The Donald Ross-designed course at Glens Falls Country Club appeared in two stages, with the initial nine debuting in 1914 and the second nine following eight years later.
The Donald Ross-designed course at Glens Falls Country Club appeared in two stages, with the initial nine debuting in 1914 and the second nine following eight years later.
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The beauty of using Top 100 Golf Courses as your guide, is getting to explore golf courses you would never otherwise know existed, especially in a country which isn't your homeland.
Glens Falls CC is a case in point. Looking for a top course in upper New York state as part of my '4 golf courses in 4 States in 4 days' trip, Glens Falls ticked all the right boxes; it's a classic Donald Ross design, and I love all things Ross designwise; it's a highly ranked course in New York, no mean feat in a state with so quality courses; and it's has many plaudits from respected reviewers on this website, especially from the knowledgeable minds of Fergal, M James Ward and Steve MacQuarrie.
And Glens Falls doesn't come up short, apart from, literally, the short par 3 18th. More on that in a bit.
What I love about Ross designed courses is his natural use of the topography, clearly without much dirt shifting, often in relatively small parcels of land, with the ingenuity of his greens providing the stiffest of tests.
Glens Falls plays up, down, around and over a central hill, but at no point does the proximity of adjacent holes feel claustrophobic or hemmed in. Each hole plays in splendid isolation given the focus you need off the tee and on your approach.
Previous reviewer has commented that he felt the course is too short. Well, at 6,500 yards it is long enough for most golfers. Add into it the blind tee shots, blind approach shots and greens that at times felt impossible to hold and you don't need any extra yardage to massage your ego.
The 1st hole is a superb par 5. Walking down the hill from the clubhouse, and then a 80 yard walk across a boardwalk over the pond, before staring back up at the test laid out in front of you is one of the better 1st tee shots on golf. This par 5 plays uphill, over the pond, and then dog legs to the right, playing downhill although high banking remains to the right. The green has a false front. It's an excellent start which simply gets better as you cross the road to the SI1 2nd. A fantastic elevated tee shot, downhill, before an uphill approach to a green slightly offset and with a left to right slope, protected by bunkers short and front right. This is a visual delight. I parred the hole and had the biggest grin, ear to ear.
The opening salvo concludes with a par 3, 155 yards long; this a quality hole, surrounded 2 sides by banking, bunkers front left, right, short and left hand side. I found myself in the left hand side one, with my only shot being 1foot in the bunker and right knee on the slope behind. Miraculously I made a sand save aided by the slope behind the pin, helping feed the ball back within a couple of feet. Take time on this and all greens to marvel at Ross' brilliance.
Mark White has provided detailed commentary on each hole, so need to go through each hole. But the point of highlighting the 1st 3 holes is to reinforce what a strong start this course has. And it simply does not let up.
Standout notes for me include:
- the green on hole #5. This green has a plateau with 2 foot drop right and back to a lower slither of green. Despite being a small green, 3 putting is easy
- the green complexes were stunning throughout. Well thought out bunker placement only added to the peril you find yourself in on the greens, all having some of the following: slopes, ridges, swales, plateaus, false fronts and run off areas. The par 5 4th offers a superb example of finding the green only for your right sided approach to feed into a hollow in the green and off the back. My host hit so many greens only for them to feed his ball into the rough behind
- hole 6 provides a superb reveal on your 2nd shot of a green some 50 foot below. This is repeated to a similar degree on hole #11. Welcome to Ross' wonderful world of blind approaches.
- the par 3 #9 is a reminder that big isnt always better. Only 70 - 150 yards long, this 'postage stamp' of a green on a plateau, volcano like hole is all carry. Trouble right (long rough) left and short (steep banking) bunker right and trees beyond the bunker mean anything from birdie to double bogey is possible
- blind tee shots feature ( 4, I believe) and #10 is probably the best example as an 180 yard carry is required to reach the top of the hill
- #16 is a par 5 with a couple of noteworthy takeways. Bounded by the road right, the approach is a dog leg left. If you look through the line of trees on the dog leg you can see the old original green across the road. It would have been a much better hole then. The green however has just been remodelled using lasered imagery of the original 16th (now a practice green) and the hole is now much better for it. The other point is that big hitters have started hitting across the 10th hole as it provides an easier approach to the green. Debate I understand is ongoing regarding internal OOB. Never a fan of internal OOB, I would grow the rough up left of the 16th green and put what may to someone on the 10th an irrelevant bunker in the rough to catch an incorrect approach from this angle.
Finally to the 18th. I note previous comments. I agree, it is a weak finish as it currently is. I would not however make it the 1st, I think that would be even worse. Instead, extend the pond, which is on the left hand side, and has no real bearing on play, further right so it protects the entire front of the green. The current grass area in front is damp and not good to play from. A pond would require a more all or nothing approach. The green is also very large so more could be done in pin placement and additional contouring to create a thrilling matchplay finale, whilst not wrecking your handicap card.
However dont let one weak hole put you off. Take this as an opportunity to come and play Glens Falls for yourself and see if you agree with mine or others comments.
This is an excellent example of Ross' work and I encourage you to come and see for yourself. You will NOT be disappointed.
Overall rating
5.0
Overall rating
5.0
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