Pivotal moments: courses that influenced how you look at golf course design.

[Tommy Williamsen]

In 1983 I visited my brother-in-law in LA. He knew about my love of golf and arranged a game for me at Riviera. One of the guys with whom I was paired was Stan Kertes who taught Babe Zaharias among other pros. All the way around we talked about the course. The shots into and around the greens were light years ahead of the courses I had played. I thought, “Wow, this is what golf should be like.” I remember standing on the tenth tee and having no idea how to play the hole. I grew up playing military courses where the object was just to hit it in the fairway and onto the green. There were bunkers left front and right front and flat oval greens. It didn’t take much thought. For years after Riviera golf on my home course was pretty boring.

In 1992 my congregation sent my wife and me to Ireland and Scotland for the 20th anniversary of my ordination. We played 21 courses in 20 days. The first course we played was Ballybunion. Now I had read about the course and had seen pictures, but I was not prepared for the fun that awaited me. I hit low running tee balls and bullets that bounded along the ground toward the greens. I putted from ten yards in front of greens. I never hit a sand wedge from off the fairway, which is my favorite shot. There was hardly a tree. Up til them I had thought that trees were mandatory for good golf. I sure was wrong.


Both were “aha” moments. Since then, my appreciation for a well-designed course has grown by leaps and bounds. When I look back, those two courses stand out as pivotal moments in my love of the game and my appreciation of great courses.

What courses changed the way you think about golf.

[A.G._Crockett]

Three in particular.


1. Becoming a member in the late ‘80’s at a Joe Lee course (Bent Tree) in the N. Georgia mountains, and wondering how in the world Lee had been able to see a walkable golf course in those mountains.


2. Playing the Ocean Course in the early 90’s, and marveling at what Dye had done there.  I didn’t know anything then, but I knew it was brilliant.


3. Playing the $8m Fazio redo of the George Cobb course at UNC in 1999, expecting an upgrade of a course I dearly loved, finding something brand new that I liked a LOT less, and wondering why.


And here I am…

[Ira Fishman]

In the first phase of my golfing journey (age 13 to 35), I paid almost no attention to golf course design except what the rankings “told” me. In my second phase (Kids sort of grown up), there have been a few pivotal moments:


1. Playing Pine Needles after discovering Courses By Country on this site.


2. My first trip to Ireland: Old Head (quite disappointing), Waterville (enlightening), and Lahinch (sublime).


3. Playing Golspie, Elie, and Kilspindie to understand what Fun really means.


Ira

[Jordan Standefer]

For me, it was my first time at Pasatiempo. I couldn't articulate it then, but I finished on 18 and immediately wanted to go around again. It clicked for me that someone intentionally laid out the course. Not too long later, I found this place.

[Tim_Weiman]

Tommy,


Excellent topic!


The first course that influenced me was Leewood Golf Club in Eastchester, NY. My family lived within walking distance and at 2-3 years old I sat in the pool area watching group after group come over the hill playing down to the 18th green. Though I didn’t understand the game, clearly the hills one could see from the pool and nearby roads fascinated me big time.


Pelham Country Club in Pelham Manor, NY was the second course to influence me. Again, my family lived within walking distance. That was great. Then too, while PCC might not have been great architecture, the club had one great feature: grumpy old men. Kids really weren’t welcome, but these men taught me that the golf course is something shared and so, by all means, move. Don’t hold anyone up.


Ballybunion is the third course I would mention, but not because of the architecture. It was because of the people who simply knew how to enjoy social golf better than anyone else I had ever met.


Finally, I have to mention one book. Sports Illustrated published their Best 18 Holes in America in 1966. I was ten years old and thrilled to own my first golf architecture book. SI and author taught me that if golf architecture was to be my hobby passion, then I better travel. All the good stuff isn’t in one place.

[mike_malone]

I grew up playing DuPont CC. Before Lester George’s great redo the championship course was boring. Across the street was the Nemours course which my dad called “sporty”. Once I could drive I found the Louviers course which was 15 miles away near UofDelaware. It was very hilly and had the most architectural interest. However I wasn’t really interested in golf architecture.


Then I moved to Vermont and joined Burlington CC which was a nice course set on a turtle’s back at the top of the high point in town.


The Boston based firm I worked for invited us in October of each year to play at


The Myopia Hunt Club.


The stark difference between this course and its rough edges and quirky holes enlightened my architectural sense.
This was golf as it should be.

[Thomas Dai]

As a 7-8 year old youngster playing on a 2-hole course in a farmers sheep and horse field behind my parents house. ‘Course’ was ‘routed’ by me and my mate from next door and then played over with some fellow neighbourhood kids. Greens and tees on dry higher spots one of which also doubled as a kids kick-about soccer goal area. Fairways/rough areas varied summer and winter depending on where the field was dry and where it was wet and where the animals were grazing. Fun times.
Atb

[Tommy Williamsen]

I grew up playing DuPont CC. Before Lester George’s great redo the championship course was boring. Across the street was the Nemours course which my dad called “sporty”. Once I could drive I found the Louviers course which was 15 miles away near UofDelaware. It was very hilly and had the most architectural interest. However I wasn’t really interested in golf architecture.


