Pelham layout change!!!

[Brad Harris]

artwork...? photos please ... text to royaloft@gmail.com ... #3 basket may move for summer to allay confusion on #2 tee ... #15 tee to move to allay conflict W/ # 16 ( drives often land at current 15 tee ) ... spring upgrades planned : tee gravel work and benches

I didn't take a picture, I'll try to get one next time I'm out there. Might not be until next week though. It's a metal basket sculpture.

Sounds like you're on top of it Roy, 3 and 15 are probably my biggest complaints about the current layout. Is the 3 basket going back to the position to the left in the woods? Where will 15's tee be?

[Matt Stroika]

artwork...? photos please ... text to royaloft@gmail.com ... #3 basket may move for summer to allay confusion on #2 tee ... #15 tee to move to allay conflict W/ # 16 ( drives often land at current 15 tee ) ... spring upgrades planned : tee gravel work and benches

I didn't take a picture, I'll try to get one next time I'm out there. Might not be until next week though. It's a metal basket sculpture.

Sounds like you're on top of it Roy, 3 and 15 are probably my biggest complaints about the current layout. Is the 3 basket going back to the position to the left in the woods? Where will 15's tee be?

3 definitely needs to move back. It can't remain in 2s fairway on a blind shot.

[Alan MacLean]

Roy,

I just played the new layout and agree with Brad about the biggest safety concerns are 3 and 15. However, regarding the "artwork" you may want to go see it for yourself.

Someone made a Tim Burton-esque looking basket and bolted it to a tree next to #2's tee. It's some sort of homage to baskets that's comprised of metal bars that look like creepy hands above and below the chain assembly they made.

Does it look cool? Yes. Is it in play on hole 4? Yes. Did Vijay get stuck behind it at league due to driving right behind it on hole 4? Yes. Would it be better suited on a different tree that wasn't in play on a hole's standard RHBH line? Yes. But again, does it look cool? Yes.

Discuss...

[Matt Stroika]

I can't wait to see it. So much better to have a rogue artist than a rogue tree trimmer or vandal even if they are misdirected in their placement of said art.

[Roy Doar]

M, B, A, et al ... #3 will move so it is out of view , if not out of play, from #2's tee ... #15 tee will be on path/road over toward previous #18's tee, essentially a parallel fairway w/ 18, across clearing, to basket slid further back and out of view, down it's little valley ... agree about rogue artists... and rogue pruners... more later

[Chris Querengasser]

that tree basket is sick, not really sure how it's in the way though, i've had no problems with it and i play muldoon about twice a week. more stuff like that around muldoon would be really cool and make it quite unique.

[Matt Stroika]

that tree basket is sick, not really sure how it's in the way though, i've had no problems with it and i play muldoon about twice a week. more stuff like that around muldoon would be really cool and make it quite unique.

Agreed about the art. It is VERY cool. It is now part of the course.. an iron bush if you will. I bet someone aces the are before someone aces the actual hole.

[Chris Querengasser]

when me and my friends play we consider that basket in play on three if you want to torture yourself.

[Matt Stroika]

when me and my friends play we consider that basket in play on three if you want to torture yourself.

I saw that the scuplture has fallen apart. I wonder if it happened on its own or if some douche-bag broke it. I hope that the artist can put it back together.

Finally got the 2 from the new tee on 18 last night. I still don't like the hole, but now I need just hole 14 to deuce them all. Has anyone figured out a way to get a putt at that one? I am thinking it is a righty forehand with something very overstable or perhaps a forehand roller.

[Brad Harris]

Finally got the 2 from the new tee on 18 last night. I still don't like the hole, but now I need just hole 14 to deuce them all. Has anyone figured out a way to get a putt at that one? I am thinking it is a righty forehand with something very overstable or perhaps a forehand roller.

I've gotten the two with a 50 footer from the corner. I always throw an Avenger SS forehand high in the air for a big turnover. It turns the corner and usually comes back nicely at the end. On Sunday, Ken Marshall put it within ten feet with a Wraith Forehand.

[Andrew Sleeth]

I just birdied 14 for the first time last Monday. Champ Destroyer slightly anhyzered forehand, extreme luck but, cut inside the floater tree, flattened out and fell pin high about a 20 ft put.

I need to birdie hole 5 still. Had a few 30 foot misses.

[Matt Stroika]

I just birdied 14 for the first time last Monday. Champ Destroyer slightly anhyzered forehand, extreme luck but, cut inside the floater tree, flattened out and fell pin high about a 20 ft put.

I need to birdie hole 5 still. Had a few 30 foot misses.

Nice, I am going to start trying the forehand on 14 from now on. Screw the risk. I want reward.

Since I started flicking on 5 I have one birdie and several putts for bird. I never got one to turn and come back for a decent putt with my backhand there.

[Andrew Sleeth]

I just got a call from my buddy that said holes 15 & 16 have been modified and that 15 has to be a par 4 now?

He said now no fairways cross but you do have to walk across two fairways to tee up.

I haven't seen them but he says Hole 15 Tee box is over towards beginning of 18 fairway, and the basket is where the old old old hole 9 tee box use to be, playing across the valley in reverse of old old old 9 (+200ft.) Hole 16 just pushed the tee box back another 100ft. His drives landed at 14 basket, (he usually throws just about 200 ft.)

