Walk v Play: Judging a golf course ?

[Jeff_Brauer]

Given the choice of one round on a course with the sole objective of learning as much as possible....

...I think most architects will say "walk" and most players will say "play"

Bingo.  Architects are more used to looking at things before they are in play and having a pretty good idea of how they will function.  Playing a course to judge it is for amateur archtects!

If you answer "you must play it" then how much do you discount Doak's Confidential Guide ratings for those many courses that he simply toured in a cart?

[John Moore II]

Given the choice of one round on a course with the sole objective of learning as much as possible....

...I think most architects will say "walk" and most players will say "play"

Bingo.  Architects are more used to looking at things before they are in play and having a pretty good idea of how they will function.  Playing a course to judge it is for amateur archtects!

If you answer "you must play it" then how much do you discount Doak's Confidential Guide ratings for those many courses that he simply toured in a cart? Oh dear, oh dear  

[Matt_Ward]

Jeff:

You make the assumption that Tom got it right when he walked every course.

I can name quite a few where his walking observations clearly missed a good deal -- playing would have helped immensely.

A great case in point -- Essex County CC in NJ.

I'm not saying Doak didn't see plenty from his eyeballs alone ... he did miss a few though in my mind.

[Sean_A]

Jeff:

You make the assumption that Tom got it right when he walked every course.

I can name quite a few where his walking observations clearly missed a good deal -- playing would have helped immensely.

A great case in point -- Essex County CC in NJ.

I'm not saying Doak didn't see plenty from his eyeballs alone ... he did miss a few though in my mind.

Matt

Yes, we must remember that Tom D was pretty young at the time and seeing a ton of courses in a relatively short span of time.  For sure, he got it wrong sometimes and I bet the times he got it wrong in the CG were the courses he walked.

Ciao

[Kevin Pallier]

I must admit I enjoyed the mix of "walks" v "plays" on my recent trip to the USA.

Walking NGLA for a number of hours allowed me to study the architecture from many different angles and I think I got a more thorough appreciation of the design as I think I ever would in playing it.

I find when playing with a group of people on a high calibre course I'm somewhat "rushed" in trying to keep up with the group as opposed to taking my time to study the design.

I find the most enjoyable and thorough experiences are those where I get the opportunity to walk a course before playing it.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Jeff:

You make the assumption that Tom got it right when he walked every course.

I can name quite a few where his walking observations clearly missed a good deal -- playing would have helped immensely.

A great case in point -- Essex County CC in NJ.

I'm not saying Doak didn't see plenty from his eyeballs alone ... he did miss a few though in my mind.

Matt

Yes, we must remember that Tom D was pretty young at the time and seeing a ton of courses in a relatively short span of time.  For sure, he got it wrong sometimes and I bet the times he got it wrong in the CG were the courses he walked.

Ciao

I will take that bet Mr. Arble...

[Sean_A]

Jeff:

You make the assumption that Tom got it right when he walked every course.

I can name quite a few where his walking observations clearly missed a good deal -- playing would have helped immensely.

A great case in point -- Essex County CC in NJ.

I'm not saying Doak didn't see plenty from his eyeballs alone ... he did miss a few though in my mind.

Matt

Yes, we must remember that Tom D was pretty young at the time and seeing a ton of courses in a relatively short span of time.  For sure, he got it wrong sometimes and I bet the times he got it wrong in the CG were the courses he walked.

Ciao

I will take that bet Mr. Arble...

Ally

Right, first we have to decide which courses Tom D got it wrong.  My nominations:

Royal Aberdeen?
Sherwood Forest
Tenby?
The Island
University of Michigan

Adrian
"Sean- Yep I do hang around wet parklands, but I expect most GB courses fall into that category. Links golf is really quite rare."

Of course, but most courses in GB&I are not the sort to evaluate other it was or wasn't worth the money. 

Ciao