Tom D is right. Mounding is often tough to blend in with terrain. I think this concept of blending became stylish with the likes of Colt, Dr Mac and T Simpson. One can see in Dr Mac's early career how he built mounds to house bunkers - not very different from this photo of Huntercombe.
![](http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/seanrobertarble/NUNTERCOMBE/16August2009228.jpg)
I think the key to good mounding is to make it front and centre - in your face rather than off to the wings and not be afraid to leave it as a mound. One of the best uses of mounds is Beau Desert's 5th. Fowler was certainly stylish than Colt and it is evident when we look at a pic of the 5th. That said, it places a premium on hitting the correct side of the fairway and is a very effective architectural element without having to revert to sand.
![](http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/seanrobertarble/BEAU%20DESERT/100_4401.jpg?t=1240758821)
Here is yet a different look at some mounding at Luffenham Heath's 17th. They stand out, but are still quite attractive.
![](http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff203/bsdesign/Hole17-rear-1.jpg)
Yet another use of mounding. On Northamptonshire Co's 8th these mounds can either shunt a drive away from the green or gather one toward the green. This is a very early Colt course, but I am not sure if he did the mounds.
![](http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/seanrobertarble/NORTHAMPTONSHIRE%20CO/5September2009299.jpg)
Thinking on it, Whittington Heath also has mounding well short of two greens and Colt was involved with this course. #12.
![](http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/seanrobertarble/WHITTINGTON%20HEATH/100_4048.jpg?t=1242471448)
Just as a comparison, below is the 16th at Whittington Heath. Its the exact concept of the 12th, but using bunkers instead.
![](http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/seanrobertarble/WHITTINGTON%20HEATH/5December2009263.jpg?t=1260094065)
Of course the king of mounding is Kington, but they are used in a totally different way and this is why Kington is unique. The mounding serves to contain and repel shots on the hilly terrain. I have never seen anything quite like it.
![](http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/seanrobertarble/KINGTON/4July2009148.jpg?t=1246702881)
Bottom line, I am all for mounding as a possible alternative bunkering so long as its used boldly just as bunkering is.
Ciao