RIDGEWOOD CC

Last updated: 23rd August 2010

The Ridgewood Country Club, which will host The Barclays for the second time in three years, has been in existence for more than 100 years.

The Barclays had spent 40 years at historic Westchester Country Club down the road but, in 2008, moved to Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey's Paramus, one of the largest shopping meccas in the country, with over $5 billion in annual retail sales

Last year it moved again, this time to Liberty National in the shadow of the New York City skyline, but 2010 sees a return to Ridgewood.

An exclusive private club for members with one of the strictest dress codes in the game, Ridgewood CC was founded in 1890 in Ridgewood, New Jersey, but later moved to neighbouring Paramus where AW Tillinghast, perhaps the outstanding golf course architect of his day, was responsible for designing its present 27-hole layout in 1929.

Its 27-hole layout is made up of the East, West and Centre nine-hole courses and surround the clubhouse designed by another prominent architect of his day, Clifford Wendehack.

COURSE DETAILS:

Ridgewood's par-71 championship layout, made up of various holes from its three nine-hole courses, is currently 7,319 yards long off the back tees, has 78 sand bunkers and just one water hazard.

Although not exceptionally large, averaging 5,000 to 6,000 square feet, many of the greens bear the Tillinghast signature - severely sloping, typically from back to front, and protected by deep bunkers at the front corners. These features are overshadowed by the century-old trees that line the fairways, making position off the tee such a key ingredient for scoring well, often forcing the better players to club down for accuracy

Ridgewood has hosted two major professional championships, the 2001 Senior PGA Championship (won by Tom Watson) and the 1990 U.S. Senior Open (won by Lee Trevino), as well as the 1935 Ryder Cup (won by the United States) and the 1974 U.S. Amateur (won by Jerry Pate).

The 2008 Barclays was staged on the Championship course which is a route that consists of a collection of the best 18 holes from the Center, West and East courses. The Championship course record of 62 was set by Hunter Mahan during the first round of the 2008 Barclays. Vijay Singh played the four rounds in 8-under par and won the event in a playoff with Sergio Garcia.

PHIL MICKELSON:

World No 2 Phil Mickelson was highly impressed with the course when he played it ahead of the 2008 event.

He said: " I played The Ridgewood Country Club where we're going to play The Barclays, the first playoff event in the FedEx Cup series, and I think it's a wonderful golf course.

"It's a Tillinghast design, to which I am biased, and it has a lot of the same look and feel as a Baltusrol and Winged Foot (two highly rated US Open courses).

"I think the players are going to love it.

"It's one of the premier courses in the land. It's spectacular, and it's going to play long and difficult."

Mickelson is not alone in his assessment.

OTHER ACCOLADES:

The New Jersey establishment was ranked No. 81 among the USA's best golf clubs by Golfweek and No. 87 by Golf magazine in 2007.

It's hole No. 6 was ranked among the Top 500 Holes in the World by Golf magazine in 2000, while the club was ranked the 84th Most Prestigious Club in America in 2006 by Golf Connoisseur.

THE CHAMPION COURSE - HOLE BY HOLE

Hole 1 (1 East) - Par 4 - 380 yds

Only the best 144 players will make it to the Barclays. And already on the first tee, they will be offered an aggressive option. The hole is relatively short, and the fairway offers a generous landing space. But players must stay away from the towering oaks on the right side and there is a cross bunker about 60 yards in front of the green. The green is well bunkered and slopes steadily and deceptively uphill and from left to right.

Hole 2 (2 East) - Par 3 - 190 yds

"Don't miss left." That's what will be going through every player's mind as they step up to this downhill par 3. It plays to a green that is protected by bunkers on both sides, but the two on the left are deep and deadly. The green slopes back to front and features some interesting contours that will make putting a challenge.

Hole 3 (3 East) - Par 5 - 588 yds

A classic Tillinghast par 5 by, this hole is almost unreachable in two. Players must lay-up or clear a series of rough-covered "Tillinghast mounds" which bisect the fairway. A heavily wooded area lines the left side, but don't be fooled, the left is the key to this hole as it makes a sharp right turn near the green. The narrow but deep undulating multi-tier green is guarded by bunkers, which only the most accurate shots avoid.

Hole 4 (4 East) - Par 4 - 444 yds

Hole four is all about the number four which is a good score on this dangerous dogleg left. There are thick woods and deep rough to the left. Big oak trees on the right corner limit the bailout options. A well-positioned drive to the right center of the fairway is important because the green is very difficult to hold on long approach shots. Even if players stay out of the woods, they are not out of danger until putting is over on this challenging green with its false front and hard to read speed and breaks.

