What's in a name?

[Scott Warren]

A couple of weeks ago in Tony Muldoon's St Andrews New Course thread, Brian Phillips made an interesting comment: that more people who be enthused about The New if it were called The Old Tom Morris Course or something.

Firstly, Brian and I agreeing!  but that is something I had wondered for a while, and not just about The New. Names seem so important, but many clubs are just named simply after the town they are in.

White Bear Yacht Club, Piedmont Driving Club, Rock Creek Cattle Company... all intrigue me through their names alone.

On the other side of the spectrum, I have read some on here getting stuck into Ballyhack because they thought its naming was a cynical attempt to attach itself to Ballyneal.

Eastward Ho! and Westward Ho!, too, are names that hint at drama and adventure, and are instantly memorable.

Is there something to it? Do names affect our perception of a course before we know enough to make judgement?

For the course owners and developers, what goes into choosing a name and how crucial do you think it is?

[Jeff_Brauer]

I always tell clients that Pine Valley wasn't such a special name until the golf course made it one.

[Eric Smith]

Can you imagine if Dead Horse Lake would've been designed by Mackenzie? We'd be having a Dixie Cup in Knoxville!

[Jim_Kennedy]

Scott,
What never fails is that someone will come along and give your course a nickname. For instance, if East or Westward Ho were trampy golf courses the renaming would be easy.

We had a short lived course here in CT. named Pistol Creek. It didn't get much love and within a short while it was called "Pissed Off Creek".

Another one (which had many fathers, some chose to remain anonymous to protect their good names  ), was given the nickname "Transitions".

   

[Jim_Kennedy]

Eric,
Surely somewhere in one of their ads they must have said  "Come on out and beat the Dead Horse"

[D_Malley]

someone did not like the name of the Delaware course "Three Little Bakers" 
I believe it was just changed to "Pike Creek"

[JohnV]

someone did not like the name of the Delaware course "Three Little Bakers" 
I believe it was just changed to "Pike Creek"

That's a shame.  The name alone made me want to see it (and probably buy a shirt.)  Too bad they changed it before I ever got there.  It wouldn't even register on the radar if I saw Pike Creek.

[Tom_Doak]

Scott:

I've heard way more opinions than I needed on the choice of Old Macdonald as a name.

Basically, I will agree with Jeff on that.  If the course is really good, then the name is going to take on a new aura.  If not, then a catchy name will not help much.  About the only names I object to are those which steal directly from another course -- e.g. "Prestwick" in Myrtle Beach -- or are too long -- "The Golf Club at blah blah".  I'm also trying to steer people away from the name "[something] Dunes" because there have been a lot of those lately.

Can anybody think of a course where a catchy name has helped overcome a banal design?

[Jed Peters]

Can anybody think of a course where a catchy name has helped overcome a banal design?

Bear's Best

[Jim_Kennedy]

The name should be easy to come by if Tom Doak or Coore and Crenshaw ever build a course in Butte, Montana.   

Thank You SW 

[Bill_McBride]

The Palmer course on Perdido Key near Pensacola, FL is named "Lost Key" (the Spanish translation of "Lost" is Perdido).

It's so narrow and awkward at spots with wetlands both sides in some locations that the locals call it "Lost Ball" or "Lost Sleeve" or even "Lost Doz" depending on their experiences!

[George Pazin]

I have what I believe is the best original name for a golf course, but I will only disclose it with proper incentives. For a clue, I will say it is the antithesis of the most common, banal names out there.

My favorites are typically the unofficial names - ie. Sandwich instead of Royal St Georges, Deal instead of Royal Cinque Ports, etc.

I will say, Old Mac is growing on me, though I still would have preferred The New Course, just to add to confusion on all the phone calls to book tee times, particularly if they build a 5th course. I would add further by changing the name of Bandon Dunes to The Old Course...

 

[Scott Warren]

The name should be easy to come by if Tom Doak or Coore and Crenshaw ever build a course in Butte, Montana.  

Thank You SW  

I like what you did with that!

[PCCraig]

One of the local munis (Glenview (IL) Park District Golf Course) where I grew up had the pleasant nickname of "The Weed."

Scary thing was that come time for their annual summer tournament they actually hand out bag tags featuring a dandelion.   

[Kevin_Reilly]

I'm glad that this particular course didn't try to name itself "St Burwick Downs":   

http://www.canongatetexas.com/fw/main/Magnolia-Creek-85.html

[Eric Smith]

Congratulations Bill McBride....you are a YABB God!

Bill_McBride
YaBB God

 Online

Posts: 10000

[Jud_T]

Pat,

I thought it got that moniker from all the New Trier kids hanging around...

[Tim Gavrich]

I have always preferred simpler names of courses; just the town in which they lie, nearby significant geographical features, or locally significant names.  Such as...

Country Club of Farmington
Hartford Golf Club
Shelter Harbor Golf Club
Shennecossett Golf Club

Other names that have struck me:

Squires Golf Club
Spook Rock Golf Course

I am always wary of courses in America called "The Links at __________"

[Kyle Henderson]

 About the only names I object to are those which steal directly from another course -- e.g. "Prestwick" in Myrtle Beach -- or are too long -- "The Golf Club at blah blah". 

Indeed, I much preferred "Stonebrae" to "The Tournament Players Club East Bay @ Stonebrae."

I would add that the word "National" should be banned from monikers for all future courses not built with federal tax revenues, with the possible exception of "McBride National."

[mike_malone]

 3 little bakers had been Pike Creek before; I joined there just out of college. That is the name of the area. 3 little bakers bought the course years ago and had a dinner theater located adjacent to the clubhouse. I imagine they have sold the place now, thus the old name was brought back. BTW, do play the course; it is worthwhile.

[Will MacEwen]

Useless Bay Country Club, WA.

[JC Jones]

Sugarloaf Mountain sounds like a new ride at Disney.

[Eric Smith]

JC - Some good names to be found in here...

[Marty Bonnar]

I've never been much enthused about a round at Dismal River. No, Jolly Creek would have been way much better.

FBD.

[Phil McDade]

The frequently crowded Madison WI muni named Odana (long O) is known around town as "slow-dana."