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Thomas Dai

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Unconventional features add interest to golf
« on: April 03, 2020, 05:08:15 AM »
Unconventional features add interest to golf?
Do you agree or disagree?
Such features however, don't have to be actually on the course. They could be alongside it, nearby or wherever.
Thoughts?
atb
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Blake Conant

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2020, 07:46:51 AM »
Absolutely. They make a course unique and give it a sense of place.


North Berwick Pit figured out a clever way to interact with theirs, as did a number of other courses with walls
The periscope at Elie is clever and functional
Chambers Bay has the cement structures
Tobacco Road with the plant behind 13
The Bridge displays art and sculpture on the course
The cow tank surrounding the green at Damnebrog
The indian mounds at the Moundbuilders courses in Ohio.


It would feel contrived if you just plopped down a random thing, but if you’re working around something that was there or impart something from the previous sites use into the current design that adds context.


There’s something about the windmill dead center on 4 fwy at Dismal White that feels off to me, though. It’s doing what I’m talking about, but it’s trying too hard to anchor the entire composition and I don’t think it needed to be the centerpiece.

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JESII

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2020, 08:54:41 AM »
Absolutely!


The stone wall used a couple times at Stonewall New is really cool...nowhere cooler than when it crosses the 8th fairway.
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Mark Pearce

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2020, 11:46:30 AM »
The wall on the 8th at Muirfield.  The ruins on the 7th at Pennard.  The weird artificial ridge on the 7th at Crail Balcomie.  The walls on the 11th and 15th at Crail Craighead.  All add interest to games there.
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Tim Martin

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2020, 12:54:19 PM »
The Acela train is visible from certain vantage points at Clinton CC in Connecticut. If you have never seen one whiz by it’s quite a sight traveling at speeds that can reach 150 mph.
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Tommy Williamsen

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2020, 01:11:04 PM »
The infield at Brickyard in Indianapolis.
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Tim Martin

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2020, 01:17:23 PM »
You get a great view from the 16th green or 17th tee at Shennecossett GC of the Fishers Island, Block Island and Cross Island ferry boats traveling back and forth to their destinations.
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Stewart Abramson

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #7 on: April 03, 2020, 01:18:58 PM »
This old stone cisturn on the 17th hole of Eric Berstol's Minisceongo (NLE) was a cool feature.





Minisceongo #17 from tee
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Stewart Abramson

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #8 on: April 03, 2020, 01:22:05 PM »
... and this on Suningdale CC in Westchester





Sunningdale #7 pitch to elevated green
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David_Tepper

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #9 on: April 03, 2020, 01:25:59 PM »
The church and graveyard behind the 10th green at St. Enodoc that was at one time semi-buried under a sand dune.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Enodoc%27s_Church,_Trebetherick
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Stewart Abramson

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #10 on: April 03, 2020, 01:30:30 PM »
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Stewart Abramson

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #11 on: April 03, 2020, 01:38:42 PM »
The Slave cemetery at Heritage in Myrtle Beach



Heritage Club #8 - sign near tee



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Ira Fishman

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #12 on: April 03, 2020, 01:41:49 PM »
Quote from: Mark Pearce on April 03, 2020, 11:46:30 AM
The wall on the 8th at Muirfield.  The ruins on the 7th at Pennard.  The weird artificial ridge on the 7th at Crail Balcomie.  The walls on the 11th and 15th at Crail Craighead.  All add interest to games there.
[/quote


Love that weird ridge at Crail Balcomie.


Ice House at Nairn
Stone Wall on last three holes at Kilspindie.
Cemetary at Ballybunion.


On other hand, there is course outside DC--Whiskey Creek--that has the ruins of a house in middle of 18. Just feels contrived on a course not built too long ago.


