MYOPIA HUNT CLUB A COURSE TOUR & APPRECIATION

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MYOPIA HUNT CLUB A COURSE TOUR & APPRECIATION South Hamilton, MA Herbert Leeds I had the pleasure of playing an early morning round at the one-of-a-kind Myopia Hunt Club outside Boston.

1 MYOPIA HUNT CLUB A COURSE TOUR & APPRECIATION South Hamilton, MA Herbert Leeds I had the pleasure of playing an early morning round at the one-of-a-kind Myopia Hunt Club outside Boston. To put it mildly, it was well worth the drive up from Philly (smooth sailing when you leave at 1am). Suﬃce it to say that I loved Myopia. There is a vibe emanating from certain of these old clubs that I ﬁnd quite appealing, and Myopia, like Garden City, has it in spades. The building that houses the bar and dining areas was built in The course is virtually unchanged from 19th century origins, save for a bit of added length. It s an incredible place. I hope that you get a sense of that in these photos. Enjoy. The Entrance You know when you arrive at Myopia that you are in for a special day. As you make your way down the long entrance drive, you pass polo ﬁelds and horse barns and other areas that reveal that, unlike many other clubs of its ilk, Myopia still maintains strong ties to its equestrian roots. And then there s that outstanding logo. Like Yeamans Hall, Myopia s entrance road lets you know right away what kind of experience you re in for. Horse barns are to your left as you drive in. No parking, please. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 1

2 Horses are not the only creatures roaming the grounds at Myopia. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 2

3 That said, there are plenty of horses. The 18th fairway is in the background, bordering the grounds. The Scorecard In ﬁtting with the overall theme of the club, even the scorecard looks old. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 3

4 Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 4

5 The Clubhouse Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 5

6 This view from behind the 18th green shows the wraparound clubhouse/locker room building, along with the putting green. No bartender serve yourself. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 6

7 Fireplace signage I can honestly say this is the ﬁrst advertisement for a sled dog race I ve seen at a golf course. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 7

8 Myopia s weathervane Locker Room For me, Myopia s locker room facilities rank right up there with Garden City, Merion and National Golf Links. Myopia s facilities have a more modern feel, but they re still very unique. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 8

The small green is easily reachable for some, but it can be treacherous, with its severe right to

9 MYOPIA HUNT CLUB Hole 1 First 276 yards Par 4 Myopia opens softly, with a short, uphill par-4 with a blind but wide fairway. The small green is easily reachable for some, but it can be treacherous, with its severe right to left slope. The angle that most wedge approach shots will see into the ﬁrst green reveals the necessity of avoiding the miss right. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 9

elevated tee allows a full view of the all the interesting

10 The view from the ﬁrst green wow. Hole 2 Lookout 488 yards Par 5 A very unique half par hole, the elevated tee allows a full view of the all the interesting obstacles presented. The ﬁrst in a three hole stretch of great golf. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 10

The 2nd green is sunken below. The green and bunker are revealed.

11 The second shot is blind to the green, as is the cross-bunker between the two mounds. The ﬂag in the background is on the 7th green. The 2nd green is sunken below. The green and bunker are revealed. This hole reminded me a bit of Emmet s 4th at St. George s on Long Island. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 11

Oakmont, only short doesn t work well here.

12 The 2nd from behind shows the recessed nature of the green. Hole 3 Brae 252 yards Par 3 A monster par-3 reminiscent of the 8th at Oakmont, only short doesn t work well here. In truth, the third of three halfpar holes to open the round. Anything long is dead. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 12

13 A small green for such a long par-3. Hole 4 Miles River 385 yards Par 4 A fantastic and beautiful par-4, and one of the most widely recognized holes at Myopia. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 13

14 Beautiful bunkering. The photo does not reveal just how much the green slopes from back right to front left. I was told that this green has less pinnable area than even the tiny green on #9. From behind the green. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 14

15 Hole 5 Lone Tree 417 yards Par 4 The ﬁfth is a tough par-4 divided by a stream. The approach, with the morning dew still glistening. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 15

By this point, the player knows he s playing a course meant for match play.

16 The reverse view reveals hints at the subtle demands of the ﬁfth. Hole 6 Brook 255 yards Par 4 Another brilliant short par-4. By this point, the player knows he s playing a course meant for match play. This hole is drivable, with the caveat that the green slopes from front to back. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 16

Hole 7 Myopia 401 yards Par 4 The course s namesake provides a capsule

17 The look back, with the rock wall as yet another reminder of Myopia s timeless New England style. Hole 7 Myopia 401 yards Par 4 The course s namesake provides a capsule view of what you ll ﬁnd at quirky Myopia. Good luck ﬁnding a level lie in this fairway. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 17

18 The approach view on the 7th from the top of the hill. The view from the green back shows the elevation change and side-slope. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 18

19 This panoramic view of the 7th hole, taken from the 4th fairway, gives a good idea of the challenge of the slope in the approach, and shows the many background elements that add to the experience at Myopia. Hole 8 Prairie 473 yards Par 5 The hole begins with a drive over a small rise to a blind landing area. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 19

