[Terry Lavin]

I'm lucky enough to be moderating a panel discussion at Bandon Dunes with Mike Keiser and Bill Coore.  I've already hit on the Most Beloved Figure in Golf for some thoughts, but figured I'd ask the treehouse for some input.

What one question would you ask each man?

[Sam Morrow]

Please ask Bill Coore if he drives a suburban that he bought at a dealer in Hutchinson, KS and has a Sand Hills decal on the back. I've seen the same one driving around Austin the last 3 times I've been there.

[Tom_Doak]

Sam:

Bill has lived in Arizona for several years now.

[Garland Bayley]

Ask him if there has been too much emphasis on half-par holes in recent years. Ask him how many half-par holes are appropriate in an 18 hole course.

[Tom_Doak]

Garland:

How many half-par holes could you build on a 13-hole par-3 course?

[Garland Bayley]

Garland:

How many half-par holes could you build on a 13-hole par-3 course?

13. But I would suggest only one.

Perhaps I didn't read between the lines about this being about the new course at Bandon. Terry didn't indicate any thing of that sort.

[JR Potts]

What do they see as the next big trend in golf course architecture?

What needs to change going forward given the global economic challenges?

Have fun.

[Patrick Kiser]

Four topics for Mr. Coore:

1. Is there any kind of design priority for the C&C courses?  For instance, priority given to green placement or routing or something else?  Or does the site dictate an approach (with / without priorities)?

2. Do you find yourself preferring certain design features and reuse them on C&C courses?  As an example, it seems centralized green fronting bunkers in different shapes and sizes are used on several courses.

3. Do you have any preference for par 3s vs. 4s vs. 5s? 

4. What are or have been design influences over time and perhaps even more recently?  For example, do you draw inspiration from the classics or any particular classic designer(s)?

[Garland Bayley]

For Mike,

It is well known that you give a great deal for service members. Do you do the same for Peace Corps volunteers? How about Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)?

[Adam Clayman]

I'd like to hear if Cabot Links changed MK's opinion on what constitutes great sea side golf? And, if any of those changes will be reflected in the new C&C course in Bandon?

[Terry Lavin]

Garland:

How many half-par holes could you build on a 13-hole par-3 course?

13. But I would suggest only one.

Perhaps I didn't read between the lines about this being about the new course at Bandon. Terry didn't indicate any thing of that sort.

No, the discussion will probably only briefly touch on the new, par-3 course.  I'm thinking about general architectural topics like those that have already been raised here and I'm sure that we'll spend some time on Pinehurst #2 and especially the very exciting project at Streamsong in Central Florida.

[Ben Sims]

For Mr. Keiser...

It seems that keeping the standards of quality while adding courses and amenities at The Resort is extremely challenging.  At what point does the law of diminishing returns take affect at Bandon?

For Mr. Coore,

With the idea behind the Conservation Course being to accentuate and protect the natural surrounds in more difficult terrain, what did you and Mr. Crenshaw see as the biggest challenge in providing enough playability in regards to irrigated turf for the target player?
 

[Wade Whitehead]

For Mr. Keiser: What is the best 3-hole stretch of holes on any of your courses?

For Mr. Coore, the same.

WW

[Lyne Morrison]

Thanks for this Terry.

If possible I would be interested to hear feedback on golfer’s response to the new forward tee initiative that has been introduced at Bandon.  Also, whether increased levels of play have been linked to the inclusion of these tees.

Cheers, Lyne

[Phil McDade]

Terry:

You're a lucky man! Here's mine, to either one...

Two newly built courses -- Erin Hills and Chambers Bay -- are/have hosted both the US Amateur and will host the US Open. Among their common attributes, both have what one might call a lot of "elasticity" -- meaning they can be stretched to championship (7,500+ yards) length for major tournaments, while remaining public, daily fee courses.

Question(s) -- does building in this kind of elasticity add to, or diminish, the overall architecture of the course? Does it necessarily compromise your design principles, or enhance them? Can too much elasticity not be a good thing? Are there limits to elasticity that you think good architecture should adhere to?

[Jud_T]

For Mr. Coore:

How has working and competing with Mr. Doak at Streamsong affected the project? How has the property as you found it at Streamsong contributed to unique design/build/strategy situations?

[Ian Andrew]

.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Please ask Mike how he balances his vision and desire for quality of golf experience and profitability. Also how doe she keep Kemper golf from bringing down the golf experience. I only say this because the they are so many places which makes policies easy to see.

[Kalen Braley]

I'd like to ask Bill Coore if he could give us a definition of quirk on the golf course and provide a few examples of holes on recently built courses that are "quirk-worthy".

[Jud_T]

Ian,

What happened to your question?  I thought it was an excellent one....

[Terry Lavin]

Thanks to everybody who gave me suggestions.  I greatly appreciate the information.  Hopefully, it will help me avoid making an ass of myself in public!

[Tim Leahy]

I would like to know why Keiser excluded so many golfers from this prime golf location by not allowing carts on any of his Bandon courses.

[Terry Lavin]

I would like to know why Keiser excluded so many golfers from this prime golf location by not allowing carts on any of his Bandon courses.

I will ask a version of that question, because one of the riskiest aspects of his business plan was his insistence on no carts.  To me, that is the principle reason why the place has such a "pure golf" vibe, because it is not overrun with people on carts who don't care if they shoot 200, they just want to say they played the courses and they would never walk.  There's probably a "cost" in that, but there's a lot of value added for the people who are more serious about the game.

[Lou_Duran]

For Coore:

Is the observation that C & C courses typically overemphasize the green complexes as the primary means to defend par fair?  If balance and variety are important factors in gca, should length and tight/narrow landing areas be part of the mix?

For Keiser:

With the highly variable weather, what is the speed of play objective at Bandon?  How much does it vary by course?  How do you keep play moving when people are spending upwards $500/day and seek to have a pleasant experience at their own pace?  What is your estimate of the size of BD's potential customer base?

[Tim Leahy]

I would like to know why Keiser excluded so many golfers from this prime golf location by not allowing carts on any of his Bandon courses.

I will ask a version of that question, because one of the riskiest aspects of his business plan was his insistence on no carts.  To me, that is the principle reason why the place has such a "pure golf" vibe, because it is not overrun with people on carts who don't care if they shoot 200, they just want to say they played the courses and they would never walk.  There's probably a "cost" in that, but there's a lot of value added for the people who are more serious about the game.

Cart or no cart doesn't determine how serious you are about the game. There are just as many or more bumbling idiots with cash in their pockets for caddies and pull carts that go out and shoot 200 and take 6 hours to do it on those courses as those who would appreciate them from a cart. If you want to restrict the play to "serious" golfers then required handicaps for certain hours of the day and use marshalls to speed up play.

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