This should be interesting...

[Greg Tallman]

Greenbrier owner hires Palmer, Nicklaus, Player and Trevino to co-design new course with aim of attracting the U.S. Open to wild and wonderful West Virginia.

http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20150621/GZ02/150629839/1115

[RJ_Daley]

Sounds like the ego of the 'coal barron' owner and marketing 8 figure undeveloped (ie no water and sewer) 1%er lots.

Remember the media exasperation of the travel time to Kiawah for lack of hotels near the venue?  The Greenbrier will make that look like a hop skip and jump to travel daily to the course.  Now here is a where the USGA could take a leadership role and not tease this on like they did with the first developer of Erin Hills.  Maybe they could get Doak in on the gang of architecture firm, big name pros.  Afterall, TD did collaborate w/Jack on Sebonack. 

Justice is a big business, marketeer looking for yet another billion dollar RE payday, IMHO. 

[Andrew Bernstein]

Jim Justice has been doubted many times before, but he seems to get things done. Now, whether he pays for that finished product is another story (see: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2013/06/17/jim-justice-greenbrier-classic/2432285/).


I would focus less on the US Open portion of the story and more on the new golf course. It will be interesting to see what end-product is produced with the collaboration of these different firms. By all accounts, the site is pretty spectacular, if not a little difficult (with it being on top of a mountain). Still, it may be a strong addition to golf in the state of West Virginia.


For those that are interested in the history of this development, here is a reference to the original plans for the site: https://kinchendavid.wordpress.com/2006/07/17/real-estate-golf-course-development-planned-at-oakhurst-in-greenbrier-county/

[Ronald Montesano]

Is that the opening line to a joke? A ___, a ___, a ___ and a ___ walk into a trap...


That is high-larious to me, God Bless the moon.

[Carl Johnson]

Strange, but maybe true.  My only question is whether he still has the $$$$$ to pull this off?  As a fellow (former) West Virginian, I am going to follow this -- or not.  WTS.

[BHoover]

I'd like to know whether this in any way played a part in Gary Player's comments about Chambers Bay? Obviously he's not going to admit that self-interest played a part, but we're living in the real world.

Also, the headline that this is the "Big 3 plus Trevino" strikes me as somewhat disrespectful to Mr. Trevino.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

2 courses would be better for 4 architects. Each would design 9 holes just like PGA World Golf Village- King& Bear/Slammer & Squire.

[Garland Bayley]

Design by committee!    I'm not holding my breath. 

[jeffwarne]

Why not have "Mike" design it?(since that seems to be what he wants to do)


maybe use "California Sensamillin" for the greens, or better yet the tees so you can smoke them after one use

[Ruediger Meyer]

Considering Gary Player's comments I expect a 6500 Yard course which charges 50 bucks per round and a winning US Open score of 25 under Par

[Sven Nilsen]

Considering Gary Player's comments I expect a 6500 Yard course which charges 50 bucks per round and a winning US Open score of 25 under Par

Good point Ruediger.  I don't think the Greenbrier gets less than $200 a round on any of its courses, yet here's GP willing and able to sign on for an ultra high end resort project. 


The timing of this release couldn't be better.  Pure hypocrisy.

[J Sadowsky]

I don't see why the USGA would go to West Virginia to play the Open on a new member's only course.  It doesn't match up with any of their current ideas (grow the game, increase public options, make boatloads of money, etc.)

[Greg Tallman]

Carl, While the coal industry has indeed tanked he did cash out to the tune of $600 million and change on his WV holdings alone. Though one would assume much of that went toward retiring debt I think it safe to say the guy has the resources to do such a project.

That said I don't see his style playing well with the likes of Davis and O'Toole regardless of what kind of course the four horsemen produce.

The part that should be interesting is the fact that Trevino, as Pro Emeritus, has committed to being on site for at least three months each year. What will that mean in terms of design input?

[Mike Hendren]

No Lee Buck.  I've only played 2 of the 3 nines.  Forgettable.
 
http://issuu.com/championsretreat/docs/champions_retreat_vip_book/1?e=15540621/11729400

[Dan_Callahan]

The worst course I've ever played is a Gary Player design. Hopefully his role in this project is minimal.

