Yale Golf Course

Golf first came to New Haven in the fall of 1895 with the creation of nine holes by Robert Pryde for the New Haven Golf Club in the city's present day Newhallville and Prospect Hill neighborhoods. The game became extremely popular among New Haven residents and Yale students and in 1900, the course was expanded to 18 holes on land that went as far north as the present day campus of Albertus Magnus College. As the area became more populated, the golf course was reduced back to nine holes and the golf course eventually closed permanently in 1911. Most Yale students traveled to Race Brook Country Club in Orange, however it was not convenient to campus. Upon seeing a sustained enthusiasm for the game among Yale undergraduates, George Adee wrote a proposal to the Yale Athletic Association out of concern and frustration in 1922. By this time, Princeton already had a university course while Harvard had begun discussions for a course of their own.[7] Adee's proposal revolved around asking Sarah Wey Tompkins, the window of Ray Tompkins, to purchase and donate a plot of land on which Yale could build a course of their own. Ray Tompkins was a former Yale football captain in 1882 and again in 1883 and had amassed a large wealth while serving as the president of the Chemung Canal Trust Company in New York. Upon his death in 1918, Tompkins left his wife Sarah an estate worth over a million dollars. However, in his will existed a provision that upon the death of his wife the remainder of his wealth would be given to Yale "to furnish facilities for extending and developing the practice of athletic exercises on the part of students of the University". In 1923 following Adee's proposal, Yale approached Mrs. Tompkins in hopes that she would purchase a plot of land known of the Greist Estate and donate it to the University. Mrs. Tompkins accepted without hesitation and the 720 acres was purchased for $375,000.[8]

A view from the 1st tee at Yale Golf Course during construction

Following the donation of the Griest Estate by Mrs. Tompkins, a Yale Golf Committee was formed. With George Adee as its first chairman and other notables such as J.F. Byers and Jess Sweetser on the committee, they quickly contacted noted golf course architect Charles Blair Macdonald to confirm the possibility of having a world class golf course on the estate. Upon viewing the property and seeing its potential, Macdonald agreed to serve as a consultant to the project. Macdonald quickly pushed for the hiring of a former associate of his, Seth Raynor, to be the course architect. Raynor was paid $7,500 to complete the project and began surveying the land in the summer of 1923.[9] Even as this surveying was occurring, the clearing of the Griest Estate also began during this summer. This was no easy task however as the crew had to blast, dig and drain the land that was a majority swampland to begin with. Macdonald himself spoke to the degree of difficulty: "The building of it was a difficult engineering problem. The land was high, heavily wooded, hilly, and no part of it had been cultivated for over forty years. There were no roads or houses upon it. It was a veritable wilderness when given to Yale …. When in the timber one could not see fifty feet ahead, the underbrush was so thick". When all was said and done, 120 acres of the estate had been made available for the course. Soon after, heavier construction began in April 1924. The project initially began with 60 workers but would see that figure rise to 150 at the height of the project. Although the crew ran into irrigation issues that required 35,000 feet of pipes to correct and the project itself ran way over budget, the course officially opened for play on April 15, 1926. Upon opening, the course set up as a 6552-yard par 71.[10] The courses' final cost totaled to a then-record $400,000 and quickly gained positive reviews from all who played. One such reviewer, Herbert Warren Wind wrote that the Yale Golf Course was, "a back-breaking job over an untouched plot of rugged land whose hazards and greens have the kind of dimensions that one would have expected of Michelangelo".[11] The course remains mainly unchanged to this day and is still regarded as one of the premier tests of golf in the United States.

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• denotes 2019 Yale Spring Invitational in which five player scores were counted per team rather than the normal four

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"I personally would vote it in the top 30 to 35 in the world if it were kept to the standards of other elite courses in Connecticut," - Ran Morrissett, GOLF Magazine's architecture editor.[25]

"Yale is jarring to the senses. The scale of the land and the architectural features have to be seen to be believed… Today, Yale remains a course that will inspire you and deepen your love for the game. By all rights, it should belong to the top echelon of American golf courses, alongside National Golf Links of America, Cypress Point, and Shinnecock Hills." - Andy Johnson, The Fried Egg.[26]

"I think Yale is one of the great gems in this country. And for any number of reasons: the scale doesn't match what Raynor and Macdonald had [originally built]. Regarding the maintenance, Scott Ramsay does a great job with the resources he has, but it would be nice to see that golf course restored back to its true glorious scale. Because I think it was probably unmatched in its day, maybe unmatched in this country, for how large it was, how big the landscape was. But that would require a lot of tree removal, it would require a lot of restoration work to get it back into place. But Yale is definitely deserving of that." - Gil Hanse on the No Laying Up - Golf Podcast.[27]