Then I moved to Vermont and joined Burlington CC which was a nice course set on a turtle’s back at the top of the high point in town.


The Boston based firm I worked for invited us in October of each year to play at


The Myopia Hunt Club.


The stark difference between this course and its rough edges and quirky holes enlightened my architectural sense.
This was golf as it should be.

Mike, the first time you played MHC must have felt like a completely different game.

[mike_malone]

Tommy,


 I didn’t know about its standing or heritage at the time but thought it epitomized the idea of golf. As I grew in my knowledge of golf architecture and history I was able to lean on this experience as a foundation.

[Charles Lund]

1.  Caddying for friend in the PNGA Junior Championship at Broadmoor GC in Seattle in 1961.
2.  Playing a high school match my sophomore year at Inglewood GC in Seattle in 1962. 
3.  Playing in the 1962 PNGA Junior Championship at Fircrest in 1962 at Fircrest GC in Tacoma in 1962 and ending up in match with the friend I caddied for at Broadmoor in 1961.  I won the match.


Before those experiences I had played public golf courses in the Seattle area.  The three courses I named all hosted PGA events in the late 50s or early 60s, with Fircrest hosting the Carling Open and the other two hosting the Seattle Open.  Setting foot on these courses and playing there were fundamentally different experiences.  Fircrest actually had a practice bunker.  I was out there and spent about two hours hitting bunker shots and developed the basic fundamentals of bunker play (hit down, hit behind the ball, and  keep the clubhead moving).  I never really hated being in bunkers after hitting bunker shots there.


Vernon Macan had a hand in designing these courses and they had a different look and feel that set them apart from the public courses I grew up playing.


Charles Lund

[Matt Wharton]

As a 7-8 year old youngster playing on a 2-hole course in a farmers sheep and horse field behind my parents house. ‘Course’ was ‘routed’ by me and my mate from next door and then played over with some fellow neighbourhood kids. Greens and tees on dry higher spots one of which also doubled as a kids kick-about soccer goal area. Fairways/rough areas varied summer and winter depending on where the field was dry and where it was wet and where the animals were grazing. Fun times.
Atb

As I read Tommy's post I wasn't thinking about my grandparent's front yard until I read this post from Thomas! Brought back a lot of memories. My first cousin and I scalped a patch in the field across from their brick ranch house. Dug a small hole and inserted an empty dog food can. Then we proceeded to take turns determining where each hole started and the route around the house you had to take. You weren't allowed to play over the house if Granny was home! What fun we had!


Lake Bonaventure CC in Castlewood, VA was the first real golf course I ever saw, played, and ultimately worked on. It has been very influential in my life and still holds a dear place in my heart. I didn't understand or appreciate golf course architecture in those days but I do remember when the penny dropped for me as they like to say. It was after playing Carolina Golf Club for the first time in 2005. I saw features in the ground at CGC that reminded me of the course I grew up on and it sparked a mission to discover who designed LBCC.


I learned it was designed by Alex McKay and before venturing out on his own to design golf courses he was the greenkeeper at Holston Hills. All this was taking place while simultaneously working with Kris Spence on the renovation/restoration of Carolina Golf Club and I am learning daily about Donald Ross. Here's a link to an old blog post of mine from 2013 stating this in more detail if you're interested. 


http://carolinagreenkeeper.blogspot.com/2013/12/quick-update-reflections-and-merry.html


As a result I've made it a point to play numerous Ross designs in North Carolina and I am equally inspired by Pinehurst No. 2, Mid-Pines, Pine Needles, and Southern Pines.


In 2019 I made my long overdue pilgrimage to St. Andrews and played The Old Course. And this past year I ventured to the Highlands and was stirred by Royal Dornoch and Brora. To me, this is what epitomizes "proper golf". What a wonderful thread Tommy!


Cheers

[Tommy Williamsen]

As a 7-8 year old youngster playing on a 2-hole course in a farmers sheep and horse field behind my parents house. ‘Course’ was ‘routed’ by me and my mate from next door and then played over with some fellow neighbourhood kids. Greens and tees on dry higher spots one of which also doubled as a kids kick-about soccer goal area. Fairways/rough areas varied summer and winter depending on where the field was dry and where it was wet and where the animals were grazing. Fun times.
Atb

Thomas, I did the same thing at my Mom and Dad's house, except I was grown with kids. My wife, son, daughter, and I played out three hole course over and over. I don't think we ever had as much fun playing golf as we did that summer at my folk's home.

