There was a thread a few days ago which got me thinking and led me to conclude that all my favorite courses have great green countouring. They have a fantastic combination of subtle undulations or internal contours combined with broad flowing contours or strategic tilting. Examples I have seen would include The Old Course, Royal Melbourne, Merion, Barnbugle Dunes, St Andrews Beach, Pasatiempo, Kingston Heath and maybe Garden City. I would guess that courses such as Sand Hills, Pine valley and Cypress Point would also fit the bill
What also struck me was that if an architect is talented enough to build great green contouring, they are probably also talented enough to get the rest of course right as well -variety of hole length, width, strategies, naturalness in particular. To me, it is a defining feature of the great courses I have seen.
Conversely, if a course has flat greens, it is commonly deficient in other areas - long, straight, narrow, a complete lack of artistry in the bunkering. Or if a course has big bold contours without the subtle internal cotours it is likely to be a course that doesn't quite work. The strategies are poorly implemented the course is over-bunkered and the natrualness of the presentation is lacking. The course looks 'busy'.
So what are some courses that break these stereotypes?
My nomination for the worst course with great green contours would be Philadelphia Country Club. The contouring of the greens is some of the most beautiful I have seen. Beautiful mini rols that go in every directions and work. for and against the player. Original and full of variety. The rest of the course, whilst good (especially the interesting routing), is nowhere up to the standard of the greens IMO. the story I heard was that perhaps Maxwell had come in and rebuilt all the greens, which might explain their exceptional contour compared to the rest of the course. (Not that Flynn was a slouch)
What other courses have great green contouring that is let down by the standard of the rest of the course?