Yale golf course
Encyclopedia
The Yale golf course, owned and operated in New Haven near the West Haven
border by Yale University
, is a fine example of early American golf course
design, with large, deeply bunker
ed greens and narrow rolling fairways challenging the golfer; it is considered one of the best collegiate golf courses in the United States
.
In 1988, Golf Magazine
ranked Yale as the 71st most difficult course in the world. In particular, the 432 yards (395 m) par-4 fourth hole and the 238 yards (217.6 m) par-3 ninth hole have been ranked among the 100 most difficult holes.
The clubhouse is contemporary in design, but blends with the surrounding woodland. Inside, high ceilings and large windows offer magnificent views of the course and Connecticut's seasonal foliage, with a large dining room overlooking the third and fourth holes serving as the building's center. Gourmet food and fine wines are provided to the dining room and an adjoining sunny garden patio and deck by the club restaurant, Widdy's. The building also houses a unique hexagonal conference room with matching hexagonal conference table and a full service PGA
pro shop, which contains the computerized national golf handicap system and sells, rents, and repairs the latest equipment, as well as selling golf apparel featuring Handsome Dan
, the Yale bulldog
mascot
.
Yale opens the course to outside groups; Mondays during the golf season are reserved for private golf outings of 100 players or more.
and woodland
in memory of her husband, which were made into a world-class 18 hole golf course by Charles Blair Macdonald, the renowned golf course architect, champion golfer, and co-founder of the USGA, in collaboration with Seth Raynor and Charles Banks, for a budget of $400,000.
The Yale course has been the site of every significant state championship, two USGA Junior National events, the 1991 and 2004 NCAA
Eastern Regional championships (in 2004 only 3 players in the field finished below par after 54 holes of play), the 1991 ECAC
Men's Championship, and the 1992 ECAC Women's Championship, as well as the Nike
Connecticut Open
.
The clubhouse, designed by Herb Newman, was dedicated on September 29, 1984 as a gift of the Prospect Hill Foundation, after whom it was named.
as the ninth most difficult hole in the world, requiring two perfect shots to reach the green; an initial 250 yards (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.
West Haven, Connecticut
West Haven is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 52,721.-History:...
border by Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, is a fine example of early American golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
design, with large, deeply bunker
Bunker (golf)
A hazard is an area of a golf course in the sport of golf which provides a difficult obstacle. which may be of three types: water hazards such as lakes and rivers; man-made hazards such as bunkers; and natural hazards such as dense vegetation. Special rules apply to playing balls that fall in a...
ed greens and narrow rolling fairways challenging the golfer; it is considered one of the best collegiate golf courses in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 1988, Golf Magazine
Golf Magazine
Golf Magazine is a monthly golf magazine owned by Time Inc.. It was started in 1960 by Universal Publishing and Distributing, who sold it to Times Mirror in 1972. Time Inc. acquired it in 2000. It was the world's most widely read golf publication from August 2006 to January 2007. The magazine is...
ranked Yale as the 71st most difficult course in the world. In particular, the 432 yards (395 m) par-4 fourth hole and the 238 yards (217.6 m) par-3 ninth hole have been ranked among the 100 most difficult holes.
The clubhouse is contemporary in design, but blends with the surrounding woodland. Inside, high ceilings and large windows offer magnificent views of the course and Connecticut's seasonal foliage, with a large dining room overlooking the third and fourth holes serving as the building's center. Gourmet food and fine wines are provided to the dining room and an adjoining sunny garden patio and deck by the club restaurant, Widdy's. The building also houses a unique hexagonal conference room with matching hexagonal conference table and a full service PGA
Professional Golfers Association
Professional Golfers' Association, , is the usual term for a professional association in men's golf. It is often abbreviated to PGA...
pro shop, which contains the computerized national golf handicap system and sells, rents, and repairs the latest equipment, as well as selling golf apparel featuring Handsome Dan
Handsome Dan
Handsome Dan is a bulldog who serves as the mascot of Yale University's athletic teams. In addition to a person wearing a costume, the position is filled by an actual bulldog, the honor being transferred to another upon death or retirement...
, the Yale bulldog
Bulldog
Bulldog is the name for a breed of dog commonly referred to as the English Bulldog. Other Bulldog breeds include the American Bulldog, Olde English Bulldogge and the French Bulldog. The Bulldog is a muscular heavy dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose...
mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
.
Yale opens the course to outside groups; Mondays during the golf season are reserved for private golf outings of 100 players or more.
History
In 1924, Mrs. Ray Tompkins donated to Yale 700 acres (2.83 km²) of swampSwamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
and woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
in memory of her husband, which were made into a world-class 18 hole golf course by Charles Blair Macdonald, the renowned golf course architect, champion golfer, and co-founder of the USGA, in collaboration with Seth Raynor and Charles Banks, for a budget of $400,000.
The Yale course has been the site of every significant state championship, two USGA Junior National events, the 1991 and 2004 NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Eastern Regional championships (in 2004 only 3 players in the field finished below par after 54 holes of play), the 1991 ECAC
Eastern College Athletic Conference
The Eastern College Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 21 sports . It has 317 member institutions in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina and west to Illinois...
Men's Championship, and the 1992 ECAC Women's Championship, as well as the Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
Connecticut Open
Connecticut Open
This article is about the Connecticut Open; for information on the former Nationwide Tour event the New Haven Open, see New Haven Open.The Connecticut Open is the Connecticut state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Connecticut State Golf...
.
The clubhouse, designed by Herb Newman, was dedicated on September 29, 1984 as a gift of the Prospect Hill Foundation, after whom it was named.
Fourth hole
The fourth hole at the Yale golf course was rated by Tommy ArmourTommy Armour
Thomas Dickson Armour was a Scottish-American professional golfer. He was nicknamed The Silver Scot.Armour was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and educated at Fettes College and the University of Edinburgh....
as the ninth most difficult hole in the world, requiring two perfect shots to reach the green; an initial 250 yards (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.