[Enno Gerdes]

Very interesting question, and one that I've been thinking about in the last few years. For me, three moments come to mind:


Playing Littlestone in Kent, I realised for the first time how (some) golf courses were routed back in the day: a house on the edge of town, hole 1 as a connector to the links land or the dunes, then hole 2-17 in land that's not useable for agriculture or residential development, and then hole 18 as a connector back to the house.


Playing at Hoylake, I managed to find 8 fairway bunkers. On the first 6 holes. Let's just say that gave me a fuller understanding of "strategic placement" of hazards.


And then, at last year's Buda, we played Cavendish and Reddish Vale. That made me realise how the routing of a course can influence the enjoyment of a golf course. I didn't care for Reddish Vale's routing (though it probably couldn't be routed any other way), whereas I really liked Cavendish's routing. Between the two courses, I'd play Cavendish 9 times out of 10.

[Jeff_Brauer]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned a Scotland trip!  My first course was Prestwick and I recall one of my fellow architects stopping me during line up to tell me I was aiming 50 yards left of target, to which I responded "I don't think so."  He also noted that an 8 iron wasn't enough club for 190 yards.....again, I didn't think so, and it turned out I was right on both counts, LOL.  Many grumbled but I caught on to and liked the bump and run game.


In the states, while still working for Killian and Nugent, who did pretty predictable 2, 3, or 4 mounds behind each green and 1 or 2 sand bunkers, playing PGA National by Fazio (at that time) showed me how much more there could be to shaping, with his grass bunkers, lead in bunkers, variety of slopes steep and otherwise, shadow creation, etc.


Having played Medinah no. 3 in one of my first rounds, for a long time I took that as sort of gospel as to how great courses should be.  I guess it was kind of a celebrity crush.  At age 15-22, I was determined to design courses like that, with few bunkers but making them really deep.  I gradually realized that the trend was more bunkers but not as deep, for a host of reasons.  I also learned that M3 wasn't really highly regarded in all architectural circles.


The first two learning moments were courtesy of ASGCA.....the last, courtesy of Golf Club Atlas......

[Tommy Williamsen]

Very interesting question, and one that I've been thinking about in the last few years. For me, three moments come to mind:

And then, at last year's Buda, we played Cavendish and Reddish Vale. That made me realise how the routing of a course can influence the enjoyment of a golf course. I didn't care for Reddish Vale's routing (though it probably couldn't be routed any other way), whereas I really liked Cavendish's routing. Between the two courses, I'd play Cavendish 9 times out of 10.

The routing of Reddish Vale around the clubhouse and holes 16 & 17 are awkward but the rest of the course flows nicely I think. A absolutely agree about Cavendish. I'm not crazy about the first three holes but beginning with four the course really works well.

[Jerry Kluger]

My enlightenment came at Wild Horse in Nebraska as Mile Policano and I had this stupid grin on our faces as we played all these ground shots and got all those funky bounces.  From there we went to Sand Hills which was even more enlightening followed by Nicklaus Course at Dismal River(Long before Doak course opened), which was really disappointing.  Our final course of the trip was Ballyneal and I was hooked - it was simply the most fun I had ever had on any course, so much so that I walked 36 holes in the August heat and never thought about it.

[Colin Christman]

There have probably been several, but the one that comes to mind first is Royal New Kent, the Strantz design in Virginia.


I've played Tobacco Road, Tot Hill Farm, Caledonia, and True Blue as well, but Royal New Kent was the first Strantz that I'd played, and I was overwhelmed by its scale and pronounced features. I could tell that the holes were conceptually similar to many other courses, but it felt like the risks and rewards and challenges and hazards were all just bigger, more in my face, and more engrossing than other courses.


It's not a subtle place, but in a really exhilarating way.

[Tommy Williamsen]

There have probably been several, but the one that comes to mind first is Royal New Kent, the Strantz design in Virginia.

It's not a subtle place, but in a really exhilarating way.

RNK is one of those courses that is unlike anything else. From the first hole you feel this is something different. Then you get to two and and you know this is something different and unique. There are not many courses that feel like a stand alone. Much of RNK is like that.

[Joe_Tucholski]

Going to high school in Monterey I was lucky to play some great courses but architecture or design wasn't something I paid attention to.  In college I started chasing the top 100 public list.  I learned being on the list meant the places would cost a good amount but didn't make them great courses.


I went to dental school in LA and played a lot of golf at Rustic Canyon.  It was/is affordable and a really fun course.  It's the course that changed how I look at golf courses.  I have to admit I learned about Rustic from a top 100 list of some sort.

[David Ober]

St. Andrews
Dooks
Rustic Canyon


All for similar reasons. They are the reason I'm here.

[Rick Lane]

For me as a relatively new golfer years ago, it was when I first played TPC Sawgrass.  I realized that on many of the holes, I could choose to be aggressive off the tee and take on some risky line to open up the green for a second shot, or I could shy away from trouble off the tee, but that would worsen my angle or add risk for my next shot.   Wow!  Opened up my mind……which ended up with me being here!