Like the 4th, the bunkerless 8th green is built with severe slope from high right to

20 The second shot is obscured by an Alps-like rise in the fairway that hides the green. The very top of the ﬂag is visible here. Like the 4th, the bunkerless 8th green is built with severe slope from high right to low left. Anything to the right of this pin can easily be putted all the way oﬀ the green. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 20

21 Hole 9 Pond 136 yards Par 3 One of the best short par-3s in golf. The green is a mere 9 paces wide at the middle, and the creative bunkering results in some interesting recovery shots on misses. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 21

22 Hole 10 Alps 404 yards Par 4 The alps here are carried oﬀ the tee. The blind tee shot makes for an uncomfortable drive, since anything missed right ends up in a really bad spot. Note that the landing area is wider that it would seem from the tee, but the price for missing is quite high. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 22

23 The 10th also has some great contour and bunkering around the green. One of my favorite holes on the course. Reverse view, showing the wonderful green complex. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 23

Any left to right tee shot here is in danger of running oﬀ the canted fairway.

24 Hole 11 Road 349 yards Par 4 An uphill par-4 with trouble down both sides. The tee is to the left of this photo, which shows the gorgeous red fescue that abounds at Myopia. Any left to right tee shot here is in danger of running oﬀ the canted fairway. This green view reveals another great use of a cross bunker. There s room between the bunker and the green to land a ground approach, but you won t get away with a skulled runner here. Along with 4 and 8, the 11th is one of the most sloped greens on the course. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 24

The red fescue frames the hole beautifully. Another half-par hole.

25 Hole 12 Valley 451 yards Par 4 A picturesque tee shot back down into the valley, the 12th runs parallel to the 8th and 7th holes. The red fescue frames the hole beautifully. Another half-par hole. The view of the green on twelve shows the danger of missing right. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 25

Hole 13 Hill 358 yards Par 4 Playing back through the valley of the 2nd hole,

26 This view back toward the 12th tee reveals the rugged nature of the terrain at Myopia. Hole 13 Hill 358 yards Par 4 Playing back through the valley of the 2nd hole, the 13th requires proper placement of the tee shot to have a reasonably playable angle into the elevated green. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 26

ending up as far as 30 feet from the putting surface.

27 The approach on 13. Straight up the ridgeline. Anything short of the green will roll back oﬀ the front of the green, ending up as far as 30 feet from the putting surface. You really don t want to be long here either. The bottom line hit the green, or else. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 27

28 Hole 14 Ridge 393 yards Par 4 The landing area on this par-4 is ﬂanked by more of Myopia s signature ground features. The green is defended by bunkers from which recovery is no easy task. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 28

Likewise, the bunkers fronting the green are hidden from

29 Hole 15 Long 529 yards Par 5 The slight rise in the fairway hides the fairway bunkers up the right side. Likewise, the bunkers fronting the green are hidden from view on the second shot. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 29

Hole 16 Paddock 192 yards Par 3 A gorgeous par-3 with the clubhouse as a

30 Myopia s seeming simplicity masks nuance that is discovered over many plays. Hole 16 Paddock 192 yards Par 3 A gorgeous par-3 with the clubhouse as a backdrop. Once again, many of the greenside bunkers are hidden from view. The 18th green is seen behind. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 30

31 The view from behind the 16th green, with the ﬁrst fairway in the background. This view from a diﬀerent angle behind the 16th green better shows the great bunkering on this hole. The pro shop is just out of view to the right. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 31

The 17th green, tucked in among the trees and bunkers.

32 Hole 17 West 394 yards Par 4 The green is not in view from the tee, nor is the bunkering on the right of the fairway. The 17th green, tucked in among the trees and bunkers. Not much room for error. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 32

A ridge runs the entire length of the right side of the hole. Horses run the left.

33 Hole 18 Home 400 yards Par 4 Great courses have great closers, and Myopia is no exception. The 18th here reminded me a little of the ﬁnishing hole at Oakmont. A ridge runs the entire length of the right side of the hole. Horses run the left. Double bunkering fronts the green on the right. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 33

34 A ﬁnal set of signature Myopia bunkers guards the greenside and runs from front left to back right. The view back down the 18th beautiful. Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 34

35 MORE LINKSGEMS TOURS Bandon Preserve Bandon Trails Boston Golf Club Eastward Ho! Fishers Island Garden City Maidstone NGLA Old Macdonald Old Sandwich Old Town Paciﬁc Dunes Shoreacres Sleepy Hollow Somerset Hills Copyright 2016 Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf Share this: Twitter Facebook Google Copyright - Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf 35

N o. 1 P a r Yards

N o. 1 P a r Yards B r i g g s Ranch Golf Club H o m e of the UTSA Roadrunners N o. 1 P a r 4 455 Yards This opening hole demands a long and precise tee shot, setting the hole up for a challenging mid-iron approach shot.