Ok....for the sake of chivelry, let me spell it out to Mr. Interpreter.
I do know the shape of the land Seminole is built upon....and I do know the shape of NGLA. Always did, no thanks to you.
It was early, and I don't always come up with the most coherent of sentances at that hour. For that matter, sometimes I'm downright rude, Mr. Paul can attest to that.
Considering the location of the clubhouse at NGLA....I can't see what more a guy could really have done. Play #1 down where #18 presently is. Mix up the hole sequencing. Thus putting a one shot hole, Like #4 (great redan) for example, where something else is. Maybe change #2, with its' great blind tee shot and epic green complex. #2 becomes #17.....#1 becomes #18. Wow!!! We've all learned something here...especially you Mr. Interpreter.
Thus.....I'm wondering what Mr. Mucci's original point is here. No offense to the man, for he surely knows a great deal about architecture and has been the ringleader to many a great thread. But I feel like his question answered itself. As TEPaul implied earlier. ANSWERED ITSELF. YES, it is a different endeavour when comparing what was going on in the heads of Mr. Ross and Mr. Macdonald when they routed NGLA and Seminole, respectively.
Let's talk about the routing at Seminole. Doak raves about how Ross incorporated 'basically a long running dune' into something like 12 of the 18 holes. YEp, yes sir e. My mind tingles when I think about HOW ELSE Mr. Ross could have done this....but I don't know that this question Mr. Mucci's original question.
Hypothetical.
Is what C & C considered when routing Sand Hills different then what Mackenzie thought when designing Cypress Point. If I wasn't such a dumbshit I'd know what these pieces of land look like. Although I've only heard of Cypress, and I've never seen this world famous 16th hole everyone always talks about.
Darn right the old noodle is working OT here. I mean no offense to Mr. Mucci, and I also know that he is capable of coming up with much more thought provoking and interesting subject matter then this.
Answer key......
1. yes, certain properties do dictate a certain routing. To extrapolate on this.....we have to look at these considerations from two points of view.
A. Strictly logistics I.E. drainage, severe terrain, irrigation, getting back to the clubhouse, sun in the eyes etc.
and
B. Strategic and aesthetic considerations.
2. Yes, there probably could have been small differences in NGLA, but nothing especially different. All I can think of is the sequencing of holes, like I already mentioned, but you aren't going to get two loops on nine on that land.
3. Cypress Point's routing is dictated by the land. Most out and back courses are as well. Pacific Dunes probably could have been either two loops of nine, or the present 'non-returning to the clubhouse after nine holes'. Thankfully, Mr. Doak found that strategic and aesthetic considerations were very integral to this great golf course. It could have come back to the clubhouse after nine...but doesn't
touche'