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Adam Lawrence

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'Adventures in Golf' at Askernish
« on: September 19, 2017, 11:48:01 AM »
One evening last year, I got a call from sometime GCAer Simon Holt. He was in a bar somewhere in Scotland with an American TV crew and wanted to know about Askernish.


I gave him all the information I could, and the following morning, Simon and the TV guys flew up to Benbecula.


Here's the result. I'm afraid it's only on Facebook at the moment, because Skratch TV's own website doesn't appear to have it yet. But I dare say it will appear.


[size=78%]https://www.facebook.com/SkratchTV/videos/2023115417918133/[/size]
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.

Chris Roselle

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: 'Adventures in Golf' at Askernish
« Reply #1 on: September 19, 2017, 02:24:11 PM »
Here it is on Twitter:


https://twitter.com/Skratch/status/910156560176865281


Wonderful stuff

Peter Pallotta

Re: 'Adventures in Golf' at Askernish
« Reply #2 on: September 19, 2017, 02:45:49 PM »
Thank you, Adam (and Chris - I'm not on facebook, so your link helped).

I've read a lot about Askernish over the years, but I hadn't seen it until now.

And now I think I understand why so many of you love the place.

My goodness. I'd never have believed it - that a golf course could so beautifully function as a golf course while not looking like a golf course hardly at all. 

The game and the architecture 'stripped down' to the barest essentials -- and yet seeming to prove that nothing else is actually necessary.

Funny -- it makes even Ross and Colt seem like fuss-pots and busy-bodies, never knowing when to leave well enough alone!

Peter

PS - it's hard not to think/say: given land costs and the environment and sustainability etc, if we want a viable future for golf we'd better start looking back to Askernish. 
« Last Edit: September 19, 2017, 02:52:55 PM by Peter Pallotta »

Thomas Dai

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: 'Adventures in Golf' at Askernish
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2017, 03:18:32 PM »

Jon Wiggett

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: 'Adventures in Golf' at Askernish
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2017, 04:45:06 PM »

I saw this on facebook too Adam. Good video which gives a good feel for the place.


Peter,


there are quite a few courses like this to be found in the Highlands and Islands. The best things about golf need no frilly extras.


Jon

Jon Heise

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: 'Adventures in Golf' at Askernish
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2017, 09:01:27 PM »
FANTASTIC.  Will drop by next time I'm in the neighborhood...
I still like Greywalls better.

Peter Pallotta

Re: 'Adventures in Golf' at Askernish
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2017, 11:22:02 PM »
Thomas - my thanks.
Wow again!
Hole after hole, it feels that it would be no hyperbole or foolishness to say that even one added bunker (even the most natural looking or most cleverly placed) would make the golf worse, not better.
Peter