Wyckoff Country Club

Course in good condition. Greens were easy to read & in excellent shape

Great course and a great staff

Wyckoff Country Club was popular today, with visitors partaking in golf and a wedding, though certainly not simultaneously. This was my second play of this beautifully set and classic course which plays over rolling hills and tree-lined fairways, and it surely won’t be my last.

The blueprint for Wyckoff seems primarily to exploit several large hills over this excellent terrain. As a rule, the holes run up and down them, with a typical green site often perched atop a hill or at the base of one. Only a few holes in the vicinity of the clubhouse are somewhat flat--though they have some pitch and roll. The sixth, sixteenth, and seventeenth stand out as the only ruthlessly tough tests, but there are no routine holes at Wyckoff; all mete out some form of challenge. Bunkering is abundant enough and a few marshy water hazards show up, yet most of the big tee-to-green headaches to be experienced stem from the hills and the woodlands. Tall, mature trees make their presence felt throughout these eighteen: on 15, for instance, huge tree limbs guard the right side of the green.

In my review of this course last year, I overstated (based on limited knowledge) the extent to which this is a Donald Ross layout. It’s more accurate to call it, despite Ross' early contribution, mostly the handiwork of Al Zikorus. According to a knowledgeable staffer (Assistant Pro?) I met today, much of what Ross originally designed--which formerly sat across I-91--is now gone. Still, Mr. Zikorus’ rerouting and re-design, which apparently preserved some of the Ross holes, still seems to owe much, overall, to Rossian ideals about what a golf course should look like, not to mention how it should play. The greens, above all, seem similar, but there is also an emphasis on the use of ground contours on both the fairways and around greens that recalls Ross. The bunkering also resembles what Ross tended to do without being slavishly imitative.

Design credits aside, the bottom line is this: Wyckoff is an excellent layout. It’s fun, varied, and never boring. Putting the greens may well be the toughest obstacle here, but you’ll still need your long game and plenty of short-game finesse when greens are missed. The biggest bonus, though, is the tremendous vistas you’ll enjoy, most prominently on holes 1, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11 and 12 (have I missed any?).

The Layout:
Although the front nine is fairly unrelenting and has a few standout holes that include the second, fifth, and sixth, the back nine is still superior in terms of overall challenge. You’ll start out with two shorter but tricky four-pars at ten and eleven, launch into the heart of the nine with fair-but-tough holes from twelve through fifteen, and then try to survive a fairly brutal finish that culminates at the devilish 16th and 17th holes. But these were the two holes I most enjoyed playing today:

Thirteen. Par-5, 478 yards.
A terrific hole that may be reached in two with a stout drive and straight second. The green, well-protected and blind from the fairway, is best hit by a high approach that lands softly. Trouble abounds if you miss it.

Fourteen: Par-4, 393 yards.
Classic driving hole to a doglegging fairway surrounded by woods. The approach travels uphill to a well-perched green, which is no easy target. A great view is to be enjoyed, back upon the hills, when you reach the putting surface.

Playing Experience:
Met up with a couple of friendly players at nine, one of whom continued on for several on the back side and was interesting company. Also met Mike Bergeron, the Head Professional, at check-in. Very friendly and accommodating staff.

Conditions:
Very good, and much improved over my visit here last fall. Fairways were plush if a big shaggy (except a few tees) well above average. A few of the greens (16 and especially 17) were too speedy downhill. Is it because they’ll soon be playing a qualifying round here for the Mass. Senior Championship?

Some Conclusions
The course may measure just above 6,000 yards, but it’s a par-69 and so plays quite a bit longer; its numerous hazards and hills make it far from spineless. I’m finding it worth the hour drive.

Wycoff was in excellent shape today, the fairways were green and trimmed, and the greens were green after air raiding. No signs of dryness or burnout. Wycoff has always been a hilly course as it’s located on Mount Tom which makes it challenging. I have played this course numerous times over the years as my father was a member in the 1990s and 2000s, and I still find the course enjoyable. I would highly recommend playing this course.

Jamie R

Take my review with a grain of salt. I’ve only been playing golf for a year and at 71 not hitting booming drives. This is only our fifth course we’ve played on. We live on two 18 holes courses

This course was a challenge to play. From many tees you can’t even see the fairway much less the green. But it was fun working toward the greens and then trying to get the proper read on the green. Plus the scenery is spectacular! Cart paths aren’t continuous and are in rough shape in places, but I wouldn’t hesitate to play here again. There is refreshments and food after you play and Dan in the Pro Shop is very helpful and welcoming.
We enjoyed our round very much!

This was a very nice layout. I love the back nine. The holes are strategically placed and the old Donald Ross greens were amazing. Wish they incorporated more Donald Ross into the front nine

Fun course. Good greens. Bunkers ok. Will play again.

Accuracy is key , especially when the wind is up. .Greens were in good shape, they're on the smaller side, fast ,with some slope.

Started raining on the 3rd hole. Finished 9 and asked for a rain check. Pro shop would not issue a rain check told me to wait after I was soaking wet. Will not recommend this course to a friend

Not the longest course, but layout is tough with fast greens