Post by williamwes626 on Sept 12, 2021 20:33:59 GMT -5
Welcome to the New York Botanical Garden Golf Club located in the Bronx, New York City! It was established in 1891 and became a national landmark in 1967. In 2020, a fictional golf course was commissioned for the property and by summer 2021, we opened for play. It’s a par 72 at a little over 7200 yards but it’s a mostly easy course for a fun day with just a little challenge. I wanted something fun for any families that play the game together, or kids, pets, whomever.
Almost a year ago, I visited NYBG with the intention of creating a golf course for 2K21 out of a place I like to frequent for a peaceful day. Using the maps and Google satellite, I mapped out a course with walking paths replaced by fairways and each section of the garden being its own themed-hole. Each hole name is written in flowers on this fictional course for ID purposes. The routing is based on one way I walk the grounds when I’m there. A few of the greens and bunkers are lightly shaped like flowers, plants or leaves but mostly it’s a conventional parkland style course otherwise. It’s the best-smelling course in New York City!
NY Botanical Garden GC [par 72, 7210 yards]
1) Azalea Way, [4-392]
Get those noses ready for the floral golf experience! The opening hole of New York Botanical Garden GC is a short and sharp par-4 dogleg right that allows a hybrid or faded wood off the tee, leaving a short iron slightly uphill to the flag. With a good eye, you can use driver as well which results in a short pitch the green which is bookended by the professionally and lovingly arranged azalea flower beds.
2) Children’s Adventure Garden/Wetlands/Picnic Pavilions [5-587]
Check out the Children’s Adventure Garden to mingle with others, pet the horses and enjoy the large Paper Mache flower sculptures to the left of the tee before knocking your ball between the tall and colorful trees downhill towards a straight fairway that tilts lightly to the Wetlands on the right. (In real life they had big Paper Mache animal sculptures.) With the wind at your back, the ‘Children’ bunkers left come into play so don’t bomb it too deep. Reachable in two for long hitters, your approach shouldn’t deviate too far left or you’ll land your ball in someone’s food at the Picnic Pavilions.
3) Daffodil Hill [4-408]
After you grabbed a snack at the ‘Picnic Pavilions’ and paid for the customer’s food you knocked your ball into, it’s time to trek 50 feet uphill on this daffodil-littered straight par-4. Watch out for the leaf-shaped bunkers guarding the false-front green.
4) Crabapple Collection [3-235]
That was a tough walk uphill, so let’s play back down on one of NY Botanical Garden’s more scenic but also more challenging holes. ‘Crabapple Collection’ is a long par-3 but it’s downhill. Fade it off the tee for the best angle into the tree-shaped apron and small apple-shaped green, and the ball will ride towards the pin locations. It may be the toughest tee shot on the course. Grab an apple and head to the next tee.
5) Ornamental Conifers [5-520]
A total pushover dogleg right short par-5, birdie or eagle is imminent at ‘Ornamental Confiers’. Hit the tee shot over the Bronx River and land on the wide fairway between the vast array of unique conifers – there are at least 20 different plants here. Use the leaning trees behind the large green to center your aim and come up with that eagle moment.
6) Greenhouses [4-445]
Similar to the famous ‘Road’ hole of St. Andrews, with ‘Greenhouses’ the goal is to hit your tee ball with driver over the greenhouses or send out a 3-wood/hybrid to the safer part of the fairway. Watch out for the ‘Greenhouse Expert Eyeglasses’ bunker (a play on the Principal’s Nose bunker) to the left and when you land on the fairway, check out the different flowers and plants sitting on the window sills of the greenhouses. The small green has a severe backboard to catch long shots and shots can be run up to the green using the downhill slope at the neck.
7) Maple Collection [4-341]
After the maple taste-testing, jump back into action with this sweet and straight par-4 that loves to give away birdies. The small highly undulating green may be out of reach from the tee, but it’s a sure birdie with even a hybrid off the tee. Watch out for the bunkers and grass bunkers along the way and make sure to score here. Grab your empty syrup bottle and feel free to load up.
