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DMoriarty

The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« on: August 27, 2003, 06:59:37 PM »
In his recent Golf Digest review of TPC - Valencia, Ron Whitten mentioned that the course was "distinctive"  for its lack of bunkers-- only 27 on the entire course.   I was disappointed, however, that Mr. Whitten failed to comment on single most distinctive bunker on the course, perhaps even the planet.

In the spirit of MacKenzie and Thomas, designer Chris Gray(code named Mark O'Meara) went the artistic route at TPC-V and created at least one extraordinary bunker.   But instead of following MacKenzie's naturalistic approach, or Thomas' spirited jagged edge approach, Grey turned to both the modern and symbolic artists for his influence.  

Behold:











« Last Edit: August 27, 2003, 07:02:13 PM by DMoriarty »
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Brad Swanson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2003, 07:07:06 PM »
Does that thing double as a half-pipe for the local skateboarders?

Cheers,
Brad Swanson
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Michael Dugger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2003, 07:56:11 PM »
I originally thought Rhino horn and then I thought it might be a testament to the surf culture or something.

Catch a wave...

huh?

Gosh that's bad
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What does it matter if the poor player can putt all the way from tee to green, provided that he has to zigzag so frequently that he takes six or seven putts to reach it?     --Alistair Mackenzie--

Evan_Green

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2003, 08:15:01 PM »
What happens if you get stuck under the halfpipe? is it high enough to play out of or an unplayable lie?
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RJ_Daley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2003, 08:19:45 PM »
Probably some mud slide retaining wall to keep the whole place from slipping into the valley below.  Will Tommy come to love this even MORE THAN Tierra Rejada? ::)
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No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

DMoriarty

Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2003, 12:57:25 AM »
Quote from: RJ_Daley on August 27, 2003, 08:19:45 PM
Probably some mud slide retaining wall to keep the whole place from slipping into the valley below.  Will Tommy come to love this even MORE THAN Tierra Rejada? ::)

I think it is a retaining wall.  My guess is that they destabilized the old oak on the other side of the mound when they were digging the bunker.  Query why they wouldnt have covered their mess after stabilizing the hill.  I guess that this is a crucial strategic bunker.  

Evan, maybe if you are under the lip you are supposed to hit it up the wall and send the ball on a loopy-loop toward the green.  Sort of like an amusement park ride . . .



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ForkaB

Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #6 on: August 28, 2003, 01:38:12 AM »
I don't worry about what to do if under the "lip" on that bunker, but what happens if one is on top of it--particularly the Emperor...............
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Norbert P

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #7 on: August 28, 2003, 01:43:18 AM »
I don't get it.
I bet it cost a shiny penny so it must be important.
 I don't get the split-trunk tree in the fairway either.  
Or the forced carry over the tall grass to a sloping wall with (seeming) funneling action to fairway bunker.  
Or the out of play area above the bunker abomination.
I don't get it.  
 
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"Golf is only meant to be a small part of one’s life, centering around health, relaxation and having fun with friends/family." R"C"M

Gyrogolf

Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2003, 02:26:12 AM »
If I am not mistaken, Chris Gray is the same gentleman who redesigned Harding Park. Say what you will about this indulgent silliness, I would rather see a feature or two that is downright wierd than the cookie-cutter, safe, bland, straight-arrow style he chose at Harding.

That is absolutely hideous though . . . . next trip down there, I think The Emperor and I are going HAVE to play TPC Valencia and Rustic in the same day.

As unbelievable as it sounds, I have a close friend who nearly gave up his membership at Bel Air when he moved to Valencia because it was too far to go and he thought the TPC was going to be nearly as good a place to play . . . . .

