Adam Friedman attempts to putt for par on the Montrose Country Club’s redesigned Hole #2 that opened for play on Thursday, June 27. STAFF PHOTO/STACI WILSON
BY STACI WILSON
The Route 706 expansion project called for a redesign of the intersection at Routes 706 and 29.
And with the project, the 115-year-old Montrose Country Club lost a portion of the second hole play area. The golf course is one of the oldest in Pennsylvania and among the oldest nine-hole courses in the nation.
The club took advantage of the forced change. “We redesigned the hole to get away from the roads,” said member and avid golfer Sam Lewis, “and in the process, we improved it.”
With the help of golf course architect Robert McNiel of Northeast Golf Company, Lewis said the par 4 hole is now more challenging.
“It’s the same play distance,” Lewis said, “but the second shot is far more difficult.”
Following the Member-Guest Tournament at the end of the 2012 season, the 314-yard hole was closed off for the redesign.
After a cold and wet spring, the hole opened for play with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 27.
Following the ribbon cutting, golfers took to the links to try out the new hole driving shots from the tee located at the “v” where Route 29 and Lake Avenue come together.
Dr. Tom Pascoe, center, cuts the ribbon on the second hole of the Montrose Club nine-hole golf course with Eric Wheaton, Sam Lewis, Brian Baker and Adam Friedman, opening the hole to play after construction forced a redesign of the hole. STAFF PHOTO/STACI WILSON
The golfers recorded some hole “firsts” with Eric Wheaton registering the first birdie, and others in the group adding the first “bogies” and “double-bogies” to the tally.
Shots landed in the rough and in the sand trap – providing a full gambit of golf possibilities to the players.
Brian Baker drives his shot off the par 4 second hole tee. STAFF PHOTO/STACI WILSON
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