Hole Overview 

Architects Notes by Gil Hanse

Golf course architects have many different theories on how the opening hole should play.  George Thomas always started with a par 5 to get the round going, Donald Ross has the famous quote of the opening hole being like a gentle handshake to ease the golfer into his or her round.  The opening hole at Waverley would appear to be gentle if the yardage was all that was considered.  However, with the road close along the right side of the hole for its entire length, trouble is always at hand.  Our goal for the opener has been to provide a bit more challenge for the longer player by moving the right hand fairway bunker down range, and providing a bit more fairway in play for the shorter option.  With the closely guarded left side of the green, the premium on placement that we hope to renew throughout the course is very much in evidence from the start.

History

‘Ardgour’ was the name of the original MacMaster estate that bordered the Waverley property. (There was even an ‘Ardgour’ stop on the old railcar line at the northwest corner of the estate, near the first green.)

1993 USGA Junior Amateur Championship… To chronologically enjoy the history of this match begin reading from the 16th hole history. Sudden death began on Waverley’s number 1 333-yard par 4 that Woods had bogeyed in both rounds on Saturday. Late afternoon, Sunday, July 31st, Tiger Woods and Ryan Armour stood on the first tee all square. That morning Armour had won with a par to open the match. This second time around, Armour barely reached the front of the green with his 7-iron approach, while Woods put a 9-iron about 15-feet to the left of the cup. Armour putted first and left his ball about 6 feet to the right. Woods putted next and came up 4 feet short. Armour was still alive. He and his caddy picked the wrong line and his ball ran past the right side of the hole. Woods then stepped up and delivered on another history making effort on Waverley Country Club’s first green. The putt dropped into the center of the cup. Woods celebration was the first break in his concentration all day. Tiger wept as his father ran onto the green and embraced him. All Tiger could say was “I did it, I did it,” over and over. “It was a very emotional moment,” Tiger said. Having secured a regulation par at the 19th hole, after Armour’s three putt from 68 feet, in front of Waverley members and an appreciative gallery, Woods became the USGA Junior Amateur’s only three-time Champion. Bobby Jones long standing record fell that afternoon at the first hole at Waverley Country Club.