Hole 5 (6 centre) - Par 4 - 291 yds

Known as the "Five and Dime," this drivable 291-yard par 4 is Ridgewood's signature hole. It's called the "five and dime" because most old timers played a 5-iron off the tee and a 10-iron (now a wedge) up to the narrow plateau green surrounded by six hungry bunkers. Players want to avoid the cavernous bunkers on the left side of the green especially. The green's subtle (and not so subtle) breaks seem almost impossible to be real. This hole claims a place on Golf Digest's "Top 500 Best Holes in the World" and holds a place among the Sports Illustrated "Top 18 Tillinghast Holes." The Met Golfer also rates it in their "Dream 18."

Hole 6 (3 Centre) - Par 4 - 471 yds

A long up hill and down dale par 4, this challenging dogleg requires a well-placed tee shot that avoids the towering oak trees on the left corner. Yet it must also be long enough to reach the bottom of the hill, eliminating the need for a long approach shot from a downhill lie to a raised green that is a tricky read. It appears to be flat, but there are big swings and pin locations that make two-putting this enormous surface a tough job, well done.

Hole 7 (4 Centre) - Par 4 - 447 yds

Called the "Cemetery hole," this uphill par 4 is normally a par 5 for members and regular course visitors. Tee shots that stray to the right will meet an untimely demise in the graveyard, which is out of bounds and runs along the entire right side of the hole. A solid drive well positioned to the left side provides best access to a smallish green tucked into a tight corner and surrounded by bunkers. Again, the green appears to be flat, but it breaks more than it looks, and it is fast.

Hole 8 (5 Centre) - Par 3 - 217 yds

It won't be easy for players to hold the green with their long downhill tee shots. The putting surface runs away from the shot and is surrounded by extensive bunkering and thick rough. Shots that don't stay on the green or reach the putting surface will require a deft touch with their chipping.

Hole 9 (5 East) - Par 4 - 440 yds

If you like hitting from a flat lie, this hole isn't for you. it plays uphill and has a left-to-right slope that places the ball below most players' feet for their approach shots - and this if you don't stray into one of the two bunkers on each side of the fairway. The second shot is played to a plateau green, surrounded by deep bunkers. The green is very deceiving and complex (like most greens at Ridgewood.)

Hole 10 (5 East) - Par 3 - 230 yds

At 230 yards downhill, this longest of the par 3s is as challenging as they get. It is played with a long iron to a back-to-front sloping green, surrounded by bunkers. A well struck shot is needed to avoid the cross bunker on the right and the small pot bunker on the left, and a bit of luck is needed to influence the ball not to run 'hot' to the back of the green for a front pin placement. and then the player still faces a scary fast, double breaking downhill putt. Phew!

Hole 11(7 East) - Par 4 - 467 yds

This dogleg left plays like hole 9, but it's more difficult. Both the tee shot and the approach to the green play uphill and fall left-to-right. Players will need to take an extra club for the second shot to account for the uphill slope. The fairway is protected by five bunkers that line both sides. The plateau green is protected by deep bunkers on the left and to the right. Players selecting long irons for their approach shots need to account for a severe left-to-right swing on a very fast and tricky putting surface - one of the toughest at Ridgewood. This par 4 often plays like a par 5 for the average player.

Hole 12 (2 Center) - Par 4 - 475 yds

This hole climbs steadily uphill for over 300 yards, putting a premium on strength and accuracy. It requires a strong tee shot to the left side of the fairway to achieve the best angle for an approach shot to an elevated, fast green. The bunkers on both sides and behind collect many errant shots. The New York City skyline is often visible from this green.

Hole 13 (4 West) - Par 5 - 626 yds

Many of Tillinghast's top designs contain a par 5 resembling Pine Valley's seventh, where the second shot must carry "Hell's Half Acre", a vast expanse of sand. This hole and the third here both include this renowned feature - except instead of sand, the Ridgewood par 5s feature a series of heavy-rough covered mounds that span the fairway mid-hole. Not only is this hole well over 600 yards long, the green is deceptively fast, well-protected, and tucked into a narrow corner of the course. Make any mistakes along the way (bury a shot in the moguls) and players will quickly begin to understand the nuances of Tillinghast. This design holds a place among the Sports Illustrated 'Top 18 Tillinghast Holes.'

