Featured Course :  Donald Ross Course No. 49     
Wampanoag Country Club of West Hartford, CT


Contributed By Dr. Andrew Jay

View from Behind 18th Green

Recently, I had the pleasure of playing Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford, CT. Donald Ross designed the course in 1924, and at 6400 yards from the middle tees it is long enough to be interesting, but not so long as to make it a grind. The layout works with a variety of hole shapes and contours, each presenting a fresh challenge. The starting holes are amiable in true Ross fashion and the intensity rises as one works through the course. Water is judiciously used and the holes artfully incorporate streams so that the water is a factor, but does not punish the well placed shot. Most of the greens are true to the original construction with significant slope. Like most Ross designs, one definitely wants to be below the hole.

The par threes were strong with the shortest being 152 and the longest a manly uphill 219. I particularly liked number 16 with its elevated plateau green. The par fours excelled with my favorite being number 15, a 402 yard dog leg right with a stream in front of the green. Number 18 is a terrific 420 yard finishing hole with a long, uphill, over water second shot to a canted green that offers no simple puts. If there is a weakness in the course, some might say that it is the par fives; which range from 458 to 505 from the whites. A tad more length on one or two of them could add a bit more spice to the stew.

2nd was Original First Tee

4 Par 7th - The Longest 337 Yards

This course is perhaps most interesting for its place in golf course architectural history. Some renovations of a few of the green complexes were so out of character that an outraged membership formed the Donald Ross Society. The membership has plans to restore the course. One commendable aspect of this club is that there is an active ongoing tree removal program. They are opening up greens and tees to light and improving the course's play.
As an aside, I played with Michael Fay who is the Executive Director of the Donald Ross Society. His insights on Ross design and the difference between renovation and restoration were vintage Bordeaux to the golf course architecture connoisseur. He also has a terrific stream of needling patter for his opponents!

Thank you Mike

 

 

         Dr. Andrew Jay

Looking Toward Clubhouse from Behind 1st Green    

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