to sell golf there but to share the unforgettable experience of being able to play there.

3 dreams in 1 came true By Javier Pintos

During March 2013 our trip to Myrtle Beach with 11 friends was confirmed, but I thought it was worth taking the risk and staying three days by buying a ticket to New York, area where are some of the top 20 courses in the world and try to play at least one. I was very luck to play the National Links of America and Winged Foot West (where Phil Mickelson raffled the 2006 U.S. Open) in 2007 and my idea was to go back out there as I knew people who could invite me, but this time it was not possible. The trip was coming closer and nothing was confirmed so I gathered some courage and emailed a person I knew who is a member of Merion and Pine Valley. My email was risky and cheeky but shy at the same time asking if it was possible to play any of the 2 courses. A day later my hands were shaking when I read the response where we were invited (with 2 more friends) to play both, incredible! However we were told that one of them was going to be aerated recently and if this was a problem ... obviously we said that we were going to play it anyway!! These 2 pictures show me at 18th hole at Winged Foot, at the exact spot where Phil hit that short he wish he hadn’t. The days passed very slowly, I took my time to read everything I could from both Courses to learn everything about them and when getting there knowing everything possible about them and all the golf that had been played through them. I have a very strong idolatry for Bobby Jones ("I am an amateur, a lover of the game") and being at Merion where he won the Grand Slam on 27/09/1930 was something very strong. As an appetizer I saw a great U.S. Open won by Justin Rose and I became familiar enough with the course. I could not stand the desire to play it; we were still 2 months ahead of it. But for one of my two friends playing the #1 and #8 of the world was not enough and begged me to get Shinnecock Hills. It was not easy, not only to get to it, but the gall to ask to the one who could



probably make us enter and play there. Two years ago I got Cypress Point from the same person and after waiting a week, she also got me to Shinnecock Hills. I owe Mrs. MM this 2 great favors. She is a woman who in addition to being a member of Maidstone has had the luxury of playing all of them, including Augusta National more than 10 times. The trip was confirmed and ready, we were only missing arranging the hotels and pray to have good climate. In USA everything is easy from a computer where we can book any hotel. A luxury golf trip was coming. After the great trip in Myrtle Beach, we flew to Newark and drove to Philadelphia, where we stayed for two nights and fulfilled the dream of playing the best course in the world. That night we ate very good lasagna and after a Diclofenac (because I can’t deny I was very nervous!) went to sleep hoping that we had a nice sunny day. Pine Valley: this unique piece of land with the best course in the world

We woke up very early and after breakfast, we drove car to "the" place. It took us half an hour and after crossing a railway, a street surrounded by pine trees separated us from the Club House. Our host recommended us arriving early to enjoy the place; we had tee time at 11am and arrived 9.30.

After changing our shoes in the Locker Room, our host made us a tour at the Club House. It is small and the same building since the Course opened to play. We visited the guest house (where our friends had been a few months earlier), the Maintenance Barn (imagine perfection in the business and will not be enough) and then to the practice range, where a basket of 200 Titleist Pro V1 was waiting for us. I insist that I was nervous (or perhaps anxious), but at the Range I didn't hit one bad shot, I thought that this would continue on the course but my game was not good at all.

Once we finished the practice, we went to the club to set up ourselves for teeing off, the great moment was very close! A match was arranged, which made it even more fun. Unfortunately my game was not good, but all the same I enjoyed the time and the course. The match was even at 17th were our opponents made a birdie 3 and we finally lost 1 down after I failed to hole in for birdie from 5m at the 18th. I hit some good shots that will be in my memory, especially a bunker shot on 8th were I almost holed a really impossible shot. My greatest achievement? I played all 18 holes



with the same ball with which I began the round, which I will keep it as a treasure. One of my friends, JPdeB, played a very good second 9 holes and made four birdies, with some extraordinary shots. And our host, 70 year-old, made 76 gross showing that even today he is still an excellent player.

It is tough to describe completely this beauty without forgetting any detail, as it is full of them! I'm not qualified enough to judge the course design. The piece of land is as perfect as you can imagine, but the 2 guys who created the course (George Crump with help of AW Tillinghast and others) obviously had quite big skills for creating golf courses, although was the only one he designed. How can I explain how good it is? A great course cannot be forgotten, there's the secret: I can perfectly describe each of the 18 holes and I remember each of the 83 times I hit the Titleist Pro V1x 3.

