Nominations for the worst in the history of golf architecture.

[Gerry B]

i concur with Bill McBride: Furry Creek has to be the undisputed champion of awful designs.

[Mike_Cirba]

i concur with Bill McBride: Furry Creek has to be the undisputed champion of awful designs.

Gerry/Bill,

What exactly is "furry" about the creek?

I'm envisioning that tremendous amounts of algae are somehow involved?

[Phil McDade]

The only requirement being that the course is respected in some circles.

I think this thread has gotten off-track somewhat; everyone knows of truly bad designs. But what about John's point -- bad design elements in otherwise meritorious courses?

[Joel_Stewart]

The only requirement being that the course is respected in some circles.

3.  The IOU bunkers at Olympic Lake 18.

John:  If this was intentional I would agree with you but it wasn't Jones intention to say that.  The "O" bunker in the center is not original, it was placed in there by Jones prior to the 1955 US Open.   Somebody said it kind of looks like IOU and it stuck.   I've always wondered what the hell that means, the golf course owes you something? It doesn't even make sense?

[Mike Hendren]

I have two:

1.  The pond at The Eden
2.  The balance of Steele's work at The Eden.

Honestly, I cannot for the life of me understand why the Links Trust permits this abomination to remain.  One would also think that Steele has enough professional pride to acknowledge his mistakes there and rectify it as a matter of honor.  It's damn near enough to ruin a trip to St. Andrews. 

Mike

[Adam Clayman]

Joel, Looking at that pic the IOU is somewhat evident. The "I" is the apron's ribbon of grass and the O and U are the bunkers. Perhaps the left bunker was once one, forming a better "I", or, from the fairway, they look like one?

[Joel_Stewart]

Adam:

I know its there but it wasn't Jones who stood on the tee and thought it would be cute to have it spell out.  It's just something that came about.

[Sean_A]

Joel, Looking at that pic the IOU is somewhat evident. The "I" is the apron's ribbon of grass and the O and U are the bunkers. Perhaps the left bunker was once one, forming a better "I", or, from the fairway, they look like one?

Nevermind the IOU.  What is up with that fairway?  It looks ridiculous being so narrow.  If only for aesthetic reasons they should widen that fairway considerably.

Ciao

[Steve Okula]

Les Bordes, near Orleans in France, is a solid Van Hagge design that is generally regarded as one of the top ten courses in the country.

There is a par five, the 7th, if I remember correctly, that has an acute dogleg left, protected by forest, then wrapping around a lake. It's hard to explain, but after about 200 yards off the tee, the further you hit your drive, the further you get from the hole.

A long hitter could conceivable play five-iron/five-wood to reach the green.

[Tom Huckaby]

Joel, Looking at that pic the IOU is somewhat evident. The "I" is the apron's ribbon of grass and the O and U are the bunkers. Perhaps the left bunker was once one, forming a better "I", or, from the fairway, they look like one?

Nevermind the IOU.  What is up with that fairway?  It looks ridiculous being so narrow.  If only for aesthetic reasons they should widen that fairway considerably.

Ciao

Sean - the hole is only 350 max, and the last 100 yards or so go straight up a rather large hill.  Given the championship test the course really is intended to be, the narrow fairway seems right to me.  Note also the left part has to be quite difficult to mow - the slope from left to right is darn steep.  So add ease of maintenance as an issue to keep that part long.

TH

[Mike Benham]

Joel, Looking at that pic the IOU is somewhat evident. The "I" is the apron's ribbon of grass and the O and U are the bunkers. Perhaps the left bunker was once one, forming a better "I", or, from the fairway, they look like one?

Slightly different angle ...

[David Stamm]

Ojai, and I don't even know where to begin.

Gesundheit, David.


 

Thanks Mike!   I only wish it was my allergies.