I was responding to your comment that it could be done with a lot of money - we built Wolf Point for $3MM and at the exact pace our client requested.
I think you like Wolf Point less than anyone who has visited.
I would rather play there than any course in TX.
My point is that $$$$ isn't the primary factor.
Cheers
My friend Mike, do I sense some derision or disappointment?
This is what I said in response to the question posed by the thread: "But with today's equipment and body of knowledge, as long as $$$$$ is available, the answer is typically yes." Perhaps I should have tossed in an average construction budget for an average location to be more specific. I never suggested that BIG money was the primary factor, or that spending progressively greater amounts would have proportionally superior results.
Considering that you had whatever time you needed to build WP, an owner who gave you considerable berth, a contractor/superintendent who is nothing short of outstanding, a situation which incentivized you to give full, undivided attention to the project over a long time horizon, the luxury of a low-cost, fairly low-regulation environment, and different design and physical plant requirements to handle a small fraction of volume, your $3MM budget in effect seems comparable to that of Mansfield's.
My comment about customer satisfaction with the qualifier "quantitatively" is simply that WP caters to a handfull of people while Mansfield deals with thousands. I am confident that Al knows what a fantastic deal he got from you and Don and that he, and specially Dale, are pleased as peaches to play the course every day.
As to me liking WP less than "anyone who has visited", you may wish to consider that perceived reactions aren't always accurate. You asked for my considered evaluation of the course, which, if you recall, I gave you several days later. I could have been effusively complimentary, but, for whatever it was worth, I gave you my honest appraisal.
Lastly, there are over 1,000 courses in Texas. That I believe WP is "easily a top 20" should be taken as a great compliment, particularly since you know that I am not a big fan of courses that use heavily contoured, rumpled greens as a primary feature to defend par. If being in the top 2% of a golf-rich state is not high enough for you, I fear that you might be disappointed in your career. Believe it or not, there are quite a few very smart, highly motivated archies out there who would be honored to have ANY of their courses so highly acclaimed, not to say anything about their first effort. Be happy!
Here's hoping for another great design opportunity in the near future. I am anxious to see what you've learned from WP.