"Thanks to Raynor's superior routing skills, and with input from C.B. Macdonald on the advisory committee, the end result is an original all the way with none of the holes reminding the golfer of those from other courses. There is no hint or whiff of blandness; nor is there any sameness that plagues fine but not great courses. For boldness and vision and construction execution, it ranks right there with other such monuments of design as Pine Valley, Oakmont, and Macdonald's ownNational Golf Links of America... Once the turf quality begins to match the excellence of the design... Yale University will once again be viewed as a course with few peers." - Ran Morrissett, Golf Club Atlas [28]

"My intern Riley and I stopped at Yale yesterday evening on the way home, and they were nice enough to let us play 11 holes before dark. I had not been back there for about 15 years and while I remember the course pretty well, I was astounded by the scale of it on a re-visit. We think we are building dramatic stuff from time to time, but I haven't seen anything as big and bold as Yale since, well, probably since the last time I played at Yale. Out of the 11 holes we played, there is nobody today who would have the balls to build 7 of those holes: You wouldn't build the carry off the first tee, You wouldn't build a bunker as deep as to the left of the second You wouldn't build a blind shot over the ridge like the third, You wouldn't build a green with the pronounced bank of the eighth (or the bunkers at each side), You wouldn't build an all-carry 200-yard Biarritz over water like the ninth, You wouldn't build either the tee shot OR the second shot at the tenth, and You wouldn't even think of building the eighteenth. I can't think of another course you could say that about." - Tom Doak, golf architect, author and course critic [29]

Golf Magazine's 2020-2021 Top 100 Courses in the World - #83 [30]

Golfweek's 2019 Top 200 Classic Courses - #53 [31]

2019 Top 30 Golfweek's Best Campus Courses - #1 [32]

Ran Morrissett's 147 Custodians of the Game - #55 in the world and #22 in the United States [33]

"The play of the long and the bold may hug the woods to the right with increased water carry but shorter total distance to the hole and an easier second. The greens at Yale are so huge there can easily be two different styles of greens on the same hole. The green is a huge double green of the Road Hole type on the right and a punchbowl on the left set into a bit of a hollow bunkered left and right. The play to the left half of the green is over a deep bunker about the front and left side of the green, requiring a lofted ball. The play to the right of the green is a direct shot to the high shoulder of the approach with a kick in to the green. The right half of the green has a deep bunker all along the right side but a clear approach permitting a run up. It is evident that the play of the second shot is considerably dependent upon the placing of the first shot." - Charles Banks (1925).[34]

"This is a natural green heavily bunkered on the left with a rather narrow approach on the right. Much of the green is on natural ground though along the left it has been dramatically built up and features one of the most feared bunkers on the course; a sandpit with a depth in excess of 20 feet. Balls missing this green further left than is bunker will fall into deep oblivion. In general the green can be considered a "Cape setting" jutting out, seemingly into mid-air, rather than out into a body of water" - Charles Banks (1925).[35]

"The second water hole on the course has a [diagonal] water carry of 118 yards. The hole forces water play as there is no way around. Across the water, the fairway runs parallel to the water on the right and is flanked on the left by high ledges and knolls. The play of the second shot is directly over the saddle between two knolls into a groove between these knolls and a second line of knolls, or directly to the green over the right knoll. The groove leads directly to the green over the right knoll. A long sand trap stretches in front of the first line of knolls. [ED note: This was removed and not restored.] The green is a double punchbowl with water along the batter on the right and back of it. The fairway undulations of this hole are natural and the hole is most attractive to the eye and furnishes interesting play. There is a close and narrow pitch approach to the green on the right but it is very dangerous" - Charles Banks (1925).[36]

The fourth hole at the Yale golf course, inspired by the Road hole at St. Andrews, was rated by Tommy Armour as the ninth most difficult hole in the world, requiring two perfect shots to reach the green; an initial 250-yard (229 m) long drive over or along water and a wood or long iron shot to reach the slightly elevated green. The water hazard curves back into the fairway at 230 yards (210 m), to snare those who overshoot. The bunkers to the rear of the green are generally out of play, but the deep bunker to the front will require a special shot in order to complete the up and down.