8) Rose Garden [3-106]
My favorite part of the real NY Botanical Garden, the Rose Garden is the ‘Short’ of the course. It’s a scenic hole with flowers and sand set in a specific polygon pattern. Each bed has a different species of rose. The tiny round green would be really tough normally, but the hole is downhill and only as long as a football field. Snap some photos on the best scented hole here. Cars pass by on the highway behind so you may have an extra audience at the ‘Rose Garden’ hole.
9) Lilac Collection [4-370]
A spacious area of the property with a spacious fairway, make sure you attain par on the relatively easy and colorful straight par-4 ‘Lilac Collection’. Driver and a pitch should be enough. Stop by the hospitality tents if you need to use the facilities, grab another snack, or buy a book on gardening at the gift shop.
10) Bronx River [4-450]
A dogleg left par-4 asks you to hit driver or 3-wood over the Bronx River, avoiding the River House to the left of the fairway. The downhill tee ball should land on the left-leaning fairway leaving a short iron or wedge to the oval flower bulb-shaped green. The shadows creep in on this hole from the native forest of the following 11th hole.
11) Native Forest [5-648]
The ‘Long’ of the course, this should be played as a 3-shot par-5. In real life, it’s a long, wavy path that winds through a small forest and is completely in shadows because of all the towering trees. It’s a darker hole than the others so see your way through along the long and winding fairway with accuracy and a birdie will be found.
12) Cherry Collection [3-144]
The main feature on his par-3 is the double green that can hold 2 pin positions each. Watch out for the ‘Cherry Stem’ bunker behind the cherry-shaped double green. Hit the tee over the duck-filled Bronx River with just a wedge or short iron and a touch of backspin to keep it on the small twin landing areas.
13) Magnolias [4-392]
Sorry but not all the magnolias are in bloom, just some. Magnolias is a pretty easy dogleg left par-4 if you avoid the Twin Lakes that surround the fairway. The approach can be wet as well so miss to the right to play it safe. The cars on the highway will be watching but don’t worry about the extra pressure, the fairway is wide.
14) Tulip Trees [3-183]
This par-3 is a little tougher than ‘Cherry Collection’ – it heads straight through the two rows of tulip trees towards the Library Clubhouse. Short is the only safe play as tee shots that stray left, right, or long will land in the large horseshoe bunker. The small green has a light false front but low liners can run up the apron onto the putting surface.
15) Native Plant Collection [4-452]
Check out all the lovely plants at the 'Native Plant Collection', a light dogleg right, uphill par-4. The spacious fairway should be no trouble to connect with, but the long approach can prove to be a challenge. Take the right-leaning fairway camber into account when you pull the iron out of the bag.
16) Rock Collection [4-512]
Along with the 4th hole ‘Crabapple Collection’, the ‘Rock Collection’ is the other security guard of par on the property. The longest par-4 and probably the nastiest hole on the course, it could be a rocky day with poor play here. It’s easy to get distracted by the beautiful plants especially when taking on the rectangle pool-styled pond left of the green.
17) Herb & Perennial Garden [5-571]
Another scenic hole, this par-5 dogleg right has the player hit their tee ball over flowerbeds to the right with driver, or around them with a faded 3-wood to the heavily cambered fairway. The enormous Conservatory building has many plant lovers watching you along with the crowd so they’ll be extra cheering with a birdie on 17. Eagle is a possibility if you can avoid the leaf bunkers guarding the flower-shaped green.
18) Conifer Arborteum [4-453]
Finish up your flowery round on the final hole, a par-4 dogleg left that bends between some of the odder trees in town. The Library Clubhouse sits in the distance. When you’re done with your round, head there to find out more about all the plants you’ve played through.
