Review: Neshanic Valley Golf Course (Meadow Nine)

Michael Hurdzan is not the most celebrated name in golf course design, but the man is a legend of the field nonetheless. He may not have a Cypress Point or National Golf Links of America to his credit, but Erin Hills, Calusa Pines, and Devil's Paintbrush are pretty well known and generally excellent courses, and that's just three courses in a list of hundreds that he and his associate Dana Fry have worked on in some capacity.

Arguably though, Hurdzan's most valuable contribution to the sport is the book Golf Course Architecture: Design, Construction & Restoration, which is nothing less than the most important book on golf course architecture written in the past 90-odd years. It's not exactly the most entertaining thing in the world, but it's jam-packed with valuable information for the budding golf course architect and is worth reading if you're even tangentially related in golf course design. I've read it multiple times, though it has been quite a while. Still, the book certainly left its impression.

When it comes to Hurdzan's actual designs, however, I am much less aware. I actually thought I'd never played a Hurdzan course before Neshanic Valley, a 27-hole facility located in the surprisingly bucolic and rural hills southeast of New York City, but as I was researching, I found that wasn't the case – Little Bennett in central Maryland is also a Hurdzan design. This wasn't quite the special occasion I though it was. Still, even beyond the architect behind the course, Neshanic Valley had a place on Golf.com's best public courses under $100 list, which made me eager to play it.

A slight disclaimer: Neshanic Valley consists of three essentially equal nines – Meadow, Ridge, and Lake, with a shorter executive-style nine for beginners. We played the Meadow and Lake nines, which I feel is not the ideal configuration; I think I would have preferred to swap out the Lake nine for the Ridge nine. In a perfect world, my brothers and I would have played all three of the primary nines, but we lacked the time (and I lacked the energy) to do so. Fall golf has plenty of positives, but long daylight hours is not one of them.

The first hole is not a particularly short hole at 420 yards, but beyond that it's a pretty gentle opener. The fairway is quite wide and there are no bunkers in play, nor is there much in the way of other hazards. You have a green light to use driver and blast away. The second shot is a little trickier, as there's a bunker right and a small mound built into the left-front corner of the green, but it isn't anything too unreasonable.

The first hole.

Approaching the first green.

The first green.

The second hole is 30 yards shorter than the previous hole, but is noticeably more thought provoking and tricky. There are two bunkers in the landing area, one on each side, pinching the fairway in right where most people will hit their driver. That means you either need to challenge this narrower stretch of fairway or lay up short of it, which will leave you with well over 150 yards into this green. That's not great on a hole that's only 390 yards, and doubly so when you consider the green itself. It's small, fairly undulating with a false front and a falloff on the back section, and well protected by sand. Not a target you want to be approaching with an 8 or 7 iron in hand.

The second hole.

The second green.

The third hole is a 200-yard par 3 that plays slightly downhill to a green angled from left to right that's sloped from right to left. That makes a fade the prime option here; hitting a draw brings both the right greenside bunker very much into play. The green also falls away slightly for the back third or so, making those back hole locations a bit trickier.

A slightly interesting tidbit: the left-side bunker was added several years after the course opened, sometime between 2010 and 2013. Not sure why, since it doesn't really add much to the hole. I guess it could prevent some golf balls from bouncing into the native area further off to the left, but it just feels like a curious addition.

The third hole.

The third green.

The fourth hole is not a long par 5 at 520 yards, and with the fairway being as wide as it is, there's no reason not to use driver. There is a bunker left, but even a mediocre drive can get past that without issue, and the fairway's initially severe right-to-left tilt can also be carried with a good drive. Play it right and you should have a long iron or fairway wood into the green. Three cross bunkers cut across the fairway about 350-400 yards out, but they're only an issue if you've hit a poor tee shot. If you don't quite have the length to reach the green in two, the lay-up is pretty simple, as is the third. If you can go for the green, it's open in front but is flanked by bunkers. Overall though, this hole presents a solid chance at birdie or even eagle. 

The fourth hole.

Approaching the fourth green.

The fourth green.

