Prompted by Chris Buie's suggestion on the http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,56249.75.html discussion of lesser known Ross gems, I'll start the bottom of Chris' six categories. One course that surely should be on that list is:
Asheville (N.C.) Municipal Golf Course
With lots of work, which I don't see happening, it might move up a notch.
Carl, Michael J Fay calls it one of the least-changed Rosses. Only change has been relocation of one tee box. Yes, it's really run down and I'm sure today's version is an imitation of the original but that very neglect means it may very well be one of the truest Rosses on this or the other thread.
And considering the (negative) impact of money on course preservation, ironically more true Rosses might make this thread than the other thread.
With due respect to Mr. Fay, I would ask, "What is a
least-changed Ross course"? If you're talking about moving dirt, this may be true of Asheville. I have only played the course once, about five years ago, and that - no dirt moved - may be a true assessment of least-changed, if that's how you want to define it. What I perceive, based on my limited expericence, is a dramatic change in . . . TREES. You can take a look on Google Maps. The front nine is flat, in the Swannanoa River flood plain. Soldier trees have been planted along the fairway margins. To me, in person five years ago, it looked worse than what you see on the Google view today. The back nine goes up and down a hill, in what's today a residential area, with trees crowding to the extreme most of the fairways. So, I might reasonably (IMHO) argue that there have been substantial changes in the course - via planted, and overgrown trees. If you can focus on the green complexes alone, I think you'd agree someone knew what he was doing here. But I do not believe the average golfer is going to pick that up.
Money? Yes. From what I've read, Asheville does not have the money to renovate the course. For a Ross "student" who is really interested in looking at what Ross did with the land he had, and what he could spend in 1927, then Asheville muni would be an interesting exploration. But from the golfer's standpoint, ranking the interest of Ross courses today, I'd put it in the bottom category (not to denigrate Ross or the City of Asheville). By the way, there are two execellent private Ross's and one Ross resort course in Asheville, but we're talking bottom category here, and those would be above that, I suspect.
Question. What about Wilmington(N.C.) Municipal? Small town North Carolina without a lot of public money to spend. Ten years or so ago, give or take five, I "recall" that the Ross Society put some money into this course. I've been curious about it, but have never traveled east to visit.
Any thoughts on the Wilmington muni today? Bottom category, or higher?