Wide fairways, relatively easy greens, not too much elevation, and reasonable hole lengths will all lead to good scores whether you’re a veteran or new to the game. Enjoy the sights and smells of NY Botanical Garden GC!
Karma was able to snap some photos while he was visiting, and I just want to thank him in advance for helping me out.
Almost a year ago, I visited NYBG with the intention of creating a golf course for 2K21 out of a place I like to frequent for a peaceful day. Using the maps and Google satellite, I mapped out a course with walking paths replaced by fairways and each section of the garden being its own themed-hole. Each hole name is written in flowers on this fictional course for ID purposes. The routing is based on one way I walk the grounds when I’m there. A few of the greens and bunkers are lightly shaped like flowers, plants or leaves but mostly it’s a conventional parkland style course otherwise. It’s the best-smelling course in New York City!
NY Botanical Garden GC [par 72, 7210 yards]
1) Azalea Way, [4-392]
Get those noses ready for the floral golf experience! The opening hole of New York Botanical Garden GC is a short and sharp par-4 dogleg right that allows a hybrid or faded wood off the tee, leaving a short iron slightly uphill to the flag. With a good eye, you can use driver as well which results in a short pitch the green which is bookended by the professionally and lovingly arranged azalea flower beds.
2) Children’s Adventure Garden/Wetlands/Picnic Pavilions [5-587]
Check out the Children’s Adventure Garden to mingle with others, pet the horses and enjoy the large Paper Mache flower sculptures to the left of the tee before knocking your ball between the tall and colorful trees downhill towards a straight fairway that tilts lightly to the Wetlands on the right. (In real life they had big Paper Mache animal sculptures.) With the wind at your back, the ‘Children’ bunkers left come into play so don’t bomb it too deep. Reachable in two for long hitters, your approach shouldn’t deviate too far left or you’ll land your ball in someone’s food at the Picnic Pavilions.
3) Daffodil Hill [4-408]
After you grabbed a snack at the ‘Picnic Pavilions’ and paid for the customer’s food you knocked your ball into, it’s time to trek 50 feet uphill on this daffodil-littered straight par-4. Watch out for the leaf-shaped bunkers guarding the false-front green.
4) Crabapple Collection [3-235]
That was a tough walk uphill, so let’s play back down on one of NY Botanical Garden’s more scenic but also more challenging holes. ‘Crabapple Collection’ is a long par-3 but it’s downhill. Fade it off the tee for the best angle into the tree-shaped apron and small apple-shaped green, and the ball will ride towards the pin locations. It may be the toughest tee shot on the course. Grab an apple and head to the next tee.
5) Ornamental Conifers [5-520]
A total pushover dogleg right short par-5, birdie or eagle is imminent at ‘Ornamental Confiers’. Hit the tee shot over the Bronx River and land on the wide fairway between the vast array of unique conifers – there are at least 20 different plants here. Use the leaning trees behind the large green to center your aim and come up with that eagle moment.
6) Greenhouses [4-445]
Similar to the famous ‘Road’ hole of St. Andrews, with ‘Greenhouses’ the goal is to hit your tee ball with driver over the greenhouses or send out a 3-wood/hybrid to the safer part of the fairway. Watch out for the ‘Greenhouse Expert Eyeglasses’ bunker (a play on the Principal’s Nose bunker) to the left and when you land on the fairway, check out the different flowers and plants sitting on the window sills of the greenhouses. The small green has a severe backboard to catch long shots and shots can be run up to the green using the downhill slope at the neck.
7) Maple Collection [4-341]
After the maple taste-testing, jump back into action with this sweet and straight par-4 that loves to give away birdies. The small highly undulating green may be out of reach from the tee, but it’s a sure birdie with even a hybrid off the tee. Watch out for the bunkers and grass bunkers along the way and make sure to score here. Grab your empty syrup bottle and feel free to load up.
