Stanford GC--love it, hate it, or just don't care?

[Peter_Herreid]

I played Stanford over the holiday weekend, with some old college friends, and got to thinking about how infrequently this course comes up on this site.  


View from the 13th fairway, showing one of the distinct "landmarks" at Stanford, the "Dish"!

On the surface, Stanford has a pedigree and heritage that fits in quite well with many of the characteristics we on GCA all love--top-notch designers (Bell/Thomas), period architecture ('30's), dramatic (in its own way) setting in the oak-strewn rolling topography of the peninsula, comparatively minimalist amenities (small pro shop, fairly insconspicuous halfway house, etc.), several greens are of the "push-up" variety yet run-ups are possible most of the year, and a membership/alumni that loyally resists external influences of change, to name a few...


View from the 18th tee, with sweeping views of the City, San Francisco Bay, and even to Berkeley/Oakland, if you're lucky!

I have played this course 75-80 times over the last 20 or so years, so I am biased to some extent.  But thinking about it more recently, I am wondering if the course just doesn't have that exceptional hole/holes or unique design feature or excitement-inducing sets of greens, etc. that would elevate it into the upper echelon of courses.  The holes are solid, and #'s 6, 9, 10, 12 and 18 are particuarly stout, but I'm not sure any of these are "All-World".  The par-3's,save #8, are often about the same 6-7 iron.  Although I'm never able to score on them consistently, the par-5's do not quite hold up to many of the others we discuss here.

The course went through an unquestionably low period in terms of conditioning in the early-mid 80's, but the conditioning seems to have really improved dramatically the last 4-5 years, especially.

I will always enjoy playing here, and that's the most important criteria for me anyway.  Nevertheless, do you think Stanford GC represents the best that could be achieved in its setting, or should it have/ could it yet be in the grouping with Pasatiempo/Riviera/LACC from the same era?

[Thomas_Brown]

I found the course to be a little boring.
I enjoyed a couple of the short par 4's, but several of
the tee shots on the other holes were set up as a wide open w/o an apparent challenge.
Perhaps I missed it.
 

[Paul Richards]

Sounds like I'm in the minority, but I liked Stanford quite a
bit.

The major problem I found with it was that the par 3's were
all much too similar, and all involved carries over a ravine.

The front side is pretty flat and holds little interest, but the
back nine is excellent!

#11 is a really near short four par.  #12 is a very different
par 4 with length (480) and not one, but two   trees in the
center of the fairway.

#18 I found to be a really special finishing hole.

[Gib_Papazian]

I'll put my NCAA prejudices aside for a moment and say I really like Stanford an awful lot.

I agree the par 3's are too similar and there are some awkward holes, but all in all it is an easy 6 on the Gib scale and maybe a bit higher.

In truth, I could play that course all the time and never get bored, so that is a pretty good measuring stick.

Stanford could be improved drastically just by putting a few more strategic options off the tee and give some contour to the putting surfaces of those ravine par-3's.

[Dan Grossman]

I loved Stanford.  I loved the course and the setting.  It is hard to believe when you are out there that you are only a few miles from the heart of Silicon Valley.  It is my favorite course in the Bay Area (although I haven't played Olympic or SFGC).

DG

[John_D._Bernhardt]

We have an exGCA'er who will be back soon who I enjoyed a delightful lunch at the Stanford course.  I found it to be a grand college course, which give one all the emotions and pride of Ohio State Scarlet.

[Scott_C]

I had the opportunity to play Stanford a few years ago with Mr. Goyen (Tom H.).  It was a fun and very user friendly course.  The first hole was very memorable (hitting over a highly trafficked road).  Glad I didn't top my drive!

If you are hitting the ball well you can make a good score ( I didn't that day ).  No single hole stood out, but I do remember the greens having very subtle breaks.  

There was one very long par 4 on the back 9 that  doglegged to the right that was challenging.  

I wish I had a photographic memory so I could remember the course better.  

I tend to remember courses a lot better when I shoot a good number : ) Unfortunately, that wasn't the case at Stanford.  

Scott

[Scott_C]

Oops, I meant to say Doyen.....Tom will lambaste me for that typo! : )  

SC

I had the opportunity to play Stanford a few years ago with Mr. Goyen (Tom H.).  It was a fun and very user friendly course.  The first hole was very memorable (hitting over a highly trafficked road).  Glad I didn't top my drive!

If you are hitting the ball well you can make a good score ( I didn't that day ).  No single hole stood out, but I do remember the greens having very subtle breaks.  

There was one very long par 4 on the back 9 that  doglegged to the right that was challenging.  

I wish I had a photographic memory so I could remember the course better.  

I tend to remember courses a lot better when I shoot a good number : ) Unfortunately, that wasn't the case at Stanford.  

Scott