The ‘New’ Paramount CC Nears Completion

Architect Jim Urbina finishing up the restoration of this Tillinghast gem

                 
(NEW CITY, NY) - The restoration of the golf course at Paramount Country Club — a jewel of golf’s “Golden Age” — is just about done.

Originally laid out in 1920 by A.W. Tillinghast, one of the game’s most famous course designers, Paramount is nearing the end of an 18-month-long project to return it to its roots. Under the leadership of architect Jim Urbina, nearly every one of the 18 holes was tweaked, from minor cosmetic work to the reintroduction of bunkers, shifting of fairways, and the altering and adding of angles of approach.

“We’re finishing up on the back nine,” reports Urbina, who has made regular visits to the club since spring 2011, and has worked closely with course superintendent Brian Chapin and his crew. “Generally the big stuff is done. For example, the ‘Reef Hole,’ the par-three 18th, is finished. We’re all very excited as it is now the only existing ‘reef-type’ hole in existence, a true Tillinghast original.”

Among the holes awaiting their moment are the short par-four 11th (called “The Oblique”) and the long par-four 15th (which Tillinghast explained as having many different lines of attack). Original Tillinghast bunkers, which disappeared over the years, will be reinstated, while fairway lines will be shifted slightly.

“What remains are some of the most interesting holes Tillinghast did,” according to Urbina, who has restored a number of archetypal courses, including San Francisco Golf Club (originally laid out by Tillinghast), Pasatiempo (Alister MacKenzie), Yeamans Hall Club (Seth Raynor), and Garden City (Devereux Emmet and Walter Travis) to name a few.

“I’m also putting back bunkers on the 250-yard, par-three 13th hole,” says Urbina, who noted that, “When the hole was 240 yards, Tillie talked about a one-shot hole where you had to use a wood driver that required the player to execute a long shot. He said that was a true test of golf, and that was way back in 1921! A hole with that length was unheard of but Tillinghast knew the game was changing and even in that era, the ball and clubs were traveling farther.”

Urbina—who was recently in town to showcase the changes to members of the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association—expects the work to be completed soon.

“The plan is to start October 8 and be done by Thanksgiving. Then we’ll all have something to be thankful for. Absolutely!”

For further information about Paramount Country Club, access the website at www.paramountcountryclub.com or call at 845/634-4626.

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