Tom Watson

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

There was a post, not too long ago, discussing various Tour Players who are now heavily involved in the world of GCA (Nick Faldo, Davis Love, Fred Couples).

My question is where does Tom Watson fit in this group?  The only courses of his with which I'm vaguely familiar are the one in KC where the Seniors had an event a couple years ago (KC National?) and the new Manor G&CC in Atlanta area.

Has anyone played his course(s)?  What are his design philosophies?  Do his 5 British Open titles bring out a fondness for "links"-type golf course (whatever that means?)  Or, do you think he's more influenced by his time at Tillinghast's KCCC or Thomas' Stanford GC.

2nd question, along the same lines, what's the (early) word on Faldo's Cottonwood Hills, just down the road from Prairie Dunes?  Is this going to be a form of "imitation is the ultimate form of flattery" or do you think he will purposefully offer a different look and feel from his illustrious neighbor?

[Bob_Huntley]

Supposingly he was involved at Spanish Bay along with Sandy Tatum and Robert T. Jones Jnr.

Bob

[Pete Lavallee]

Also, Cassique at Kiawah Island.

[Glenn Spencer]

This is just one opinion. I think that Tom Watson falls into a category that doesn't really have enough to offer to many developers, he is not Jack Nicklaus and his time has sort of passed him by, maybe. He has a big name and all that, but his personality does not necessarily lend itself to selling a ton of memberships or lots. I could see him doing more restoration work or some overseas stuff- where he has a big following from his 5 championships. He might not be interested in doing all that many projects either.

[PThomas]

also did Reunion in Orlando

pictures of the above and Cassique seem similar

[Brock Peyer]

Isn't the extra nine at Landfall in Wilmington, NC a Watson design.  I moved away right when that was being started and lost track of it.

[Keith Williams]

The man behind Tom Watson design is Bob Gibbons.  Prior to working with Watson he was the construction manager under PB Dye at Landfall in NC and still calls Wilmington, NC home.  He He gets some design credit for a few of Watson's recent courses.  I have spent some time with him as he developed the design for Watson's project in Atlanta called The Manor.  He seems like a young, knowledgeable guy.  In addition to The Manor, we discussed his involvement with other courses including Reunion in Orlando and Kiawah's Cassique.

Keith.

[Mike_Cirba]

My understanding is that Cassique is as much a fellow named Charley Arrington as Tom Watson, but it's a pretty cool course.

[Paul Jones]

The Manor Golf and Country Club is a Watson Design
Alpharetta, GA
http://www.themanorgolfandcountryclub.com/

The course has not opened yet so I cannot comment on the design.  The gated subdivision is really expensive and houses are popping very fast.

[Tony Ristola]

 Quote:
"I think that Tom Watson falls into a category that doesn't really have enough to offer to many developers, he is not Jack Nicklaus and his time has sort of passed him by, maybe."

He's no Nicklaus, but he beat him often enough, and at some pretty clutch times. Played the role Jack did to Arnie.

His accomplishments dwarf 99.99% of those slapping their names onto projects. 5 Opens, 2 Masters, 1 US Open. Only Faldo is on the same page with 6. (Tiger excluded). None have four wins. Then come the few with twosies and threesies.

Perhaps he has more respect for the craft. It is easy money if he wanted to chase it, he's got a great, straight forward, honest, All-American personality that doesn't need a 180 degree makeover like Faldo is admittedly attempting. It would be a great question to ask him in an interview. Why haven't you become more involved with golf course developments?

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