Learning to See a Course's Architecture

[A_Clay_Man]

Why not in the open?

How about our administrators write-ups? Even if Brent rides a cart, he couldn't help but learn of the many positives, that the grounds across this globe, has to offer.

Just in case no one got it. TePaul's post on this thread is the new sarcasim, not be confused with the new cruelty.

Even Pat Mucci's style of secret answers to multiple questioning, has some merit.

[Brent Hutto]

I'm apparently built too low to the ground, some of the last few replies seem to go right over my head.

I will say that even though I haven't had a chance to do any real study of my home golf course on a few holes I was able to closely look back toward the fairway while the rest of my foursome were putting. It was quite shocking the degree to which some greens obviously, obviously favor an approach shot from one side or the other. Most often it seems to favor the right side of the fairway (from the point of view of the person standing in the fairway looking at the green).

Here's the intersting part. In every case the favored side is the side I always play to avoid because of the presence of hazards, either fairway bunkers or water. So my from-the-tee strategy for avoiding trouble seems to systematically result in more difficult approach angles.

I need to more closely examine the greens to see if this is more exaggerated for certain hole locations on the green. What I mean by this is that maybe with the hole cut in the front of the green my usual avoid-trouble strategy makes sense but with, for instance, a back or back-right hole on a given hole it's worth cutting it a little closer with the tee shot to get that good angle.

That's not bad for a few minutes looking on a course that most people wouldn't think of as super elaborately designed. Or maybe it's a more subtle course than I credit.

[Brian_Gracely]

Brent,

A bunch of folks suggested that you walk a course or view a course with another architecture fans.  Occasionally some folks on this site get together for such outings (although they almost always include playing golf).  One that's coming up is at Cuscowilla in GA (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=14465).  All of the slots for playing are filled, but you might want to drop a note to Bill McBride (organizer) to see if he'd have any issues with you coming down to walk around.  Eatonton, GA is about 3hrs from Columbia, SC.  It would give you a great chance to get emerged in this stuff......but no promises that your sanity would remain intact or that you'd ever look at a golf course the same way again

[Don_Mahaffey]

Brent,
I think Forrest has it right, good architecture is truly in the eye of the beholder.
It's real easy to develop a groupthink mentality and let others tell you what you should like. Granted there are some amazingly knowledgeable folks who participate here, but that doesn't mean you should like/dislike every course praised or dissed here.

For me I have a few simple things that turn me on about a course's architecture. The factors that I use to grade a course are, in order of importance:

1. Does the routing take advantage of all the site has to offer. I'm not into golf windows or what type of hole follows another. I care about the architect's use of the natural features the site offers.

2.Are all the features of the course congruent. Hairy bunkers are the latest fad, but if the rest of the course has all the little dips and ridges graded out and all the differing grass cuts defined to a razor’s edge, then "natural" bunkers look out of place. For a course to look good in my eye all the features must be in harmony. Nothing looks more out of place to me then a course that is totally smoothed out and defined but one feature, usually bunkers, is presented differently then the rest of the course. All sharp edged is OK with me as is all scruffy, some sharp and some scruffy doesn't work for me.

3. I like courses where the architect isn't afraid to take chances. Long par 4's with small greens, fall away greens, uphill par 3's, anything that goes against the grain works for me provided it fits the site.

4. I guess it's the superintendent in me, but I don't like courses which require a lot of hand work to maintain. I have no problem with hand raking bunkers or walk mowing greens, but if you're going to build something that can't be mowed with anything but a weedeater or a very small hand mower (or flymow) do it in a way where it works without requiring regular maintenance.

5. The more short grass the better. Courses that have a lot of short grass yet can still test the good player are better then ones that require long rough to provide a stern test.

That's what I like, and dislike, when I study a course.

[Brent Hutto]

Brian,

I am soooo going to Cuscowilla in a few weeks (as well as to Athens CC) and I'm looking forward to both the golf and the GCA discussion opportunities. It's really right down the road from where I live in Columbia, SC.

Don,

I don't think I'd disagree with any of your preferences. Your #1 and #3 in particular refer to something I've never understood. Why does anyone would get hung up on the number of Par 3's, whether there are two Par 5's in a row, whether the course finishes on a tough eighteenth hole or if one side of a fairway falls away into trouble and is "unfair". Yesterday on TV I couldn't believe Johnny Miller was criticising the 18th fairway at Oakland Hills saying that "good" drives down the middle could finish in the left rough. Surely Miller has a more nuanced view of the game than that comment would indicate, Oakland Hills is a wonderful course and the 18th is a great, great finishing hole.

Everyone from the people I meet playing golf to the commentators on TV seem to emphasize secondary things like the order of the Par 3's, 4's and 5's and "fairness" rather than looking for eighteen good, fun holes. I'm definitely in the camp that says build the best eighteen holes the property and budget allows and if they also have a nice flow or pace in terms of sequence that's a bonus.