Aerial of the Day #183 - 28 Aug 2002

[Scott_Burroughs]

Today, I have a meeting all morning and I had planned to be
out golfing in the afternoon.  The meeting is still on, but the
weather should negate the golf.  Regardless, a guest
will "host" today's AOTD (at least in the morning).

I think this formulaically named course is an apt name for
a recent AOTD (and probably others, too).

[Brad Klein]

At least there's no real estate on this course.

[Mike_Cirba]

Hi...I'm your guest AOTD host for the day.

Hopefully, my clues will be up to Scott's high level, and not too oblique.

From the air, the trees look ironically deciduous.  

I wonder who the architect was more influenced by over his career...his original boss, or his very famous competitor from Cornell?

[Mike_Cirba]

Speaking of "aerials", this is probably not a course to work on your "bump and run" due to large bunkers fronting most greens.

[Mike_Cirba]

The architect's actual first name was Louis, and he was born in Philadelphia.

Although he worked with a famous architect for a number of years, the depression and war put him out to pasture managing a club near this one.

It wasn't until 1947 when he was hired by a nearby municipality to build a course that his solo design career took off.  That course today remains as one of the best "values" in golf.  

[Brad Klein]

I believe this layout was recently restored by an accomplished golfer from the same state as this course is in.

[Mike_Cirba]

Brad;

I wasn't aware of that, which makes me all the more regretful I was unable to see the course last week, as they were topdressing.


A wee icemon thought a lot of the design of this course, listing it among his very favorites.

[Mike_Cirba]

This course was started by 50 friends who felt this area of the state needed a quality golf club.  

The architect reputedly told some people that he was the one "really" responsible for the current version of the famous US Open course on LI.  No, not Joe Burbeck..

[wsmorrison]

Mike,
As you know, having seen the evidence to the contrary, this architect's claims are baseless.  In fact, another junior associate of the real architect made similar claims for a different prominent course in the state where today's AOTD is located.
Regards,
Wayne  

[Mike_Cirba]

Wayne;

Yes, we've certainly both seen the irrefutable evidence to the contrary!!

Sorry I missed you Monday...I'll give you a ring before the end of the week.  

[Mike_Cirba]

In the 60s and 70s, this course was THE place to play and join for many former PGA & LPGA stars.  

[Dan Grossman]

Alright, thanks to Mike's clues, I figured out
the course.  However, I don't know ANYTHING
about this course.  Can anyone chime in
on the history / significance of the course?

Dan

[Mike_Cirba]

Most of the architects most acclaimed work is in the same state.

A writeup on him describes his style as follows;

He liked to set his greens on an angle with a bunker often at the long angle; the pin becomes difficult to attack when the hole is cut behind that bunker. He liked to encourage shotmaking. He developed a reputation for building courses that had one solid hole after another. He was proud of the fact that he had learned his craft through on-the-job training and could personally build the courses he designed. On a ****** course you can see what you have to do every time, and it isn't always easy.

[Dan Grossman]

My only experience with his work is
in Ohio.  Both AOTD's, I think.  One was
an original and one was a redesign of
a Ross course.

[SPDB1]

If you could zoom in any closer, the name of this course would literally jump out at you.

[RJ_Daley]

I guess I'm a late arrival to gate 18 on this one.  You'd think I would have guessed earlier since I share the same 'nickname'
 with this guy.

I am a big fan of a good practice range.  This course really has a nice layout for a parade of homes
and full practice facility.  Personally, I think I would have really liked this design more if he took one of the front
greenside bunkers on some of the holes he has surrounded in front and moved the one front bunker out about
20-30 yards leaving a bit more of a run-up area with visual deception of proximity to the green from the second shot.  
I see this archie did share a talent or job with Dr. MacKenzie in being employed to provide camoflauge
for the military in WWII.  That is interesting, I think...

[Mike_Cirba]

I'll be back at 3:30 with today's answer.  

[Scott_Burroughs]

I'm guessing, based on SPDB's clue, that there's
a "shrubbery" with the course name on it.

This course seems inaptly named as Desert Forest was
inaptly named, due to the seeming lack of something in the
name present.

My initial ideas about what this course was going to be like
went out the window when I saw it was a development
course.  I assumed it would be self-contained, for some
reason.

I believe a Doyen or two has ties with this course.

[Mike_Cirba]

Today's course is the well-regarded Pine Tree Golf Club in Boynton Beach, FL, a course Ben Hogan called "the greatest flat course in the country".



Designed by Dick Wilson in 1962, Pine Tree has long been known as a tough "test of golf", particularly when the wind whips up off the nearby Atlantic.  It has been in many of the "Top 100" lists over the years, although it has dropped a bit in more recent times as the mostly aerial game dictated by the design has fallen out of favor in many quarters.

More about the course can be found on their website.

www.pinetreegolfclub.net

Today's clues include;

The name of the course is hardly descriptive...Perhaps "Palm Tree" would have made more sense.

Wilson's boss was William Flynn, but it could be argued that his original style shared more in common with his chief competitor, RTJ Sr..  Together, they were probably the "Big Two" in architecture from the 50s until the early 70s.

Wilson's first big claim to fame (solo) was the West Palm Beach Country Club, which became a springboard of sorts to his design career.  Today that course is a well-regarded municipal with EXCELLENT value.  

My understanding is that recent restoration work was done by Ron Forse, but I believe Brad Klein's clue hinted at Steve Smyers.  Perhaps someone in the know can clarify.

According to some reports, Wilson claimed that actually HE was the architect responsible for Shinnecock.  While he was the construction foreman, the plans were clearly Flynn's, as Wayne Morrison, Tom Paul, and I have seen with our own eyes.

Many former PGA stars and LPGA hall of famers like Louise Suggs have been members at Pine Tree, honing their game on its tough demands.

Other well-regarded Wilson designs in Florida include Doral & Bay Hill.

The name of the course is arranged in flowers on the clubhouse lawn.  It can be seen on the home page of the club's website.

Thanks, all...it's been fun!