Chuck:
I don't see the name element for the Vegas layout as a negative but your point on what Jenkins humorously provides is well taken. Frankly, when playing in Vegas the name component will likely be different than others.
Bill McBride:
Stop it -- I am rolling with laughter -- my "negativism" is then linked to "golf elitism." You must have confused me with Adam.
Here's the story -- OK. You have slavish embracing on the general premise that fairway widths need to be 50, 60 or more yards across. It's the concept of just wide fairways for the sake of wide fairways because designers don't really want to challenge players from a tee perspective -- but then do so only at the green sites because of a backwards belief that hitting tee shots properly is far more difficult than being able to adjust to short game and putting skills so therefore let's not really tax them at all from the tee but dump all the elements at the greens and leave it at that. I see that repetition over and over again no less than what I have seen with the eye-candy layouts from designers who see flowery creations as substitutes for dexterity with clear shotmaking skills.
I don't have issues with wide fairways in a general sense -- The Chase has them -- but the tee dimension is clearly aded to the design when playing there. You need to shape shots to get to the preferred areas for the approach angles you embrace -- guess what Bill -- I do to.
Bill, you make a very basic statement about wide fairways and their relationship to windy days. To be clear -- The Chase is not some sort of bowlibng alley -- with an "either or" element from the tee. There is sufficient width but the fairways are not going to be soooooo wide as to be a ho-hum thought process when standing on any of the tees there.
Since you have not played The Chase -- let me point out the diagonal hazards and the like are part and parcel of the holes there. I spelled that out initially when I mentioned how shot shaping at the tee is present. You might have glossed over that in my original comments.
Sean L:
This is the area you heard about. The planned 15 courses is likely way off in the distant future. But the PGA of America was accused of something similar when they decided to create their golf complex in the Port St. Lucie area sometime ago. That facility is now raved by many as clear vision of the first order.
Steve S:
50 miles from the Stratosphere is "no where." Geeze, what is it to be in the area of Sand Hills, Links of North Dakota, Ballyneal, etc, etc, -- shall I go on. The ride from the intersection with the I-15 exit is no more than 30 miles and is a clear shot to the facility. Long term -- the PGA of America is calculating that remoteness will be a major benefit for those who quickly tire of the hustle and bustle of the immediate Vegas area.
The Chase provides a separation that adds to being there -- with the added benefit in having a major metro area just down the road.
I see that as a plus for the golfer who wants both without overdosing on either.
Tom D:
Tp answer you simply -- Shadow Creek has been defined by plenty of people -- yourself included through the likes of "Confidential Guide" -- as the gold standard for courses in the greater Vegas area. I don't see it that way. I personally believe, as I have mentioned countless times, that the imagination and inspiration used to bring to life Wolf Creek in nearby Mesquite is a far more compelling story with an architectural element that clearly goes in a different direction than the classic types on this site always favor. No doubt these same "hold your nose" types on this site -- see Adam as a clear example -- who poo-poo it as contrived and other such flippant retorts. So be it. Narrow thinking is wonderful for narrow results.
Shadow Creek is a fine layout and for those who play it they will likely enjoy it for the manner by which it seeks to be the anti-Vegas course although located in the Vegas area.
I readily admit that in time the growth of housing can mean a far different situation than the one I encountered just a week ago. Those coursres that are strictly private and / or those that have been the handiwork of a single man hellbent on keeping the golf component free from such intrusions clearly have that edge in terms of their overall presentation.
The Chase indicates to me that Team Nicklaus is indeed showing a pragmatic side in terms of how and in what manner they are designing courses. No doubt Team Nicklaus is bringing into their domain the influences they have seen or been aware of through the works of others. Possibly The Chase was influenced by what Jack did with you at Sebonack although the styles of the two courses are vastly different but certain core features such as green contours are clearly well done at The Chase.
For all the gushing that goes on about Shadow Creek - I see Glenwild in the Park City area as one of TF's best designs. It gets little attention because the season is a short one ... the holes frame the existing land site without standing apart from it -- a weakness I clearly see with Shadow Creek. Fazio made it a point at Glenwild to include a bit more demand at the Park City layout than he does with his other courses that are more sedate and more eye-candy themed. I see both Glenwild and The Chase as two good examples of what TF and JN are capable in producing ... but as I said before -- the "hold your nose" types who wax on and on about the true meaning of design as they narrowly see it -- will simply gloss over the evolution demonstrated by these two architects.
In regards to Lakota Canyon -- the course in New Castle is on a far more demanding site and with that Engh was forced to fit holes into diffficult areas. It does work and the course provides a visual connection that stirs the blood when playing there. No doubt Engh's presentation style is not in the mold of what you do but the flow of the holes works quite well -- save for a few examples -- that I have mentioned previously when discussing the course.
All in all, The Chase is the stronger layout from a strategic design but Lakota Canyon is no slouch and is quite fun to play.
Adam:
You constantly harp on "long green to tee separations" -- please tell me what you consider is "long" and what holes you are referring to. I've played a wide range of Nicklaus courses which are far more demanding in terms of what you specified and The Chase is far from that.
Let me poiint out -- which you did not -- that the current long ride to the 1st tee and practice facility and th ereturn ride after #18 will change when the new clubhouse opens -- no doubt ther ride to get to those areas is longer but that will not be the case when all the elements are included.
One last thing on this topic -- when you bemoan the spacing elements -- are you one of those idealistic types who can only see golf design with the next tee being no more than 4-5 paces from the last green. If that is the case I'll be happy to name plenty of other highly regarded courses that don't fit that very narrow and quite unrealistic dream you admire.
Please name five (5) Nicklaus courses you would hold in high regard and provide the reasons for your comment -- especially those that have opened within the last ten years. It seems you are hellbent on trashing the Golden Bear no matter what he and his team do. The water fixtures you mentioned are erroneous in terms of their positions and what they provide from a strategic standpoint.
I stand by what I said regarding the opener -- it's quite benign because it allows a freedom to lossen up the muscles without being overly difficult.
The tie-ins that you claim are not present is also a major stretch on your part. The golf course at The Chase doesn't stand above and apart from the site -- it blends in quite well. In regards to your final statement on SC -- the "new & improved" SC that you rave about speaks volumes to what was deficient prior to the work carried out there. I'd be happy to provide my thoughts on the "new and improved" course when I play there later this year.
One final item -- "blind water edges" are used by other architects and I see such an element as fair game for the player to make note of when playing. Adam, you missed what I said originally -- the short par-4 and short par-3 elements are not at the same level with the rest of the course at The Chase although the 17th is well done but at 170 yards from the tips. The course is not bulletproof but provides a good bit more than the standard fare of golf options found in the Vegas area and I includes not only Shadow Creek but the likes of Cascata, Rio Seco, Southern Highlands, et al.