Since some posters here may not have seen some of the comments that inspired this thread on my Principles book thread, let me throw some of my thoughts out here again straight from the book (by the way, I do love Quirk):
The definition of Quirk is "Something that is strange and unexpected; A sudden twist, turn , or curve."[/size]Most often Quirk is manufactured and that is why I say it should never be sought. In other words, don't create something just to be quirky. That doesn't mean that an architect shouldn't create something that may be different; just don't call it a Quirk. Because it isn't.To me, a quirk is something that results from a site constraint that just can't be changed. This is different than something that is just thought-provoking, cool-looking, or just simply different. To illustrate, I use the 3rd hole at White Bear as an example of a quirk. Such a short and small par-three, the hole is a result of the routing of the golf course coming up against the property line, which has a high slope. The hole is a result of its site-constraint as opposed to the same exact hole that may appear somewhere else in a routing solely by the architect's choice. That hole, in its same exact form, designed somewhere else without any site constraints, is equally thought-provoking, cool, and certainly different. It just isn't quirky in that location.
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Although one may strive to manufacture Quirk in golf architecture, genuine Quirk is revealed when an irresistible force runs into an immovable object. When a golf hole (the irresistible force) must be routed around a topographical feature (immovable object) because that topographical feature can’t be altered, the form the hole takes (adjusted for the immovable object), becomes quirky. Quirky golf course features are simply anomalies of the landscape that can’t be avoided.
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Quirk only works if it is actually appreciated, making it a subjective ambition. Designers who set out to deliberately create “quirky” golf course features often cross the line toward poor design. When Quirk is done poorly, and lacks appreciation from the end user, pleasant surprise is replaced by disdain, exposing the Principle of Gimmick.By definition, Gimmick is “a trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or business.” The Principle of Gimmick is expected to garner a surprise from the golfer just like the Principle of Quirk. But the result is fleeting at best, especially once surprise subsides and the reality of an impossible shot stares the golfer down. When Quirk fails, one is left with Gimmicks running the gamut from artificial rock formations to angular features to manufacturing building ruins as strategic challenges. Randomly dropping a stone wall into a hole is pure Gimmick. Replicating holes which are more famous for their built environment than their architectural quality falls into the Gimmick category as well.
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