Oddly enough, at the last moment he decided to continue and make the drive to West LA.  ;)

Jeez, didn't I read an article where O'Meara was bragging about that thing? A Silver Claret jug on the mantel is no guarantee its owner will have any taste.
« Last Edit: August 28, 2003, 05:35:41 PM by Gyrogolf »
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TEPaul

Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #9 on: August 28, 2003, 06:03:18 AM »
It's California right? California has always been on the cutting edge!
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Alister_Mackenzie

Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #10 on: August 28, 2003, 11:37:37 AM »
Oh good Lord, what has happened to this once great art? How has it degenerated into such abysmal rubbish calling itself golf architecture.
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Joel_Stewart

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #11 on: August 28, 2003, 12:24:44 PM »
And Chris Gray and his coworkers called the participants on GCA idiots.  That is the worst feature I have ever seen on a golf course.
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JLahrman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #12 on: August 28, 2003, 12:31:07 PM »
I fart in this bunker's general direction.  Shouldn't there be a strobe light in the picture?  Although I think I've finally found a hole where a tree in the middle of the fairway is an appealing feature--it conceals the bunker from view for half of the hole.  Where is Desmond Muirhead when you need him?
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ed_getka

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #13 on: August 28, 2003, 12:55:09 PM »
Looks like a liability issue to me. One bank shot off that wall into the 'nads and its lawsuit time.

That is the most retarded looking bunker I've ever seen. I don't care for bunkers that bleed into water hazards, but this isn't even a contest.
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"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

Kevin_Keeley

Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #14 on: August 28, 2003, 12:58:27 PM »
Joel,

Where did this Chris Gray say something about GCA? On a thread?

How did he get the job with the Tour? A friend of the Commissioner? :)
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Tommy_Naccarato

Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #15 on: August 28, 2003, 01:17:06 PM »
GyroGolf,
We will play this and Rustic in the same day!

This maybe one of the worst features ever seen on a golf course, and I can only imagine what the senior tour players....excuse me...........Champion Tour playeers will be saying when they see this. After all, they are a happy bunch!

Joel, I too am anxious to find out where this master of Golf Architecture, Chris Gray made this comment regarding GCA. Maybe we shoudl get him for a monthly interview, no?

Rcih-Yes, that may be a bulkhead especially built for me--and the Titanic.

But, Im going to actually come up with a answer here to what it really is:

I will lay money on it that it is a bulkhead for grandstands, with the intentions of bringing the grandstands right up tot he actionmaking them Signature Grand Stands!

Way to go Chris! You have given us more ammunition!
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Andy_Lipschultz

Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #16 on: August 28, 2003, 01:22:23 PM »
Quote from: Gyrogolf on August 28, 2003, 02:26:12 AM

That is absolutely hideous though . . . . next trip down there, I think The Emperor and I are going HAVE to play TPC Valencia and Rustic in the same day.
Nah. What you guys should do is play Valencia; then the front 9 at Cascades where a utility/power tower is set in a bunker and then twilight at Tierra Rejada where you'll need a helmet to walk down the 1st fairway as slicers from the driving range deposit little, hard white presents. If you don't blow your brains out at the end of this day, you'll know you could be taken as prisonors of war and withstand any and all abuse your captors could throw at you.
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Evan Fleisher

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #17 on: August 28, 2003, 01:37:19 PM »
How do they keep all that sand from falling off?  ???
« Last Edit: August 28, 2003, 01:37:31 PM by Evan_Fleisher »
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Michael Dugger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #18 on: August 28, 2003, 01:56:53 PM »
Looks like concrete to me.  That or the most gravity defying sand I've ever seen.
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What does it matter if the poor player can putt all the way from tee to green, provided that he has to zigzag so frequently that he takes six or seven putts to reach it?     --Alistair Mackenzie--

Texas_Three_Putt

Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #19 on: August 28, 2003, 02:02:14 PM »
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Kenny Lee Puckett

Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #20 on: August 28, 2003, 02:15:34 PM »
Is Jeff Maggert the DIrector of Golf there?

KLP
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ed_getka

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #21 on: August 28, 2003, 02:42:26 PM »
Texas 3-putt,
 That is hysterical. ;D ;D
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"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

JohnV

Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #22 on: August 28, 2003, 02:47:59 PM »
I think they handed the builder a picture of #18 at Pebble and said we want something like this and he built the seawall.

I expect to see Frankie and Annette laying in the sand while the Beach Boys play Surfin' TPC.
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Mike Erdmann

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #23 on: August 28, 2003, 03:07:53 PM »
Surely someone down there in SoCal can do a little digging and find out the reason for this monstrosity.  That thing is just too hideous to not have some kind of bizarre story behind it.
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Texas_Three_Putt

Re:The Art of Bunker Creation is Alive and Well in California.
« Reply #24 on: August 28, 2003, 03:29:46 PM »
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