Plainfield Country Club is a classic Donald Ross design that was recently restored by Gil Hanse. It sits on an incredible rolling plot of land in Middlesex County, where you can catch a glimpse of the Manhattan skyline from the dining patio. Some notable events that have been held here: the 1978 United States Amateur (John Cook) the 1987 US Women’s Open (Laura Davies), and The Barclays Fed-Ex Cup events in 2011 (Dustin Johnson) and 2015 (Jason Day). We were here thanks to my friend and member, Tehama Tom, who is close with Baltusrol Bob. Between them, they had arranged the visit here and to the Lower and Upper courses at Baltusrol as they are members at both clubs.
I had played Plainfield about 40 years ago with my Uncle Stu, who was a member at the time. Seeing Uncle Stu, Aunt Jan, and my cousins Jennifer and Lisa in Rumson was as fun and rewarding as any moment I’ve had on this adventure. Everyone met my adult sons as well, so it was nice to show them the Sendell Clan is not totally nuts. I also remembered Plainfield was my father’s main rival in High School sports as he attended Westfield High. My sons had a similar rivalry in Pacific Grove versus Carmel. Carmel is bigger and better-funded, but they did not have Brad and Jack on the hardwood. I don’t know what their final record was against the Padres, but PG bossed them around in hoops like I was about to get bossed by Donald Ross.
Ross designs have a few noticeable features if you know what you’re looking for. Square shaping on his green complexes, lots of tilt, ridges, roll offs, bunker necklacing, mounding, and some blind shots. He designed this masterpiece in 1916 and it has a Golden Age look and feel to it. I felt like I should be playing in a tweed coat with a pipe, which my boys suggested I probably did in High School when I graduated with Old Tom Morris. Old Tom liked to party by the way.
I had a fairly good memory of Plainfield because it’s that kind of place. Besides the old school elegance of the clubhouse, locker room, and grounds, the first thing I’d noticed was it was more open than I’d remembered. After speaking with their legendary pro, Scott, he referred to the old version as “Hallway Golf.” This was the 6th course that we’d played on this trip that had Gil Hanse’s fingerprints on it. He is a modern designer that Baltusrol Bob affectionately refers to as “Chainsaw Hanse” for his affinity in chopping down trees. Hanse is currently remodeling The Links at Spanish Bay, which I played on opening day in 1987. Incredibly, I think 1987 is the same year I first played Plainfield with Uncle Stu.
The second thing I noticed was the tilt and speed of the practice green, which I estimate was 15 degrees and rolling 15 on the stimp. I rolled a few uphillers that rolled right back to my feet. The third thing was the breeze, which was forecasted for sustained winds around 22 and gusts up to 35. Scott the Pro also suggested keeping the ball under the hole. Let’s just say I was seeing ghosts before we hit the first tee. The Jailbird didn’t just send me to sleep on the couch, she changed the locks on me.
With the wind directly in my face, I opened the festivities with a nice tee shot and a flighted 5 iron to about 15 feet at the first. But I hadn’t listened to Scott. I was above the hole, downwind. I am used to fast greens, but this was a different plate of food. I barely breathed on it and it skated past the hole and almost off the green. An opening three putt and a quick bogey. Then I doubled the 2nd because I was too afraid of going long into the abyss. I settled things down until the 8th, which I three putted again. I was having a horrible time with the speed of the greens and it was feeling like a repeat of Winged Foot West, where I’d tallied 43 jabs. I waved at a 6 foot birdie attempt at the 9th, which my boys slapped back to me before it stopped rolling.
I hit a great recovery through the pines on the 10th and three putted again. Our caddies called the 11th the shortest par 5 in New Jersey at 141 yards. I hit a terrific flighted 7 iron there after watching my boys balls drift around like kites. I somehow two putted for par but then things got ugly. I three putted the 12th and 13th. I hit it in the water on the 14th and then three putted the 16th with perhaps my worst stroke of the entire trip. From two feet, I barely grazed the ball and left it short and right. My boys were incredulous and so was I. I had absolutely no idea what was going on with me and the Jailbird. So, I did what any normal person would do. I benched it and two putted the last two holes with my 60 degree wedge.
Although I shot 81, I must say I struck the ball quite nicely in the wind. I hit 15 greens and two of those misses were bad yardages. And Plainfield is definitely in my Top 3, if not the best, on this trip despite my performance. I will not deny I am a little tired mentally, but the body is holding up considering Plainfield was round 22 in 25 days. Today, we finish at Baltusrol Upper and then head south to Pinehurst. Update: The Jailbird and I are still not speaking.
