Wyckoff Country Club

The course is kinda weird, right next to major highway , fairways in average to fair condition, greens were in nice shape. It is a funky layout with plenty of places to lose golf balls ... I got a great price ... but it was still just barely worth it...

At the base of the 1,200 foot tall Mt. Tom, Wyckoff is one of a score of courses populating the greater Springfield area. As you would expect given its location, the course’s character is surely defined by hills and by long, impressive vistas, especially to the east into the Connecticut River Valley, where the views stretch for many miles, far past Mount Holyoke and South Hadley. Mt. Tom is easily seen, westward, from the first green.

But you’ll want to play Wyckoff for the excellent layout here, as well: these eighteen, created by Donald Ross in 1922 and then made over by the capable Albert Zikorus in 1966, offer a highly appealing variety throughout the first-rate routing. Above all, Ross’ sparks of genius were still clear to me throughout Wyckoff’s exhilarating fairway contours, diminutive greens, and clever use of ground movement everywhere. The features of a Ross course make typical layouts often seem, well, a little tame by comparison.

On the front nine, the second gets the game fully underway. It’s a tight, tricky, uphill fox of a hole, moving up steeply on the approach to a typically small green, which is amply protected by a gaping, flanking bunkers. After this, the outward half relents only once, at the eighth, as this routine dogleg right is a relatively simple, flat, drive-and-pitch hole. In between holes two and eight are long four and five pars, a pair of tricky par-3’s, and a muscular short par-4 with a steep climb to its pitched green (back to front) fronted by big bunkers.

The backside is even better and more unrelenting. After a pair of good—but hardly routine—short four-pars, this half delivers one gem after another until you’re back to the traditional New England clubhouse. Thirteen is one of Wyckoff’s two superior par-fives, this one the shorter of the two, and full of treachery both before and behind its green. Reachable in two, it will exact, nonetheless, two thoughtful and well-struck shots for the achievement.

Hardest hole: While four or five holes may fit this category, twelve at least exemplifies the difficulty of these brutes (it’s fitting that ownership calls their course a “little monster”). Starting with a blind shot from a high tee, twelve’s fairway drops dramatically to a beautifully rolling landing zone, here favoring a bounce from the left. The approach, even tougher, plunges further downhill and must be landed on a small green pitched from its back side to its false front. The putting surface is also guarded by woods and an imposing pair of right-side traps. Twelve is a doozie.

Best Hole: A tie between 16 and 17. Sixteen is all the monster par-three you can ask for, quite long from the deep tees and sternly uphill to a strongly tiered (left to right) green sitting on a plateau. Wow! I hit past the pin about fifteen feet, and found myself having to barely tap a super-slick downhill putt. Of course I missed the birdie. The seventeenth—which is no less dramatic—doglegs sharply to the right in the landing zone. Hit down the middle past the fairway and your ball may be snagged by the imposing bunker. Seventeen’s uphill approach, where a second massive bunker awaits to catch pushed shots, will fully test your clubbing skills and short iron game. It’s also a fabulous looking golf hole.

Did I mention that both nine and eighteen cap each nine off almost perfectly with brilliantly challenging par-threes? It’s hard to see how the playability and strategic qualities, offered in abundance on this course, could disappoint even the fussiest purist. I enjoyed myself completely, even on this first play.

Conditions, however, were disappointingly average on about half of the fairways and in some of the fairway rough. Yet the biggest sore spot was how several bunkers (scattered throughout the course) were oddly left untended, and seemingly have been for some time. I couldn’t figure this out, considering that the majority of the traps were well conditioned. Still, the greens and their surrounds were faring much, much better, if not quite excellent. Given the dry summer, I’d call overall conditions or the high side of ‘average.’ The course was playable for matches, a couple of which I witnessed on the back side.

A big plus at Wyckoff is the friendliness of the staff, including the impressive and very helpful gentleman I met behind the counter and chatted with after my round. He also returned my left-behind driver cover to me. Excellent all-around service!

One question that arose for me today concerns Wyckoff’s two designers: who really holds the master-hand over this design as it exists today? This seems murky, but the course is listed by the Donald Ross Society as an ‘authentic’ Donald Ross design. It seems likely that Mr. Zikorus remodeled some of the bunkers and perhaps the routing (and the length) of several holes. But many of the requisite Ross characteristics and stylistic choices remain on most of these holes, even if only some are what the course terms “original Donald Ross.” I felt as though I were playing a Ross, not a Zikorus, golf track. Would Zikorus, who was trained in part by Ross, want to have tinkered all that much with what he knew to be great already? But that’s a question for next time, when I play here with my son, also a Donald Ross fan.

And whoever designed what, this course is a terrific layout and value. Don’t hesitate to play it.

Good course very tight but challenging and beautiful views, long par 4’s and a very nice 19’th hole with a very large pavilion, I’ll play it again.

Played here today and had a great time. The pro Mike is very friendly even to non members.the greens are perfect. Fairways and tee boxes have a few dead spots but expected with so little rain. Had a great meal with drinks on the nice patio also.look forward to going back.

I've played alot of local courses this year and this place has by far the friendliest staff.

The course holes are very tightly knit into a small course and you need to be careful of shots from other holes. I guess all the trees on the course protect you as well as block the way to the hole. There are some holes that have overhanging trees right near the tee which just need trimming. The greens were a little fluffy, but with the aeration last week, I can understand. Overall, the fairways and rough were bare in places, sign of not much watering and the dryness of this year.

windy but comfortable day and the course was in very good condition

thought the short yardage would make for an easy day, never judge a book from its cover...interesting layout called for ability to place the ball important, greens were just aerated so a bit dry and slow, but true to what you read...fairways in good shape, lots of bunkers around greens. Not a busy course so never felt rushed, friendly staff. Would play again.

Haven't played here in 20+ years. Considering the drought and extremely hot summer the course was in pretty good shape and the greens were in very good condition.

The course was the best I've played this yr. Greens were in tournament shape. Fairways were well kept. The course is overall a bit narrow from the back tee's, but fun and challenging. Hit em' semi-straight and you'll enjoy your round!

I golfed alone for 18 holes while my wife drove my cart. We just love doing things together. I didn't marry her to leave her at home. It was a great pace. My 18 holes took a little over 3 hours and 20 minutes. Not bad for a senior, I'm 64 years young. I just love playing this game.

Sonja and Joe B.

P.S. Please add a sign on the 15th green to where the 16th tee box is. New golfers have no Idea.

Course was incredibly dry and hard. The course layout and views were amazing. Overall positive experience

It’s been 15 years since I’ve played at Wycoff prior to today and the facility and the course has improved tremendously.

The course does have some burnt grass on some fairways like many other golf courses this time of year but the greens are immaculate. The course is hilly based upon the location on Mount Tom. All in all, this was a good experience and I would go back especially for the value and time it took to play 18 holes with almost know waiting.

Staff was great, carts were good. Fairways and greens were good. Cart paths need some help. For female golfers this course played long par 4’s I liked the challenging layout. Would play here again.