So, I finally got out to Pound Ridge Golf Club up in New York. Heard a lot about this place, mostly how tough it is, and man, they weren’t kidding. It’s one of those courses you hear about, and you just gotta go see for yourself, you know?
Getting Ready and First Impressions
I booked a tee time, packed up my clubs, and made the drive. Pulling in, the place looks pretty slick. Everything was just so green and well-kept. You could tell they put a lot of work into it. But even from the clubhouse, you could see some of the holes, and I got this feeling, like, this isn’t gonna be a walk in the park. It looked… big. And kind of mean, if a golf course can look mean.
Out on the Course – The Real Deal
Stepping onto the first tee, yeah, that feeling was right. The fairways, while they looked like perfect green carpets, weren’t exactly wide landing strips for my wild shots. And the undulation, man, the ground just rolls and dips everywhere. You’re rarely hitting off a flat lie, which just adds another layer of “fun” to it all.
I remember reading somewhere it plays something like 7,165 yards from the back tees, a par 72. And the slope? I heard it’s up around 150. Now, I didn’t play from the tips – I’m not crazy – but even from where I played, it was a beast. It’s a long course, no doubt about it. You really gotta whack it.
And visually? Some of those tee shots are just plain intimidating. You’re standing there, looking out, and it’s like the course is daring you to hit a good one. There were quite a few blind tee shots too. You just pick a line, swing, and hope for the best. I hate those, but I guess it’s part of the challenge.
My Struggles and (Few) Triumphs
- Those massive bunkers they have? Yeah, found a few of those. They’re not just little sand traps; they’re huge. I felt like I needed a packed lunch for one of ’em.
- The greens were quick, and with all the slopes, putting was an adventure on every hole.
- I had this one par 4 on the back nine, I think. Hit a decent drive, thought I was golden. Then the approach shot… just completely mishit it. Ended up in some deep stuff. That hole owned me.
- But then, a couple of holes later, I actually stuck one close on a par 3. Made the birdie. Felt like a PGA Tour pro for about five minutes.
Wrapping Up the Day
By the 18th green, I was pretty wiped. It’s a demanding layout, physically and mentally. It tests every part of your game. There’s not really any let-up. It’s just one tough, beautiful hole after another. You finish a round there, and you know you’ve been through something.
It’s the kind of course that beats you up, but you kinda respect it for that. It’s not unfair, just really, really challenging. Those perfectly manicured fairways and greens are a bit of a trick, luring you in before the course shows its teeth.
So yeah, that was my day at Pound Ridge. Would I go back? Probably. Need to try and get a few shots back from that place. It’s definitely a memorable round, that’s for sure. If you’re looking for a serious test of golf, and you don’t mind feeling a bit humbled, then yeah, give it a shot. Just bring your A-game, and maybe a few extra balls.