The fifth hole is a long par 4 at 460 yards and plays up along the top of a ridge parallel to the previous hole, which is down below. There's a long bunker right, but similar to the bunker on the fourth, it can be carried without much difficulty, making the tee shot easier than it looks. The approach is a mid iron to a green with a small bunker right and a large one about 20 yards short (which we'll get to in a moment), but that doesn't tell the full story. This green is quite small and has some interesting topography to it: the low point is left and roughly midway through, meaning the front half slopes away and the back half is sloped sharply toward this low spot. Back hole locations are obviously difficult because of the semi-tier bisecting the green, but front hole locations are deceptively tricky, as it's tough to get a golf ball to stop. You're really encouraged to hit a low running shot into the green with those front hole locations, which brings that seemingly innocuous not-quite-greenside bunker into play. This is really kind of an interesting hole, despite not looking like much initially.

The fifth hole. The old silo behind the green is a dead giveaway as to what this land was before the golf course was built.

Approaching the fifth green.

The fifth green.

The sixth hole is a mid-length par 3 that plays uphill to a medium-sized green tilted pretty severely from back left to front right that's protected by bunkers on both sides. Because of that green tilt, left is definitely the worse miss; the right-side bunker is really not that bad. Otherwise, this is a pretty straightforward hole.

The sixth hole.

The sixth green.

The seventh hole is a short par 4 at 340 yards, but it plays significantly downhill, which does bring the green into play for longer hitters if the wind is also in your favor. For most people though, this is a drive and pitch par 4. Oddly, the fairway is placed well away from the native area left, mostly taking it out of play while discouraging people from taking the direct line at the green. Because of this, it's pretty obvious that one has to aim away from the green out toward the fairway bunker to get the best angle. And if you're long enough that the fairway bunker isn't a concern, this drive really isn't very interesting, and frankly the second shot isn't much better. The large greenside bunker short and left doesn't come into play much, and the pitch is hit straight along the axis of the green, which is almost perpendicular to the line of play. The concepts to make this a good hole are there, but the fairway just isn't wide enough, unfortunately.

The seventh hole.

The seventh green.

The eighth hole is a long par 4 at 445 yards, and while the green lacks the charm of the fifth, there's no question that this hole presents a stern test. The fairway isn't exactly narrow, but it isn't overly generous, and with two bunkers right and a native area left, there isn't a whole lot of wiggle room on the tee shot. A solid drive will leave a short to mid iron to a mid-sized green with fair amount of back-to-front tilt guarded by two bunkers to the left.

The eighth hole.

Approaching the eighth green.

The eighth green.

The ninth hole is a big, sprawling 575-yard par 5 with a tee shot that plays over a small ravine to a fairway threaded between two bunkers. The one on the left doesn't do much, but the one on the right guards the direct line at the green and is very much in play. Skirt by that and the longest hitters can go for the green in two. Admittedly, for most golfers this is very much a three shot hole, making a bailout left a distinctly smart play.

Let's say that you catch this hole downwind and you've hit a good drive. You have two options with the second shot: Either play safely out right, avoiding the large pond dominating the left third of this hole, or you can go at the green, attempting to carry the water. The pond does end 20 or 30 yards short of the green, so there is space. The green itself is angled from left to right and high on the edges, encouraging shots hit from the left side. Bailing out well to the right of the pond on the second shot is a safe play, but the pitch over the right-side greenside bunker to this green is not an easy proposition. I think, overall, this is a solid hole, but it would be better if it were maybe 40 or 50 yards shorter. In its current state, it asks questions that only really good (ie, really long) golfers can answer. Shortening it up will bring the green into play for more golfers, which would be more fun.

The ninth hole.

Approaching the ninth green.

The ninth green.

That's it for this week, next week we'll take a look at Neshanic Valley's Lake Nine.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Gingerbread Cookie Stout  

The brewery: Tröegs Brewing Company, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Description (from the website): "Gingerbread is a holiday tradition that begs for a robust dark beer. Loaded with oats, roasted barley and chocolate malts, we’ve elevated this pastry stout to suit your baking rituals. Additions of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla and clove help hone in on grandma’s time-honored recipe. While others may crumble, Gingerbread Cookie Stout is more than icing on the cake!"

