I accept the invitation to address the points made in Dave’s initial post as they relate to Forest Creek, but I must make a few preliminary points. First, I do not accept the label of “Fazio defender”. I have played a lot of his courses mainly because it is my responsibility as a course rater to try to play new courses of note. Fazio has designed many such courses, especially in my part of the country. What I object to is generalization, period. I don’t like to generalize about architects, artists, musicians, Democrats, conservatives, women, southerners, Yankees, Californians, Catholics, or any other group that is large enough to have some variety. I prefer to evaluate individual courses. If we stick to specific Fazio courses I have played, I can find something positive to say about almost all of them, and find some fault with every single one. Second, while I have read Fazio’s book, I prefer to judge his courses as I find them rather than by what he has to say. If you judged an architect’s work by what he has to say, you would assume that Mike Strantz’s courses reflect the influence of Dr. Mackenzie, as he has claimed. Would a food critic judge a restaurant based on the chef’s book? Would a critic judge a book, a play, or a movie based on the statements of the author, playwrite, or director? I doubt it. Call me simple or lazy, but I find it fairly easy to rate individual courses, but very difficult to evaluate architects. So I don’t try.
With regard to Forest Creek and Dave’s list of Fazio’s “general preferences”, my comments will include the 19 holes of the original (“South”) course and the first 9 of the second (North) course. The remaining 9 holes of the North course will be open by this time next year.
1.False. I have seen several examples of Fazio courses on built difficult sites. Along with Pete Dye, he seems to have a talent for producing some pretty good courses on tough sites, but his best courses that I have seen enjoy excellent sites. Forest Creek, Galloway National, and World Woods Pine Barrens are good examples.
2.False. The Forest Creek site required very little modification. The course lies pretty naturally on the ground. Sure, some earth was moved, but it is hard to tell.
3.False. I don’t think FCGC is particularly photogenic unless you like pictures of pine trees and bunkers. There is only one pond and NO waterfalls. Check the photos that Ran included in his profile of the course.
4. I am not sure what instant gratification means. The first hole of both courses are relatively short par fours with fairly wide landing areas. The second shot is pretty demanding in both cases as the greens are protected by a front bunker and
the greens run away. Easy tee shot, tough to hit the green.
5. False. Of our 8 par3’s (including the 19th hole) 3 are downhill, 2 are flat and 3 are slightly uphill. The legitimate criticism is that there is not enough variety in length.
6. True, I guess. FCGC is carved out of a pine forest and most are separated from their neighbors. In most cases the underbrush has been cleared so that wayward shots can usually be found and a recovery is possible, if risky. There
are several spots where you can see 1 or 2 neighboring holes but they are separated physically by trees and/or wetlands.
7. False. Most tees are slightly above the fairway level, but only slightly.
8. False. 15 of our 28 holes have hazards that must be carried (not counting greenside bunkers), although several don’t threaten good players. 8 others have fairway
bunkers that encourage and reward flirting. 2 have fairway bunkers that serve no strategic value, but simply should be avoided. Two holes 3rd and 8th on the South course have cross bunkers. You know, those things that Fazio never builds.
9. True and false. There is some but I would like to see more. After you have played the course a few times, you pretty much know how you want to play each hole. Only the wind, the pin placement, or the status of the match will cause me
to change my strategy off the tee. As always, my decision on subsequent shots depends on where my previous shot came to rest.
10. Same answer as #9. Depending on the factors mentioned above plus the skill level of the player, most holes have one ideal route. In my view, many factors dictates the strategy on a given shot. The design of the hole or the architect’s intent is only one, and is usually irrelevant if you don’t hit your tee shot exactly where you wanted to. But that’s the subject of another thread. I think it is true that Tom does not emphasize multiple choices off the tee, at least, not at FCGC.
However, it is often not clear from the tee where the ideal tee shot line is. I usually need to coach guests who have not played the course before,especially my partners.