The spectator-friendly 18th hole at Ridgemont Country Club also provided a challenge for golfers during the recent RDGA District Championships. Portions of the back nine at Ridgemont have been dramatically upgraded since the last time the club hosted the District Championship in 2007.
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FOLLOW RESULTS FROM THE 2016 RDGA DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS at RIDGEMONT:
CLICK HERE for the starting times and pairings for Round 2 of the 2016 RDGA District Championship |
This year, the Rochester District Golf Association’s flagship event – the RDGA District Championship John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial – returns to historic Ridgemont Country Club for the 10th time in the 86-year history of the Championship.
Although the District Championship and Ridgemont share a history that goes back more than eight decades, veteran players returning to the club for the first time since the Championship was last held there in 2007 will see many dramatic changes – changes that will challenge their preconceived ideas about course strategy, especially when the pressure is on.
“Beginning in 2013, we lengthened the course by almost 300 yards from the men’s tees, we added ponds – and the tees at No. 16 and 18 have been rebuilt,” Ridgemont Membership Coordinator Chuck Gannon says of the recent changes. “Plus, we’ve made considerable improvements to the greens.”
Since becoming the club’s owner in 2013, long-time member Jim Cucinelli has overseen the many changes and improvements to Ridgemont’s layout – all designed to improve playability, while at the same time, offering golfers many strategic options during play.
“It’s not a long course, but there are a lot of risk-reward opportunities,” says Andrew Smith, Ridgemont’s PGA Head Professional. “It will be a tough challenge – many of the greens are pretty small.”
The most dramatic changes to the course include new tees on 15, 16 and 17 and new ponds on 15 and 18, providing many of those risk-reward opportunities just as players near the end of their rounds – which should make for some exciting moments during the 2016 RDGA Championship, scheduled for July 13 through 16.
Risks Reward Those Who Have A Short Game
A classic northeast parkland style venue that has played host to the Rochester District Golf Association Championship nine times since 1935, Ridgemont offers a challenging test of golf for players of all levels.
Until recent upgrades, Ridgemont’s 18-hole, par-72 layout measured less than 6,500-yards. Following the recent changes and improvements, however, the course now measures nearly 6,700 yards from the back tees – something that was needed in order for the course to keep pace with other championship layouts in the area.
The biggest change has been the addition of new tee boxes on holes 3, 5, 6, 15, 16 and 18.
“The new tee boxes have added more than 200 yards to our championship tees,” points out Chuck Gannon. “Plus, these new tee boxes are all raised, which gives golfers a commanding view of each hole.”
 The re-designed 15th hole at Ridgemont Country Club, with a new pond
lining the right side of the fairway where a line of trees once stood guard.
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The other striking new feature is the pond that runs along the right side of the 15th hole, giving that hole an entirely new look. Although the removal of trees has opened up the hole – a dogleg right – to being reachable for the game’s longer hitters, the pond that replaced the trees is waiting for any short or errant shot.
Conversely, the short 16th hole – also a dogleg right par-4 – was previously a popular target for big hitters. But the new tee box has lengthened the hole considerably, making the option to go for the green off the tee more risk than reward.
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During the week of the RDGA Championship, Ridgemont’s veteran greens superintendent Art Eichas will toughen up the course even more, with thick rough around the greens and green speeds up to 10 or 11 on the Stimpmeter.
Combined with the course’s small-sized greens – which may look flat but often have several breaks and are guarded by false fronts – there is plenty of bite to Ridgemont’s layout despite its relatively shorter length.
“The smaller greens, combined with the thick rough and fast greens will make the course as tough as it can be for the Championship,” adds Gannon. “If you miss the fairway, you better bring your short game.”
 The view from the new tee at No. 16 at Ridgemont Country Club.
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A Storied History – And A Solid Standing in the Local Golfing Community
The recent changes made to the course at Ridgemont follow the club’s long, storied history, which dates back nearly 90 years.
As Rochester’s west side was expanding in the 1920s, along with the growth of the Eastman Kodak Company, a group of real estate developers sought to create a refuge from the trials of everyday life for Kodak employees, as well as others in the area. Thus, the only private country club in Greece – before and since – had its origin.
Those developers formed the basis of Ridgemont’s initial membership. They first found a perfect location – a former apple orchard and Greek Revival home, built in the 1840s by original owners, the James Upton family. By 1928, the group had reached its initial membership goal and established plans for an 18-hole golf course located on the grounds of the Upton estate, with the house forming the center of activity as the clubhouse. By 1929, the first nine holes were open for play, followed two years later by the second nine.
Despite many challenges through the years, membership continued to grow, as the course grew into maturity with new plantings and improvements made to the layout. Soon, a pro shop was added, while a pumping station provided irrigation for the course’s tees and greens, fed by the creek that runs through the property.
In the mid-1950s, a pond was added, as well as a modern full-course watering system. By the early 1960s, a new dining room wing was built onto the old mansion, overlooking a new swimming pool.
In more recent years, Ridgemont’s Board of Governors oversaw the club’s progression into a modern golf facility – a revision of the back nine greatly improved the challenge and the beauty of the course, while at the same time providing room for a full-scale practice range, which includes one of the only all-grass tees on Rochester’s west side.
The club’s outdoor bar and deck facilities were also added and expanded, as well as a completely new pro shop and golf center, located near the first tee. A new state-of-the-art and automatic watering system keeps the entire grounds green and plush throughout the summer months. And yet, with all these modern improvements, the flavor of the 1840 manor remains.
