Which is harder for today's architects ?

[Patrick_Mucci_Jr]

Designing and building a golf course that will accomodate every level of golfer from the PGA Tour Pro to the beginer, or, designing and building a golf course with one set of tees that every golfer could enjoy, understanding that the concept of par would be variable.  ie, on many courses holes are listed as a par 4/5, playing as a par 4 for some and a par 5 for others, yet, it's the same hole, physically.

[JESII]

Interesting question Pat, but can anyone actually say how difficult it might be to design a course with one set of tees in hopes of appeasing every level of golfer?

[Patrick_Mucci_Jr]

JES II,

Sure, all of the architects who contribute on this site are qualified to address the issue.

[Rick_Noyes]

Designing and building a course to accomodate all levels.  While everyone may start and end at the same place, the challenge would be the accomodation in between.
Everyone playing (competing) from one tee?  I thought that was what the handicap system was all about.

[Rick_Noyes]

Patrick,

After rethinking this, having been so quick to pull the trigger on the reply button, My thoughts are that justly or un-justly the tees you play from are based on your gender, age or playing ability.  Based on ability, if I am a double digit handicapper, I may be required to play from the forward tees.  This assumes that the reason I am a double-digit handicap is because I can't hit it very far or negotiate the hazards faced from the back tees.  My problem is that while I can hit it fairly decent from the tee, I go brain dead from 100 yards in.  Can you design to accomodate that?
Par? who cares about par?  Low score wins, whatever it is.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Our Sagebrush project, in British Columbia, has been very interesting with regard to creating a course that will challenge Richard Zokol and his PGA Tour friends, and at the same time, be very enjoyable for a membership of higher handicap golfers.

Providing width is key for two reasons: 1) It provides lateral forgiveness for all skill levels, so they can simply find there golf balls and continue playing unimpeded by rough and other hazards; and, 2) It presents opportunity to build green complexes that sincerely demand thoughtful, strategic play from better golfers, especially in a windy environment such as the Nicola Valley.

However, with regard to tees, it's a bit awkward. Unfortunately, the course may seem a little disjointed for members, because at most holes the back tees (7,300 yards +, total) are steps from the preceding greens. The member tees (something like 6,700 yards total) are way up. So, the trek from green to tee for a majority of players will be longer than we'd like. Less than ideal.     

This, of course, is catering to the INCREASING gap between the best players and the rest; which is WIDER than ever before.

[Adrian_Stiff]

I can only reiterate what Jeff said. The game is very different now and what is enjoyment for some at 210 yards par 3 is hell for some. Multiple tees solve that problem. Different tees allow us to satisfy as much as possible, for ladies an 80 yard carry may be as difficult as 180 for men. Most golf courses are commercial operations these days and to produce a golf course where you exclude a sector of golfers is foolhardy.
To kind of answer your question I do not think its possible to design a golf course which if played from one set of tees would be enjoyable for golfers ranging in +6 handicap to 36 handicap. That aside an easy course for the pros (ie designed for the rabbitt) may still be enoyable just to see how birdies they can make.

[Clyde Johnston]

Having multiple tees on every hole makes the course manageable for different skills levels but not ALL skill levels. IMHO I think this is easier for architects.

One set of tees on each hole? Great idea if you eliminate "par" on each hole. Everybody plays from the same tee and what you score is your handicap for that course??? Tiger's handicap is 65, mine is 78 but my Mom's is 212.

[Patrick_Mucci_Jr]

Rick & Adrian,

For hundreds of years golfers played from but one teeing area and enjoyed the game.

What changed ?

The introduction of PAR and the notion that everyone should be entitled to it ?

[Pete Lavallee]

For hundreds of years golfers played from but one teeing area and enjoyed the game.

What changed ?

We let women play the same courses as the men!

Seriously, in the days of a single teeing ground, even when Old Tom Morris moved the tees off the green to a formalized teeing area, didn't women play golf only on courses built specifically for them? When exactly did the fair sex start playing on Men's courses. Marrion Hollins designed a club just for women in NY. I think it was the gals that killed the single teeing ground concept and made multiple tees necessary.

[Patrick_Mucci_Jr]

Pete,

If you believe the legend, it was Marion Hollins who braved the heroic carry and hit a prodigious tee shot that led to the present 16th at CPC being a par 3.

Women aside, not every golfer was an expert or good golfer.

Hackers and beginners had to abound, yet, they played from the same tees.

Par was anelephant, or perhaps a hippopotamus