"The hole is original with Messrs. Macdonald and Raynor and was first put up on National Golf Links of America as hole number six. This is one of the four short holes of the course, i.e. each short hole is designed for a single shot to the green with a particular club. No. 5 is a mashie hole. The tees are slightly above the green level. The green is completely surrounded by sand, making it an island green elevated 12 feet above the level of sand in the bunker. The contours of the green mark a horseshoe around the pin which is placed in the center of the green." - Charles Banks (1925).[37]

"On April 1, 1924, this whole hole was a large swamp impassable except with high top boots. Filling and drainage have brought it to its present pleasant contours. The surface of the present green is six feet above the original land surface. A sharp angle of the swamp remaining on the left cuts in on the left more than half way up the fairway. This angle is guarded by a sand dune. The safest shot is close to this dune and yet clearing it. Safety and distance increase with play to the right. The second shot is a pitch to the green possibly over a broad bunker on the right or avoiding a sand dune on the left. An over-shot is dangerous." - Charles Banks (1925).[38]

"This hole reminds one of Indian Summer. It is pleasant, inviting and a trifle lazy. The fairway is a natural lane between two ledges on the right, cleared and bare, and tree-covered ledges on the left. The approach to the green is a well rounded knoll and the green winds to the right on the top of the knoll. There is a wide bunker to the right of the green. Play on this hole is better if made to the left hugging the trees so as to get a better entry to the green. In the construction of this hole six feet of solid ledge was taken off the knoll approach and the balance of the fairway was an impassable swamp." - Charles Banks (1925).[39]

"The first shot of this hole is 180 yards to a saddle crossing the fairway. A roll up or carry of the knoll gives a roll down the other side of the saddle into a broad level basin making 220 yards not difficult. The basin is the playing area for the second shot. The second shot should be a kick in front of the front right corner of the green. The green combines characteristics of both the Cape and the Redan." - Charles Banks (1925).[40]

The ninth hole at the Yale golf course is the course's signature hole, world famous due to an unusual 65-yard (59 m) deep green with an 5-foot (1.52 m) depression separating front and back and a difficult tee shot requiring both distance and precision. This Biarritz Green is considered by some to be the best example of this type of hole in the world. It overlooks a lake with woods at both sides, requiring a straight shot with at least a 190-yard (174 m) carry to reach the green. If the ball reaches the depression the player faces an extremely difficult two putt; therefore to shoot par the tee shot must land on the correct area of the green near the pin, either front or back. The trap to the side of the green also leaves a tricky up and down.

Charles Banks stated in 1925 "This hole has its original on the Biarritz course at the famous watering hole in France of the same name… There is a 163 yard carry from the back tee. The green proper is behind a deep trench in the approach. The approach is about the same size as the green itself and is bunkered heavily on both right and left with water jutting in on the right front. The fairway is the lake… The green is heavily battered at the back and right and the whole psychology of the hole is to let out to the limit… Correct play for this green is to carry to the near edge of the groove or trench and come up on the green with a roll. The disappearance and reappearance of the ball in the groove adds to the interest of the play." [41]

"Another fine hole is the 10th, a par 4 highlighted by the most severely undulating putting surface at Yale, a complex and slippery green set high on a hillside terrace that severely punishes careless placement from the fairway approach. Regardless of the pin's position on the rolling swaying green, even the shortest putts have an alarming tendency to creep by the hole and wander away. The hole bears a strong resemblance to the famous 9th at Shinnecock. The green is highly undulating so as to furnish a sure landing when a ball reaches it. The play for this hole is to get as much distance on the first plateau as possible in order to make the second shot reach the green… The second shot requires both height and distance." - Charles Banks (1925).[42]

"As contrasted with number ten which is practically all up hill, number 11 is practically all down hill. The tee is high above the green and the fairway immediately in front. From the tee, Long Island and the Sound are readily visible when not covered by fog. The play to this hole is to reach the second knoll and catch a roll over the far shoulder when there is an easy pitch to the green. The green is a reversed Redan and the hole is a two shot Redan. Play to the left of the line of play direct to the green gives a little better facing to the green for the kick-in play to which the green is best adapted. The green is backed on the left by a long bunker and has a long bunker on the right. The hole is essentially a drive and a pitch hole." - Charles Banks (1925).[43]

"This hole is intended in its original form to give the player the feeling of playing up on the side of a mountain to a hidden pocket. From the back tee of this hole the ledge at the back of the green is visible in outline above the elevation in the front of the green. Men on the green are entirely out of view. From the position of the second shot only the mound in front of the green is visible. The second shot is to play over the mound in front of the green. A roll up and over this mound is punished by a bunker on the left side and is highly undulated. For the first shot a carry of 176 yards from the back of the tee catches the near side of the knoll for a roll over to the level playing ground for the second shot." - Charles Banks (1925).[44]

