David Stamm,
I've yet to play a golf course that doesn't require decisions which have consequences based on the choice taken and its execution. Even the TPCs' various island holes which are often criticized for being penal and one-dimensional demand considerable thought and invite different tactics (sometimes I think that we confuse strategy with tactics, but that's another subject). Even with these holes one has the option to hit the ball high or low, right to left or left to right, hard with less club or 3/4 with more, to the pin or the fat side of the green. That most of us don't have the repertoire to execute these shots might be at the heart of the disagreement, and part of the reason why so many like the old and neo-classical courses which tend to be less taxing off the tee and more diverse on and around the greens.
Fazio's remodeling of classical courses quite apparently invites disdain among those who simultaneously hold what I think are mutually exclusive objectives, that these remain largely untouched, yet relevant for today's game at the highest amateur and professional levels. Regardless of what the owners of these courses desire and willingly pay for, we disrespect not only their choices, but also attribute all sorts of negative motives and characteristics to them and their agents.
In regards to cost, golf is a big tent (see TEPaul), and Fazio fits only one narrow niche. Cadillac tried to provide a stripped-down car for the aspiring masses and I don't think it did very well. Might it be appropriate to suggest that BMW and all of its loyal customers pursue more economical products for the betterment of society and the industry in these difficult times? Would Mike Young and Jeff Brauer prefer that Fazio drops his price to $250,0000 - $500,000 and start building low-maintenance courses in the under $5 Million category? Let me suggest to you that the golf consumer today has more choices at all price points than in my 30 years in the game. This may not be the case in CA and NY, but rather than pointing the finger at Fazio, perhaps consider that the governments its residents have chosen/condone the high taxes and extremely difficult and costly regulation which make development next to impossible and hyper-expensive.
Tom Doak,
One of the things I do like about Fazio courses is the variety and balance of his courses. I haven't played Ballyneal, but I can cite a number of Fazio holes that provided multiple ways of playing them. Pine Barrens has a few of them like the short par 5 in the front side, #4, which allows even a short to mid hitter to go for the green with an iron on the second shot by challenging the dangerous left side of the fairway. The short par 4 #15 invites an aggressive straight drive as the crow flies which gets the ball on or close to the green or provides a bailout to the left with anything from a mid-iron on up with a much more difficult angle to a green sloping away (as I recall).
Dallas National has a couple of shortish 4s, e.g. # 7, which can be driven with a bold drive on the protected right side, or a safer, or a more conservative route with a lay-up shot to the left which leaves a difficult approach with a green that runs away from the fairway. It has a very long par 4, #16, where my son had a wedge into it by challenging the right boundary while I had a 3-metal from the safe left center of the left to right dogleg.
BTW, other than the very high level of maintenance and service, Dallas National and Vaquero in the adjacent Tarrant County have very little in common, particularly in the green complexes. Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks provide another example of considerably different golf courses.
If I may ask a question, have you ever had a client tell you to design something that is totally different than anything you've ever done? Subject to some ideas of what you believe constititues good golf course design, do you not follow the lead of your client? I wonder how many of Fazio's clients complain that their course is too similar to another Fazio course, though he probably does have some potentially serious problems when one of his 200+ courses do not make the top 100 list.