Knickerbocker Knews

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending my first meeting of The Metropolitan Golf Writers Association, and by meeting I of course mean golf outing.  My thanks to former Willow Ridge member Yale Stogel, who was kind enough to sponsor me for membership.

Yesterday's event was at Knieckerbocker Country Club in Tenafly, NJ, the MGA's Club of the Year in honor of their centennial.  The club was founded in 1914 with a nine-hole Donald Ross layout, however the club history gets a little vague thereafter.  The club's scorecard lists only Ross, though Herbert Strong was at one point credited with their third nine.  Strong is best known for his Engineer's Country Club on Long Island, and the similarity in the greens was notable to this observer.  But Geoffrey Cornish "repositioned" the course in the early 1970's, and since I've little clue as to what that term means we'll leave the architectural timeline as uncertain.

Dave Anderson addressing the MGWU.  The Post's Mark Cannizzaro is on the left.

Long-time New York Times sportswriter Dave Anderson, a Knickerbocker member, was the featured speaker and provided the history of the club.  Anderson seems like a man you could happily spend hours with listening to his stories, a warm and inviting presence.  In fact my favorite moment might have been watching Anderson rolling his eyes as if to say "Must you?" as the emcee recited his writing credits, which include one of only two Pulitzers awarded to sportswriters.

Anderson told several engaging stories, including the first golf event he covered, the old Palm Beach Round Robin at Wykagyl Country Club in 1950, held the week after Hogan's historic win in the U.S. Open at Merion.  It was won that year by Lloyd Mangrum (who Anderson tells us called everyone "Pro"), who had lost to Hogan in the Merion playoff after being assessed a two-shot penalty on the 16th green for cleaning his ball.

Anderson also told how the Masters was his least favorite golf event to cover, as it's the one event that didn't provide credentials allowing reporters inside the ropes.  But perhaps the most affecting story he told was about his wife, who took up golf at some late date and accordingly wasn't especially skilled.  He described her game as being 3-wood-centric, a club she would use from tee to within twenty yards of the green.  When he asked her how she could use a 3-wood from twenty yards, she admitted that "She took a little off it."  Very sweet.

Bridgestone Mission Control

Bridgestone helped sponsor the event, and conducted a ball fitting by the range.  Your humble blogger was fitted into their B330RX, which allegedly gave me a couple of extra yards despite slightly slower club head speed.  

Most disappointing was that fact that they were all business, as they turned down my whispered offer of an extra $10 if they'd spec Yale into their Lady Precept.

Bridgestone's Director of Marketing Corey Consuegra also gave a presentation on their golf ball technology and marketing, both more interesting than one might guess.  They've grabbed about 12% of the market which puts them in second place ahead of TaylorMade, Callaway and Srixon.

The twelfth hole at KCC.  

But the highlight of the day was the golf course, a delightful track that you'd be delighted to play every week.  Like most courses from that era it's not long, 6,700 yards from the tips, but it's the greens that had everyone muttering to themselves.  They were running just under 12 on the stimpmeter, with no shortage of contours to keep you on your game.  And they were simply perfect!  Not a blemish on them, firm and fast beyond belief for so early in the season.  The greens weren't large by any stretch, but each seemed well-designed to offer a variety of interesting pin locations, such as would change the strategy for the approach shots if not the drives.

Next up for those drawing the tough duty of the MGWA is Bethpage Black in late May.