Articles like this one make me wonder if I should try to start writing, or just stop reading.
1. I haven't played Running Deer yet, but I will now that it is more accessible, but not because Todd Shaner says I should.
2. The greens at Ballamor are interesting and have some good contours. They need to, because the convoluted route you take to get to them makes you wonder if you even know where you live anymore. Bring a map, a compass, and some rations.
3. I'm with Mike Cirba on this one. At this point if you continue to call Seaview a Donald Ross course you're either a shill, lazy, or so totally disconnected from golf architecture that you shouldn't be writing about it for money.
So you have a day off and you’re looking to play 36? Play the Bay course twice...
4. I have no problem with #4.
5. Scotland Run's finish is excellent and a lot of fun, but mostly due to the tee shot on #16 (the approach and the green are hardly standouts) and #18. #17 is a brute, but not particularly brilliant.
6. I think 9 and 17 at Riverwinds are flawed and weak holes respectively, and I'm a Riverwinds fan. I think half of the other holes on the course are better than 9, and more than half are better than 17.
7. My feeling after playing Sand Barrens was that perhaps it could have been better if they spread the holes out a little, gave them more width and lateral movement (a dogleg, anyone?) by building only 18 holes instead of cramming in 27. Sand Barrens is a good course, but not because it has 27 holes.
8. #7 at Vineyard is not unlike #9 at Riverwinds, also Ed Shearon's work if I'm not mistaken. Likewise, I think it presents an attractive looking tee shot that after some consideration BEGS you to play it safe and short because attacking the long side of the cape leaves you a VERY narrow landing area whose risk does not exceed the reward.
9. #13 at Wedgwood is a fun, par 4.5, hole that gives you enough options to cause the faint hearted to chicken out.
10. I agree, Twisted Dune is cool.
After one pass I think there might be ten grammatical errors in that top ten list. Does anyone edit this stuff anymore?