Anyone else play it this weekend? Opinions?

[Chris Querengasser]

i haven't been here in like two months, i'm going to have to go sunday, sounds really cool.

[Titan Bariloni]

man I thought I had it tough in grade school

[Matt Stroika]

I got a couple of rounds in this past week. I like the additional length that extending 15, 16 gives. I think that 15 is almost a true par 4. It is unfortunate that most of the toughest holes are in the home stretch rather than spread throughout the course, but it is what it is.

I think that I finally figured out the new 18 and have deuced it my last three rounds. I finally tried the forehand Destroyer on 14 and had a putt. I tried it a second time and had the worst drive I have ever had on that hole... risk and reward.

[Roy Doar]

matt, ( or anyone...) has # 3 been moved back up to its (previous) less confusing location ? ... that must occur to solve the "huh?" issue on the 2nd tee ... don't know when I can get down there do do it myself ... do you par # 5 with ease ? ... # 17 is easy enuf not to complain about the late hole toughness, yes?... 'specially if you're birding #18 ...

[Matt Stroika]

#3 is still on the hill side on #2's fairway.

Unless I hit a tree coming out of the gap, I get a three on #5 and have even started getting some birdie putts with a forehand.

I still want to play a round with you there sometime Roy.

[Chris Querengasser]

i feel the signs kind of alleviated any confusion regarding 2 and 3, i actually like having 3 being a nice side arm hole instead of a ridiculously easy RHBH like the old 3 used to be.

[Roy Doar]

Matt, soon.... Once this heat breaks .... Still want to improve #3 if the solution is elegant ... Maybe a bamboo "wall" ala Winthrop # 7... Or tucking it further back toward 4's tee ... We'll see... Speaking of tees, how about the upgrade at burgess..? Huge effort but so right, yes? That really is the next big issue , I think, along with benches ..." you may say l'm a dreamer..."

[Matt Stroika]

Don't do the tees until you are certain you have the layout you want to keep. The current one is OK because of the small number of groups but the cross overs would be unbearable if you had a full course.

Shot my personal best on the newest layout last night, 46.

[Chris Mergemekes]

The major problem with the layout right now is the flow: 14 - 15, players cross 16, 15-16, travellers cross 5. I have some ideas, but want to walk it before I suggest anything publicly. I might get out there today around 6:00, if weather and my son's willingness permits.

[Phil Vilmorin]

Played Pelham yesterday for the first time in years. Started on old hole 1 behind the ball field and then got totally confused when I went into the woods and found hole 3. I backtracked and figured it out. Roy et al, you have done a great job! I liked the course so much that I'm plotting to sneak out of work early to go to league tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for your work on this course!

[Matt Stroika]

Shot a personal best and possible course record since the layout changed with a bogie free 45 including a 20 on the front 9. Couldn't get the deuces going on the back but pulled a lot of crappola out of my butt to save some nice 3s.

[Arty Graustein]

Gags and I finally made the trip up to Pelham yesterday and was sure glad that we did. Played two rounds and had a blast. Nice course. Great work to all that made it happen.

[Chris Querengasser]

what are the chances of some semi-legit teepads being put in here? something similar to what they have at topsfield maybe? i understand if their is reluctance to putting in concrete pads or something super permanent, but after playing there over the weekend I quickly remembered how unusable the current pads get after a night of rain/thawing/etc. just a thought.

[Matt Stroika]

IMO, the course is not ready for anything permanent. I am willing to help out on a work day to fix them up and could round up others but don't have the time/resources/connections to organize it.

[Chris Mergemekes]

The club had many discussions during last season and we're not sure if the current layout is going to stay. Some of us would like to expand it and re-arrange the course flow. My understanding is that the parks and rec guy was approachable but I think the people who were handling last season are busy now with other endeavors. I'll do some leg work and I don't mind making some phone calls and inquiries but we will need to be a little more proactive than in the past.

[Roy Doar]

just curious , Chris, how ( which holes ) the layout could be expanded ? ... park "boundaries" ( adj. homes) limit actual growth, I think, other than maybe an alternate rout from #10 basket to #12 basket ...new #11 is easy, but the clearing /thinning to create a new fairway to #12 was disallowed when proposed at the end of the "big re-design" last year ... I will refloat the idea to Brian to get him thinking on it ...# 14 has room for a "gold " tee but already is a nice, tough hole... the traffic crossing on the next 2 holes can be helped w/ addl. warning signs, yes? ... and the last 2 holes can each have longer tee positions , if desired ( gold ) w/ signs left in current (blue ) ... I like stretching holes if that doesn't create interference w/ adj. holes ( for instance , #7 can grow 50 + feet w/some artful chainsaw work behind current tee, and #8's pin may be moved further away ) ... I love that little course, obviously, and enjoy working toward making it better (btw, how are the signs?) ... tee pads ( after many loads of good fill/ and hours of work ) and simple , but nice ( slab) benches would get my support ...since it's not handy for me, I'm way overdue for a visit , so leave me your contact info ( royaloft@gmail.com) and I'll buzz you when I know I can make it over for a round ... maybe this is the year for Muldoon to host a tourney ...

[Chris Querengasser]

anyone play here since the storm? if so what's it looking like?