https://golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview/feature-interview-with-bradford-becken/No better way to ring in a new decade than a Feature Interview regarding Donald Ross. And no one better person to do so than Bradford Becken. Brad is the current President of the Donald Ross Society and even more impressive, he is the only person that I know who has played every Ross course.
He completed that journey in 2018 and he played the majority of those 366 courses in the past decade, so he has ‘fresh eyes.’ I stay away from questions re: here in the Sandhills because that gets covered often by others. Rather, we use our time with Brad to bounce around to gain a better understanding of Ross’s full reach, including California, Canada and of course, up-state New York.
Based on Ross’s incomparable ability to route, he effortlessly produced courses in droves that are a delight. From household name courses that have hosted televised events to courses that any architect would kill for (Franklin Hills, Essex County, Mountain Ridge, Plainfield, Holston Hills, etc. ) to ones that I am still itching to see (Teugega, Longmeadow, Hyannisport, Misquamicut, Oak Hill West, Monroe, Barton Hills, Idle Hour), the list of Ross’s accomplishments go on and on. Let Brad via this Feature Interview act as your tour guide. What other architect’s roster is so deep?!
To think that Brad has seen all of them is impressive, especially going to the effort to visit the ones that likely are a few notches below those listed above. There is always something to be gleaned by traveling and seeing courses, even if the raw land wasn’t but so compelling or maybe time has been cruel. Still, a Ross course always fits the land so well that success was baked in at the start. My Southern Pines CC isn’t blessed with a lot of Ross features but the routing is so exemplary that I am 1000+ rounds deep in playing there and look forward to this afternoon’s 8 holes with Chris Buie as much as ever.
In reading this Interview, two other things stand out. One, Brad suggests that the hands-on Ross visited more sites than is generally thought and two, trying to stereotype Ross’s work is foolhardy. Brad lists some unusual features and takes the time to bust some myths. Also, give the Ross Society credit for its loud drumbeat for decades extolling the merits of Ross designs. Witness how non-Ross features are being unwound at some of his most heralded courses like Oak Hill East, Scioto, and Oakland Hills and how Inverness has been reinvigorated by what Andrew Green accomplished there.
Bottom line, it’s a great time to be a Ross fan as clubs now more than ever seem to understand that they should revere his work and treat it as a piece of art. In fact, that’s how Brad concludes the Feature Interview with these words of advice to clubs:
‘You have a precious work of art that should be preserved and/or restored. I also think in this challenging economic environment for many golf courses, being a Ross course is a real asset and competitive advantage. It is unusual to look at the website for a Ross club and not have the fact that Donald Ross designed the course highlighted. Also, please don’t change the routing of the course because 1% or fewer of your members can hit the ball a mile.’
Best,