Pinehaven and the Albany House
Dad and I teed it up at Pinehaven Country Club today in a cold wet mess. Nothing could have kept us off the course. Dad was a member out there for a while in the 70’s and I learned how to play there. Dad reminded me that my previous best round was an 88. I didn’t really keep score, but I feel confident that I improved on that.
What a great old shotmaker’s course! Pinehaven proves that courses don’t necessarily have to add length to keep up with technology. It’s a course that requires precision drives and approach shots and has difficult undulating greens. It doesn’t matter how far you hit it as long as it’s straight. They’ve done some great things with a few of their hole renovations…especially holes 16 through 18. The 16th hole is an absolutely great par four now. 17 has a great look off of your drive and a challenging second if you go for the green in two. 18, as it always has been, is a good, strong finishing hole.
A few of the old, original hole designs stand out in my mind. They’re both examples of unique, challenging short holes. The second hole gives you a choice on the tee shot…driver that absolutely must stay in the left side of the fairway or layup off the tee and hit your second shot over a tree. Hit the driver right and you’re blocked out by the tree. A real classic placement hole that is only about 360 yards. The 12th is a real gem at only 340 yards. It requires a drive down the right side of the fairway and then a second shot skirting a large tree to an elevated green. The further right and long you hit your drive, the better your approach shot. However, there’s hazard down the left side. Hit your drive left, and again you have to hit it over a tree. Just a few great, strategic short holes!
We played with two great kids, Bryan and Rob Bigley, sons of the superintendent at Pinehaven. They both play for the Siena College golf team and are good golfers. It was great of them to guide us around the course on a nasty, cold day.
Later on, we drove by our old house on Arlene Ave and I snapped a few pictures.
Getting ready for the US Open qualifier tomorrow. Weather looks cold and a little wet.