A few posts over the last week has caught my interest (Castle Course, The Age of Mass Popularity and Natural Golf Courses), not in what they actually said but perhaps what was not mentioned.
First let me say that Golf Course Architecture is certainly not my field, in fact I am totally ignorant regards the process. However, like wine I appreciate a good bottle when I find one, which is not to say that I would discard all other bottles without trying them first. The same applies with most golf courses.
My view of a course is rather simple, I look at the major points, did I find it
a challenge, was it an enjoyable experience and would I play it again. Then there is the location, atmosphere and balance with the natural surroundings to generate that feeling of wellbeing, satisfaction and a sense of contentment with myself and my game.
I no longer strive to be one of the best, I have no need to prove anything to myself. I play for enjoyment, relaxation and for the pleasure and experience of absorbing Nature either on a Links or inland environment. There is also the knowledge that I get some gentle exercise from walking the course plus the added bonus that it helps clear the mind of the day to day grind that life can sometimes throw at you.
My game is based upon the traditional Scottish game. It is now solely for recreation, like millions worldwide. Yet many new courses do not reflect this. What is being produced are Championship or competition courses for the handful of Professionals and highly motivated young players who want to prove themselves. Yet this is just a small percentage of Golfers.
Are Clubs and owners of course missing the fundamentals? Of course they want to attract members and visitors so they need to advertise the quality of their product, but as with golfers, not every player can be a champion or qualify as a Pro, same applies to courses. Can the game afford this? In my view, no, we are already seeing the early signs of discontentment.
Golf in the 21st Century is changing, not the game per se, but the format and construction of the course due to environmental pressures i.e. water, drainage soil, grass etc. etc. Plus the final cost of incorporating all of the above and the ongoing cost of maintenance.
I see a need to change, to take stock of events and re look at budgets and most of all the actual location of the proposed course(s). This decision is down to the Owners/Clubs not necessary the Designers as they control the purse strings. If money is not a factor (regrettable it nearly always is) then build the courses how and where you like, but we know these courses are very rare.
I have previously mention the Castle Course, whilst I have seen conflicting reports, my opinion has not changed, the land is not Fit for Purpose, so the course should not have been built on farmland. However throw in £2.5 million and you have a golf course totally alien to its environment. Time will tell if it becomes profitable. It does not appeal to me, it’s totally unnatural, it may play well but there was never a course there on the original landscape. Its not about golf, it’s about money, trading on the name of
St Andrews.
As a traditional Golfer I want to see more courses built, but with some more consideration to natural and Nature. I want the courses I play to be part of the regional landscape, to reflect its beauty. Yes, perhaps go back to the 19th Century designers and learn a lesson from them, to minimise massive earth movement to use what Nature has given us. I accept the argument that good sites are getting harder and harder to find, but are we not going to learn, to understand that at the end of the day it’s the Golfer through Green Fees that ultimately suffers. Major land development is extremely expensive, let’s not forget that courses today are a business and they need to keep the turnstiles turning, they need numbers and that can only come from persuading Mr Average to play Golf, not the Pro’s.
Many may consider my opinions out of date, of no real value. But I hope that it might make you remember that Golf is an outside game which till recently required the player to walk, then hit a small ball then walk again – the game is passing into the hands of your generation, I just hope you do a better job. No Walking courses are a reflection on my generation and if allowed to continue may well change the face of golf forever.