John & Jason,
I just answered an email by suggesting an architect visit thiis course and examine the angles that Tilly designed into it.
Jason, to give some answer your questions:
#1 - Here are a few of Tilly's thoughts on trees & golf course design:
“There is no doubt that a solitary tree… renders the judgment of distance very easy.”
“Our eyes, accustomed to the sight of many trees, rather accustom themselves to distances when one tree stands out prominently as a guide. This is the best explanation I can offer. Without a doubt many advance more subtle reasons, but the fact remains – a lone tree, standing near the end of a shot, makes the distance much easier to gauge, particularly if it be in full view… Some of the most attractive holes have been made through wooded tracts, but with many trees on either side of the fairway the guiding virtue of solitary trees is not in evidence.”
“Fairways should be rather irregular in shape and not like bowling alleys extending through the woods.”
“Certainly the irregular clearing of trees deserves more than a passing thought… let it be said that money spent on expert care of the club’s fine trees is money well spent. If the budget must be cut, spare that set aside for the trees…”
“… it must be borne in mind that the inland courses of America are an overwhelming majority and it is to the fine specimen trees, peculiar to the various localities, that we may
for a moment direct our thought. Whenever one of the fine old fellows rears his branches in solitary splendor it immediately occurs to the architect that here is something that needs nothing except a whole lot of letting alone.”
“It has been mentioned that every effort is directed to the swinging of holes, not only to save fine specimen trees, but to make them serve a definite purpose in the playing of the game. But often we find a large copse or a thick forest which must be penetrated. Those who grieve because of this necessity do not realize fully that opening up the fairway will not be a program of indiscriminate destruction but rather a painstaking effort to cut through in such a manner as to bring to view the best trees which long have been hidden away among unlovely companions. Woods are like communities and trees are like men. In each there are a lot of common nuisances and parasites that are best out of the picture altogether. In every forest you will find some rare old trees, oaks and elms, sycamores and hickories that have been hidden away from sight for many years with a tangle of nondescripts all about them. These we save, of course, as much as possible.”
“An honest old tree can be very sympathetic and comforting if the golfer will take the time to look into its serenely complacent face and feel that way about it.”
#2 - Yes. Several things beginning with the approach he desired into the green and the land where it was located among others. Always though, it began with the approach to the green.
#3 - 190 uphill (even slightly) was a pretty long par-three back in the nmid-20s when the course was designed.
#4 - How did you find Bassett's creek impact (alongside #10?) and how Tilly used it?
#5 - I was brought up worshipping Arnie and the idea that a hero was the one who always tried the impossible. If I was Mickelson's caddy, I would have had the driver in hand for him while in the 17th fairway and would have been looking over every tree I could for shot #2!
To the detriment of my score there is never a lay-up in my game!