ROCKWOOD HALL (NT - Tillinghast)
Apr 19, 2024 10:30:06 GMT -5
mvpmanatee, b101, and 7 more like this
Post by rfitzgerald11 on Apr 19, 2024 10:30:06 GMT -5
Welcome to Rockwood Hall golf club which is my entry into the National Treasure design contest (I'm in the alternate group). The course is based on design elements from AW Tillinghast and one of they key features are the more sculpted greens. So, there are two versions of the course, the Tilly version which is a harder and faster version for more advanced players, as well as a public version which is set up slower and softer so the average player can enjoy the course more. SO PLEASE CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE VERSION TO PLAY FOR MOST ENJOYMENT! There are a number of Tillinghast’s other design features also built into this course and some winks to specific courses as well that people may be able to recognize. Some key Tillinghast features to understand with this course:
Greens
• Tightly guarded by bunkers especially in the front and on the sides.
• Often raised in the back and slanted more often than not one way or another so do not be above the hole or you will be face with what could be a difficult and fast putt.
Bunkers
• They are strong and used to be intimidating.
Fairways
• Often will be wide but will favor a particular side for best angle in.
• Lots of risk/reward off the tee. Players are going to be challenged to see how much they want try and carry off the tee to set up better angles for approach shots.
Overall
• Tillinghast had 4 design templates and here is where they have been used
o Reef – Hole 5
o Tiny Tim – Hole 8
o Great Hazzard – Hole 16
o Double Dogleg – Hole 16
Now onto course information and story of the course.
The transformation from an estate to a state public golf course….
In 1848 a wealthy merchant named Edwin Bartlett acquired approximately 200 acres in New York along the Hudson River and built an English Gothic style castle in which he called Rockwood. He sold the property to a business associate named William Aspinwall who lived at the Rockwood Hall estate until 1886 when it was sold to William Rockefeller for $150,000. Rockefeller set out to create the perfect country estate, as he expanded the property to over 1,000 acres and extensively renovated the 204 room Rockwood Hall mansion. The property was a model of self sufficiency and included a number of animals and farmland (old barn ruins remain on the property). Sheep were used in the rugged property to help enrich the soil and trim the vegetation.
Rockefeller lived at Rockwood Hall until his death in 1922 at which time his heirs decided to sell the property, and when an individual investor could not be found a group of investors formed Rockwood Hall Inc, purchased the estate and converted it into a country club with an 18 hole golf course. According to the Tillinghast Association www.tillinghast.net/ a 2nd 18 hole course was designed by AW Tillinghast in 1928 but not finished due to the financial difficulties of the club which declared bankruptcy in 1936. After multiple sales and owners of the property in the early 1970’s Laurance Rockefeller, who had obtained ownership, leased part of the property to the State of New York. The State of New York then totally renovated Rockwood Hall into a magnificent club house complete with pro shop, dinning, conference rooms, banquet halls etc. The original golf course design that was developed by AW Tillinghast was also finally completed in the park so the public could enjoy the property as Rockefeller intended.
Welcome to Rockwood Hall Golf Club and enjoy the AW Tillinghast designed golf course!
It was believed by Tillinghast that each hole he designed was worth of a name so here is a short hole by hole breakdown.
Hole 1 – “Elm” A welcoming hole to start the round. Players can take less than driver for an easy entry to the round but for an ideal tee shot you need to bend it right around the Elm tree. Don’t come to the tee asleep because a driver that doesn’t move left to right can find the water easily and lead to a frustrating score right away. An elevated green with a short iron shot can provide an opening birdie if the player executes an accurate second shot.
Hole 2 – “Table” – Staying on the right side of the fairway or big hitters carrying the bunker allows for a much better angle into this elevated green that runs back to front. The false front can cause puts above the holes on some pins to run off the green so beware of the slope.
Hole 3 – “Water” – A good drive will lead you to an approach shot over a small creek into a green that is elevated from back to front and moves right to left. The water shouldn’t be in play but make sure you hit the green as missed 2nd shots can cause challenging up and downs.
