Newport C.C. or Pinehills G.C.

[VOX]

I would definitely go with Newport. I belong to a club that has reciprocity with Newport so I go over there quite a bit. They have a number of charity outings every year so it is accessible to anyone who wants to participate in one of those events.

[VOX]

I would definitely go with Newport. I belong to a club that has reciprocity with Newport so I go over there quite a bit. They have a number of charity outings every year so it is excusable to anyone who want to participate in one of those events.

[Jcard]

No we are talking... Tell me more about the differences between Pinehills and Newport CC.

 

Layout, fairway width, depth of rough, bunkers, hazards, green size, green speed, etc. ...

 

Apples & Oranges.

 

I'll disagree with most everyone else. They'll be 12-15 scores under Par at Newport, in my opinion. I suspect it will take a minimum of 4-5 under to Qualify, unless the wind really kicks up. It's not a tough golf course. Old school feel. I suppose it's a "links course" by definition, but certainly not like links courses in Ireland. Greens are a little funky. Fairways are fairly wide, rough is usually playable. If you can putt and hit in the air, you'll score fine at Newport. No irrigation in the fairways, so rain (or lack of), will have a lot to do with the conditions on the day of play.

 

I've only played the Nicklaus course and it wouldn't make my list of the 50 best in Massachusetts. Typical Nicklaus course. Typical 90's course. Nothing special, some funky holes. Large greens. Average condition. I've never played the Jones course ... playing the Nicklaus was enough to make me never want to go back.

 

Newport feels like a private club, because that's what it is. It's the real McCoy. Pinehills feels like what it is, but worse. A muni type course, pretending it's in the major leagues because NIcklaus supposedly designed it.

 

Jeez tell me how you really feel...?

 

If that place is no good than what is?

[allparz]

Picking the course for a USGA qualifier based on the extremely remote possibility you'll get through due to the course being favorable to your game?

 

Have you ever qualified for a USGA event?

 

The last 5 holes at Newport will test your head like nothing else - last year in the RIGA Burke the previous year RI POY made 11 on the 375yd 16th.

Up to that point (the 14 tee) - you can pretty much hit it crooked and score, the holes are short and there are lots of places to miss. There is local knowledge in knowing where to miss and be aggressive but it can be figured out in a practice round.

 

But when you get to 14 everything changes - suddenly no places to miss, gotta hit it straight and keep it in play, and 4 of 5 most difficult greens on the course.

So if your nerves act up late in a round I would choose elsewhere. From 14 on you have bunkers, water, hazard stakes, OB, elevation changes and pitched greens everywhere...

 

With no Wind - Newport is relativity easy and scores will be really really low. With 20-30MPH winds (not unusual) - even par would be close...3 years ago at Point Judith in a 30MPH wind 75 advanced.

Early in the year all the heather is gone, the rough isn't up, the greens are slower and not so smooth.

 

I would always choose the club with History over a good muni like Pinehills. Driving up and on to Newport CC is liking stepping back in time 100 years, not much like it anywhere in the USA...

 

Total disclosure - I have won 2 big medal tourneys at Newport - so I'm biased....

 

Good luck....

[allparz]

BTW....

 

The guy that was mentioned going "Bannana low" -- that guy can flat out play....

 

POY in RIGA last year, he was a Touring Pro - Went to UNC Chapel Hill on a golf scholarship and played 4 years -- and get this -- twice has made it thru the local US Open Qualifying, then through the Sectional Qualifying to the US Open - and both times made the 36 hole cut at the US Open...

 

Good Luck!!!

[jimb6golf]

The second pinehills course is Rees Jones. I am one of the few people who like that course more than the Nicklaus one. That's not a knock on the Nicklaus course, I just believe Rees had the better topography to work with. There are a glut of good public courses in that area (as well as private ones). Waverly Oaks across the street from Pinehills is fantastic. The conditions and experience aren't as good as Pinehills (which feels private), but the course is every bit as good and is typically less expensive.

 

Boston Golf (Gil Hanse), Old Sandwich (C&C), and Black Rock (silva) are three tremendous private courses in the south shore area. If you can get on any of those, go for it!

 

I would agree that the Jones course is the better of the two Pinehills courses, but it much tougher with more topography. Would really to get on Olde Sandwich but don't know anyone that's a member - looks like a tremendous Coore Crenshaw design.