Anthony Pioppi

"I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent."
~Mahatma Gandhi

Just back from a Seth Raynor Society event at Midland Hills. Amazing metamorphosis from when I was there about 15 years ago. Kudos to the club for takiing out trees and letting architect Jim Urbina and superintendent Mike Manthey loose. Fantastic land movement. Well worth a visit.

Amazing!

Visiting Mid-Pacific Country Club on Oahu. #SethRaynor's last known design. He laid out 18. Front 9 opened in '28, back 9 in '49. None of the original features are left, but 15 entire hole corridors remain (tees, fairways green sites). No. 9, designed as a Cape Hole.

Wind is almost always a factor. An absolute blast even on a benign day.

Fenwick Golf Course on a splendid May day in Connecticut. The route from the first green to the second tee, one of my favorite walks in golf, about 250 yards, and the sixth green from the right side of 5.

Former Southampton N.Y. Sidewalk Commissioner Seth Jagger Raynor born on this date in 1874.

A common misperception of Seth Raynor is that he partnered with C.B. Macdonald but no proof has been found. Raynor served as Macdonald's construction superintendent. However, this partnership existed from approximately 1901-04. @arguth3.bsky.social @keithangilly.bsky.social @mxmanners.bsky.social

Cool 1st green Bass River G Course, Yarmouth, Mass., date unknown. Club claims Donald Ross lineage but no proof. Club history from the '70s doesn't mention Ross. Historical Society of Old Yarmouth. @mxmanners.bsky.social @keithangilly.bsky.social @rigolfarchitect.bsky.social @arguth3.bsky.social

Have you seen him lately? He's very two-dimensional.

For whatever reason, @travelerschamp.bsky.social has the wonderful tradition of having @mmschocolate.bsky.social made in the likeness of the defending champion. Here now is the 2025 Scottie Scheffler edition. @keithangilly.bsky.social @arguth3.bsky.social

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler called the 15th hole at TPC Riverhighlands "... one of the best on tour in regards to risk reward" during today's @travelerschamp.bsky.social media day. Originally designed by Pete Dye, it plays 296 yards from the back tees to a plateau green with sharp fall-offs

A Masterful Button - CSGA For decades the Waterbury Button Company has been producing the buttons that go on the Masters Tournament green jacket.

Wonderful story from the Connecticut State Golf Association about the Waterbury company that makes the buttons for the Augusta National green jackets. @arguth3.bsky.social @keithangilly.bsky.social @mxmanners.bsky.social csgalinks.org/news/a-maste...

Happy Smigus Dyngus!!

Cohasse Country Club, a 9-hole Donald Ross in Southbridge, Mass, which opened for play in 1918, has been sold to Ken Uracius, the owner of Hardwick Crossing CC also in Mass. I rank it as the 8th best 9 in North America. It is the first course I was ever on. #DonaldRoss #Finest9s

A couple more from Yale. The driving range with the tee moved back, which is even more in snipe hook range than where it was previously, rerouted entrance road and the current Google Earth photo of the course.

Two more from Yale. 8/1 and 4. I'm confused by the one entrance/exit on 4. Wear issues? #SethRaynor

Connecticut Settler 1: What should we name our village?

Connecticut Settler 2: We're between Haddam and Lyme.

Connecticut Settler 1: Hadlyme!

Connecticut Settler 2: Genius!

More from Yale. No. 6. The left greenside bunker is not in the '34 aerial. No. 2, the little finger in the bunker is in the '34. In a contemporary write-up, 2 green is described as "natural" and "close to the cape type." 6 greensite was built up 6 feet during construction of the course. #SethRaynor

The new third green at Yale, referred to as a "double punchbowl" in a contemporary writeup. The '34 view shows a discolored bunker, possibly from flooding. The green was completely changed and the bunker removed at some point.

Some recent photos from Yale. No. 9 and No. 7. It looks like there is good turf cover on all the greens. The original plan was for the course to open in the summer of '26. I have heard no different. Bunkers seem to fit with '34 aerial. #SethRaynor #CBMacdonald #GolfArchitecture #YaleGolfCourse

Tom was a great guy to chat with, lots of wonderful insight.

Renovation Report with Tom Mcavoy, CGCS, Old Westbury (NY) Golf and Country Club Anthony Pioppi chats with long-time TurfNet member Tom Mcavoy, CGCS, about the upcoming 27-hole Brian Silva renovation of Old Westbury Golf & Country Club in Old Westbury, NY.

My latest Renovation Report is live. I talk with Tom Macavoy, superintendent at Old Westbury G&CC. His 27 holes are undergoing a massive restoration starting in late summer. Brian Silva architect, NMP doing the work. @keithangilly.bsky.social @thegirling.bsky.social www.turfnet.com/podcasts/ren...

Must be hell for the members. Right tree, second branch has my name all over it. 😂🙄

That's what I'm talking about! Trees between a fairway bunker and green. Double-penal strategy just oozes fun, doesn't it? Growing the game by making it needlessly difficult. @thegirling.bsky.social

Through an odd set of circumstances, I was able to purchase a hanful of "The Finest Nines" copies. The book went of of print in 2020 (thank you Covid.) If you'd like to buy a personalized copy, message me or email me AnthonyPioppi@gmail.com. @keithangilly.bsky.social @mxmanners.bsky.social

This is why there is beer.. 😆

A vivid example of the style difference between Seth Raynor and A.W. Tillinghast. From CC Fairfield. Shown are par-3 4th, par-4 14th. Tillinghast moved both greens closer to the water, making for more penal approach shots. @arguth3.bsky.social @keithangilly.bsky.social

Cool! Bendelow did so much for the game.

Thank you!!