Dave,
I find it interesting that of the 6 waterfalls that are found on holes 11 and 13, there is only one you keep referring to time and time again, especially in light of the fact that the other 5 originate on top of the ridgline where its feasible that a pond or small creek could exist naturally to feed it. So yes its true of all the 6, there is that one that obviously could not exist there naturally...but does that mean we ignore the other 5?
How many bad phony waterfalls must there be before it detracts from the course?
Regardless, I didn't mean to exclude the other waterfalls from criticism and don't think I did. In fact, I wrote: "
Likewise, many of the other water features on the course flow out of places that are higher than their immediate surrounds, with no apparent concern for where the water might actually flow." I also wrote, in another post, "
Likewise, the other waterfalls seem to be placed with a concern for dramatic impact and not for where water might actually flow." I also questioned the decision to add
any phony waterfalls given the natural beauty of the setting.
If we want to talk about phony things on the golf course though, its odd how you easily overlook everything else that exists artifically, like the mowed grass, the cart paths, the flattened tees, the flagstick, the bunkers, etc, etc....yet only focus on the waterfalls of which 5 of 6 could just as easily be more naturally occuring than everything esle...the irony is indeed thick here.
I could do without some of this stuff, especially cart paths and the carts as well, but some of this is integral to the game, like mowed grass. I don't think phony waterfalls are integral to golf. But I am not against all artificiality. Just stuff that looks phony, detracts from the beauty and aesthetic of the place, defies the laws of nature, is unnecessary and excessive, etc.
But then again, once again, this isn't about waterfalls is it? This is about having an axe to grind with one persons architecture style and completly ignoring the fact that Jim Enghs courses:
1) Are Fun to play
2) Have cool greens that are devilishily contoured and a blast to putt on.
3) Most of his holes are very strategic and require real thought processes in club selection.
4) They give the golfer lots of oohhs and ahhhs thru views and other visual delights along the way.
Didn't you just ask for a reasonable discussion in your previous post? Yet now you are accusing me of having an ax to grind against Jim Engh? While I've never met him, I've nothing against Jim Engh. But Black Rock is bad, and its popularity is bad for golf.
And it is about much more than the six phony waterfalls. I disagree with all of your "facts" and would be glad to discuss it if you want to try a reasonable discussion.
As for your waterfall picture, notice how there is a place from which water could actually drain? Namely the large drainage that we can make out above the waterfall. That doesn't exist above the waterfalls at Black Rock. There is no place from which the water could have naturally come. It gushes out the top of a rock wall, as if a pipe was broken in numerous places. What are we supposed to think is above those waterfalls? A pond overflowing in a number places simultaneously, even though they are not level with each other? Four separate streams none of which has anything like a natural origin? And the water just disappears! Behind a big green mound.