Hole 4 – “Crater” – Choice of club used to hit into this long uphill par 3 is critical. You need to be as close to pin high on the shorter pins and don’t be long of the green when trying to go for the back pins. Short of the long pins is just fine as it leaves better birdie chances. Be careful when above the hole as the putts downhill can be very fast and get away from players quickly. When playing on high winds from the south and east you may want to consider playing the blue tees.
Hole 5 – “Reef” The first par 5 leaves you an approach shot that tests your ability to manage one of Tilly’s 4 templates. The 2nd shot allows you to challenge the hazard which runs diagonally across the fairway. Carry over it and your ball has a chance to run up to the green. A safe line can be to go short and left of the reef to allow a longer approach shot in. Many different ways to approach this hole so choose wisely.
Hole 6 – “Happy Valley” The landing area off the tee can get more narrow and based on the pin location determines how much the valley to the right would come into play. The green slants back to front and left to right so a miss into the left bunkers will be a very challenging up and down.
Hole 7- “Road” The second par 5 on the course runs next to the town road and your approach shot to this elevated green approaches homes near the property. This can be reachable with your 2nd shot but warning that again being above the hole and on back fringes could present big short game challenges on this green that like others slants back to front.
Hole 8 – “Tiny Tim” The second of Tilly’s templates on this course is a short par 3 surrounded by sand, 8 is deceptively difficult. Hit it short, left or right and the odds are you will be in one of the deep bunkers that surround the green of this par 3. The green slopes from back-to-front. A shot hit short may spin back off the green; Hit it pin high; otherwise expect a short game adventure.
Hole 9 – “Swimmin’ Hole” A shorter par 4 that runs between the grounds of Rockwood Hall and a small pond. Stay right off the tee and then make sure your yardage is accurate for this short iron shot into a tiered green. The green has multiple tiers that run towards the pond so anything on a tier above the hole will be a very difficult 2 putt.
Hole 10 – “Knuckle” A drive to the left side of the fairway and avoiding the bunker down the right will set up the best angle to this heavily guarded green. The uphill shots requires you to take extra club but don’t take too much as it can lead to an improper shot and a tough up and down.
Hole 11 –“Sneak” Determining how much you want to cut on the drive will allow you to play different approach shots into this green. Avoid the big drop off and hidden bunker on the left. The green runs hard off the front. Hole requires two very solid shots to get a chance at birdie.
Hole 12 – “Patience” A lot of ways to play this tempting short par 4 and birdie can be had if played appropriately. There are a number of bad spots as well though which can lead to difficult shots around the green and frustrations.
Hole 13- “Tiers” The third par 3 on the course has multiple tiers on a green that flows back to front and right to left. Smaller landing areas require precision to have a chance at a birdie. Hitting the wrong slope can lead to a difficult two putt.
Hole 14 – “Glade” Enjoy the view of the Rockwood Hall clubhouse from the tee box then determine how much of the bunkers on the left you want to try and carry. The more you carry the further the roll will be leading to an easier approach shot. The green slants front to back and left to right.
Hole 15 – “Beeches” A short par 4 with heavy bunkers to both sides of the fairway but especially the left. This green is one of the more heavily sloped on the course so birdie or par is not a given. Use the slopes to make sure your putt is as easy as can be.
Hole 16 – “Hazzard” A hole that will catch everyone’s eye after a tee shot that doglegs left. The decision then is to try and carry the great hazard to the fairway on top of the hill or layup leaving an iron into a green that doglegs back to the right. Positioning and decision making is paramount on this hole to recording birdie.
Hole 17 – “Somerset” The final par 3 is a hole modeled after Tillinghast’s marque par 3 at Somerset Hill CC. Tilly’s implementation of a redan hole where players need to be very careful on proper attack lines to achieve the best score.
Hole 18 – “Bridge” Avoid the cross bunker at all cost off the tee. If you do the decision to be made is to go for the green or layup short of the two guardian bunkers guarding the run up to the green. The proper positioning is key to ensure a birdie on the final hole. Enjoy your walk over the Rockefeller bridge as you finish up your round and approach the 18th green.
Thanks for the read! I'm not sure I've ever had a course come together this quickly for me but feel like it did. Hope everyone enjoys it and thanks for letting me be in the contest. Best of luck to everyone!
