How do you judge a course?
That’s the pleasant quandary that presented itself when I recently viewed Tom Doak’s reversible course and the nine-holer at Culver Academies. Both places are so wildly different from the norm. Are special parameters required?
No, a course is a course is a course. I did what I always do: mull over the appeal of each shot within each hole, how the holes relate to each other, and cumulatively make some sort of determination. Then, step back and ask general questions:
In terms of Culver (where folks like Roger Penske and George Steinbrenner have gone), are there great holes? Yes.
Are there great hazards? Yes (Weed says Ray Charles could have restored this massive bunkers!).
This tall gentleman is dwarfed by the cavernous greenside bunker at the 4th. Are the greens great? Yes (Weed calls them perhaps his favorite in the world).
Enduring strategy? Yes.
Great environment? Yes. Great land? Yes, hard to believe this is in the corn belt!
Wind? Affirmative, as it sits beside the 2nd largest lake in the state.
Are there cart paths? No. Outside disturbances? No.
A passionate Green Keeper? Yes!
It doesn't have eighteen holes but the nine that were built occupy the most compelling property so that each and every shot holds fascination. There are so few courses in the world where that is true and the real secret is that being 9 holes ended up being a huge plus in this case.
Set in the heartlands, the Culver campus dazzles. Now, so too does the course.Personally, I rank Royal Worlington & Newmarket 40 – 50 in the world of the courses I have seen. I am not sure if Culver is better but it doesn't matter: I don't think of either as a nine-holer. In fact, spiritually, Culver most reminds me of Sand Hills. Both were built for pure reasons and both places seem intensely American in the very best sense. A certain spirit awakens at both as the playing experience is so authentic. I hope my friends from Olympia Fields will chime in on this thread as they also were blown away after visiting Culver last fall. It is the kind of golf we all love: fierce hazards that rewards bold golf from a thinking player.
Of course, such fawning was NOT accorded 10 years ago when Ted Sturges and I walked around the course as there were no bunkers and the greens stimped at ~6. Fortunately, the school gradually became aware of what a cultural asset its course was and Culver’s captains of industry got behind a strict restoration. The ensuing accomplishments of Bobby Weed and Chris Monti with help from Tom Mead followed by Green Keeper Mike Vessely taking the reins yield results today comparable with the other great recent transformations of Moraine, the Cal Club, Old Town, LACC, Sleepy Hollow, Pinehurst No 2, Roaring Gap, Orchard Lake, etc.
Since this effort is tied to a high school, it takes on extra special meaning. Great to see several stalwart alumni stand behind and fund the restoration. After all, a learning institution is where you go to learn (!) and that is what will happen now: teenagers will be introduced to and fall in love with our sport as they grapple with issues of honesty, integrity, etc. over a playing season. For some, their existing passion will be expanded and cemented.
What a great place and what a great story with everyone (alumni, present students, future students, and visitors) winning.
Here is the link:
http://golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/culver-academies/Best,