In praise of modest properties

[Ran Morrissett]

Muirfield...Garden City GC...Chicago GC...Kingston Heath...Winged Foot...Royal Worlington & Newmarket.

Plenty of the world's greats are laid across relatively featureless land (i.e. if it weren't for a course there, one would never think of going for a stroll around them ala Cruden Bay or Eastward Ho!).

What are the advantages to an architect in working with such modest properties? For instance, when an architect isn't forced to work around specific landmark features, is he perhaps more free to craft a perfect routing ala Muirfield?  

Cheers,

[Todd_Eckenrode]

I'm not sure there are advantages, per say.  One would always want natural features of some prominence I would think.  But there is something to be said for subtleties certainly.  When working on projects of this nature, you give much more attention to seeking subtleties on which to build upon.  And subtleties can offer a certain charm and intricate interest that bold features may not.  

More along the lines of what you intend, however, you may concentrate on elements of a routing such as changes in orientation, varieties in horizons/views, varieties in wind play, varieties in lengths/shots required, etc. more than when designing for assimilation of natural features, which may take priority. Optimally, you would attempt to achieve all, of course, but I think the freedoms allowed in a circumstance such as you dictate almost force you to come up with an interesting routing along the lines of Muirfield.

[Jeff_McDowell]

Ran,

I'm not sure I'm answering your question, but I started to think about the different expectations of today's golfer and owner versus the previous generation's expectations.

I recently reread a Tilinghast article about giving every hole a unique character. In this article was a photo of a golf hole with a single, large specimen elm tree. Tillie went on to say how the tree gave character to the hole, and was the reason the hole was named Elm.

Put that same photo in the context of today's golfer and/or owner, and the tree just don't have the character enhancing power Tillie bestowed upon it. Today's general public craves more sizzle.

I'm not sure how this fits into your question, but it is an observation about then and now.

[Dan Kelly]

Ran --

Great question.

Isn't it true that MANY of the US Open courses were built on sort of unremarkable land? Just from seeing them on TV, not having played any of them (except Hazeltine), it strikes me that (in addition to Winged Foot) Pinehurst, Medinah, Hazeltine, Oakland Hills and some others in recent years (obvious exceptions: Pebble and Shinnecock) were all built on land and in settings that that were neither dramatic nor spectacular.

Maybe that very unspectacularness contributed to the architect's imagination. Seems likely to me.

Jeff McDowell --

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm 99.44% sure that Elm was at Winged Foot.

Can anyone tell me: Does that tree still stand? Or did it succumb to Dutch Elm? Or to old age?

The general public might be unimpressed by that tree, nowadays. But I don't think so. I think people would notice it and like it -- so long as it didn't preclude hitting the green.

[WB_Salinetti]

Dan,
You are correct the hole named "Elm" is 2 West at WFGC.  When I left WFGC in 1998 the tree was still standing and in good health.  The tree may slightly alter some shots especially with a pin tucked on the left side of the green, but doesn't really pose a problem for well played shots.

[GeoffreyC]

I believe the elm tree in question was at the right greenside on WF East.

A photo of it when WF was just built appeared in one of Tillinghast's essays in "Remembrances of the Links" I believe.

The tree passed on a few years ago and the greensite no longer has the same majestic appearance.

I believe, however, (and someone with more experience please correct me if I'm wrong) that in its last decades even this tree did come into play more that intended as limbs extended over the green.

[Michael M. Thomas]

"Boring" terrain can make for great golf. Some years ago, it must have been the early '80s, my traveling four-ball/some was in the West of England. We had booked an afternoon round at Trevose, for lack of anything better to do while awaiting a morrow that would bring 18/36 at St. Enodoc. Driving through Trevose on the way to our hotel, which would turn out to be right out of Somerset Maugham short story, complete with an old babe at the end of the bar drinking "Gin and It" before lunch, we decided the course looked boring. A consensus to skip the PM round was mooted. After lunch, the consensus was "what the hell?" and we went off amd had as delightful and challenging a round as can be imagined. Why? Well, wind, for one thing. Small contours, not visible from the road, for another. A place where one had to keep one's mind on one's work and play shots. And, incidentally, the home course of Denis Thatcher.
Walk to the first tee at Royal Worlington and you'll ask yourself, "What's everyone so excited about?" You'll soon find out.

[Slag_Bandoon]

 In the Albenesian thread on "Scottsdale", a vast majority of pundits said Talking Stick was their favorite course in the area. I have NOT seen it yet (then why am I posting?) but of all the courses in America, it is the one that most compels me to experience. From barren, flat and featureless terrain, through steadfast concern and active imagination came a wonderous display of achievement; (so I've been told countless times by y'all).  
 I envision TS as a marvelous example of a 'construction' site and that interests me.  
 I love 'lay-of-the-land' courses and they are my favorite but crafting greatness from nothing presents to the world the possibilities of absolute magnificence in the future of golf course design and that there are more ideas in the heads of dreamers to come.  
If all the best land is gone (and it isn't) then here may be a beacon of hope...set by example.

   

[WB_Salinetti]

GeoffreyC
The American Elm that you are referring to was on 10 east green right next to the clubhouse.  That tree, which was called "The Great Elm", did in fact die in 1992.  That tree did come into play as the canopy of the majestic elm covered close to 75% of the green surface.  The hole "Elm" is 2 west and that tree still stands, and it is an incredible tree.