Ira
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Steve_ Shaffer

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #13 on: April 03, 2020, 02:01:25 PM »

The “Wall of Death” and 5 Other Must-See Features on Courses Outside the U.S.
Must-See Features on Courses



https://www.linksmagazine.com/6-must-see-features-on-courses
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Bob Montle

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #14 on: April 03, 2020, 02:51:48 PM »
The water pump windmill on Dismal White defines the hole.
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Thomas Dai

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #15 on: April 03, 2020, 04:14:03 PM »
Many wonderful examples. Many thanks.
Begs the question though that if such features add interest to golf why aren’t there more around (unless they are contrived)?
What would have been examples of such features, ones that would have added interest that is, if they hadn’t been removed in the construction of the course or later?
Atb
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James Reader

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #16 on: April 03, 2020, 04:50:30 PM »
A hotel must be the ultimate example.  Certainly adds interest.
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Stewart Abramson

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #17 on: April 03, 2020, 04:53:39 PM »
Quote from: Thomas Dai on April 03, 2020, 04:14:03 PM

Begs the question though that if such features add interest to golf why aren’t there more around ?
What would have been examples of such features, ones that would have added interest that is, if they hadn’t been removed in the construction of the course or later?
Atb


Those are questions best left to the architects. I suppose that if priority #1 is determine the best routing possible for the golf holes, you'd get rid of any unconventional feature that impeded that goal. On the other hand, if the feature is outside the playing corridor or serves as a hazard much in the way of a rock outcropping or old tree, then it could stay. I'd be curious to know of any cool things that got removed during construction of a course and what thought was given to ways to retain them.
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archie_struthers

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #18 on: April 03, 2020, 06:08:30 PM »
 :P




maybe the old wall behind the much missed 5th at Pebble?   lol :-X :P ;)
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Ally Mcintosh

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #19 on: April 03, 2020, 06:40:22 PM »
One of the coolest features used on a couple of estate courses is a haha.


Think Scott McPherson used one on Close House. At least one other course has incorporated a haha but just can’t recall where right now
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Greg Tallman

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #20 on: April 03, 2020, 07:41:26 PM »
The aqueduct ruins behind the 17th green at Persimmon Hill Course at Rose Hall in Jamaica.


Pretty cool back drop to a very good par three hole.
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Mark_Fine

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #21 on: April 03, 2020, 10:05:47 PM »
Everything in moderation.  Any design feature (unconventional or not) that is overused is probably not good.  Simple rule of thumb.
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Mark Pearce

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #22 on: April 04, 2020, 03:42:30 AM »
Quote from: Ally Mcintosh on April 03, 2020, 06:40:22 PM
One of the coolest features used on a couple of estate courses is a haha.


Think Scott McPherson used one on Close House. At least one other course has incorporated a haha but just can’t recall where right now
There's a cool haha at Matfen Hall, near Close House but I can't think of one at Close House itself.  There's a wall there that is used really well on the 18th (reminds me of Thomas' thread about fortified greens) but I think it's a wall rather than a haha.  Will have to go back and check when I can.
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Ally Mcintosh

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #23 on: April 04, 2020, 05:51:38 AM »
Quote from: Mark Pearce on April 04, 2020, 03:42:30 AM
Quote from: Ally Mcintosh on April 03, 2020, 06:40:22 PM
One of the coolest features used on a couple of estate courses is a haha.


Think Scott McPherson used one on Close House. At least one other course has incorporated a haha but just can’t recall where right now
There's a cool haha at Matfen Hall, near Close House but I can't think of one at Close House itself.  There's a wall there that is used really well on the 18th (reminds me of Thomas' thread about fortified greens) but I think it's a wall rather than a haha.  Will have to go back and check when I can.


Thanks for the update. I haven’t been to Close House but thought I remembered Scott calling out a haha. Haven’t been to Matfen and for the life of me, can’t remember where I saw this feature (at least on a golf course - I think they’re a cool landscaping feature on old country estates full stop).
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Tom_Doak

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Re: Unconventional features add interest to golf
« Reply #24 on: April 04, 2020, 06:54:07 AM »
Quote from: Ally Mcintosh on April 03, 2020, 06:40:22 PM
One of the coolest features used on a couple of estate courses is a haha.


Think Scott McPherson used one on Close House. At least one other course has incorporated a haha but just can’t recall where right now


There was a course on Tenerife that had about twenty little ha-ha's on one fairway . . . remnants of old terrace farming.  It was unique in my experience, but it's a problem for the golf carts!
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