"The third water hole is the regular Redan or one shot hole for the cleek (ED: the equivalent of today's 1-iron or 4-wood). The original hole is on the North Berwick course in Scotland. In levels and undulations this green closely resembles the original but has a different setting. The line of play cuts the green diagonally from front to back right corner. The green slopes down to the back. The pin set at the back left corner for championship play. The approach to the green rises to the green proper whence the green slopes away to the back with the front right corner the highest point on the green. From the above it is evident that the play for the green is to catch the approach a little above and beyond its center for a kick in or carom off the right corner and a curving roll across the green to the pin at the back left corner. When properly executed the play of this green is one of the most pleasing and interesting plays in golf. The tee for this hole is 48 feet above the surface of the water, partially crossing the fairway. Directly in front of the approach a broad bunker runs across the fairway necessitating a carry of 150 yards to safety. The fairway is flanked on either side by high knolls so that a straight shooting and a 150-yard carry are the compelling influence of the hole. The green is bunkered along the right and left sides making short cuts dangerous." - Charles Banks (1925).[45]

"Number 14 offers in its first shot three different attacks on the playing ground for the second shot. The first of these from the back tee plays for a kick in to the right from a knoll on the left side of the fairway at the angle of the dog leg with a consequent roll to low ground in front of the green. The shot from the regular tee offers the same shot with a distance to the target of 37 yards less, or if desired, a straight shot to the playing ground over thetrees. The shot from the short tee is a straightaway down the fairway with the green in sight all the way. All of these shots lead to the same playing ground for the second shot. The second shot is a lift and hold. The green is elevated on all sides and slopes to the left. There is a large bunker at the back." - Charles Banks (1925).[46]

"This is the Eden hole which has its original on the St. Andrews course in Scotland. This is the fourth and last of the short holes and is a one shot with the iron. The regular tee gives the customary distance for the iron (175 yards). In its original setting this green has the river Eden flowing along the back. From the tee it appears that the river touches the back of the green but in reality the river is beyond the bunker which crossed the back of the green. The bunkers on the right and left of this green are named Strath/Shelley Bunker on the right and the Hill Bunker on the left. This green has a different setting. In the case of the short holes the fairway of the fairgreen is missing and the intervening space is rough. From all holes the rough extends some 129 yards from tee before the smooth fairgreen begins." - Charles Banks (1925).[47]

"Number sixteen is a rather long rolling fairway leading to a broad level green. The hole should be found somewhat of a let-down from the preceding and following holes of the second nine. The second shot of this hole is the critical one and should bring the ball up from an easy pitch to the green. The green is hidden from the tees and a shot for a narrow transverse saddle in the fairway should open up the hole for the second and third." - Charles Banks (1925).[48]

"The play from the tee is over the last of the six water fairways at the far side of which is a lift of 20 feet from the water's surface. The carry to the top of the lift opens up the hole. The ground from the edge of the left slopes down to the green at a good angle so that a good roll may be expected. The green is composed of three plateaus with an opening at the back between two of them and upon the low one. The approach to the green on the left is guarded by a mound flanked with bunkers, one on the left, one at the right, both visible from the playing ground for the second shot and a third behind the knoll next to the green which is hidden from the player making the second shot. This hazard is known as the Principal's Nose and originates on the St. Andrews course. The approach on the right is smooth but not broad and travel that way may present a putting hazard unless the pin is on the low plateau." - Charles Banks (1925).[49]

The eighteenth hole has been named as Connecticut's toughest par 5.[50] The hole plays 621 yards from the blue tees, 590 from the whites, and 541 from the reds. It is played up and over two separate hills, has two fairways, and has a number of blind shots.

Charles Banks stated in 1925 "This is a long fellow. To relieve the tedium of the drag through a long hole where distance is the only commendation, this hole has been broken up into three distinct parts. The first shot should carry over a shoulder at the right and at the angle of the dog leg. By carry the brow of this shoulder and making a roll over, the ball is brought to a smooth area of playing ground for the second. The second play to the top of the hill which has been leveled off and cut down so as to make the green visible from the second play area. The shot is to the green on the third. Should the player desire to avoid the hill he may play around the right with a penalty of increased distance. The two playing grounds for the second and third shots are practically two greens to shoot at but of twice or three times the area of ordinary putting greens." [51]