Pine Brook Golf Club, is a Private, 9 hole golf course located in Gloversville, New York.
The club was formed in 1923 as the Sir William Johnson Country Club. The course lies over the former Simmons 169-acre farm, and was designed by James Floyd, a Scottish golf pro, in 1923.
Blue tees: par-35, 3.100 yards
White tees: par-35, 2,900 yards
Red tees: par-36, 2,754 yards
HOLE 1/10: An inviting Par 5 starting hole with a generous expansive landing area sure to calm any first tee jitters. The landing area narrows at 270 yards where the brook meanders along and underneath the fairway from the right. A well placed tee shot should favor the left half of the fairway to ensure a clear look at the pin. The severe uphill elevation change to a back to front sloping green makes approach shots play 1-2 clubs longer in most cases. When attempting to play to this green in two, one should keep in mind a good miss is right of the green. There is a small collection area on the same level as the putting surface that gives a good look at this green and a better opportunity to put a short pitch shot in position to make birdie.
HOLE 2/11: A picturesque down hill Par 4/5. Tee shots down the right half playing well right of the prison of pines that form this dogleg left are a must. Don’t stray too far right, where the brook reappears and winds its way around the corner of this hole. A well placed tee ball will give way to a good look at this back to front sloping green guarded by bunkers left and right. Keeping the ball below the hole on this green is a wise play.
HOLE 3/12: A short up hill Par 3 to a back to front sloping green. The back to front sloping green is guarded by deep bunkers across the front and a grass bunker long. A high flighted tee ball is the choice shot on this hole especially when playing to front pin locations.
HOLE 4/13: A long extremely down hill Par 4/5. Stepped tee boxes which climb higher in elevation can stretch this hole to over 460 yards. Treacherous fescue covered berms protect the green 40 yards from the putting surface, while green side bunkers loom left and right of this back to front sloping green. Another green to play for an approach which remains below the hole.
HOLE 5/14: A great looking Par 4 to anyone who works the ball left to right. For the rest, a good play here is to aim for the right fairway bunker straight through the fairway from the tee. A 200 - 230 yard tee shot will put you in the left half of the fairway at the corner of this dogleg right roughly 120-130 yards out, with a great look at this funky little green complex. The green is very well guarded. There are tall over hanging oaks and a slope to the right which have been known to spit a ball out onto the green every once and a while. There are also bunkers and mounds that guard this green to the front and left. As if the trouble surrounding the green wasn’t enough the putting surface itself is two tiered and loaded with subtle undulations.
HOLE 6/15: A short Par 4 playing under 350 yards, however; tee shot placement is absolutely crucial and can make or break this hole for you. When lining up your drive you want to target the small landing area 210 yards from the tee in the left half of the fairway. Careful not to go through the fairway though. Too far and you will find yourself down in a hollow among the roots and limbs of the giant oaks that line the left side of the hole. Too far right and your line will be blocked by the over hanging limbs of the large pine trees that guard the right side. From that flat you will have 120-130 yards down hill to a two tiered green guarded by bunkers short left, and right.
HOLE 8/17: A great, not so little Par 3. This hole can play as short as 134 yards to as long as 218. The green is small in size to begin with, and the further back the tees are pushed the smaller this green appears. The green slopes from back to front and is guarded by bunkers short left and short right.
HOLE 9/18: A down hill sloping Par 4 plays to two different green complexes for holes 9 and 18. From the tee it is a blind drive to the landing area. A good point of reference for alignment is the flag pole that stands on the edge of the parking lot south of the clubhouse. Less is more here. Unless you are trying to drive the green, a fairway metal of even an iron is a wise choice. 210-215 maximum drive at the flag pole is all that is needed to put you in good position with a level lie 100-130 yards from either green. #9 green is to the left while #18 is set in against the woods to the right.