8) Rose Garden [3-106]
My favorite part of the real NY Botanical Garden, the Rose Garden is the ‘Short’ of the course. It’s a scenic hole with flowers and sand set in a specific polygon pattern. Each bed has a different species of rose. The tiny round green would be really tough normally, but the hole is downhill and only as long as a football field. Snap some photos on the best scented hole here. Cars pass by on the highway behind so you may have an extra audience at the ‘Rose Garden’ hole.
9) Lilac Collection [4-370]
A spacious area of the property with a spacious fairway, make sure you attain par on the relatively easy and colorful straight par-4 ‘Lilac Collection’. Driver and a pitch should be enough. Stop by the hospitality tents if you need to use the facilities, grab another snack, or buy a book on gardening at the gift shop.
10) Bronx River [4-450]
A dogleg left par-4 asks you to hit driver or 3-wood over the Bronx River, avoiding the River House to the left of the fairway. The downhill tee ball should land on the left-leaning fairway leaving a short iron or wedge to the oval flower bulb-shaped green. The shadows creep in on this hole from the native forest of the following 11th hole.
11) Native Forest [5-648]
The ‘Long’ of the course, this should be played as a 3-shot par-5. In real life, it’s a long, wavy path that winds through a small forest and is completely in shadows because of all the towering trees. It’s a darker hole than the others so see your way through along the long and winding fairway with accuracy and a birdie will be found.
12) Cherry Collection [3-144]
The main feature on his par-3 is the double green that can hold 2 pin positions each. Watch out for the ‘Cherry Stem’ bunker behind the cherry-shaped double green. Hit the tee over the duck-filled Bronx River with just a wedge or short iron and a touch of backspin to keep it on the small twin landing areas.
13) Magnolias [4-392]
Sorry but not all the magnolias are in bloom, just some. Magnolias is a pretty easy dogleg left par-4 if you avoid the Twin Lakes that surround the fairway. The approach can be wet as well so miss to the right to play it safe. The cars on the highway will be watching but don’t worry about the extra pressure, the fairway is wide.
14) Tulip Trees [3-183]
This par-3 is a little tougher than ‘Cherry Collection’ – it heads straight through the two rows of tulip trees towards the Library Clubhouse. Short is the only safe play as tee shots that stray left, right, or long will land in the large horseshoe bunker. The small green has a light false front but low liners can run up the apron onto the putting surface.
15) Native Plant Collection [4-452]
Check out all the lovely plants at the 'Native Plant Collection', a light dogleg right, uphill par-4. The spacious fairway should be no trouble to connect with, but the long approach can prove to be a challenge. Take the right-leaning fairway camber into account when you pull the iron out of the bag.
16) Rock Collection [4-512]
Along with the 4th hole ‘Crabapple Collection’, the ‘Rock Collection’ is the other security guard of par on the property. The longest par-4 and probably the nastiest hole on the course, it could be a rocky day with poor play here. It’s easy to get distracted by the beautiful plants especially when taking on the rectangle pool-styled pond left of the green.
17) Herb & Perennial Garden [5-571]
Another scenic hole, this par-5 dogleg right has the player hit their tee ball over flowerbeds to the right with driver, or around them with a faded 3-wood to the heavily cambered fairway. The enormous Conservatory building has many plant lovers watching you along with the crowd so they’ll be extra cheering with a birdie on 17. Eagle is a possibility if you can avoid the leaf bunkers guarding the flower-shaped green.
18) Conifer Arborteum [4-453]
Finish up your flowery round on the final hole, a par-4 dogleg left that bends between some of the odder trees in town. The Library Clubhouse sits in the distance. When you’re done with your round, head there to find out more about all the plants you’ve played through.
Wide fairways, relatively easy greens, not too much elevation, and reasonable hole lengths will all lead to good scores whether you’re a veteran or new to the game. Enjoy the sights and smells of NY Botanical Garden GC!
Karma was able to snap some photos while he was visiting, and I just want to thank him in advance for helping me out.