The pictures above show the 10th tee (and it's Devil's Ass Hole) and Tee 13th (one of the nicest shots on the course). We could describe the whole course as one but it will be unfair, each hole is different and has its on character. Something that is totally different and outstanding is Course Maintenance: fairways with enviable perfection without a single weed, greens that even if they were not as fast as they can be rolled perfectly well, bunkers and neat edges but at the same time wild sectors gave a natural touch to the Course. If a modern Superintendent wants to see how a Golf Course show be maintained, Pine Valley is the perfect example.



There are some holes that deserve some extra words:

Hole 5 / Par 3 / 225yds: totally uphill, with water in front (which does not come into play) and where a missed shot can be a disaster, especially the right side. At the back of the 6th tee there is a rare metal figure, which is the Jay Sigel’s swing plane of Jay Sigel, one of the great golfers from out of Pine Valley.

Hole 7 / Par 5/575 yds: nobody has ever reached this green in 2 shots. It has a very big cross bunker named “Hell's Half Acre”. Two perfect 3 woods and I still had 100 yards to the hole.

Hole 13 / Par 4 / 445yds: a great hole! Tee shot uphill and then down for the approach to a huge green.

Hole 14 / Par 3 / 215yds: all downhill, with water in front and to the left. There must be no less than 20 meters of altitude gap between tee and green.

5th Tee: from there you see the entire hole (a perfect par 5 described by our host), green 16 through the lagoon and green 14. It is the nicest and most quiet place of the course. The caddie carrying our bag recited poetry inspired on that spot of the course.

Hole 18 / Par 4 /435 yds: high Tee, all sand on the right, downhill until the last 50 yards where it goes up again to a very big green. A perfect final hole for a course that will never be matched.

It's been 2 weeks since I played it and I have it well fresh in my memory. Can I ask for more? Yes, go back someday and play a little better…

Merion: a demanding test of golf and club steeped in history

The afternoon at Pine Valley ended on Burger King and then back to Philadelphia, where we stopped at the stairs in which Rocky Balboa climbed (I couldn't help but run up) and we took a photo with the statue of Stallone, a must! A little rest and off the dinner testing the Best Ribs in Town plus German Beer, some music and a little bit of distraction before another big golfing day. Early to bed, we had to do check out and be 9am sharp at Merion.



Many years ago one of my golfing idols, Roberto "Cope" Benito, told me that his favorite course was Merion East where the 1960 World Amateur was played (and was when the plaque that pays tribute to Bobby Jones was discovered) and from that day I told myself that someday I would have to play it. A few years later a friend who did a master's degree at Harvard and was Argentine Amateur Runner Up in 1993, Luis Graziani Jr, told me he played it once and said "The toughest greens I have ever played”. Two comments from Merion East that will never be erased from my mind and that I had fresh in my memory that day before playing the Course.

We arrived and from the street leading to the entrance you can see the fabulous 13th hole (par 3 105yds) where Phil hit that thin shot that cost him another U.S. Open. Believe me there is nothing less intimidating than that hole, but I can imagine that playing the 4th round of the U.S. Open the shot could be a little more difficult, right? The host was the same as in Pine Valley and we were ready for the rematch of the lost game from the day before. The Course has no driving range (only a cage in the locker room , which I did not use) , so we took the opportunity to tour the Club House, watch pictures, places, moments, all guided by the Locker Room Manager who very kindly told me everything and gave me a magazine with the program of the 2009 Walker Cup which was played there and where among others Ricky Fowler was part of the team led by George "Buddy" Marucci Jr., member of Merion and Pine Valley, and who had the honor to play the 1995 US Amateur Final game against Tiger Woods, one of those amateurs that we don’t find any more as they turn Pro very young.

Another thing that Cope Benito told me before traveling is to figure out how close the Terrace Restaurant is to the 1st tee and the truth is that it is literally one next to each other. You wave your club for practice swings and you can listen to conversations (although they are very quiet) and the noise of cutlery. And believe me; the pressure of not hitting a bad shot is quite big! We then walked to the 18th green, which we studied before, we looked at where Justin Rose made 2 shots, we stood



on the 14th tee from the championship (heavy and tough!) and despite seeing that the greens were recently aerated, we were excited wanting to play as soon as possible.

