The point of GCA in a hole/course?

[Adam Warren]

A discussion that came up recently:

Is the point of Golf Course Architecture in a hole/course to impact the golfer on the first or second play, or to impact the golfer who plays the course multiple times (members, private courses, etc.)

Many people will only play a course once or twice.  Most people will only have one, two, maybe three courses that they call "home" throughout their playing career.  In many cases of a solid player, they can determine and more easily execute the strategy through multiple plays of the same course.  If you play a course once every couple years, you may not figure out/remember the strategy from play to play.  So who is GCA more geared toward in your opinion.  The guy who plays a course all the time, or the guy who is just a visitor every so often?

[Jim Colton]

Probably depends if it's a private course, CCFAD or local muni.

[Tom_Doak]

There is never a project where I don't think about both ends of the spectrum, but as Jim says, you think more about whichever one is your client's objective.

For example, I don't build many blind holes.  In theory, I'd be more inclined to build one on a members' course because of the safety issues, but by the same token the members might be more likely to grow tired of it over time.  [What was that MacKenzie quote?  At first, the member may enjoy rushing up the hill to see where his ball has landed, but as he gets older, the novelty wears off.]  In practice, the one course where we built a couple of big blind shots was at Old Macdonald, a public course ... but a place where people are likely to go back again or play multiple rounds.

[Jim Colton]

Tom,

 I have a related question that I've been thinking about a bit lately.

 Would you rather build a course that

A: 30% thought was a 9, 40% thought was a 8, 30% thought it was a 7
or
B: 10% thought it a 10, 15% thought was a 9, 30% thought it was a 8, 30% thought it was a 7 and 15% thought it was a 6 or worse.

In other words, would you rather build a course that is universally admired vs. one that is absolutely loved by a small percentage of golfers that it strikes a chord with?

[Tom_Doak]

Tom,

 I have a related question that I've been thinking about a bit lately.

 Would you rather build a course that

A: 30% thought was a 9, 40% thought was a 8, 30% thought it was a 7
or
B: 10% thought it a 10, 15% thought was a 9, 30% thought it was a 8, 30% thought it was a 7 and 15% thought it was a 6 or worse.

In other words, would you rather build a course that is universally admired vs. one that is absolutely loved by a small percentage of golfers that it strikes a chord with?

Jim:

I'd rather build a golf course that I thought was a 10.  But when I have managed to do so, not many people have said they would only give it a 6.