Larry Packard

[Rob Marshall]

I think Copperhead is a very good course but don't think much of the other courses at Innisbrook. Has Packard designed any other course of high regard? I read he designed 600 courses.

[Brian Finn]

I liked the Island course at Innisbrook. I thought it was of similar quality to Copperhead.

There are some threads covering his work if you type 'Packard' into the search function. There are also some well done obituaries (if you search for him on Google), which list some of his notable designs.

I had the opportunity to meet and briefly speak to Mr. Packard in 2011 (when he was 98).  He was kind and pretty funny.

[Rob Marshall]

I liked the Island course at Innisbrook. I thought it was of similar quality to Copperhead.

There are some threads covering his work if you type 'Packard' into the search function. There are also some well done obituaries (if you search for him on Google), which list some of his notable designs.

I had the opportunity to meet and briefly speak to Mr. Packard in 2011 (when he was 98).  He was kind and pretty funny.

Can't find any threads on him here.

[Brian Finn]

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,16405.msg285742.html#msg285742

http://golfarchitects.lib.msu.edu/packardel/index.html

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,1918.msg37439.html#msg37439

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,50735.msg1156579.html#msg1156579

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/remembering-larry-packard-an-architect-who-leaves-an-endurin

http://golfweek.com/2014/01/30/larry-packard-innisbrook-resort-golf-architect-die/

https://www.amazon.com/Double-Doglegs-Hazards-Mickey-Rathbun/dp/1886752141

[PCCraig]

I believe Larry Packard designed the three courses at Eagle Ridge in Galena, IL. The one course there, the General, is a pretty wild and fun golf course. It's been probably 20 years since I played it, but I remember enjoying it quite a bit!


Copperhead is a little over rated because it's essentially a Carolina golf course in Florida, with pine trees and a little bit of elevation. But it's a pretty solid golf course.

[Jeff_Brauer]

In related news, I heard last week that Roger Packard, Larry's son and also a golf architect, passed away at 70.  Surprised I didn't see that in any golf news outlets, but frankly, he was never quite as successful as his Dad.


One of those obit writers contacted me after seeing what I wrote in those Packard threads.  For those who don't want to search too far, Larry was a guy I hated as a young guy, mostly because he beat Killian and Nugent 2 out of 3 times they went head to head.  Then, I met him after a project interview and liked him a lot.  That experience taught me that the key to being successful was being nice, rather than assume the other guy did something untoward to win the business.


Larry was one of those old school, classy guys. I took my then 12 years old fledgling golfing son to Innisbrook to play a round with Larry, just so he could see what proper golf course (and life) etiquette was.


Lastly, (but actually earlier in the timeline) K and N took staff to Copperhead course to see the design, they were so influenced by their nearest competitor.  Taking the practical side of the old Harris style and giving it nice flair, in particular his sculpted free form tees was an eye opener that there is no reason for tees to be just "practical" boxes.  I have started using that concept again in recent years to counter the trend to rectangular tees. It is so rare these days, many golfers think I have come up with a brand new concept.


The design mantra then (and mostly now) was to design a course your could enjoy every day, but which could host a PGA Tourney.  Few do this better than Copperhead, which is the most artistic of the 3 courses there.  For those that don't know, Larry and Brent Wadsworth (his former design partner) were also investors in the resort.  Brent spent a lot of time on site, and the many believe that while Larry gets design credit, Brent and crew went above and beyond in tee, fairway and bunker shaping, and should probably get part design credit there.

[Neil Davis]

Beaver Hills Country Club in Cedar Falls, Iowa is a good Larry Packard course from the mid-60's.  The membership is quite proud of it, and I think it's a fun, challenging track.  It hosted the state mid-am this year and held up pretty well.  Like many courses of that vintage, it could use some prudent tree management.  But it's out in a wooded area, and the trees aren't necessarily choking it to death.     

[Rob Marshall]

Thanks Brian

[Peter Flory]

The only course of his that I played a lot growing up was Leslie Park in Ann Arbor, MI.  Arthur Hills updated it at some point, but the original routing was pretty decent and he used the hills very well on a few holes.  Overall, it is what I would classify as a very fun course, especially for $25.

The pic below is from the 5th hole, which is very unique.  You have to lay up to the plateau and leave yourself about a 160 yard approach off of a downhill lie.  Otherwise, you can drive over the hill and the ball wants to filter off either direction and leaves you with a blind shot out of the rough with tree trouble.  But every once in a while you can hit it right down the middle and get rewarded with a blind 90 yard approach and turn it into a birdie hole.  The risk reward doesn't pay off, but it's amazing how tempting it is for players (even in a tournament). 




And here is a pic of the 2nd hole, which has an extremely slick green F to B. 

[Matthew Rose]

I lived very close to Brown County in Wisconsin for several years; at the time I lived on nearby Thornberry Creek which has just opened then and played most of my golf there, but Brown County made for a nice contrast in its maturity. I always did like the routing which generally made great use of the hills and slopes as well as the creek that ran through the property. Very playable too; I often shot low scores when I went over there. It could have probably used some tree culling and bunker shaping, but it was a very fun course to play, even the silly 13th with the two ponds.


It always seemed to be a great example of a quintessential well-run, well-designed municipal golf course, and I recall the green fees were very reasonable.

[Rob Marshall]

I like Copperhead a lot. The 14th is a good example of his double dog legs but I think the 7th hole on the island is the best par 5 on the property.


I'm not sure if it was a design philosophy of his or it's just happened over time but there are a lot "double hazards" in play at the Island and one I can think of on the Copperhead. On the Island the 3rd hole if you hit in the left fairway bunker you are left with a 185 yard shot which must carry tall trees that front a pond. Not many players have that shot. The right fairway bunker on the 16th also leaves you with a similar length shot over trees.  The 11th on Copperhead has fairway bunkers where you need to hit a shot over the bunker lip but keep in under overhanging trees.
 
The 4th on the Island has a palm tree in the middle of the bunker that fronts the green. Don't get it. The 9th on the Island seemingly has no landing area. The entire fairway of the dog leg left slopes steeply from right to left into a pond. What the target line is I have no idea. Anyone have any thoughts. What am I missing?

[John Blain]

Rob-
According the book "The Architects of Golf" by Geoffrey Cornish and Ron Whitten, Larry Packard was the architect who designed Wayne Hills CC in Lyons, NY, a course you and I are very familiar with.
He did the front in 1957 and an additional nine holes in 1965.


I haven't played there in years but I always thought it was a fine course and have always enjoyed playing there.


I was always curious who had designed WHCC but no one ever seemed to know. I always thought it was too good a course for some local farmer to have done it.


By the way, did you go to Innisbrook with Mike Kiel's crew? I saw Mike yesterday and he mentioned he had just gotten back.


Hope you are well!


John B.

[Rob Marshall]

Wayne Hills is a great track. Always enjoy playing there. I wondered myself who designed it. I was with guys from Penfield CC but spent some time with Mike at the Bar down there. He's a great pro and better guy. Kirch and J Post were down there the week before. It's a Rochester hot spot.

[Joel Pear]

I believe Larry Packard designed the three courses at Eagle Ridge in Galena, IL. The one course there, the General, is a pretty wild and fun golf course. It's been probably 20 years since I played it, but I remember enjoying it quite a bit!


Copperhead is a little over rated because it's essentially a Carolina golf course in Florida, with pine trees and a little bit of elevation. But it's a pretty solid golf course.

Pretty sure Roger designed the courses at Eagle Ridge.