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Mark_Rowlinson

  • Karma: +0/-0
GCA Vandalism
« on: February 26, 2006, 01:42:27 PM »
What is the single worst act of vandalism in golf course architecture?  I don't just mean ploughing up a former US Open site such as Fresh Meadow or Englefield, but they are obvious candidates on the large scale of things.  It might be the changes made to the Eden Course at St Andrews in order to accommodate a practice area (or whatever it was).  It might be the appointment of RTJ to exploit the dunes at Ballybunion for a second course - who might have done it differently/better?  It might be the relocation of a specific bunker on some course of which I have never heard.  Perhaps it is the conversion of browns to greens on some particular course, or the loss of a blind hole somewhere in the interests of fairness.  It might be a cumulative thing, such as the gradual loss of original Ross features each time Oak Hill or Inverness has been upgraded, if that is the right word.

I am not proposing any of these as a candidate for nomination - I have no personal knowledge of any of them - and I do not wish to cause offence to any of the living architects involved.  They are merely fodder to get your creative juices flowing.  
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Bob_Huntley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:GCA Vandalism
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2006, 01:46:11 PM »
Quote from: Mark_Rowlinson on February 26, 2006, 01:42:27 PM
What is the single worst act of vandalism in golf course architecture?    It might be the changes made to the Eden Course at St Andrews in order to accommodate a practice area (or whatever it was).  

Mark,

The Eden.

Bob
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Ian Andrew

Re:GCA Vandalism
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2006, 01:49:28 PM »
Vandalism is a strong word.

The worst case of actual vanadilism I know of was pouring kerosine into green wells. The loss of turf was nothing, compared with the soil removal requirement under the Health and Safety act, that drove the clean-up and repair costs into staggering numbers.
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ed_getka

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:GCA Vandalism
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2006, 01:49:42 PM »
I would say some of the run of the mill courses that have been produced on some great land in the last 10-20 years.
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"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

Jeff_Mingay

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:GCA Vandalism
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2006, 01:50:04 PM »
Mark,

Not sure if you've read this: an article featuring at THE GOLFER magazine's web site, by some guy called Ran Morrissett. It's titled, "10 Great Architectural Crimes of the 20th Century".

Interesting reading...

http://www.thegolfermag.com/F_top_arch.html
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jeffmingay.com

Tommy_Naccarato

Re:GCA Vandalism
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2006, 01:51:33 PM »
Mark,
Currently the work that is going on at Riviera, as the best case example of vandelism that I know of.

The course simply doesn't need to be altered in anyway. The person over-seeing these changes seems to be a boob in charge with little knowledge of Riviera and George C. Thomas.

Engineers would probably be another good example of Vandelism. I'm not going to utter a single word about Merion. No need to go there.

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RJ_Daley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:GCA Vandalism
« Reply #6 on: February 26, 2006, 01:51:57 PM »
Quote
I am not proposing any of these as a candidate for nomination - I have no personal knowledge of any of them - and I do not wish to cause offence to any of the living architects involved.  They are merely fodder to get your creative juices flowing.

Mark, I guess you weren't around during the Merion CC discussions of the bunker remodelling... there was a great deal of juice running then.  Riviera's rework on some of the holes there stimulated a bit of juice emission, as well.
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No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

RJ_Daley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:GCA Vandalism
« Reply #7 on: February 26, 2006, 01:53:27 PM »
There you see, I was beaten to the punch by 23 seconds by the Orange Julius of juicers... ;D :P ;)
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No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

Tommy_Naccarato

Re:GCA Vandalism
« Reply #8 on: February 26, 2006, 01:54:46 PM »
Don't forget to add the raw egg! ;)
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RJ_Daley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:GCA Vandalism
« Reply #9 on: February 26, 2006, 01:55:58 PM »
Where is Puffy today?
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No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

Tommy_Naccarato

Re:GCA Vandalism
« Reply #10 on: February 26, 2006, 01:59:34 PM »
At home getting ready to immerse myelf into a ****-load of paperwork that hasn't been touched in over three weeks!
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David Sneddon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:GCA Vandalism
« Reply #11 on: February 26, 2006, 02:48:53 PM »
I'd nominate my local course, Roseland, in Windsor.  Jeff Mingay has already written several excellent pieces on this course.

The course is owned by the City of Windsor, and despite making money for the City, they refuse to put any money into improvements and have cut back on maintenance.

The fairways have been reduced in width, so much so that the sprinkler heads on some fairways are more than 5 yards in the rough!!  The greens have been reduced in size/cutting area, so that all the Ross mounding and subtleties are no longer in play.  Grass collars are grown to the edge of the green, where the original design intended the ball to roll off to a collection area.  The bunkers have sand whose best purpose is in the manufacture of clay bricks.  Then there are the trees....

It is really a damned shame.
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Give my love to Mary and bury me in Dornoch
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