The match was on our side this time; we won 2&1 with 2 great shots by RG on 16 and 17 for a birdie and a par. This time I've played better despite having bogeys on both par 5s. The course didn’t play too difficult, but still a missed shot was deeply penalized. I'll take some good shots: 6 iron towards 5 meters and birdie on 3rd, I drove the 10th green and nearly made an eagle and hit a perfect second shot on 11th with the 52° Wedge for my last birdie of the day. This 11th is a special hole where in 1930 Bobby Jones won 8/7 his last match and completed his own "Grand Slam". There is a plaque in his and you have to take that picture. The host told us that every year all the members go to the11th green to take champagne and smoke cigars in his honor, I don't deny it's one of the events I want to see at least once in my life!

As we crossed the street I stood on the 13th tee and had a Deja Vu of the day I played at Winged Foot, I can’t get my head of how that 100yds cost him so dearly to Mickelson! A nice and smooth 56° wedge shot stopped close to 3m and although I missed the putt, I think the hole is much easier than my beloved 14th at Golf Club Argentino, without hesitation! We arrived at 18 and the photo on



the plaque in memory of Ben Hogan’s 1-iron Shot is mandatory, the place is full of divots from people who try the shot (I did not, but it would have been a 3 iron). We played the hole 400yds downwind and after the best drive of the day I hit my PW, a totally blind shot as the terrain climbs to the entrance of the green.

The most important thing I want to say about the Course is that you realize when it is an U.S Open venue; you notice that it has "one more gear". Although the rough was not so high and the drawing of the fairways was the same as in June, the Course showed me how good she is. There are not 2 holes in the same direction, the short par 4s are more difficult than the long ones and the last 5 holes are very complicated. Just mention that in the 17 I hit a great 5 iron and I left it 6m from the flag in rough...and from there I couldn't hit the green!!! Each hole has its own character, but if I had to choose one I'll take the 18 but not only because of Hogan but because it is an extraordinary golf hole.

I think the TV does not show everything of a golf course "live", there are some holes that are off the charts:

- Hole 3 / Par 3 / 219yds: we played a little less than 200, but the green is huge and with a lot of movement. There is a tee of 245yds used for the Open ... good short par 4!

- Hole 7 / Par 4/ 362yds: the original fairway goes away from the OB; the USGA redrew the Fairway for the Open. It has an extraordinary green, small, well protected and with movement. There is a house that has it’s garden close to the green, one of the greatest natural tribunes I ever saw.

- Hole 10 / Par 4 / 303yds: a masterpiece is a small word for it! A very nice tee tucked into the trees to a well-protected green. If you play the course every weekend, you must play safe with an iron. If you're not sure to come back, shoot your Driver to the green, which I did!

- Hole 14 / Par 4 / 418yds: dogleg to the left with out of bounds on that side, blind green as the second shot is uphill. Another hole where I missed the pin by 6m and I was in a fearsome rough, but this time I was able to make up and down.



- Holes 16-17-18, three GREAT HOLES, nothing less. The 16th is not long par 4, but there is a large waste bunker about 50m long near the green in which I've was, I should have played safe. The 17th is a par 3 about 190yds maybe with the best green. And the 18th is the most famous hole of the course; from the tee of the US Championship it is a good par 5 for all of us.

We had a great experience but we were missing something: having lunch in the Terrace, listening to all the different anecdotes from the course and the Club, watching how the people that were playing shot their drive at the 1st Hole. Without mentioning that the Proshop was amazing, we took lots of souvenirs: one of them was a flag with the logo of Merion that is already framed in our office.

We were missing one last stop, East Hampton, a trip that normally takes 2hs by car but due to the PGA Tour Playoffs and the U.S. Tennis Open it took almost 4 hrs. Fatigue was not taken into account considering that at the next day we were going to play the #4 Course in the world. Once we did the check-in and tidy up the luggage we went for "The best Ribs in Town" and they were truly not bad! On the next day we played at 1pm and as our flight departure from Newark was 10pm (2h from the Club) we had to rush!

