10 Great Architectural Crimes of the 20th Century

[Sean Leary]

According to the piece, Yale was "Ranked No. 29 in the world in 1939." Who ranked courses in 1939?

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/tom-macwood-the-worlds-finest-courses/

[Carl Nichols]

According to the piece, Yale was "Ranked No. 29 in the world in 1939." Who ranked courses in 1939?

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/tom-macwood-the-worlds-finest-courses/

Good one!

[Ed Brzezowski]

Killing Beechtree in Md has to be a crime. Another great one that no longer is there.

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

So what you're telling me is that the author of the article admittedly concocted a bogus best-of list then turned around and referenced that fake list in a magazine article to bolster his point about Yale?

[Bill_McBride]

The Eden.

What about the forestation of Pine Valley?

Did they call it "Pine Valley" because there were no trees?       Just askin'.     

[Chris_Blakely]

So what you're telling me is that the author of the article admittedly concocted a bogus best-of list then turned around and referenced that fake list in a magazine article to bolster his point about Yale?

So what you're telling me is that we have already gone over this once before and don't need to rehash it again!!!!!

[Bruce Katona]

One of th all time perennail favorites:

CONSTRUCTION OF THE COUNTRY CLUB OF THE POCONOS AT BIG RIDGE.

The poster child for a course that should not ever have been built.

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

I'm telling anybody anything. What I'm trying to understand is how somebody who made up a best-of list thought it was acceptable to then cite the list as if it was fact knowing full well that it was bogus. This isn't rehashing, as far as I know. Were there other instances of the author perpetrating the list as fact in legitimate golf publications?

[Will MacEwen]

Is this happening at Bandon Dunes with the removal of the gorse?  (Kidd ourse)

No. It's appropriate.

I have been told, and it could of course be b.s., that part of the development permit for Bandon included a covenant that 10% of gorse be removed each year. 

[Keith OHalloran]

Perhaps citing that list in an article is one of the great architectural crimes?

[Bart Bradley]

I'm telling anybody anything. What I'm trying to understand is how somebody who made up a best-of list thought it was acceptable to then cite the list as if it was fact knowing full well that it was bogus. This isn't rehashing, as far as I know. Were there other instances of the author perpetrating the list as fact in legitimate golf publications?

Anthony, stop it.  You have already had your say on this issue in the past.  The horse is dead.  This is Ran's website.  Take your complaints elsewhere.

Bart

[David Kelly]

--Having one of Doak's best designs die on the vine at Apache Stronghold.

--The destruction of the Links Club

[Sam Morrow]

The Eden.

What about the forestation of Pine Valley?

Did they call it "Pine Valley" because there were no trees?       Just askin'.     

Don't be mean. It's like at PCC when you gave me a hard time about courses next to water playing firm and fast.

[JC Jones]

Black Forest at Wilderness Valley

[JC Jones]

Really, what course west of the Mississippi and east of the Rockies isn't in the Sand Hills?

[Cory Brown]

I'd like to nominate Melvyn's list for post of the year. Fantastic!

[Sean_A]

Here is one which completely baffles me - especially as it is at TOC and is one of the most famous hazards in the game.

"I was never going for the "strictly for amateurs" route down the right.  I hit one of my best drives all day; just left of Principal's Nose and Deacon Sime.  Feeling pretty cocky walking up the fairway, my heart sank when I realized there was no fairway left of PN's.  When did this happen?  I guess its up to the caretakers of Woking to carry the torch; the folks at St Andrews are too worried about protecting par."

Ciao

[Tony_Muldoon]

Here is one which completely baffles me - especially as it is at TOC and is one of the most famous hazards in the game.

"I was never going for the "strictly for amateurs" route down the right.  I hit one of my best drives all day; just left of Principal's Nose and Deacon Sime.  Feeling pretty cocky walking up the fairway, my heart sank when I realized there was no fairway left of PN's.  When did this happen?  I guess its up to the caretakers of Woking to carry the torch; the folks at St Andrews are too worried about protecting par."

Ciao

I feel the same about 12, it's an amazing hole but the "local consensus" way to play is to aim for the semi on the RHS.  WTF 
Others have made similar comments about the narrowing of 17 on the LHS.

[Adam Clayman]

Some of the posts cite 21st century occurrences.

[Niall C]

Is this happening at Bandon Dunes with the removal of the gorse?  (Kidd ourse)

No. It's appropriate.

Why ? If left unchecked gorse will take over and before you know it you will be playing down the middle of a corridor of gorse with no chance of recovery if you are off line. Same with trees. If a tree is allowed to grow such that its canopy blocks out half the fairway, how does that correspond to the original architectural intent ?

Niall

[Adam Clayman]

Niall, Are you questioning the "No" or the original question?

The reason the answer is no, is multi layered.

IMO, the fire hazard trumps any architectural justifications for it's existence.

The town of Bandon either burned down twice, or almost burned down twice. Mr. Keiser is attempting to a avoid an inevitable 3rd.

[Niall C]

I was going to join in on this thread and I started trying to compile list of the mainly Scottish courses I've played and eventually gave up the majority date before the second world war and most of those before the first world war. With very few exceptions all these courses have been altered so its very hard to say who should get the credit.

If I tried to compile a list on the modern courses I've played I would probably get to no more than 20 or 30 and I surprising number have been altered for whatever reason. Again who's course is it ?

Niall

Huge Edit ; either there's a bug in the system or I've posted this response on the wrong thread. This was meant to be on the thread on best courses by architect about

[Jaeger Kovich]

My Greatest Crimes list would certainly contain:

The closing of Lido,
The Sitwell Park Green
The Chasm Hole (Biarritz, France)

[Dick Kirkpatrick]

A.S.G.C.A.

[Mike Nuzzo]

My suggested crimes of the 21st Century

Editing Pine Valley #2 Green
Editing the bunkers at Riviera #10

Cheers