Top local golfer says drop Princeton CC from rotation
A discussion with Ray “Ray-Ray” Pyontek produced interesting opinions from the recently crowned Mercer County Senior Open champion.
Pyontek, a Realtor for Berkshire Hathaway, offered a golf version of the famous real estate selling point of location, location, location.
“If the County dropped Princeton Country Club from the rotation then more people would play in this tournament. It’s a pasture,” Pyontek said.
“It’s a lot of weeds and small greens.Tell me, when’s that course ever been in good shape?”
Ray-Ray, who sounded pugilistic, more like boxer Boom-Boom Mancini as opposed to talented golf ball slinger, needed a time out or a midday sedative. Mind you, Princeton suffers dreadfully when hit by torrential rains, especially holes 13 through 17.
Environmental protection rules prevent modifications to prevent flooding which means Princeton remains at the mercy of Mother Nature.
Rain forced Princeton out of the middle play in the three-course rotation that starts with Mercer Oaks West and ends with Mountain View. The scheduled Princeton round played at Mercer Oaks East, typically referred to as a bomber’s course with lots of room.
The East allows for wayward shots while Princeton CC listed at 6005 yards, par-70 and a course rating of 68.8 demands ball control, patience and golf intelligence.
Golfers arrive at the Wheeling Way course with bright eyes and big ideas about posting personal bests then leave after their high tech arsenal of irons and metal woods proved no match for perilous Princeton.
A psychiatrist could garner major money with several couches set up between Princeton’s 18th hole and the clubhouse.
Jim Shely, Randy Scully, Ruben Johnson, Bruh Lewis, a big, burly brute who played cross handed, The famous flying Bartolacci Brothers, Tom and Wayne, Dave Alampi, Ken Hardwick, Harold Hall, Rich Cefalone, Ben Bishop, Rich Stanford, Big Jim Kellner, Pete Ogden, Ferman Witherspoon, John Gianacaci, Joe or Rudy Caracciolo, Mark Inman, Russell Schaffer, Jim Byer, Glenn Smeraglio, Tony Watson, Jeff Muhlbauer, Eddie Beese, Terry Sawyer, Wally Sawka, Jim Beecher, Paul Rogowicz, Frankie Corrado, Louis Giovi, Larry Melamed, Bobby Kotz, Joe Costanzo, Charlie Liljestrand, etc, you get the point, rarely dominated Princeton CC.
Princeton offers greens sized just larger than a college door room and caressed by slippery sloped drop-offs. Miss an approach shot left, right or over and bogeys or worse will occur.
Greens lack the speeds of private country club or even other county courses but hole placements can challenge the best approaches and putters.
Two holes exist as reachable par4s with No. 9 and No. 15 accessible to long hitters. Still, even with those offerings, most golfers rarely match par at Princeton. Just four holes measure longer than 400 yards.
Alampi, a former assistant pro at Bedens Brook stepped onto the No. 9 tee years back and announced he would drive the green. He did. And another time Alampi trailed Watson in a Senior Open final-round thriller. Watson had made a mess of the 10th hole and Alampi smelled blood on the short 11th a 345-yard, dogleg left par-4.
Alampi stood in the middle of the fairway holding a sand wedge and ready for a shot to a back flagstick. Mind you, the 11th green looks smaller than a baby’s bottom. Alampi’s shot sailed high and over the green. Princeton demands precision. Watson went onto claim the championship.
Golfers will always fret and whimper about certain courses but Princeton in good shape remains a great challenge for all.
“You know my daughter taught me how to play Princeton,” Mark Cubberley noted. “She went to my golf bag and removed my driver. Then she said, “Now, go play.”
John Kostin, Mercer County director of golf, assured Princeton CC will stay in the rotation as long as the course is not overwhelmed by bad weather.
Golfers who push back against Princeton CC do have an opportunity to effect change — Pray for rain.