Dedham Country & Polo Club: Eden
Alex Elias
Originating from the Old Course at St. Andrews, ‘Eden’ is a Par-3 template that typically measures 160–180 yards, designed to test a mid-iron. Its green slopes heavily from back to front and is well protected by distinct, deep bunkers: the ‘Hill’ to the left, the ‘Strath’ pot bunker on the right, the ‘Eden’ bunker behind, and the ‘Cockleshell’ or ‘Shelly’ bunker short and right.
At Dedham Country & Polo Club (Dedham, MA) the Eden 12th plays downhill, a rarity since most renditions play more level or even slightly uphill.
Because the primary trouble lies long, Brad McCluski, Director of Golf at Dedham Country & Polo Club, explained, “The goal of any Eden template is to keep the ball below the hole—especially at Dedham, where the downhill nature makes going long more likely. If players do end up long, it often leads to a difficult up-and-down, requiring an uphill chip to a green that slopes away from you.”
While Shoreacres features the narrowest “Hill” bunker of any rendition, Dedham has two narrow bunkers, with the outer one wrapping around the back of the inner bunker.
“I find it particularly challenging, as your lie can vary greatly in those bunkers,” said McCluski. “Because they're so narrow, the ball can end up against the lip or near the downslope on the left side, creating a variety of difficult shots.”
