Page 35 - Westchester Golf Guide - May 2022

Westchester Country Club’s South 18 hole
practice and learning facilities anywhere. When John Bowman built the courses, he hired Walter Travis, one of the leading archi- tects of the day, as well as a stellar player who won many major tournaments, including the U.S. Amateur three times. Travis was the first American to win the British Amateur.
The West Course is known as a challenge for even the best players in the game, but its original design was a real monster. When it
opened, the course played to par 76 at 6,733 yards, which was a long, long golf course in 1921, when steel-shafted golf clubs were nov- elties. It also had more than 100 bunkers, including many cross-bunkers that pestered short hitters, which included just about every- body. Today, following extensive renovations by the Fazio Group, the course measures 6,718 yards, par 72, but has 40 fewer bunkers.
Travis intended the South Course to be
less difficult, so everyday golfers would have a course to play that wouldn’t break their spirits every time they teed it up. The South retains that purpose today but can be quite challeng- ing. From the tips, the course plays 6,623 yards, nearly as long as the West, with par of 71.
“One unusual feature that Westchester has is two completely different, both very good, golf courses,” according to Director of Golf Ben Hoffhine. “The West Course is hard enough
Photos courtesy of Westchester Country Club WESTCHESTER GOLF 2022 33