Would I buy it again? I haven't always loved ginger-forward beers, but befitting a beer from my favorite brewery, this one balances the ginger and the breadiness extremely well. It does taste pleasantly like a gingerbread cookie. I hope they keep making this one, because I'll keep buying it.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Mad Dreams

The brewery: Tröegs Brewing Company, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Description (from Untappd): "Born many moons ago, a semi-secret ritual is ready to mix up your celebrations. Mad Dreams, the 50-50 fusion of Mad Elf and DreamWeaver Wheat, combines the complementary notes of cherries and honey with subtle clove and bready wheat. It’s a holiday blend that's 100% delicious."

Would I buy it again? Winter may be gone, but that's no reason to stop drinking winter beer. And Mad Dreams, a representative from Troegs' Winter 2024 variety pack, is an amazing beer to celebrate the changing of the seasons. It's got the Mad Elf cherries and honey flavor, but since this is ultimately a wheat beer, it still has some lightness to it. I think it almost makes more sense now than in the winter. Yes, I would buy this again.

Review: Hendricks Field Golf Course (Part 2)

It's time to check out the back nine at Hendricks Field, go here to see the front.

The tenth hole is a shortish 365 yard par 4 that is apparently designed as a mirror image of the first hole at The Creek, a Macdonald original hole. Now, I haven't played The Creek, but looking at it on Google Maps (the hole in the center), I'm prepared to say with some confidence that this hole (also in the center) bears very little resemblance to anything at The Creek. That's not to say this is a bad hole, because it isn't. There's a fairway bunker right where a good driver will end up, forcing you to either squeeze it into a tight space or lay back, leaving a longer approach into a green protected front right by a fairly large bunker, which guards the direct line to the green very well. If you want the better angle, you have to play the hole to the outside of the fairway. I think it's a solid opening hole, which as you can tell from the amount of daylight in the pictures is exactly how we experienced Hendricks Field.

The tenth hole.

Approaching the tenth green.

The tenth green.

The eleventh hole is easily the longest on the course, being the only one over 500 yards at a beefy 575; plus, it was playing directly into a fairly fresh wind for our round, making it play even longer. Unfortunately, while it is extremely long, there isn't much to this hole until you get to the green. There's a single fairway bunker in play right, and the fairway, while not narrow, is squeezed by overhanging trees to the right. The second shot is a simple matter of advancing the ball, though ideally you do want to favor the right side, close to the tree line. This gives you the best angle into the green, which is a mild version of the Road hole, complete with Road bunker front left and an old disused railway line just beyond the shrubbery long and right. It's a solid green complex; it's just too bad the first 500 yards of this hole aren't particularly interesting.

The eleventh green.

Approaching the eleventh green.

The eleventh green.

The twelfth hole is the shortest hole on the course, playing more than 400 yards shorter than the last one at a listed 155. That yardage can vary significantly though, as this green is a classic (if moderated) Biarritz, long and complete with swale running through the middle. While this hole lacks the flanking bunkers, it does have a series of small bumps and hollows running along both sides, which does a reasonable job approximating the missing hazards. It is a little unfortunate that we got a front hole location for our round, which made the swale almost irrelevant; none of us reached it and so nobody had to putt through it. A back hole location would have made this green a lot more interesting. Still, the twelfth is a solid hole.

The twelfth hole.

The twelfth green.

The thirteenth hole is a short 345-yard par 4 that climbs up a hill for the first 225-250 yards or so, with a single bunker carved into the top that eats into the left side of the fairway. Challenge that bunker with a driver, and you'll have just a pitch for your second shot. Lay up safely short of it and the second shot will be blind. Of course, you can also skirt right of it, but that leaves a bad angle over a bunker and a group of pine trees come quite close to the fairway, giving you little wiggle room. The green here is an interesting one; it's definitely a punchbowl, the sides funneling golf balls toward the middle, but it's also distinctly elevated, making run-up shots (or pitches) tricky to get close. It's a fun little hole, and while I think using driver and leaving that tricky pitch is the best play, I can definitely see advantages to approaching this green with a full wedge. My brothers and I all played the hole differently to each other, and we all ended up with par.

The thirteenth hole.

The thirteenth green.

The fourteenth hole is obviously not Hendrick Field's official Redan, which we've already seen, but it does share more than a few of the Redan's playing characteristics; namely, the bunker short left, the angled green, and the green slope funneling drawn golf balls in toward the hole. But at 210 yards, it's quite a long hole, especially for the course's typical crowd, and it's not as dramatic or difficult a green as the eighth. I think this hole benefited from being seen first; if we'd played the actual Redan a few holes before this one instead of at the very end of the round, I think I would have a less favorable opinion on what feels like a cheap knock-off.

