Cog Hill enhancements for US Open bid?

[Paul Richards]

rg

>Any organization that would hold a national championship at Cog Hill would hold it at Torrey Pines South.

Actually, any organization that would hold it at Torrey would have to want to move their tournament away from the coasts, and, only then, might consider Dubs.

For the record, Dubs is a much, much, much .... better course than Torrey.

[A_Clay_Man]

Lou, I haven't been to Dubsdread in longer than 10 years, so if there's even more tree encroachment, I pity the fool who spends his $$, just to play a Phil Blackmar tour venue.

I don't know how highly rated the course is by the Mags. I place it in contention with proabably 1000 other courses for a bottom 10 slot.

I just know, that when I was a Chicagoan, it was held in very high esteem because of it's accesability (and it's sand)

Since I left Chicago, and been exposed to other great venues I can look back with that 20/20 vision- hindsight- and know that Dubsdread does not stand up to other"great" golf architecture. Really really good comercial golf, I'll agree to.

Specifically, the second hole was always a bother, for me. It seemed so goofy, even before I knew what GCA was. Looking back now, there were many spots on the course that could fairly be described as "uncomfortable".

Generally, the course seemed forced on the land, from the convoluted routing, to the excessive reliance on trees. That's why I think they should bag the whole lot, and start over using design principles that closely respect the craddle.

 

[Jerry Kluger]

I was watching the European Tour yesterday and I believe they are playing a Nicklaus course at Gleneagles which is going to be used for a future Ryder Cup and they are going to be making changes to the course for the Cup.  The wind was blowing and the field was struggling and the announcer ripped into the Euro PGA for redoing the course just for the Ryder Cup. He said they should have factored that in when the course was built and they shouldn't ruin it for one event.  I wish other  announcers would have backbone enough to challenge what is being done to some courses for the sake of making them tournament ready.  There has been some real concern of how the members will enjoy Baltusrol after the PGA and does anyone believe that Torrey Pines is a better course now.  I hope that someone makes some comments addressing this issue during the PGA even if it isn't the network people - perhaps the  Golf Channel will deal with it.

[Paul Richards]

>still delude yourself that DubsDread is one of the countries finest.

Adam

After the Black, what, really, is its competition?

 

[A_Clay_Man]

In no particular order;

1, Wild Horse
2. Pinon Hills
3. Rustic Canyon
4. Barona Creek
5. BlackMesa
6. Paa-Ko-Ridge
7. Devil's Thumb
8. The Rawls Course
9. Poppy Hills
10. World Woods Pine Barrens
11. El Diablo
12. Sourthern Dunes
13. We-Ko Pa
14. Lawsonia
15. Blackwolf Run- Both
16. Heritage Hills
17. Bayside
18. Lake Chabot
19. Tilden Park
20. San Juan Oaks
21. La Purisima
22. Hunter Ranch
23. The links at... just about anywhere
24. Riverdale - Dunes course
25. Antler Creek
And these are the just the ones I've played and can think of, before my first cup of coffee.

The point being Paul, Cog Hill #4 is strickly commercial.

How about you putting your neck-out, and telling us all, what is it about Dubs Dread that you find so compelling, or what about it, places it in such a lofty GCA position from your  perspective?

[A_Clay_Man]

Bill, I've never been east. But, certainly there has to be better public golf than dubsdread?  
Part of the reason CH#4 is so lauded is because Chicagoland is devoid of any other public high profile courses. That's not great GCA, that's just settleing for whats considered best.

I suppose I'm a bit biased against Wilson's style, but I still stand by the awkwardness of the routing, as a major point.

On a hole by hole basis, I'd pick quite a few from other chicago park district (and Evanston) golf courses as being better designed golf holes. (Waveland, Jackson park, and even Dave's beloved Canal Shores Jans Nat'l.)
Par 3's at dubs are mediocre with maybe 12 as the best. The two-shotters are not that memorable, or strategic. And the Par 5's, while somewhat strategic, don't compare to the games greatest.

So I'll ask ya, How can something so mediocre, devoid of it's most penal design element (Joe's sand) be at/or near the top of the heap?


 

[Paul Richards]

>It needs a serious tree trim (as most of Chicagoland)

Amen


 

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