{"id":1057,"date":"2016-11-04T07:54:14","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T12:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/?p=1057"},"modified":"2016-11-08T08:23:40","modified_gmt":"2016-11-08T13:23:40","slug":"salem-gc-hits-50-in-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/golf\/1057\/salem-gc-hits-50-in-style","title":{"rendered":"Salem GC HIts 50 In Style"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dramatic

Dramatic changes in elevation and tricky green complexes are hallmarks of Salem’s golf course. Here, the 18th, a par five. Photo: J. Krajicek<\/p><\/div>\n

What\u2019s your least favorite golf cliche? For many, and not without reason, it would be \u201chidden gem.\u201d So you won\u2019t be reading that hackneyed description in this space. But Salem Golf Club, in North Salem, New York, unknown to this writer until a recent visit, really punches above its profile in Westchester County, home to numerous household names like Winged Foot.<\/p>\n

Indeed, Salem\u2019s understated, no-tee-time atmosphere is a huge part of its appeal. Amid dispiriting news in recent years about golf course closings, Salem celebrates its 50th anniversary at near-capacity membership, having undergone a series of capital improvements to the course and the club\u2019s buildings. Presently under construction is a new pool and pool house, along with lockers, spa, fitness equipment, studios for yoga and Pilates, and a space dedicated to children\u2019s activities.<\/p>\n

The course has undergone periodic renovations of tees, greens, and bunkers, and, like many courses in the Northeast this season, was in superb condition. Playing 6,800 yards, par 72, slope 139 from the back tees \u2014 there are four other sets \u2014 it makes great use of the 165-acre site\u2019s rolling, tumbling terrain. The greens, while not extremely contoured, are slick and deceptive.<\/p>\n

It was designed by Edward Ryder, something of an enigma in golf course architecture, as he completed only a handful of layouts \u2014 the exact number seems in dispute \u2014 among them Richter Park, a municipal course in Danbury, Connecticut, a perennial presence on \u201cbest public\u201d lists.<\/p>\n

While the renovation and extension of the 110-year-old stone clubhouse has expanded its amenities, the building, originally part of an estate, maintains an intimate feel. Think Shinnecock, not Westchester.<\/p>\n

Maybe it\u2019s the name that helps keep Salem\u2019s stature in the golf-rich region on the low side. After all, what state doesn\u2019t have at least one Salem? Certainly Salem Golf Club is yet another example of one of the game\u2019s most alluring aspects: Tough times or not, a great golf experience is frequently right around the corner. Of course, the members and staff we encountered at Salem seem happy right where they are.<\/p>\n

#\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0#\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0#<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What\u2019s your least favorite golf cliche? For many, and not without reason, it would be \u201chidden gem.\u201d So you won\u2019t… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":1063,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,17],"tags":[1005355,1005356,1005357,1005358,1005359,1005360],"class_list":["post-1057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-golf","category-courses-and-travel","tag-salem-gc-winged-foot","tag-westchester","tag-richter-park","tag-edward-ryder","tag-north-salem","tag-danbury"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2016\/11\/18-Salem-GC-11-C-J-Krajicek-.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1057","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1057"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1057\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1066,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1057\/revisions\/1066"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}