As a peruser of British Isles golf, I’ve always been fascinated by the hidden gems and out of the way courses that writers gush about when they bring the little corners of each fiefdom to life. Part of my desire to blog is to find such places here in America, or at least within the landscape that I’m traveling. Occasionally, I find one that fits that description. Galen Hall is such a place.
Galen Hall’s quaint clubhouse is easy to miss as you drive past the stone wall that lines the road. It’s very much like an English cottage complete with a sign hanging from a wooden post. The golf course is the product of two legendary architects. Alex Findlay designed the original nine holes in 1910 (1-6 17-18) before A.W. Tillinghast expanded it to eighteen holes in 1917 (7-16). It is an out and in track that takes you on a journey down South Mountain all through the valley before ascending the steep terrain up to the clubhouse. If you believe a great routing is like a great hike, then you’ll appreciate Galen Hall even more.
(The 475/465 yard par five second plays uphill before the hole turns left and drops dramatically (and over a public road) downhill. My second shot finished fifty yards short of the green where I pitched my third off the sloping fairway into the hole for an eagle three!! The picture doesn’t do the hole justice as the drop is way steeper than it appears.)
(The 195/170 par three fourth plays in the corner of the property along the boundary line. A creek cuts diagonally across just short of the green…
…it’s a daunting shot and laying back might be the play. This is a great example of Findlay’s lay of the style where natural features are used to defend par.)
(The short uphill 325/300 yard par four fifth finishes at a pulpit green. Long hitters must guard against pulling it into the hazard…
…the 480/470 yard sixth follows with a reachable par five. Findlay’s ability to gracefully route golf holes is quite pleasing. This three hole stretch (4-6) allowed Tillinghast to expand down the valley corridor.)
(The 500/485 yard par five eighth drops downhill to a right to left cambered fairway. Notice how Tillinghast turned the fairway around the edge of the mountain. If one fails to use the dominant slope properly then the next shot requires more skill to get into position…
…the green is not exactly built for a long iron shot. Being in the fairway for a short pitch is the best way to secure a four.)
(The downhill 164/155 yard par three tenth is a lovely hole and is the furthest point from the clubhouse before we turn back.)
While the Findlay holes are natural albeit quirky at times (you’ll hit over a public road twice), it’s Tillinghast’s valley holes that are the highlight of the round. Many of the greens are on high points with offsetting bunkers. You’ll also find the “Moat Hole” at the center of the routing. You first spy it on the par five eighth before the thirteenth and fourteenth circle around it to mentally challenge the player before stepping on the tee.
(The 520/500 yard par five twelth is a gorgeous par five that bends to the right…
…with the fairway cambering left to right, the player wants to be on the high ground hitting to the green. The iconic barn poses an unusual hazard and I’m not sure if any relief is granted for it’s interference…
…a kickplate just past the bunker will nudge balls onto the green. Anything left will find the tall grass that protects from bailing out to that side.)
(This is the first good view of the “Moat Hole” dubbed America’s first island green..
…it’s much wider than it appears in the picture. Laying up is an option. The hole is 193/132 yards. I have an inkling that William and David Gordon inserted the back tee when they expanded the yardage of Galen Hall in 1955…
…this is the view from behind. Yes it really is a moat!)
Galen Hall rates high on my cool meter. If I lived nearby, I’d be itching to play it often. It reminded me a lot of Kebo Valley in Bar Harbor Maine with how well the golf intertwines with nature in a rustic fashion. I liked it so much that it’s my favorite round of the year. Add in the $52 cost and It makes my list of best values (Pacific Grove, Dale Hollow, Punta Borinquin). I give Galen Hall a 6 (very good)(worth driving 2 hours to play).
(I played the the white tees at 5,876 yards and shot my best round of the year. The course has 5 par fives, 5 par threes, and 8 par fours. I played the par fives -2 but was +4 on the par threes. The one shotters are very good.)
(Credit to Galen Hall Instagram)
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