By Dan Murphy
Pound Ridge Golf Club – legendary Pete Dye’s modern public marvel in Westchester County – is now open for play for the 2020 golf season. Ranked No. 4 in GOLF Magazine’s “Best Courses You Can Play in New York,” Pound Ridge is Mr. Dye’s only design in the golf-rich Empire State. Less than an hour drive from New York City and minutes from White Plains, Greenwich, Stamford and Norwalk (Conn.), the World Golf Hall of Famer’s admired layout has become one of the celebrated “must-play” public courses in the region.
Following the social distancing guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) during the current coronavirus pandemic, rates include a single use golf cart fully sanitized before and after the round, use of the practice range 20 minutes before tee times, and 15-minute intervals between tee times to facilitate pace of play as well as distancing between groups.
Due to current restrictions set forth by New York’s Empire State Development (ESD), all buildings at the course remain closed for the time being including restrooms, clubhouse, drinking water fountains and pro shop. All rounds are pre-paid only and can be booked online here with a 24-hour cancellation policy.
As for additional safety measures, there are no bunker rakes on the course and the holes have piping inside to prevent the ball from falling into the cup for easy removal. Pound Ridge is also offering nine-hole play after 3:30 p.m. (day of play only) by calling the pro shop at 914.764.5771. Players are asked to arrive not more than 25 minutes before their tee time.
Pound Ridge sits regally on 172 acres of pastoral Westchester County with dramatic rock outcroppings, streams and wooded, rolling hills converging to create an enjoyable and challenging par-72 course. Five sets of tees range from 5,151 to 7,165 yards providing challenges for golfers of all skill levels. Among its unforgettable holes is the dramatic par-5 13th which is home to “Pete’s Rock,” a giant boulder that rests in the middle of the fairway, and the par-3 15th – dubbed “Headstone,” which is flanked on the right by a large rock outcropping that protrudes into the elongated, 9,000-square-foot green.
Pound Ridge Golf Club also recently announced acclaimed PGA Professional Brad Worthington as its new director of golf operations. Coming off a successful 2019 golf season as director of golf instruction at Pound Ridge,
Worthington has long been recognized as one the leading golf instructors in the Northeast U.S. In 2016, he was named “Metropolitan Section PGA Professional of the Year.” Previously, he was director of golf at New York City’s Trump Golf Links as well as head golf professional at both Brooklawn Country Club (Fairfield, CT) and Atlantic Golf Club (Bridgehampton, N.Y.).
“Brad’s vast expertise and industry experience will help further our position as one of the top public golf facilities in the region,” says Ken Wang, owner of Pound Ridge. “He will not only continue to help foster our commitment to excellence in golf instruction, he will additionally be instrumental in our ongoing quest to provide our guests with a pure top-level golf experience on Pete Dye’s only design in the state of New York.”
“I am honored to continue in my new role with one of the most prominent public golf courses in the country,” says Worthington. “The business of golf is evolving rapidly and we look forward to keeping Pound Ridge at the pinnacle of creating a true country club experience for the daily fee player.”
This month, Pound Ridge was set to host the prestigious 73rd annual Metropolitan Golf Association Public Links Championship, but has been delayed until next year due to COVID.
My recent visit to Pound Ridge Golf Club found the course in great condition. While you may want to have your “A” game when playing Pound Ridge, I have always enjoyed my 18 holes here regardless of my final score.
I played from the Granite Tees, which gave me the chance to hit the rolling Pete Dye fairways and have a couple of shots at birdie and score a few pars throughout the round.
My favorite holes have been the 7th hole – a par 5 set on three levels, and with three good shots you’re on the green for birdie. And the closing three holes – 16, a par 5, and 17 and 18 longer par 4s with water on the left taking you home on the 18th hole – left me wanting to come back for another round. With water in play on at least seven holes, Pound Ridge Golf Club makes you feel like you are playing a Pete Dye designed course in Florida or South Carolina.
The staff are friendly and welcoming and above all, Pound Ridge is a fun and fair test of your golf game. You will not play another course like it in the New York-metro area, and I would make it a “must play” on your 2019 list of courses to play.
Visit Poundridgegolf.com or call 914-764- 5771 for more information.
Editor’s note: This begins my journey to Westchester golf courses and country clubs, private and public. If you have a course you would like to highlight in our weekly newspapers, email us at dmurphy@risingmediagroup.com.
