Does the backdrop matter?

[David Stamm]

David S:

There's another concept in your photo.  Notice where the point in La Jolla lines up in the photo ... almost directly behind the green, but just to the left, leading players a bit to the left.  If you wanted the hole to play easier you would move the tee a bit right to line up the point right behind the green.  Dr. MacKenzie did that frequently, and while he never wrote about it, I don't think it was a coincidence.

That's interesting Tom. I never considered that. In this case, does the Cypress tree contribute to this as well? Also, what are some examples of Dr. Mackenzie doing this?

[Roger Tufts]

David S:

There's another concept in your photo.  Notice where the point in La Jolla lines up in the photo ... almost directly behind the green, but just to the left, leading players a bit to the left.  If you wanted the hole to play easier you would move the tee a bit right to line up the point right behind the green.  Dr. MacKenzie did that frequently, and while he never wrote about it, I don't think it was a coincidence.

I've never been able to place it, but I feel that way on holes such as this. Even looking at that picture I'd feel thats the way I'd hit the ball. I'm going to spend the rest of the day trying to remember holes that have had this effect on me. Almost as if the point has some sort of mental "magnetic" nature to pull shots into somewhat of a draw form on the way in. Good work.

[Darren_Kilfara]

Tom - MacKenzie's background was in camouflage work for the army, right? I think it would have been hard for him to avoid creating such visual misdirection, consciously or otherwise.

I wonder if there's a lesson (in learning the arts of camouflage) for other budding architects to be learned here?

Cheers,
Darren