New Owner A Member, First
Although Jim Cucinelli’s ownership status is relatively new to Ridgemont Country Club, he is not. A member of the club since 1988, Cucinelli wasn’t even a golfer when he joined – and his personal tastes certainly didn’t lead him to expect any special treatment as a new member of a private country club.
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“I played softball – that was my major activity at the time,” he says. “But a few friends were planning to join Ridgemont, so I joined as well – sight unseen.”
Since then, obviously, Cucinelli has become quite taken with the club, as well as the sport of golf. But – it is that same humble nature with which he approaches ownership of the club that drives his desire to make it a casual, friendly atmosphere for members.
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CLICK HERE to view the
Ridgemont Country Club website for more about the club, as well as membership information.
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“We want Ridgemont to be a fun, relaxing place for members – to provide a very comfortable, friendly atmosphere, as well as a casual elegance,” adds Cucinelli. “Everything that you’d want in a vacation, you’ll find here.”
Most private country clubs these days find themselves walking a fine line between exclusivity and affordability – keeping costs down in order to retain members, yet, at the same time, looking for ways to make improvements and set themselves apart from other clubs in order to attract new members.
At Ridgemont, Cucinelli has found a way to both maintain and enhance the club, while also keeping costs down for the membership – and attracting a new, vibrant membership along the way.
Simply put, as the sole owner of Ridgemont – a rare situation for local private clubs – Cucinelli is able to make improvements and enhance members’ experience, without having to consult a board of directors. And, without having to pass along costs in the form of annual assessments, Cucinelli has been able to offer memberships at a very competitive rate, which has had the desired affect of attracting a new, younger member – one whose entire family can enjoy the experience together.
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Some of the new family-friendly attractions added under Cucinelli’s direction include outdoor Bocce courts; outdoor summer movies and, the most recent addition to Ridgemont’s facilities, AVID Indoor Golf & Fitness, located across the parking lot from the pro shop. A complete year-round, indoor golf training facility, AVID includes both golf simulators as well as a physical training center that both members AND the public can use.
The value in joining Ridgemont – being able to enjoy the benefits of private club membership without having to worry about spiraling costs – is what Cucinelli believes will continue to build the club’s membership and provide a friendly, family experience.
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 The new AVID Indoor Golf & Fitness at Ridgemont
Country Club opened to the public last winter.
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“There’s something here for everyone,” adds Cucinelli.
A Look Back: The Championship Returns to a Venue Steeped in Championship History
When the RDGA District Championship returns to Ridgemont this year, the eventual winner will hope to continue a tradition that dates to the earliest years of the RDGA itself – crowning a first-time champion who later goes on to repeat his title multiple times.
Oak Hill’s Bill Chapin became the first RDGA Championship winner at Ridgemont to repeat his title, going on to win RDGA titles in 1944 and 1948 following his victory there in 1941. In 1952, Bobby Hill – who would later go on to play professionally, as well as develop several local golf courses – won the first of his two RDGA titles at Ridgemont. In 1959, local amateur great Don Allen won the first of six District titles in that year’s Championship at Ridgemont.
Oak Hill’s Chip Lillich, the RDGA’s all-time District Championship winner, recorded the fifth of his record eight District titles at Ridgemont when it was held there in 1975, and in 1990, four-time District Champion John Kircher staked his place in Championship – and Ridgemont – history, winning the first of three District titles to date.
Through the years, Ridgemont has also produced some other memorable champions in the long history of the District Championship. John McGrath won the first District title hosted by the Ridge Rd. club in 1935; Gene Robinson won the third District title hosted by Ridgemont in 1946. James Infantino won the title when the Championship returned there in 1967.
The last time Ridgemont hosted the District Championship, home-course favorite Andrew DiBitetto used “local knowledge” to claim victory in 2007.
A Look Ahead To This Year’s Championship
The schedule for this year’s RDGA District Championship John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial begins with a practice round and opening ceremonies on Tuesday, July 12, followed by the annual Champions Dinner that evening.
The Championship begins with the first two rounds on Wednesday and Thursday, with a field of approximately 113 players starting of holes No. 1 and No. 10. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 40 players (plus ties) and will conclude with Rounds 3 and 4 on Friday and Saturday, July 15 and 16.
Defending his title from a year ago – actually, from the past two years – is two-time RDGA Champion Trevor Sluman, nephew of PGA Tour star and 1977 RDGA Champion Jeff Sluman. Trevor Sluman will be attempting to become the first three-time repeat winner since Oak Hill’s Chip Lillich won in 1971, 1972 and 1973.
Also during Championship week at Ridgemont, the RDGA Women’s Championship will be held for the first time at the venue.
Begun in 2010 and played as a two-day, 36-hole, stroke play competition, the RDGA Women’s Championship Danielle E. Downey Memorial is held each year concurrently with the RDGA Men’s District Championship, with competitors teeing off in separate flights during the final two rounds of the Men’s District Championship. The field is open to any women RDGA members with a USGA handicap index of 15.0 and under – along with those exempt from qualifying, which include past champions and/or the top-20 finishers from the the previous year’s championship. Sara Eichelberger, the only two-time winner of the event, will be defending her second title at Ridgemont.
Following the conclusion of both Championships on Saturday, July 16, an awards presentation will be made to the men’s and women’s RDGA Champions.
And somewhere nearby, Jim Cucinelli will be smiling.
“Ridgemont Country Club is incredibly honored to be hosting such a prestigious event as the Ryan (RDGA Championship),” he adds.
This article was written by RDGA Communications Director Dave Eaton.
 The 18th hole at Ridgemont provides spectators a great view of the action.
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