New 'fun' project north of Stavanger, Norway

[Brian Phillips]

We have just been awarded a contract for a project that I would like your advice on.  This course is being built in a town called Sauda.  There are only 5000 inhabitants in the town and many of those work on the oil rigs.

It is famous for it's winter vacations and a number of golfers have got together to create a golf club and now have some finances to create a golf course.  It will be of the 'Executive' (hate that word) type with only one Par 4 and one Par 5 the rest Par 3s.

One of the holes has a natural creek running in front of the potential green site as well as a stone dyke.  Both of which we are keeping.  There is also a small shack just below the greensite.

I want to keep the shack.  It will not block the view of the green but will block the view of the chipping area behind it below the green.  The tees are where the rocks are in the foreground.

So do we keep it or lose it?

I have also enclosed a picture of the mountains behind the site.





We took the job because I fell in love with the site, the surroundings and the guys who created the club.  Tiny budget but BIG hearts.

Brian.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Brian,  What happens if your ball (after a poor shot, of course) ends up behind the shack and you have no shot to the green, or is it sufficiently far off the line that nobody will ever hit there?

[Brian Phillips]

Mark,

I have asked myself that. The same could be said about a copse of trees or gorse. If it was gorse would you think that way?

I will adjust the picture so you can see where I am thinking for the flag.

It is only 110-120 yards slightly downhill.

Brian

[Kirk Gill]

Will keeping the shack impact your ability to build the green complex?

If not, you can always tear it down later after seeing how it works in play. If it detracts from the hole, you can remove it then. If you tear it down now it's gone, unless you go to the greater expense of rebuilding it in a more convenient location.....

[Jason Topp]

Keep it.  One course I play has a barn in play on a par five off the tee.  It is a unique and fun obstacle.  Sometimes they leave doors open on both sides of the barn so it is possible to hit it through the opening.  I've hit the side of it several times and had to chip out sideways, but never considered it an unfair obstacle.

[Brian Phillips]

Kirk,

If it impairs the construction of a decent green I will have no problems tearing it down.  I thought about moving it slightly as well.  It is the sort of work the guys that are members would do in their free time.

I am like you, leave it for now and see how it plays.

We will see.

Brian

[Marty Bonnar]

Brian,
definitely LEAVE IT.
The Course will thus have it's very own version of the Road Hole!

FBD

PS 'Stone Dyke' might require some explanation here...(and, co-incidentally would make a damn fine name for the Hole!)

[Jari Rasinkangas]

Brian,

Keep the shack.

Maybe you could contour the area in front of the shack so that the ball will roll to the right of the it.  This way there should not be too many balls stuck behind the shack.

Jari

[peter_p]

stone dyke would make both the list for best name and worst name for a golf couse.

[paul cowley]

.....Do not touch the shack....leave it and they will come!

[Sean_A]

Brian

You have to keep the shack.  What is it used for?  If people are going to hang about, then move the shack 20 yards, but don't tear it down.

Ciao

Sean