Can we be fooled?

[Tim Gavrich]

Are there any golf courses in America (or the world, for that matter) that are designed in such a way that, without any prior knowledge, we would think that they were old when in fact they were fairly recently designed (say, 3-5 years)?

It seems to me that a 'modern' golf course just cannot look 'old' (and I mean 'old' in a positive sense.  They all tend to have a different look overall, especially in the color of the grass.  On new courses, the color is always brighter and slightly artificial looking.  Is this just a function of the lack of maturity?

Also, as nice as some bunkers look today, one can tell if they are new, or if they are old.  Is this a good or bad situation?  Can a designer ever pull the look off?  Could he/she ever fool us?

[Joe Hancock]

Not to question the premise too much, but when is the last time any of us encountered a "really" old bunker?

I think most bunkers get edged and sand changes so often these days that old bunkers are sort of a myth. Maybe some surrounding features are old, but most have evolved greatly from their original form.

As far as turf coloration, only age can achieve the contamination and natural selection that creates the uneven, mottled look.

Joe

[wsmorrison]

Joe,

I'd hate to differ with an expert but one great club nearby wanted the mottled look when the regrassed their greens so they used 5 or so different strains of bents and they had a mottled old look pretty darn fast.

[Joe Hancock]

Wayne,

I disagree with you. You love to differ with experts! Heck, you even love to differ with Mayday!

The scenario you describe would certainly help with the mottled look, and I'm sure the desire to achieve that is rare at a club level.

Thanks for the insight, albeit a differing one!

Joe