110 Years of Pine Valley

In this week’s edition of the SOCIETY Newsletter, I thought we could celebrate the number one ranked golf course in golf course architecture… Pine Valley.

I will share photos of how Pine Valley looks today and some really amazing photos that were taken during construction and right after the course opened.

Pine Valley opened up 11 holes in 1914 to worldwide acclaim. The course was the dream of George Crump, who played on those very grounds as a child. His vision combined with the genius of Golf Course Architect, Harry Colt created a golf course whose test still withstands the evolution of golf equipment.

In the author’s opinion there is not another golf course in the world quite like Pine Valley. Unlike the majority of courses, with the possible exception of Oakmont Country Club; PV is one of the only golf courses that was designed for a very specific type of golfer. It was a golf course built for the very best golfers in the world.

“ON MOST OF THE HOLES, JUST A PRETTY GOOD SHOT IS OF NO USE AT ALL.” - GEORGE CRUMP

Pine Valley’s greatness is measured by a different standard than other courses. Traditional golf course design strategy is based on creating golf holes that challenge the play of lower handicap players, while creating avenues for the higher handicapper to enjoy the course. Pine Valley offers no such relief for the high handicapper, it is a course that was designed to challenge, to punish and in some cases bury the golfer who cannot meet its standard.

Golf at Pine Valley

The second hole at Pine Valley is one of the most beautiful par four holes in the world. The golfer must carry a sandy wasteland while avoiding a heavily fortified fairway with scorecard killing hazards left and right. If the golfer manages to find the safe confines of the short grass, they must then conquer an uphill approach, which has the feel of trying to hit a golf ball up on top of one of the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Pine Valley may have the dream of George Crump, it may have been the design of Harry Colt, but Crump was not shy asking his golf savvy friends for advice. As you play the second hole you may encounter the Church Pews of Pine Valley. It is entirely possible that Crump’s friend, WC Fownes of Oakmont fame, may have played a small part in the placement of these bunkers.

The Third Hole at Pine Valley, a treacherously sloped Par Three surrounded by doom and gloom is one of the best preserved holes on the course. It is one of the few holes that hasn’t been overtly effected by tree infestation.

While I am on the subject, Pine Valley’s only detriment is its overgrowth of trees. Yes it’s “Pine Valley” and it should have pine trees lining its fairways, but over the last 110 years many trees have encroached into Crump’s and Colt’s original intent.

Another prime example of some of Pine Valley’s real estate being absorbed by the pines is the stunning 4th hole.

The two photos above are very close from being taken from the same angle and same distance. Notice the width of the fairway.

As an aside one of the most famous shots ever taken on the 4th hole, was taken from the roof of the clubhouse. It’s my understanding that the golfer managed a par.

“THIS IS THE FINEST GOLF COURSE IN AMERICA.” - Donald Ross

The Fifth Hole at Pine Valley may be the hardest par three in the world. It’s a monster hole for a monster course.

The fifth hole asks the golfer to hit a hybrid or wood into it, and for some golfers and maybe all golfers if the wind is up…a driver. The fifth hole should be named “pain” because you either hit it, or it hits you. There just isn’t a good miss to be had into this monster.

“HERE IS THE MAKINGS OF ONE OF THE GREATEST GOLF COURSES IN AMERICA.” - CB MACDONALD

The sixth gives the golfer a slight breath, but a breath on six can only be a gasp of air. I believe Mike Tyson once said, “everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face.” The sixth is gettable, but it’s entirely possible that you have already been hit by Pine Valley’s many combinations by the time you find yourself on the sixth tee box. And now the sixth asks you- how much risk you are willing to take on. A brilliant risk reward hole where the golfer must gamble to carry a mighty sand filled crevasse. The more right you aim, the closer your approach will be, but the more risk you take of hitting into the unforgiving depths of the canyon.

Notice the ruggedness of the original sixth hole. The author is guessing that the islands of grass were added to help prevent erosion. For the record the author has been dumb enough to hit into the canyon:)

“PINE VALLEY COMES AS CLOSE TO BEING A FLAWLESS TEST OF THE ANCIENT SCOTTISH GAME AS THE IMAGINATION COULD DEVISE.” - GRANTLAND RICE

We will skip ahead a couple of holes to the devilish 10th. A beautiful short par 3 with one of the most famous bunkers in the world…cover your eyes if you are easily offended…the bunker is called Devil’s Asshole.

Even if the golfer manages to miss Devil’s Asshole, the green is a two tiered green with a lot of subtle movement.

Skipping ahead because these newsletters aren’t supposed to be books- the stunning 17th at Pine Valley. A hole that was designed to make you question your caddy & the club he or she handed you.

The safest shot on the 17th is a long iron or fairway wood/hybrid down the left side of the fairway, however in a beautiful twist of risk vs reward that safer shot makes for a tougher approach. Depending on which tee box you play the fairway ends between 230-270 yards and is followed by a vast sand pit of 70-80 yards fronting the green.

“IT IS ALL VERY WELL TO PUNISH A BAD STROKE, BUT THE RIGHT OF ETERNAL PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR A HIGHER TRIBUNAL THAN THE GREENS COMMITTEE.” - BERNARD DARWIN AFTER WALKING OFF THE COURSE AFTER 7 FRUSTRATING HOLES

And let’s end this little tour with the beautiful 18th hole. For your pleasure, I will share two different before and after photos taken from roughly the same angles

Pine Valley breaks many of the rules of great golf course architecture. One could argue that it’s not a “typical” great golf design because it effectively eliminates the majority of golfers (high handicappers) from playing their game. It also rewards a certainly type of golfer- the golfer who hits it far and hits high approach shots.

“PINE VALLEY WILL NOT BE FOR THE NOVICE OR THE TIMID PLAYER, AND NO EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO INCLUDE THEM IN THE TWO HUNDRED WHICH WILL LIMIT THEIR MEMBERSHIP.” - AW TILLINGHAST

One of the pillars of golf course architecture is the ground game, which is all but non-existent here, and yet Pine Valley defies all of these variables and becomes the exception that proves the rule. It is ranked as the best golf course on this planet because it defies many of the rules- it doesn’t relent and the course could give a Devil’s Asshole what you shoot.

(As a footnote to this story- it’s entirely possible that the greatness of Pine Valley led to the death of its founder, George Crump. What made Pine Valley great was its test, but the test may have been to great to attract the majority of golfers a club needs to thrive. Because of this Pine Valley, while an architectural success, was in fact a financial failure- one that put George Crump in severe debt, plunged him into depression and ultimately caused him to commit suicide.)

Today Pine Valley lives on as a monument to the man who literally gave his life to create it.

As always thank you for reading this newsletter and sharing it with your friends. It is my pleasure to share these little sometimes unknown stories with you.

Until next time…

Yours in Golf History,

Connor T. Lewis