MR Brown;
I forwarded this thread to several of your "Former Secession Members", many of which you should be more than aware, hail from "Most of the Great Old Courses" and several of the "Great New Courses" in this country and abroad. I have been asked to post some comments for Mr Michael J. Ayrer, a Merion Member and a longtime Secession member. He had a hard time registering in order to post these comments.
Here are his comments:
"Jeff - I am having trouble registering. Mark Brown makes some interesting points, and is entitled to his opinion. Valid counterpoints can and should be made. Please feel free to make them in my name. I'll put his comments first."
1. "Most Fairways have no interesting features or bunkering"
It was already noted that the marshes offer a principal supply of hazard on the course. Excessive bunkering along the fairways would imperil the fairness of the course. Fairway bunkers are used at times and effectively to provide target lines for the players. With the marsh, there is little need for penal fairway bunkers.
2. "Marsh makes a number of very unforgiving tee shots/holes, no recovery, big numbers"
As a double digit handicap, I have never had a problem with clearing the marsh, UNLESS: I top or fan a shot, i.e., horrible swing, should be penalized. For a course with no out-of-bounds, a horrible tee shot into the marsh effectively serves as out-of-bounds, comparable to white stakes at other courses. Yes, OB leads to no recovery, big numbers, shouldn't it?
3. "Greensites are not very interesting Putting surfaces don't have much contour or drama Little imaginative shot-making around the greens"
To me, these three comments are basically the same. There is a tendency today to "defend" a course against scoring with stern to outrageous green complexes (Chechessee is an example of stern, Stonewall New - outrageous, kept looking for the clown's mouth). Secession is straightforward in every way, a different philosophy, yes, than "defending" with severe greens complexes, but a valid one.
If you want imaginative shotmaking around the green, Secession has plenty. Shots around the green can be played in the air or on the ground, shots over greenside bunkers from tight lies are challenging, and the marsh provides for an exceptional variety of greenside shots. Again, the marsh is a hazard that is in play on many holes, why add more hazards for the sake of saying we have X number of bunkers?
Putting surfaces remain fast on a regular basis. No there are not the dramatic swings in putts that you see at many great courses. The greens are much more comparable to seaside courses in the British Isles, which typically have much less contour (Old Course probably excepted). Wind again plays a factor, even on the greens. The green contours seem most appropriate for a typically-breezy seaside course.
4. "Little strategic thinking and design features"
There are a number of holes, starting with one, where the player must decide how aggressive to be in crossing the marsh. Two or three of the par 5's leave the option to "go for it" in 2. Other par 4's include a safe side for a drive and an aggressive side, often depending on pin position, which is evident from the tees, due to Secession's open nature (#4, #6, #13, e.g.).
5. " You dont have to think your way around the course and plan shots. Fairly easy up and downs"
I don't think this comment is really different from other comments about greensights and fairways, which have been addressed/previously.
FINALLY:
Re: comments about individual holes, I'll just review a few.
Most of my guests really enjoy and are challenged by #1 and #8.
#1 is visually intimidating, especially the first time on the course, but the fairway is wide and fair, the marsh presents a reasonable hazard, playable, with imagination from the right, just like a lateral hazard, unplayable, on the left. The green is protected, bunker and marsh, as a short hole should be - reasonable test for an opening hole, plenty of chance to do well.
#8 offers various strategic objectives, because of the hazard on the right, and some interesting options on playing a second shot, if the "safe" tee shot left is a bit too far left. Another favorite of many members and guests.
SUMMARY: In all, different horses for different horses, I guess. I play a classic course at home in the middle Atlantic states, with severe bunkering, contoured greens, OB, etc., and I love it. Secession is different, primarily due to the marsh and other aspects of its fundamentally-seaside nature. Both have their places as great
golf courses.
"Jeff- I will try again to register and provide these comments directly, but, if I can't I would like you to relay them and use my name.
Thanks for letting me know about this."
So there you have it, some candid comments. I was happy to post this for him. Hopefully he will get registered at some point and be able to contribute to our GCA Forum.
McConkey III