Feature Interview with Todd Eckenrode is posted

[Ran Morrissett]

I think the world of Rustic Canyon. In fact, after playing it and LA North in 2002, I thought Rustic Canyon was the pick of the two. Various discussion threads showed that many others held it in similar high esteem. Therefore, when a thread emerged comparing it to Barona Creek (a course I haven’t seen), I did what other posters do and leaped to a baseless conclusion, presuming that Rustic Canyon was the clear winner.  That wasn’t how it played out; Barona Creek had just as many staunch supporters as Rustic. Todd Eckenrode drove that project for Gary Baird 17 plus years ago – and has been designing ever since, mostly under his own shingle.
 
In this month’s Feature Interview, Todd walks us through his introduction to the game. His playing progression from a par 3 course to an executive layout to a full course is a timely reinforcement of the importance of ‘small’ courses. He played competitively in high school at Pasatiempo and then for four years in college.  Todd was proficient enough to qualify for the British Amateur at Royal County Down. Along with Pasatiempo, RCD seems to be a course that most deeply influenced him, perhaps because both courses seem so natural and neither design adheres to any set of rules.  One way that Todd conveys his admiration of RCD is through his two sketches of the 13th hole. Indeed, the graphics included in his Feature interview are among the best set we have ever posted.
 
His interview will be rolled out in two parts. Next month will focus on his restoration work, mostly in his home state of California. I can’t wait to learn more about his recent work at a personal favorite, Orinda by the underappreciated William Watson. There is something immensely appealing about all those California courses set in the foothills replete with barrancas. I wonder if it isn’t possible that the golf scene in California was superior to New York in 1929?
 
This month’s interview delves into some of Todd's original work, including Twin Dolphin, a Cabo course he raves about (‘I am truly more excited about this course than any project we’ve done’). A superbly talented crew has helped him pounce on all the cool landforms. In many ways Baja California Sur appeals to architects like California did 100 years ago. Arroyos replace barrancas and the juxtaposition of cacti against the sea is something else.
 
Todd also talks about a completely different project in Louisiana where the high-to-low variance on the property was less than ten feet. Nonetheless, a lot of cool features emerged from the flat site. Unfortunately, ownership is systematically moving away from some of his design themes. Tall grass replaced short grass around the greens and views were squashed with ornamental plantings. Some architects might shrug, saying, It’s their course, they can do with it what they want. However, as an artist, Todd is conscientious about the state of his handiwork, and hopes that over time, the ownership better understands what constitutes good golf and where the game is going.

Here is the link:

http://golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview-with-todd-eckenrode/

He shares more of his design views next month, so stay tuned!

Best,
 

[Mark_F]

That's a great and interesting interview Ran, thanks.


Love the sketches, too.  Todd's almost as good as Mike Cocking...

[Kyle Henderson]

His work at Orinda really improved an already excellent golf course. I was also enamored with what he was able to achieve with his renovation of the Quail Lodge golf course in Carmel, CA, despite the severe limitations of the existing routing. He seems like a talented architect with good sensibilities.


Thank you, Ran, for highlighting another of the many under appreciated talents in the industry!

[Thomas Dai]

Thank you.
Some fine points and interesting thoughts on measures to alleviate water issues.
atb

[Jason Topp]

For those who have joined here, the interview reminds me of what a terrific resource the series of books by Paul Daley - a Worldwide Perspective on Golf Architecture are.  Volume 1 is the best but they are all worthwhile.

[Kevin_Reilly]

Thanks - well done.  Very interesting comments about Pasatiempo, including some underrated holes like #2....and I always enjoy looking at those old photos.


I am looking forward to Part 2, particularly anything about his work (with important contributions from George Waters, Brett Hochstein and resident course guru Josh Smith) at Orinda CC.  The membership has been thrilled with the course since Todd and team did their magic.  Our neighbors at Diablo CC will hopefully see the same benefits when they make progress with their work with Josh.


A little bit from Brett Hochstein's site:  http://www.hochsteindesign.com/orinda-country-club/

[Joe Hancock]

I consider myself fortunate to have worked with Todd and Andy on several projects. First and foremost, they are quality people that are a joy to be with. Second, they work with people they like and trust, and they give a lot of freedom and latitude with their instructions. It makes for an enjoyable collaboration, the way they do things.


Todd may not realize it, but I’ve told many people this about him; No matter how cool of a feature I think I’ve built, his tweaks and changes that he asks for always makes the end design better....always. It’s never about ego, it’s about doing the best design and construction in the given situation. I would bet every shaper that has worked with them would say the same.


All the best to Origins Golf Design. Well done, guys.