Hole 14 (5 West) - Par 4 - 412 yds

This is the toughest approach shot at Ridgewood. The big hitters can manage the distance and the difficulty associated with positioning the drive and hitting the tough second shot uphill to a steeply elevated green - but even they have trepidations. This is simply one of the most challenging holes on the gold course. It provides a generous landing area for tee shots, but long drives need to avoid the cross bunker on the right side of the fairway and the deep rough on the left. The elevated triple-tier green has a severe slope from back-to-front and left-to-right, and it is common for putts to roll downhill off the front of the green into the fairway.

Hole 15 (6 West) - Par 3 - 155 yds

A shot-maker's par 3, this hole features a small green, slightly uphill from the tee and surrounded by several bunkers. It's a tough green to hit though only 155 yards from the back tee, but shots that land and stay on the putting surface will usually leave a good run for a birdie putt. Players who miss this green will have a difficult time making par.

Hole 16 (7 West) - Par 4 - 422 yds

Rewarding an accurate drive and a confident 'blind' second shot, this par 4 features a relatively tight landing area for tee shots, but somehow it seems to invite the big swing, and penalizes inaccuracy with heavy rough and protective pines to the right side. The tee box is elevated, and a good, accurate tee shot will leave a player with a 160-yard blind approach shot to a green that sits below the fairway. Players will need to avoid the many greenside bunkers, short and left of the green, deep right, and along the right front corner and side of the green.

Hole 17 (8 West) - Par 5 - 594 yds

From the tee box this hole looks as intimidating as it. The fairway makes a sharp left, and players must cut the dogleg (at least a little) to avoid very deep rough and trees to the right. A strong second shot is also needed to avoid the cross bunker on the left side of the fairway, and/or to pass the giant tulip tree that sits imposingly on the corner on the right side of the fairway. It requires power and accuracy to reach the small green, carry past the false front, but not carry off the back of the green - or get caught too early in the severe right-to-left swing that can channel a ball steeply downhill into dangerous bunkers. This is a tough green on which many a match has been decided.

Hole 18 (9 West) - Par 4 - 470 yds

Back to the "hall" of the mighty oaks, the course ends with an imposing par-4. dogleg right par that plays 470 yards from the back tees through a fairway lined with mighty oaks on the left and right. Players must be accurate with their drive. Cut the dogleg too sharply on the right and it will be three shots to reach the green. Hit the ball too long to the left and it could run through the oaks into the driving range and out of bounds. The left side of the fairway provides the best angle to a green that is guarded on the left with deep bunkers and features a putting surface that swings right-to-left and runs quickly to the back.

ATTIRE:

The Club points out on its website that it's dress code rules "are specific and should be followed by members, their families and their guests".

"At the request of the Board of Directors, the Managers, Professionals and Maitre D's staff will be enforcing the dress code in all areas of the Clubhouse, as well as at the golf facilities and on club grounds. Good judgment is always in order so that the Club can be a gracious extension of our homes at all times."

Here are just a few of the clubs many rules relating to attire:

In general:
- Denim clothing is not permitted.
- Hats and visors may only be worn in the locker rooms and outside grounds - and must be worn with brims facing forward.
- Brief shorts, mini-skirts, cargo pants or similar attire is not permitted at any time.
- Golf shoes are not permitted in Formal Areas. Golf shoes with metal spikes are not permitted anywhere at the club.
- 'Flip-flops' or other similar footwear ARE permitted only in the locker rooms or by the pool."

Club casual attire:
- Men: sport coat, 'button down' collared shirt, sweater or sweater vest and long pants.
- Women: dress, dressy skirt or dress pants.

Golf Attire
- Men: golf shirts with sleeves and collars, long pants or Bermuda length shorts should be worn. Turtle neck shirts or sweaters, 'mock' turtle neck shirts or sweaters or other collarless shirts or cargo pants are not appropriate golf attire.
- Woman: shirts may be sleeveless if with a collar or, if without a collar, must be with sleeves. Strapless, halter or tank tops are not permitted. Golf skirts, culottes, pants and shorts of Bermuda length or longer are required. Cargo pants are not appropriate golf attire.

And that's only half of it! For the full package on Attire, you should go to the club website.

TO CONTACT THE CLUB

Address: The Ridgewood Country Club, 96 W. Midland Avenue, Paramus, New Jersey

Phone: 07652 201.225.6533

Website: http://www.rcc1890.com