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Matt Frey, PGA

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"Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« on: August 11, 2015, 01:27:11 PM »
I recently saw an article about Highland National in St. Paul, Minnesota, and their "Snoopy bunker." It made me think of all of the "themes" incorporated into golf course architecture that I am aware of.


Personally, I am not a big fan of such features, but obviously, there is a market for it and it seems like certain resort golfers eat that kind of stuff up.


Below are some examples that I know of...what are some other examples? Good and bad (most probably won't be my cup of tea...others I may be able to live with)!


SNOOPY BUNKER AT HIGHLAND NATIONAL:



DICK TRACY BUNKER AT CANTINGY:



CLEMSON TIGER PAW AT THE WALKER COURSE:



MICKEY MOUSE BUNKER (AND DROP ZONE) AT DISNEY'S MAGNOLIA COURSE:



OSU BUNKERS AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY:



GREEN MONKEY BUNKER AT SANDY LANE RESORT:



APPLE ISLAND GREEN AT APPLE TREE (perhaps the worst that I know of):


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Matthew Sander

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Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #1 on: August 11, 2015, 01:43:36 PM »
There is the "IU" bunker on the 13th hole of Kearney Hill Golf Links in...Lexington, KY.


No pic right now, but I may be able to post it later.
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BHoover

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Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #2 on: August 11, 2015, 01:56:11 PM »
Cottonwood Valley in Irving, TX has a Texas green and Oklahoma bunker.
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Steve Burrows

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Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2015, 01:58:25 PM »
Two come to mind: Colbert Hills in Manhattan, KS, and Bear Slide Golf Club in Cicero, IN.  I'll add pictures later.

This kind of feature is certainly a bit gimmicky, but I don't see any harm in them.


Edit: Pictures Added (the first two are iPhone screen captures, so pardon the lack of clarity. The third image was taken from the internet; not my picture)


Colbert Hills



Bear Slide

Below is a players view of the bunkers at Bear Slide.


« Last Edit: August 11, 2015, 05:20:03 PM by Steve Burrows »
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Tom_Doak

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Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2015, 01:58:31 PM »

The local public course in Traverse City, Elmbrook, has two fairway bunkers shaped like lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.


I have seen several other similar features, but I try to forget them as fast as I can.  I really don't see the sense of designing features that make sense only from 30,000 feet, although I guess Google Earth has given them more play.

P.S.  Google Aberdeen Golf Course in Florida, by Desmond Muirhead, and be prepared to laugh.  He did a bunch of similar courses in Japan, but I don't know the names of those.
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Adam Lawrence

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Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2015, 02:20:13 PM »
Ian Andrew recently restored Thompson's kangaroo bunker at Highlands Links!
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Adam Lawrence

Editor, Golf Course Architecture
www.golfcoursearchitecture.net

Principal, Oxford Golf Consulting
www.oxfordgolfconsulting.com

Author, 'More Enduring Than Brass: a biography of Harry Colt' (forthcoming).

Short words are best, and the old words, when short, are the best of all.

MCirba

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Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2015, 02:33:45 PM »
Lakewood Country Club (NJ) has bunkers that spell out L C C behind the 15th green.   I enjoy the course but that particular feature looks rather atrocious.

Believe it or not, I think they've been there since Walter Travis redesigned the course around 1920.
« Last Edit: August 11, 2015, 02:35:42 PM by MCirba »
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Jeff_Brauer

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Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2015, 02:53:44 PM »
Over 30 years and 50 courses, I have done the Giants footprint at Giant's Ridge, a Bear shaped bunker at Wilderness of fortune Bay (one of the tribal clans from the chief family), the Wildcat Paw at K State and a Clemson paw at Myrtle Beach.  Also did a wildcat paw at Fortune Bay (representing another clan) and they wanted a moose, but the antlers just got too crazy. 

So, 5 in 50 courses or about a half per cent of my holes.  About the right amount of whimsy.....
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Mark Saltzman

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Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2015, 03:16:48 PM »
Quote from: Adam Lawrence on August 11, 2015, 02:20:13 PM
Ian Andrew recently restored Thompson's kangaroo bunker at Highlands Links!

Dragon??
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Colin Macqueen

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Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #9 on: August 11, 2015, 04:41:45 PM »
Adam,


Aussies breathing fire over your mistaking a dragon for a kangaroo. Jump to it and get Downunder for a close up look at our roos!


cheers Colin
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Peter Pallotta

Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2015, 04:54:16 PM »
Jeff - that's a good way to put it, ie just the right amount of whismy.
It made me wonder though: are golfers less whimsical than regular people?
Peter
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Howard Riefs

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Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #11 on: August 11, 2015, 04:57:56 PM »
Harborside's "Anchor" hole, #15 on the Port Course:


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Rory Connaughton

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Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #12 on: August 11, 2015, 05:08:28 PM »
Nothing beats Muirhead's shark's mouth green and bunker complex at Stone Harbor.
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Thomas Dai

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Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #13 on: August 11, 2015, 05:17:57 PM »
A few months ago there was a similar thread wherein Ian Andrew posted some Stanley Thompson examples including the Dragon mentioned above.
Atb
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Adam Lawrence

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Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #14 on: August 12, 2015, 03:45:54 AM »
It looks a _lot_ more like a kangaroo than it does a dragon!
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Adam Lawrence

Editor, Golf Course Architecture
www.golfcoursearchitecture.net

Principal, Oxford Golf Consulting
www.oxfordgolfconsulting.com

Author, 'More Enduring Than Brass: a biography of Harry Colt' (forthcoming).

Short words are best, and the old words, when short, are the best of all.

Bill Crane

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #15 on: August 12, 2015, 09:35:00 AM »
Quote from: Rory Connaughton on August 11, 2015, 05:08:28 PM
Nothing beats Muirhead's shark's mouth green and bunker complex at Stone Harbor.

Interesting review of this course in TDs original Confidential Guide.
As I recall - emphatic Doak Scale   - 0 -   !!
 
Wm Flynnfan
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Joe Bausch

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Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #16 on: August 12, 2015, 09:58:35 AM »
Quote from: MCirba on August 11, 2015, 02:33:45 PM
Lakewood Country Club (NJ) has bunkers that spell out L C C behind the 15th green.   I enjoy the course but that particular feature looks rather atrocious.

Believe it or not, I think they've been there since Walter Travis redesigned the course around 1920.





More photos of Lakewood:


http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/albums/Lakewood/
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MCirba

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Re: "Themes" in Golf Course Architecture
« Reply #17 on: August 12, 2015, 11:18:02 AM »
Yeah, that would be the one, Joe...thanks!
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