Burning Tree to host MGWA Outing

Metropolitan Golf Writers Association

49 Knollwood Road    Elmsford, NY 10523    (914) 347-4653

metgolfwriters.org

BURNING TREE CC TO HOST MGWA MEETING/OUTING IN AUGUST

Visit to Greenwich, CT, Set for Monday, August 30th

May 3, 2021

To: All Met Golf Writers Association Members

From: Chuck Stogel, MGWA Activities Committee

The MGWA Activities Committee is pleased to announce that we have scheduled our pre-Labor Day meeting and outing at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, CT, for Monday, August 30, 2021. This get-together replaces our previously arranged visit to The Summit Club at Armonk (NY), which now is being rescheduled for spring 2022.

All credit for helping to find a substitute for The Summit, and to have it replaced with such a wonderful club and course as Burning Tree, is due to MGWA members Pat Norton and Jane Dally of On Course Strategies.

A full day of interesting and informative activities, along with our annual MGWA Team Shootout competition, is being planned for August 30th. Our agenda will follow our usual timetable, including a morning meeting, luncheon, shotgun golf, after golf refreshments and prizes.

Tripp Davis, founder and principal of the architectural firm TDA --- who has overseen numerous renovation features at Burning Tree --- will be on hand and will speak to our group at the morning meeting session.

Founded in 1962 on 196 acres of the former Frye estate, Burning Tree is roughly located between North Street and Stanwich Road in the Town of Greenwich, and is situated adjacent to the east side of the Merritt Parkway. The original course was designed by Hal Purdy, whose architectural name graces numerous course designs in the Met area. With a par of 72, tee boxes stretch from 5,573 to 6,841 yards. The rating/slope from the back tees is 74.0/134. The front 9 occupies mostly low-lying ground with several streams and ponds, while the back 9 winds through woodsy area with varying terrain. Two of the more interesting, and challenging holes are par 5s: the 590-yard fourth and the 496-yard 15th. The original clubhouse opened in 1966, and then was expanded and upgraded considerably in 1985.

The Metropolitan section proved a very fertile ground for architect Purdy, who has overseen work at more than 30 area courses including nearly 20 in New Jersey. East of the Hudson River, Purdy original or restoration courses in addition to Burning Tree include the likes of H. Smith Richardson, Whitney Farms and Aspetuck Valley in Connecticut; Middle Bay and Inwood on Long Island. West of the Hudson: Phillip J. Rotella, Stony Ford, Hickory Hill, New Paltz and Rondout in New York; Colonia, Essex Fells, Fiddlers Elbow Meadow and River, Forsgate Palmer, Flanders Valley, Canoe Brook South, Knoll East and Warrenbrook in New Jersey.

Davis is an accomplished amateur golfer in addition to his architectural prowess. An AJGA All-American, he was a collegiate All-American and 1989 NCAA team champion member at the University of Oklahoma. He has competed in 15 USGA championships, was medalist at the 2003 U.S. Mid-Amateur, and a quarterfinalist at both the 2005 and 2009 U.S. Mid-Ams. His renovation and restoration accomplishments in the Met area, in addition to Burning Tree, include: Deepdale, Engineers, Meadow Brook, Powelton, Rolling Hills, Rumson, Spring Lake and Whippoorwill.

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