The fourteenth hole.

The fourteenth green.

The fifteenth hole is 370 yards, though it does play a bit shorter than that as the drive is significantly downhill. Although it isn't immediately obvious, this is a Principal's Nose hole, with a central bunker having fairway on all sides. I'm not entirely sure why they consolidated the three original bunkers into one larger one, since this one takes up the same exact space. Do golfers get more psyched out at higher numbers of bunkers? Is it maintenance related? Who knows. What I do know is that, while the left side is more inviting on the tee shot, squeezing a driver between the bunker and trees right gives you an ideal angle to attack this green. Obviously, when the hole is in front like it was for us, left isn't a bad place to be, but for those back left hole locations just behind the long greenside bunker, the right side is definitely the better place to be.

The fifteenth hole.

Approaching the fifteenth green.

The fifteenth green.

The sixteenth hole is 335 yards and generously described as a Cape hole, which I suppose is technically true in the absolute broadest definition of the word. There is a hazard in the corner of the slight dogleg right, and you do get an advantageous angle into the green if you carry it. That said, it's rather curiously placed, being about 275 yards out from the tee, which likely puts it out of range of 95% of Hendricks Field's clientele. And if you can't reach the bunker, that makes this hole considerably less interesting. Not completely, of course; the green is still narrow and protected by a bunker on the left, so the right side is always going to be the better place to be. But a second bunker along the right side of the fairway would go a long way toward making this drive more interesting for a wider range of people. 

The sixteenth hole.

The sixteenth green.

The seventeenth hole is Hendricks Field's homage to the Eden, which is definitely closer than its attempt at a Cape. At 160 yards and downhill, it's quite short, but the front right bunker is present. No left bunker, but seeing as the green is built up over its surrounding, a 3- to 4-foot dropoff around the left and back sides do a decent job approximating the left and back hazards. The green also isn't dramatically sloped from back to front like most Edens, but there is some slope and this green isn't easy to putt, especially in the evening with long shadows crossing it.

The seventeenth hole.

The seventeenth green.

The eighteenth hole is the longest par 4 on the course, playing 430 yards. The hole doglegs left around a sparse collection of large trees, with a bunker on the far side of the dogleg guarding the ideal line for the second shot. The green is quite large, but it's got some decent undulation to it and there's a large bunker front left, so the approach – hit with a mid iron – is far from easy. It isn't a terribly complicated hole, but it has a nice scale to it that I think is appropriate for a closing hole. I also like how connected it feels with the rest of the course; there are three greens on the front nine within 50 yards of this one. It's always kind of neat when courses have routings that interconnect and flow to common areas like this one does.

The eighteenth hole.

Approaching the eighteenth green.

The eighteenth green.

Hendricks Field is a beginner-friendly golf course through and through. It's also a good golf course. But that, unfortunately, is all it is. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed my round and I'd happily play here every day. This is a charming place, especially in the fall with the trees showing their full colors. But at virtually every turn, I couldn't help thinking that the course could have been better. More bunkers, more interesting greens, drives that required real thought behind them, Hendricks Field would benefit greatly from all those things. I was reminded of how I felt after playing Wilmington Municipal; both courses were very, very charming, but both constantly felt like they were coming in with one hand tied behind their back.

That's the tradeoff of public, friendly golf: You can only make the golf course so interesting before it starts getting too difficult for the below-average golfer. Hendricks Field is plenty of golf if you're the sort of golfer who struggles to break a hundred – a population that is the vast majority of golfers – but for someone like me, a lower-handicap player, this just isn't enough. It's a shame too, because at $50 or so for 18 holes, Hendricks Field is a real bargain, especially considering its proximity to New York City. The place is in solid shape too.

In the end, while I wish Hendricks Field was more interesting, it's good enough for what it aims to be, a nice, friendly place to play golf for the people who can't afford a membership at one of the many, many private clubs dotting the suburbs of New York City.

