FOX CHAPEL GOLF CLUB
Course Architect(s): Seth Raynor (1925); Brian Silva (1990s)
Year Opened: 1925
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Slope: 137. Rating: 73.9
Par: 71
Yardage: 6,706
Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 4 418 Yds 10 - Par 4 409 Yds
2 - Par 5 483 Yds 11 - Par 3 156 Yds
3 - Par 3 207 Yds 12 - Par 4 344 Yds
4 - Par 4 485 Yds 13 - Par 4 432 Yds
5 - Par 4 342 Yds 14 - Par 4 408 Yds
6 - Par 3 192 Yds 15 - Par 4 383 Yds
7 - Par 4 295 Yds 16 - Par 4 422 Yds
8 - Par 5 475 Yds 17 - Par 3 231 Yds
9 - Par 4 459 Yds 18 - Par 5 574 Yds
Par 36 3,347 Yds Par 35 3,359 Yds
Key Events Held: U.S. Senior Amateur (1965),
U.S. Women's Amateur (1985),
Curtis Cup (2002),
Senior Players Championship (2012-14).
Awards Won: Top 100 Best Classic Courses by Golfweek Magazine (2014-15),
The 100 Most Prestigious Golf Clubs by Links Magazine.
HISTORY: The course came into existence due to the diligence of several men,
including William L. Mellon and George M. Laughlin, Jr., who gave a dinner at
Pittsburgh Golf Club to 50 gentlemen. The exuberance for the idea of a new
golf club was so intense that $152,000 was raised by those in attendance. Work
began almost immediately on the course and clubhouse. Alden & Harlow designed
the original clubhouse while Seth Raynor was chosen for course design. Raynor,
who worked closely with C.B. McDonald, the designer of the National Golf Links
on Long Island, crafted many holes that bear an uncanny resemblance to those
of the National. Although work began on the course in 1923, it took more that
two years to get the venue in shape prior to opening. Estimates to build Fox
Chapel began at $75,000, but finally finished at $220,000. In just a short
period of time, the membership grew and a special meeting was held to decide
to expand and redesign the clubhouse. Architect Brandon Smith was hired to
demolish the original building with the exception of a portion of the men's
locker room. The new building opened on Memorial Day in 1931. Although there
have been additions to the clubhouse (grill room, pro shop, etc.), it is
basically much the same as when erected. The golf course still retains the
essence of Raynor's design, although fairway contours, tee boxes and putting
surfaces have been altered over the years. Over the past few seasons, all of
the bunkers have been reworked and redesigned and are now up to Fox Chapel
standards. This outstanding facility has hosted two outstanding events, the
U.S. Senior Amateur in 1965 captured by Robert Kiersky and the 1985 Women's
Amateur captured by Michiko Hattori. On tap for Fox Chapel is the 2002 Curtis
Cup, where the top United States women amateurs will face the best from Great
Britain and Ireland. Six-time U.S. national champion Carol Semple Thompson and
current Women's Amateur champion Meredith Duncan will lead the squad from the
U.S. while two-time Curtis Cupper Rebecca Hudson will anchor GB&I.
REVIEW: The course starts out with a beautiful par-four that bends from left
to right with a rolling fairway, one of the signature parts of the course,
with bunkers left and right. The green slopes from left to right and is
flanked by high-faced bunkers. Hole number two is a short, but demanding
par-five. At just 483 yards, many would think that birdie would be easy,
however, a misplaced tee shot to an uphill fairway will cause many
problems. Out of bounds looms left along with bunkers and tall trees, while
the fairway slopes severely from left to right. The approach shot to the
green is downhill to a putting surface that is guarded by sand and is
situated in between mounding. Miss the green left and say goodbye, miss right
and double-bogey is a distinct possibility. A beautiful par-three awaits
the players on number three. At 207 yards, this one-shotter must carry over
water to a sloping green from left to right. Bunkers guard front and left,
making par a good score. The par-four, fourth hole is the most difficult
on the course at 485 yards from tips. The uphill tee shot needs to swing from
right to left and avoid the bunkers. After a successful tee ball, the player
is left with a long iron or fairway metal to a large green, well guarded by
bunkers. The green slopes from back and left to front and right and is
extremely quick. A reprieve of sorts at number five. Just 342 yards, the
fifth is one of those holes that requires correct club selection off the tee
to a fairway guarded on the right side by bunkers and on the left by a
stream to a sloping right to left fairway. The second shot carries over a
creek to an uphill green that is fairly flat. After most likely dropping a
shot on four, here's your chance to get it back. The sixth is a majestic
par-three guarded on both sides by massive bunkers with equally massive lips.