[Don Tappan]

I don't see why the USGA would go to West Virginia to play the Open on a new member's only course.  It doesn't match up with any of their current ideas (grow the game, increase public options, make boatloads of money, etc.)

I totally agree, it will be interesting how the USGA takes to being pressured to bring a tournament (big names, press releases). It seems Chambers Bay and Erin Hills may have worn some of the goodwill of "build it and USGA will come". Chambers Bay makes a lot of sense as a municipal course with beautiful views near a major city. Erin Hills is a little bit further of a stretch but is a beautiful area (as we are seeing with Sand Valley). But a privately owned course, paying a bunch of money for some big name designers seems like too far to get the Open.

[Kerry Gray]

I have played several Gary Player courses and none were bad. Zhongqin near Guangzhou. The North and South courses at Kau Sai in Hong Kong. Both are pretty good considering the topography he had to work with. I also liked his course in Bintan Island near Singapore. I don't know how much he personally had to do with any of them.
someone mentioned the King and Bear, not awful but certainly not very good.
I was not aware that Trevino did any design work.
And I have yet to see anything from Palmer's company I thought was worth playing more than once.
As for the Greenbrier project, they may spend a lot of money to try to get the Open but I don't have a lot of hope for courses "designed" to attract it.

[Jud_T]

I was going to post a sarcastic diatribe but this is simply too easy of a target and senior abuse is a problem we all should be more sensitive about....I did sit next to Trevino on a plane once and his forearms were the size of Popeye's.  How this translates to design cred is anyone's guess...

[cary lichtenstein]

Silly...too many cooks

[Mike_Young]

It doesn't matter if the USGA plans to go or not but it sounds good in marketing brochures and can go a ways before gullibles realize it was never to be.   

[Carl Johnson]

. . . I was not aware that Trevino did any design work. . . .

Linville Falls Golf Club (about 15 miles north of Marion, N.C.) purports to be a Trevino design.  http://www.linvillefallsgolfclub.com/  I played it about three years ago and didn't think it was bad . . . o.k. for a mountain course . . . but in terrible condition at the time.  The operation was in bankruptcy, or had just come out of it. 

[Matthew Rose]

What's the old saying about too many cooks in the kitchen?

[Matthew Rose]

. . . I was not aware that Trevino did any design work. . . .

Linville Falls Golf Club (about 15 miles north of Marion, N.C.) purports to be a Trevino design.  http://www.linvillefallsgolfclub.com/  I played it about three years ago and didn't think it was bad, o.k. for a mountain course, but it terrible condition at the time.  The operation was in bankruptcy, or had just come out of it.

He did one of the three courses at Geneva National in Wisconsin. There is also a Palmer there, and a Player.


They were all hyped beyond recognition when the place opened. 25 years later, you hear very little about the place.

[Frank Kim]

If Jeff Lawrence contributes to the course under the Gary Player name,  it could turn out fine.  He did a nice job at the Cliffs at Mountain Park.

[Patrick_Mucci]

YIKES.
 
I can't think of a bigger mistake.
 
Design by a committee of architects, with each having a not so spectacular body of work.
 
The name recognition is fabulous for my generation, but, I'm not so sure it would have any influence over the younger generations, especially if the project doesn't get rave reviews like Bandon and Streamsong.
 
The Greenbriar is a special place and the airport can take the biggest jets in the world, but, design by a committee of four is a disaster waiting to happen.
 
I'm not familiar with the intended site, but, intend to visit it when I next visit Greenbriar.
 
Jim Justice deserves alot of credit, he has spent alot of money modernizing and upgrading Greenbriar.
 
If I was going to build a world class golf course with the intent of attracting a major, I wouldn't select four individuals who have varying views on golf course architecture.
 
As competitors they were spectacular, as golf course architects............ ?
 
 

Greenbrier owner hires Palmer, Nicklaus, Player and Trevino to co-design new course with aim of attracting the U.S. Open to wild and wonderful West Virginia.

http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20150621/GZ02/150629839/1115