Beer of the Week

The beer: E-Towne Brown Ale

The brewery: Hub City Brewery, Hagerstown, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "A deep brown ale with notes of toasted nuts, toffee, and caramel. A roasty nose with a solid malt forward body. Medium bodied but full of flavor, this beer is great for those who prefer malty beer but aren't quite ready for the bold flavors of a stout!"

Would I buy it again? I actually don't have too much to add in terms of describing this beer, it's pretty much what it says in the description: a pleasantly malty brown ale that's quite easy and pleasant to drink. Plus, at only 4.4% ABV, it won't have you feeling tipsy after just one. It's a solid beer, and one I've purchased each time I've been to Hagerstown's newest brewery. So yeah, I'd probably buy it again.

Review: Hendricks Field Golf Course (Part 1)

When you think vacation destinations, northern New Jersey is probably not the first place that pops into your head. Obviously, being in the greater New York City area we're not talking about a distant outpost of civilization here, but most people, when confronted with one of the greatest cities on Earth, don't stop 10 miles short and think, "eh, close enough." But when it comes to public golf, northern New Jersey is sneaky good, with multiple representatives on this recent list from Golf.com of the best golf courses that can always be played for $100 or less.

Unfortunately, we must start off with a bit of disappointment. You see, Essex County has three public golf courses in its municipal roster (all designed by Charles Banks, a representative of the MacRaynor school of design), two of which have undergone recent renovations: Hendricks Field and Francis Byrne (the third, Weequahic, was under the knife during our visit). Of the two, it was pretty clear from the various things I saw online that Francis Byrne had turned out very well, and I was eager to check it out. And so, as it turned out, was the rest of New Jersey, because I simply could not get a time there. Hendricks Field was gettable, however, and so to represent the Macdonald-Raynor flag in a region inundated with their best work, Hendricks Field must carry the flag (since I've already reviewed Rock Spring, which my brothers and I also played during this excursion.

Designed in 1929 by Mr. Banks, Hendricks Field is unique in that it was always meant for public play, a rarity among the MacRaynor oeuvre, as they worked pretty exclusively for the cream of NYC's crop. And it's pretty clear throughout, as the renovation definitely emphasized the public aspect of the course – as well as rearranging the layout, adding and subtracting holes in several places. Hendricks Field is a beginner-friendly Raynor-style course, and oftentimes, easy golf often means boring golf. Think about it: How many great golf courses would be classified as easy? How many top 100 courses could your average 15-handicapper stroll up to and break 90? Not many. So the question here is, can Hendricks Field manage to be both interesting and easy to play?

The first hole kicks things off in a quirky fashion; this is a 475-yard par 5 that doglegs hard left up a hill, with the fairway sloping significantly in the opposite direction. The ideal line is guarded by a bunker, which must be cleared to bring the green into play on the second shot. Bail out right and you can quickly run out of fairway and into a group of trees. For most people, the second shot will be blind, though long drivers can just about bring the flag into view if they play aggressively enough on the drive. This hole is inspired by the Alps hole, and while it lacks the front bunker, the blind aspect is fully present, as is the punchbowl green that so often accompanies Alps holes. While the green does funnel golf balls in toward the center, there is more to it than that. This is something Hendricks Field does throughout the round; on almost every green, there are one or two small but distinct mounds. These mounds are often very well placed to affect most putts, and while they aren't particularly big or tall (we're talking 3-5 feet across and 6-12 inches high), they do plenty to make putts up and around them very tricky. They don't feel like a Banks original feature (though of course I'm hardly an expert), but I like them. They add character to the greens without making them too difficult to play, and they help make this hole one of the best on the course.

The first green.

Approaching the first green.

The first green.

The second hole is a fairly long par 4 at 425 yards, though it does play pretty dramatically downhill as it heads right back alongside the first. The hole is blind from the tee, but aside from the obvious trees lining the fairway, there aren't any hazards to worry about. The second shot is tricky; while the green is quite large, there's a big greenside bunker short right and you'll have a tough hanging lie on your short to mid iron. 

The second hole.

Approaching the second green.

The second green.

The third hole is 185 yards and isn't modeled after any particular hole; it's basically just a mid-length par 3 with a bunker left of the green. That said, the green is tilted pretty significantly from right to left, so while the obvious bailout is right, missing the green on that side will leave a tricky little chip. This is one of those times where the bunker really isn't that bad a place to miss.

