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Scott Warren

  • Karma: +0/-0
Worst course on the best site
« on: January 29, 2009, 08:36:40 AM »
I read this on the Cypress Point review here on GCA:

Quote
One of the author's major contentions is that if a great architect is given a great piece of land, then a great course will follow.

It got me wondering what is the worst course on a fantastic site? A course where all signs pointed to a world class creation, but the result was poor?

Philip Spogard

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2009, 08:39:07 AM »
I would probably nominate the youngest of the 3 courses at Gleneagles.

Jeff_Brauer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2009, 08:45:12 AM »
While not terrible, Torrey Pines has to be up there.
Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

Sam Morrow

Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2009, 08:49:26 AM »
While not terrible, Torrey Pines has to be up there.

Both courses?

James Boon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2009, 08:58:06 AM »
I would probably nominate the youngest of the 3 courses at Gleneagles.

I'll second this one! Looking back on it, the PGA Centenary may not be a dreadful course, but it should have been so much more with that land, the history of the club, the setting and views!

Cheers,

James
2023 Highlights: Hollinwell, Brora, Parkstone, Cavendish, Hallamshire, Sandmoor, Moortown, Elie, Crail, St Andrews (Himalayas & Eden), Chantilly, M, Hardelot Les Pins

"It celebrates the unadulterated pleasure of being in a dialogue with nature while knocking a ball round on foot." Richard Pennell

Rich Goodale

Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2009, 09:27:48 AM »
Cypress Point.

My grandmother could have build a top-10 course on that site.

While Mackenzie's routing/design is OK, Raynor's would have been awesome, and my grandmother's only slightly less so..... 

BCrosby

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2009, 09:35:07 AM »
Cypress is the worst course on the best site??

I nominate Ocean Forest.

Bob

Rich Goodale

Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2009, 09:41:45 AM »
I'll take you word for it, Bob, as my grandmother never had a chance to play Ocean Forest.

Peter Wagner

Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2009, 09:48:50 AM »
I'll nominate Sandpiper in Santa Barbara.
Sandpiper management says "we don't need no stinkin grandmothers". 

Don't blame me, just reporting this fast developing story.

Tom Birkert

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2009, 09:49:18 AM »
Old Head?

Garland Bayley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2009, 10:58:34 AM »
I thought Sandpines had won this category hands down. Just check the archives.
"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

David Stamm

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #11 on: January 29, 2009, 11:08:56 AM »
I'll nominate Sandpiper in Santa Barbara.
Sandpiper management says "we don't need no stinkin grandmothers". 

Don't blame me, just reporting this fast developing story.


I ahve to agree w/ Peter. Although Sandpiper is fun, it could have been so much better given how great the site is. Arthur Hills really blew it at Cross Creek, one of the best pieces of property to become available in So Cal in quite some time and while cool in some posts, it's terrible in others. It's a shme because the property has so much potential.



A question. Could more have been gotten out of Spanish Bay?
"The object of golf architecture is to give an intelligent purpose to the striking of a golf ball."- Max Behr

David Neveux

Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #12 on: January 29, 2009, 11:11:33 AM »
I would nominate Bay Harbor (Links / Quarry).  I really felt underwhelmed, especially on the links 9. 


Nev

Matt Bosela

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #13 on: January 29, 2009, 11:31:01 AM »
I'd nominate Princeville's Prince Course.

Some very solid holes throughout, especially on the back nine but I find it hard to believe RTJ Jr. couldn't find a better way to utilize the access to the ocean and the cliffs in his routing.

Dave Givnish

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #14 on: January 29, 2009, 11:38:29 AM »
I nominate DC Ranch in Scottsdale.  This is a great piece of land that got too stretched out to get as many lots as possible.  The holes going up and down the hillside are memorable but not a lot of fun to play.

Bruce Katona

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #15 on: January 29, 2009, 01:17:00 PM »
When any discussion of worst courses comes up, just on general purposes, I have to say Country Club of the Poconos.....with the amount of land on that tract available to build a course, something better should have resulted.

Steve Lapper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #16 on: January 29, 2009, 02:39:28 PM »
Liberty National
The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking."--John Kenneth Galbraith

Patrick_Mucci

Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #17 on: January 29, 2009, 03:23:26 PM »
Spanish Bay

George Pazin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #18 on: January 29, 2009, 03:57:33 PM »
I'm going to nominate every course built in western PA post 1950. We have many wonderful old classic courses (with the obvious headliner Oakmont and the fantastically wonderful duo of Fox Chapel and Field Club, not to mention other less noted yet still terrific courses like Allegheny CC, Long Vue, etc.), yet no one seems to have learned anything from the masterpieces, so we have lots of mediocrity since.
Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

Jeff_Mingay

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #19 on: January 29, 2009, 04:12:46 PM »
There are a few up here, in Canada. But I should probably keep my mouth shut  ;D
jeffmingay.com

Joel_Stewart

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #20 on: January 29, 2009, 04:14:35 PM »
Half Moon Bay in California.

Steve Hyden

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #21 on: January 29, 2009, 05:10:12 PM »
Much was made of the elevation changes available at Lake Jovita, but IMHO the South course is a wasted opportunity on some interesting land north of Tampa.

I might add there are a whole lot of Tampa golfers who disagree.

Mike_Cirba

Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #22 on: January 29, 2009, 05:13:01 PM »
When any discussion of worst courses comes up, just on general purposes, I have to say Country Club of the Poconos.....with the amount of land on that tract available to build a course, something better should have resulted.

Bruce,

It is a gem, isn't it?   12 miles from start to finish and nary a decent golf hole to be found.   :-[

Mike_Cirba

Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #23 on: January 29, 2009, 05:14:48 PM »
I'm going to nominate every course built in western PA post 1950. We have many wonderful old classic courses (with the obvious headliner Oakmont and the fantastically wonderful duo of Fox Chapel and Field Club, not to mention other less noted yet still terrific courses like Allegheny CC, Long Vue, etc.), yet no one seems to have learned anything from the masterpieces, so we have lots of mediocrity since.

George,

Have you played Olde Stonewall?

That one always lists high on the best public courses in the state, but I normally just blame that on too much IC Light flowing in those burbs.  ;)

I haven't played it, but the pics I've seen have me smelling overrated.

What say you, my good man?    ;D

Tim Leahy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Worst course on the best site
« Reply #24 on: January 29, 2009, 05:17:03 PM »
Edgewood, Tahoe, Trump PV, Pelican Hills, and Sharp Park.
I love golf, the fightin irish, and beautiful women depending on the season and availability.

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