A very narrow green features a slope from back to front. Getting up and down
from the sand is next to impossible, especially on your first try. The short
seventh, just like the fifth requires proper club selection. At 295
yards, its the shortest par-four on the course with bunkers on the left side
of the fairway and trees and mounding on the right. The green is treacherous
with a huge fronting bunker to a slick undulating surface that slopes from
left to right and back to front. The shortest par-five on the course, the
eighth is just 475 yards, but plays uphill to a small, shallow green. The
fairway is guarded on the left by bunkers and on the right by a stream and
huge trees. With an accurate tee shot, players will have a definite birdie
opportunity and a possible eagle attempt. The final hole on the outward nine
is a beauty at 450 yards, featuring a rolling fairway to a punchbowl type
green. The putting surface is two-tiered and slopes from back to front and is
usually one of the quickest on the course.
Another two-tiered green is featured on the 10th, as players begin their march
towards the clubhouse. After stopping for a drink at the halfway house, the
tee shot on 10 must split the fairway, as thick rough awaits both left and
right. The player is left with a medium to short iron to an undulating green
that once again slopes to the front. Although the shortest on the course, the
11th is one of the signature holes at Fox Chapel. Surrounded almost entirely
by a sand moat, this devilish par-three at 156 yards requires pin-point
accuracy to a green that is generally flat but putts uphill when the pin
is in the back. The par-four 12th doglegs right with large trees guarding the
left side of the fairway. The green slopes from left to right and is
guarded by a huge bunker. Although short at 344 yards, making par is OK as
the quickness of the green dictates a three-putt. If you weren't challenged
as of yet, the final six holes will test the best of players. The 13th is a
big dogleg right to a fairway that slopes left with large, tall trees and out
of bounds guarding the entire right side of the hole. Even if you cut the
corner, your tee shot will most likely roll into the rough, leaving a
difficult mid iron approach. The good news...the putting surface is fairly
flat, so getting up and down for par has good possibilities. The 14th is a
straightaway par-four with out of bounds on the right and trees left. The
tee shot must carry on to the plateau leaving yourself with a mid to short
iron approach to a small green, guarded left, right and back by bunkers. The
par-four 15th resembles the 12th in many ways. The tee shot requires proper
club selection as to avoid bunkers and trees right to a relatively small
fairway with a landing area that is fronted by a creek. The second shot with
a wedge or nine-iron, must carry a huge gaping bunker fronting the green
which slopes from back to front. The 16th is probably the flattest hole on
the course as it winds its way from left to right to a small green guarded on
both sides by bunkers. The putting surface slopes from left to right and is
extremely fast. The par-three 17th is a humongous one-shotter at 231 yards
from the back tees. The green is reminiscent of Yale Golf Course in
Connecticut, featuring a huge swale in the front portion of the putting
surface. A large moat style bunker guards the right side of the green while
the left side falls off towards the 18th tee. Parring 17 means you won the
hole and have a good chance to win your match. As you reach the final hole,
you wish the round could go on and on. But, alas the 18th is truly a testing
finisher at 574 yards. The hole bends from left to right with a creek that
runs right and through the fairway, splitting the landing area. Large trees
also guard the right side of the fairway, keeping the big hitters honest as
they attempt to reach this monster in two. A successful lay up will leave an
uphill wedge shot to a large green that slopes from right to left with the
beautiful clubhouse in the background.
At just 6,706 yards from the back tees, one might think that Fox Chapel is a
push over, however don't be fooled. This Seth Raynor beauty has a wonderful
Scottish feel that features amazing rolling fairways and deep, deep bunkers to
greens that are very undulating and fast. This is one of those courses that no
one outside of Pittsburgh knows about, but should, as Fox Chapel has the
ability to test the best of players.