The third hole,

The fourth hole is a straightaway short par 5, playing just under 500 yards. The tee shot here is simple, though the playing area isn't particularly wide. Not narrow, of course, but not wide to the point where you may want to hit 3 wood. If you do that, though, not only do you preclude yourself from going for the green in two, it brings a cross bunker 50 yards short of the green directly into play. Either you need to carry that bunker or leave yourself a full wedge third. For those who did hit driver and can go for the green in two, a large bunker front right means a fade is definitely the play. This green is actually modeled after a reverse Redan, so figure in the usual Redan playing characteristics when approaching the green.

The fourth hole.

Approaching the fourth green.

The fourth green.

The fifth hole is also a short par 5, playing just 480 yards. Yes, we've got two short par 5s in a row, playing parallel to each other. The tee shot here is quite similar to the last one: bunkerless fairway, trees on both sides, although this fairway has some interesting little crumples to it that are impossible to capture on camera but do make approach shots slightly more complicated. In addition, a narrow ditch crosses the fairway about 325 yards out, but if you hit a good drive it doesn't come into play. The green is also bunkerless (as is the entire hole), but the surface is angled right to left with a noticeable dropoff left acting similarly to a bunker. This is honestly an very easy hole, and an excellent birdie or even eagle opportunity.

The fifth hole.

Approaching the fifth green.

The fifth green.

The sixth hole is 160 yards and is supposed to be a Short hole. This may be the biggest stretch on the course; Shorts are supposed to have large, wild greens surrounded by a ring of sand. This has neither of those things. The green is pretty much the same level of severity as the rest of the course, and the lone bunker only protects the front right portion of the green. It's not a bad hole, just nothing close to what the scorecard claims.

The sixth hole.

The sixth green.

The seventh hole is a 420-yard par 4 and presents an actual challenge on the tee shot in the form of the ditch from five slashing across the fairway at a 45-degree angle through the landing area. How much it comes into play depends on how bold you want to be with the tee shot. Obviously, you can lay well back of it with a long iron, but that means you'll have another long iron on the second shot. A 3 wood is safe so long as you avoid the left side, but longer hitters do have to worry about the ditch if they happen to hook one. If you're feeling especially bold and/or stupid, you could even hit driver so long as you hug the right trees; there is just enough space between them and the ditch to squeeze a driver. Of course, miss left at all and you're going in the ditch.

The green here is bunkerless and on the larger side, but it's also one of the most undulating and severe on the course, and it's also slightly elevated above its surroundings. It is not a simple matter hitting this green, especially if you've got a mid iron in hand. This is the No. 1 handicap hole, and I think it deserves it.

The seventh hole.

Approaching the seventh green.

The seventh green.

The eighth hole is Hendricks Field's true Redan, and happily it plays pretty authentically. It's got the front left bunker, the right-to-left green tilt (with a neat mini-punchbowl hole location back right), and at 190 yards it's just long enough that most golfers will be using a mid iron or more, taking the direct line at the hole out of the equation. Yeah, it's not as dramatically difficult as the Redans at Keney Park or Charleston Municipal, but it still provides the Redan experience, and I like it a lot.

The eighth hole.

The eighth green.

The ninth hole is a mild-mannered mid-length par 4 for most of its 375 yards. Yeah, the ditch from the fifth and seventh holes crosses this fairway as well, but it requires all of a 180-yard carry to clear, which is within the realm of most people, especially those playing from the back tees. The fairway does narrow slightly beyond 250 yards, squeezed between a native area left and trees (along with the parking lot) right, but there's still plenty of space to work with. 

Things get more interesting on the second shot, or more accurately, once you get to the green. This green is very large, likely the largest on the course, and it's also a Double Plateau, going from high in the front to low in the middle back to high in the back. The challenge is obvious; control the approach and you'll have an easy birdie attempt, fail to do so and risk three putting. As the scorecard summary states, this isn't the most extreme version of the Double Plateau in the world (certainly less so than the one at Rock Spring a few miles away), but honestly, it doesn't need to be. The challenge is there, and that's what matters.

The ninth hole.

Approaching the ninth green.

The ninth green.

That's it for this week, next week we'll take a look at the back nine.