Shane Lowry was the one who announced to the world where a good part of the European team for the Ryder Cup was just hours before the big week kicked off at Bethpage. The Irishman did so through his social media, sharing some photos in which he appears alongside Tyrrel Hatton, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, José María Olazábal, and Rasmus Hojgaard. What was the destination chosen by Luke Donald‘s lads to spend the last hours before landing at Bethpage? The place is called Friar’s Head Golf Club and is one of the lesser-known gems of American golf. Some claim that the experience of playing there surpasses that of Pine Valley. High praise indeed.
The Friar’s Head Golf Club is a private golf course located on Long Island, New York. Specifically, it is near the eastern end of the island, about 50 miles from Bethpage and 20 from Shinnecock Hills. It is considered one of the masterpieces of design by two geniuses like Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.
Set on over 140 hectares, it opened in 2003 with the philosophy that golf should be about giving players options and encouraging creativity. It is a private club where the use of caddies is mandatory at all times. There are no distance markers, and both members and guests are encouraged to walk the course instead of using buggies. It is built among wild wooded dunes and former farmland. The course begins in the dunes, while holes 2-7 and 11-13 are situated on an old potato farm. One of the main features of the course is its enormous greens.
Needless to say, you cannot play there unless invited by a member. The use of mobile phones is highly restricted. This is what is stated on their official website:
Non-verbal use (no calls) of your smartphone will be allowed in the following areas: Locker rooms, Billiard room and library on the second floor of the Clubhouse, when not being used for general member events, and Phone rooms.
The use of smartphones, including all their functions (i.e., phone, email, texting, PDA, camera, photo album, etc.), will remain prohibited in all other areas of the club outside your car, and they must remain out of sight at all times (not clipped to a belt, etc.) outside the permitted areas indicated above. Kindles, iPads, etc., will be considered smartphones for these purposes, except when used as e-book readers.
In other words, Shane Lowry broke the club’s rule to take those photos on the course with the rest of his teammates or he used a camera. It is also possible that he was granted special permission.
They also share their dress code policy on their website:
Appropriate attire is required at Friar’s Head. Gentlemen must wear long trousers or Bermuda shorts, and shirts, which must have sleeves and a collar, must always be tucked in. Golf attire will be allowed in the clubhouse at all times; however, for gentlemen dining in the main dining room, long trousers and long-sleeved collared shirts will be required.
Ladies must wear trousers, skirts, or Bermuda shorts, and their shirts, which must have a collar or sleeves, must be tucked in unless specifically designed to be worn out. Flip-flops, denim/jeans, tank tops, T-shirts, swimwear, tennis attire, cargo pants or shorts, running shorts, and other athletic wear will not be considered appropriate attire at any time.
Wearing caps backwards is not allowed, and gentlemen must remove their caps indoors. On the golf course and in practice areas, spikeless or non-metal spike shoes are mandatory. All golf shoes used in other facilities must be cleaned by the locker room attendant before being used at Friar’s Head. Friar’s Head assumes no responsibility for injuries or issues of any nature associated with the use of spikeless or non-metal spike shoes, regardless of whether they have been supplied by Friar’s Head or not.
The signature hole is the 15th, at 460 yards. From an elevated tee, the drive must avoid a bunker that catches balls, as the fairway slopes from right to left. The approach shot is played to a green framed by trees behind it, partially protecting it from the winds, which are quite frequent in this area.
As you can see, a good part of the European team (in Lowry’s photos, only they appear, and it is unknown if there were any others) chose a very secluded and quiet place to spend the last hours before the great hustle and bustle of the Ryder Cup. After playing Friar’s Head Golf Club, all team members moved to the winter quarters where they will stay during the Ryder. The rehearsals are over. Today, Monday, the big week officially kicks off at Bethpage with a training day for the American team. The Europeans will have their first practice round at Bethpage tomorrow, Tuesday.