[Gib_Papazian]

Back in 2001, The Emperor called to insist I meet him at this funky-ass Indian casino, somewhere up in the mountains near San Diego. The tribe was running their gambling out of these enormous temporary bubbles that looked more blimp hangars than anything else, but the course was operating - surprisingly, without a liquor license. At the time, Tommy and I had never actually met in person, so I jetted down to meet this wildly bombastic force of nature on GCA. I had no clue that providence had chosen to bring forth my spiritual doppelgänger - a synchronistic development made obvious by the time we reached the alternate-fairway 4th hole.


How impressed with Barona Creek? To the point that my 1st phone call (once we got cell service outside Rattlesnake Canyon) was to call the tournament chairman of a large yearly event I’ve played in since 1998 (called “Golf Till You Drop”) and insist the tournament be moved there immediately. I’ve played it at least 25 times and it still makes my short list of favorite places to play in America. We eventually moved KP there for a year or two, an epic gathering that brought absolutely rave reviews. If forced to make a comparison, Barona contains the intellectual texture of Rustic Canyon, with the brawny, classical expanse of my beloved Stevinson Ranch (RIP). This is not breathless hyperbole - at one point I wondered whether the architect had nicked some long-lost MacKenzie (or Hunter) plans and pretended they were his.   


At last count, I’ve played more than 10 of Todd’s new or remodeled creations and not to swell his head too much, his greatest strength are highly developed aesthetic sensibilities, but always blended with the practicality of encouraging multiple shot options, particularly along the ground. Does he repeat himself? Most of his bunkering schematics seem to have a distant artistic connection to Pasatiempo, but I cannot say his work looks like ersatz MacKenzie. Everything fits and presents itself in proportion to the surrounds - in other words, no Principal’s Nose that comes pops out of the ground, just because.


Orinda CC came out terrific. I know some people think it was a golf course of real merit before, but the land is awkward and hardly conducive to a first class layout, but Todd made the best of it, designing in all sorts of chutes and ladders to keep things interesting. I could honestly play it every day - a vast improvement on what was a constrictive collage of rudderless modifications by brain-damaged Green Chairs, inflicting their vapid twaddle on what was once probably a pretty decent track.


Neal and I played Quail Lodge together and enjoyed it thoroughly, especially the back nine. For a resort course, it is fairly demanding, but what sticks out is the detail work. Todd did a nice job of paying attention to the green complexes - where you have to really look hard, pick your spots and resist taking the bait. Some bunkering looks far more dangerous and intimidating than it is, others look innocuous, but are deep and hide the size of the putting surface.


Those who know Todd usually remark how personable and diplomatic he is. Figuring out a way to successfully navigate the politics of two high-tone L.A. Jewish Clubs with sanity intact is a skill unto itself. I guess after managing that - and Lakeside CC - landing jobs in Kurdistan, the UAE and multiple projects in China must have been easy peasy.

[Matthew Petersen]

You can do a lot worse than spending an hour or a few knocking around the par 3 course at Terranea.

[Rob Rigg]

Ran - Thanks so much for interviewing Todd! Stoked for Part 2.

Gib's comments re: Barona Creek are spot on. It's a gem of a course in the sea of mediocrity that is SD area golf and rightly deserves to be discussed as a peer to Rustic Canyon which is another public much better than many of the privates in its part of the world.

It's great to hear that Todd is getting some well deserved work in a continually tough environment for talented GCAs.

[Kevin_Reilly]

An update from Josh Smith about cart path removals (among other things) underway right now at Orinda under Todd's guidance.


https://orindagreensandgrounds.wordpress.com/2018/10/22/fall-projects-and-golf-cart-routes/

[Mike Sweeney]

My first trip to Barona Creek and they just re-opened the back 9 from Todd's renovation work:

https://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/content/todd-eckenrode-returns-to-barona-creek-for-renovation-project#

10th Green:


I loved the front too:



I played Torrey Pines South in the morning, so it was the perfect contrast of San Diego Cliffs vs Desert Mountain day. Hope to see more of Todd's work in the future...

[Pete Lavallee]

I played Barona today for the first time since the back 9 reopened in June. The greens have regrassed with Pure Distinction and as stated in the article Mike linked, they were mapped, cored out and completely redone down to the gravel layers. Couldn’t notice much change in the original contours although the spine in the 14th green may have been softened a little.


The most dramatic change however is that all the green side bunkers now have roll over turfed edges instead of the old flashed look. They imbedded drip irrigation so now they no longer have to worry about irrigation spraying into the bunker or getting enough water on the lips to hold them in place.  It looks fabulous and plays better as your all is more likely to roll to a flat spot if your all hits near the lip. Can’t wait for the front 9 to be renovated later this year.