Shinnecock Hills: where in 2004 Retief Goosen showed how this course has to be played

Shinnecock Hills is one of the 5 founder clubs of the USGA and after being venue of the 2nd US Open, didn’t received this Major until 1986 where Ray Floyd with a great final round of 65 took the Championship. We woke up with plenty of time and we were only 20 minutes away from the Course, so after we had breakfast (because we weren’t going to have time for having lunch) we went to the Club and arrived at 11.30am and they were ready waiting for us, incredible…

I still remember the 4-Wood Corey Pavin hit to beat my idol Greg Norman in the 1995 Open at 18th, one of the hardest defeats of the Great White Shark after taking the first place during all the Championship. One of the things I wanted to do was to stand there to see the shot. After touring the Club House, which is also very small and simple as the other two, with Juampi and El Chino we went to the 9th green (the original 18), 18, 14, 10th tee and 1st tee where we took plenty of photos.

As we didn’t have much time after golf, we went to the Proshop before playing and we bought many things in order to have plenty souvenirs from the 4th golf course of the world. From there we went directly to the practice range and started practicing (even though it was no necessary after playing during 8 days). There we met with Bob, our host, a retired doctor of 65 years old and 18 handicap who very kindly invited us to play, what really meant a lot for us!!



As we had no time we started from 10th tee to play faster, which was not a problem and it was the original route of the course. This time we weren't able to play a match game, just a nice walk at the venue of the 2018 US Open with a Member who told us the history and what they were planning for when the best golfers come back. One of the many things that he told us was that Rory McIIory played there some days before and shot 64! It was a windy day and the greens were very fast, it would have been fun to play it in a competitive match!! I'm not complaining, we enjoyed playing and seeing that every bad miss pays very expensive, and is in that moment when you take into account how good the Professionals are. In my case I enjoyed by studying it and guessing what can happen in 2018, with the evolution that technology is giving to golf and without the large putters or bellies. In 2007 I played its neighbor National Links of America and when I came to the 10th I saw the 3rd of Shinnecock from the other side of the trees. This time it was the other way round, walking the 3rd of Shinnecock I saw the National Halfway Bar and the 9th, the 10th, the Mill, the Club House and beyond that the Sebonack Club House, venue of the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open.

I think that my point of view may be unfair, but it is how I feel after reviewing everything. It is the one that I liked least of the 3 (aesthetically speaking) and I also think that Pine Valley and Merion are better despite of being shorter. But, its greens and the course in general were impeccable, very quick and it was an incredible experience. I hope to have it fresh in my memory for 2018, if not I will have to return to play it again! Before playing The Member told us that the course was better than ever and he was right: the fairways seemed greens because of its perfection and the greens were also extremely fast and rolling impeccably well. And another thing to note: from the whole



field you can see the Club House, the highest point of the piece of land; it was a visionary who placed the building.

Some holes we must highlight:

- Hole 6 / Par 4 / 467yds: extraordinary dog leg hole to the right (we play it into the wind), with a waste area before the lake and a green with a lot of movement.

- Hole 7 / par 3 / 194yds: the Redan Hole, name given to the design that falls from the beginning up to the left background and 15th at North Berwick being the original, and copied at the 4th of National Links of America. I was lucky to play the 3 of them and they are perfect. I had a 20 footer for birdie and I had to aim it 10 feet to the right! In the 2004 Open this hole caused much controversy because of the wind and velocity the ball couldn't stop at the green and they had to water it during the round.

- Hole 9 / par 4 / 443yds: it was the original 18, a huge par 4 with its green elevated from the fairway not less than 10 meters, with a hard green and just behind the Club House, a very pretty picture.

- Hole 10 / Par 4 / 412yds: a large gap on the right side of the fairway then about 15m up to the green, leaving your drive on the lowest part is not good at all; the shot to the green is much more difficult.

- Hole 18 / Par 4 / 457yds: how can we forget Pavin's shot!! It is a dogleg to the left where you can only see the green from the right side of the fairway. You don't have idea where Corey's ball landed, only a genius can shoot like that.

End of trip. End of the experience. The beginning of great golfing memories. I still have fresh my rounds in Winged Foot and National in 2007, I hope that these 3 courses remain in my mind and I can share it with everyone. Having the possibility of being there was supreme, playing these 3 courses was my dream and with my friends, it would be selfish to ask for more. It was a great way to see how people play golf at the best courses of the world. Not only that but also where we should



go as future leaders of golf in Argentina. We will not have Pine Valley and Merion in Argentina but nothing bad would seem to point to as a possibility, there is a lot to do and to learn.

pine valley, merion & shinnecock hills · get shinnecock hills. it was not easy, not only to...

Documents