Friars Head

[Snelly]

A friend of mine recently played at Friars Head in New York State. He is someone who has played some of the best courses in the world and whose opinion on courses I value highly.

He said to me that Friars Head is possibly the best course that he has ever played and I confess, to this point, I had never even heard of the place.

The photos of the course that can be found point to a terrific golf course. One that I would love to play at some point.

The website is limited in terms of content and I suspect that the majority of the website is only available to members who can log in.

http://www.friarshead.org

Looks very private and I am impressed with their view on the pace of play as well. "In order to enhance the quality of the golfing experience at Friar’s Head, it is imperative that all golfers be committed to play expeditiously. The pace of play for a four-ball shall not exceed 3 hours 45 minutes. If a match is unable to maintain the pace of the following match, and there is an open hole immediately ahead, the slower match must let the faster match through, regardless of the number of players in each group."


Sounds good to me! But I bet it isn't cheap.

Anyone else heard of it? Been there? Know anyone who has played?

 

[Fyldewhite]

Blimey, now that is a list of regulations. I particularly like the requirement for caddies and that only they are allowed to repair pitch marks as "very few players actually know how to properly fix ball marks", phones must not only not be used but be "concealed from view", and best of all........shoes from elsewhere must be cleaned by the locker room attendant prior to use.......oh, and you can't tip him!!

I'll give it a miss thanks!

 

[Duckster]

I've about as much chance of winning The Open as I have of getting onto pretty much any course in that neck of the woods. Sebonack, Shinnecock, National Golf Links of America & Fishers Island all within a stones throw.

Think the only accessible one nearby would be Bethpage.

 

[Ethan]

Friar's Head is a Coore and Crenshaw design, and C&C are one of the hottest design teams in the business, favouring traditional designs from the golden era of American golf, between the wars, natural features, natural contours and firm and fast playing conditions. The club owners who hire them tend to go for the same traditional aspects, with a walking only course, caddie programme and snappy pace of play.

A quarter of a million dollars should get you in. That is a bit of a bargain compared to Sebonack.

 

[Snelly]

Thanks Ethan.

I need to find a member to sign me in for a green fee I think.

 

[Smiffy]

Sounds a bit poncey to me....

 

[chrisd]

I think that I might be too frightened of breaking a rule to enjoy playing there

 

[Ethan]

Sounds a bit poncey to me....

Bandon is kinda the same but much more accessible. It serves as a contrast to the sort of American golf where everyone rides a cart, the course is covered with cart paths is a technicolour palette of brilliant green grass, dazzling white bunkers and azure blue hazards. The more natural look, and walking relatively quickly is much more like golf on a decent heathland or links course over here.

 

[Duckster]

Bandon is kinda the same but much more accessible. It serves as a contrast to the sort of American golf where everyone rides a cart, the course is covered with cart paths is a technicolour palette of brilliant green grass, dazzling white bunkers and azure blue hazards. The more natural look, and walking relatively quickly is much more like golf on a decent heathland or links course over here.

I like what Mike Keiser did with Bandon Dunes. Then he's done a similar thing with Cabot Links had a part in Barnbougle Dunes and is apparently looking at doing the same treatment near Royal Dornoch. Yes, they are expensive (and remote) but anyone can play there and the set ups are meant to be fully geared towards golf.

I'm not a fan of the American approach to private clubs and only getting to play them if you know the right person. Yes I do realise that it happens over here (and that if that's what the members want and pay for then that's what they get), but no-where near to the extent as in America.

Look at the top 10 UK courses (using Golf Monthly Top 100) and I think you get all the way to number 38 with Swinley Forest that's a full on private members club where it is quite hard to get on. The likes of Murifield, Old Course, Birkdale, Sunnigdale etc... yes expensive, tricky to get a booking, but possible.

Looks at the US Top 100 and I think there are only 2 in the top 10 that you can play and those are 9 (Pebble) & 10th (Bandon). The next top 10 has 1 at 14 (Pinehurst #2).

Well.... That went on a bit of a tangent quite quickly.

Rant over.

 

[Ethan]

I like what Mike Keiser did with Bandon Dunes. Then he's done a similar thing with Cabot Links had a part in Barnbougle Dunes and is apparently looking at doing the same treatment near Royal Dornoch. Yes, they are expensive (and remote) but anyone can play there and the set ups are meant to be fully geared towards golf.

I'm not a fan of the American approach to private clubs and only getting to play them if you know the right person. Yes I do realise that it happens over here (and that if that's what the members want and pay for then that's what they get), but no-where near to the extent as in America.

Look at the top 10 UK courses (using Golf Monthly Top 100) and I think you get all the way to number 38 with Swinley Forest that's a full on private members club where it is quite hard to get on. The likes of Murifield, Old Course, Birkdale, Sunnigdale etc... yes expensive, tricky to get a booking, but possible.

Looks at the US Top 100 and I think there are only 2 in the top 10 that you can play and those are 9 (Pebble) & 10th (Bandon). The next top 10 has 1 at 14 (Pinehurst #2).

Well.... That went on a bit of a tangent quite quickly.

Rant over.

I agree about access in the US. I have played many times in the US but only once in 15 years on a private course and even that was a fairly modest one. I had an invite to Lake Nona but hurt my shoulder a week before and couldn't play.

Many of the provate clubs memberships are deliberately only for the 1%.

 

[Duckster]

I agree about access in the US. I have played many times in the US but only once in 15 years on a private course and even that was a fairly modest one. I had an invite to Lake Nona but hurt my shoulder a week before and couldn't play.

Many of the provate clubs memberships are deliberately only for the 1%.

One of the members at my place also has a house and is a member at Lake Nona. Fair play to him, if any of our members are in the area at the same time as him, he'll happily host them to a round there.

I've never been to Florida yet though.

 

[Tiger man]

The Friars head font on the homepage looks terrible