[JC Jones]

On the favorite/best thread, Ed Getka state that NGLA should be studied for a week by all would be architects.

I have a couple questions that arise from this statement:

1)  What other courses belong in this category?
2)  Considering NGLA is based upon holes from the GB&I, is it better to study such holes at NGLA or at their origin?

To answer my own questions, I agree with Ed that courses should be broken down to tee shots, approach, short game, greens and use of/incorporation with surroundings.

So, one might say that certain courses should be studied in each of those categories.

With respect to my second question, I would tend towards studying the holes where they were first created (and still lay) as opposed to their replica, but I could be convinced otherwise.

[Ronald Montesano]

Perry Maxwell...be it Old Town, Prairie Dunes or Crystal Downs (preferably all three).

[mark chalfant]

Spend  a week in Ohio, to study  such places as:

Kirtland
CC  Pepper Pike
Golf Club
Brookside
Camargo
NCR
Moraine
Double Eagle
Ohio State
Firestone  North
Beechmont`

[Emil Weber]

In "the anatomy of a golf course", Tom Doak has a list of courses worth study. He divided the list into courses worth study for greens contouring, bunkering, routing and other courses of interest. I think that is a good concept.

[JC Jones]

In "the anatomy of a golf course", Tom Doak has a list of courses worth study. He divided the list into courses worth study for greens contouring, bunkering, routing and other courses of interest. I think that is a good concept.

I agree with that concept and was reminded of it by Ed Getka.  I had forgotten it was in The Anatomy.  I'll look at my copy tonight and post the list here (unless someone has their copy readily available).

[Jeff_Brauer]

JC

Any gca should probably work as an apprentice in whatever office they can get into, just to see how its done, and at least visit a course under construction - right now, that's probably the biggest access problem anyone could have!

And yes, you are correct hole concepts should probably be studied at their point of origin, leaving the CBM hole to study somewhere between the 4th and the 6th at Mid Ocean.  That said, NGLA is worthy of study anyway, but you have to know what you are looking at.

That comment reminds me of the old joke about the monks hand copying bibles when one realizes that its possible that they are just copying some old mistake, rather than the original.  One monk goes to the vault containing their original version and comes up sobbing uncontrollably a few weeks later.  When asked why he is so sad, he replies, "The right word is "Celebrate!"".

[Bruce Katona]

While here in the Northeast studying NGLA, Shinnacock, Merion,etc  & the other classic courses this area offers, you should aslo schedule time to visit two other classics of how not to build/route a golf course:

1. Country Club of the Poconos at Big Ridge
2. Bear Brook


Sometimes seeing how not to do something offers a better learning experieince.   

[Mike Nuzzo]

How many times has Tom Doak said the best way to learn is to build one?
I use Tom - because he has seen more courses than any architect ever will.
I'll include that building one also should include growing it in and maintenance.
But what fun would that be for discussion.
Cheers

[Michael Dugger]

Any fledgling golf course architect needs to pray.....beg.....pray.....and win the lottery.

[Niall C]

I can't remember which courses Doak lists for studying for their greens but having recently played Duff House Royal in the north of Scotland, a MacKenzie re-design, I would vote for that. The way the green sites merge into the surrounding land, how the greens are mostly built up but somehow he disguises it so that you don't realise, and finally some of the tricks he does with the bunkers to challenge the golfers sense of perspective is absolutely fantastic. The borrows also are fun without being silly.

Niall

[Jeff_Brauer]

I think the best way to get in the gca business is by calling a gca and saying "I participate on golf club atlas, and therefore, surely know more than you do." 

[JC Jones]

I did not intend for this thread to be about how to literally get into the GCA business.  Rather, a discussion of what, in the abstract, would be the best courses and how so, to study.

[Jeff_Brauer]

JC,

I understood that.  I just wanted to comment on the fact that studying the very best courses and understanding how you might build one your ownself are two different things entirely!

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()