Pound Ridge Golf Club
We Take on a Pete Dye Course
Every golfer has their wish list of destination courses. Pebble Beach and Pinehurst No. 2 sit atop mine. I have a new addition, Pound Ridge. The course has been receiving a lot of fanfare as one of the best courses you can play and best new courses period, so we decided to take the short drive up from the Big Apple to see for ourselves.
Pound Ridge is a breath-taking course, having been designed by master architect Pete Dye. If you’re not familiar with his work let me drop two names for you: TPC Sawgrass and Harbour Town Links, both of which host annual Tour stops. The Pete Dye aesthetic is immediately apparent upon entering the grounds. Rolling terrain and mounding bordered by patches of pesky fescue complement an already amazing landscape that has been seamlessly integrated. Several holes have massive rock outcrops that have been purposely left, adding a touch of rugged originality. Oh, and they’re in play.
Anyone familiar with New York’s Westchester County will appreciate the incorporation of more than 14,000 feet of stone walls built wholly from materials unearthed during construction. My words do the course little justice so I’ll simple point you to the gallery below.
Like any destination course (did I mention it’s only than 45 minutes from Manhattan?) Pound Ridge comes with a price tag. But unlike Pebble or Pinehurst you can afford it. Not only does the course not require booking a room on premise (though they have special packages with several hotels) but the course even has a great offering for planners. Book a tee time 5 days or more in advance and you can play Mon-Thur for $155 and on Fridays or the weekend for $195. Those rates drop significantly after 3:00 pm to $105 and $150 respectively, perfect if you can steal away from the office an hour or two early.
Having played the course, we can attest that Pound Ridge is a challenging track with bunkers a plenty, elevation changes, and mind-scrambling green complexes. But, it’s a fair course; with five sets of tee boxes most any golfer can maneuver their way around. If you’re in the greater New York area or planning a golf trip, give Pound Ridge strong consideration. It’s not everyday you can play a golf course designed by a legend and still afford dinner (or your mortgage) afterwards.
To Book Tee Time: $155 (M-Th, before 3pm), $105 (after 3pm) | $195 (F-S, before 3pm) $150 (after 3pm)
