Report from Seminole

[TEPaul]

Pat:

If the picture on p. 191 of Klein's book is representative of the look of Seminole's #6 bunker today then Mike Cirba (although he may never have seen or played the course before) has every right to be a little disappointed!

As Marlon Brando said; it didn't have to turn out this way!

[Patrick_Mucci]

TEPaul,

I thought the picture was of hole # 5, not # 6 as you reference.

[Mike_Cirba]

Patrick,

Tom Paul's correct in that I've never played Seminole, and my only viewing of the course took place this past June as my plane to Palm Beach took us right over it.  Yes, I was salivating.  

I'm heartened to hear that you aren't disappointed by the bunkering work completed by Silva, as I know how much you love the place.  I'm only hoping that it still looks as distinctive and singularly unique as anything I've seen from Donald Ross, based on the old pictures in Geoff's book.  

My overall point is that I believe we are making a mistake if we simply assume that Donald Ross created only one style of bunkering.  With so much restoration work being undertaken on Ross courses, and so much good intent going into that work, I think that it's vitally important that all the solid research that seeks to understand the distinctions in his work is accomplished first, lest we inadvertedly lose an important part of that historical record.  

[Patrick_Mucci]

Mike Cirba,

Those clubs that were fortunate enough to establish photographic records of the club at the very begining and periodically thereafter, are in such a better position to restore the course to the original designer's intent, if that's the direction they want to go.

I think you will love every aspect of Seminole, with few reservations, unless that mark on Cindy Crawford's face bothers you  

[Mike_Cirba]

Patrick,

As far as Cindy Crawford, I probably have a much better chance of playing Seminole someday.

I'm also satisfied that you seem pleased with the work that Brian Silva did there.  Despite the fact that you often argue for playability factors over aesthetics, I'm sure if they did not have the proper "look", you would be sorely disappointed given your love of the course.

I saw your excited face while looking at the wonderfully natural and visually appealing bunkering during our walkthrough at Applebrook, so I know that you are not unmoved by artistic and aesthetic factors.  

[Patrick_Mucci]

Mike Cirba,

You're right, I did like the look of the bunkers at AppleBrook,
but, the look is more a function of style than playability.

The bunkers a AppleBrook would look out of place at Seminole, and many other clubs.  That style is appealing to me, but it doesn't have universal application.

At Seminole, I think you'll find the look of the bunkers appealing, and I think you'll find their playability more than acceptable.

I don't think you would walk off the 18th green disappointed for any reason other than how you might have played that day, or that you couldn't just walk over to the 1st tee and play another 18.

But, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.