Today is a special day for me. 10 years ago, I made vows to embrace an odd way of life that has resulted in me becoming happy and fulfilled beyond what I previously imagined possible. Therefore, I am spending the day crafting correspondence to all those who assisted me. GolfClubAtlas has given me opportunities to ponder non-essential things thus providing a healthy and enjoyable escape. Thank you to all those who offer their insights, stories, and witnesses to make this website special. As the younger people remind me: ‘Content is King.’ A particular aspect I value about GCA is the etiquette that is expressed in the sharing of viewpoints. Courtesy is abundant throughout this forum, and I appreciate that quality greatly.
In the Spring of 2003, I was an elementary school teacher and joined Rapides Golf and Country Club in Central Louisiana. I began playing the game in college and it soon became a favorite pastime. Although I enjoyed competitions, practicing, and the comradery, I first and foremost enjoyed the land and the course. Questions such as: ‘what makes a good golf hole?’ ‘why do I enjoy playing the back 9 more than the front 9?’ ‘Would removing the front bunker on #2 make for a better hole?’ lead me to GolfClubAtlas.com. The pictures and commentary found in the ‘courses by country’ became my gateway to consuming more and more about architects, the great courses, and the ‘strategy’ of Golf Architecture.
During these years three courses were built in my general vicinity: Links on the Bayou (Mike Young), Tamahka Trails (Steve Smyers), and Oakwing Golf Club (Jim Lipe). I would do a bit of reconnaissance (trespassing) to identify the routing, and then rewalk the land to find alternate ‘better’ routings. (I continue to do this today via Google Maps/Earth.)
Eventually I found myself in Columbus, OH. A student again. The first place I explored wasn’t Scioto, but the OSU library (I did not attend OSU, truly a grace from God)… first and last trip to that campus… to read this mysterious tome quoted ad nauseum on GCA: Doak’s Confidential Guide. I spent six years in Columbus and played 41 area courses. My last month I finally found my way on Scioto, Muirfield Village, and The Golf club. After 10 years of learning about Golf Architecture I was finally about to play some of the courses I had read about. This was going to be the start of a quest to play the top 100. However, reality was disappointing. I couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about. These were the 3 best courses I had ever played, but they weren’t that much better than the $25 municipal courses down the street.
(I had a similar experience in the summer of 2003 in Kauai. I rented a house 2 miles north of Wailua Golf Course (with ‘local rates’ I paid $6 a round), and spent >$125 on Prince Crse; Poipu Bay, and Kauai Lagoons and preferred the municipal track.)
Was all this Golf Course Architecture an ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’ thing? I had played the top-rated public course in 7 states (Louisiana, Hawaii, Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama, Indiana, and Texas) and found that they did not provide much joy. I had a single-digit handicap, devoured literature on the subject, planned my vacations around courses, but never came away satisfied. Until December 2018.
I found myself on the Oregon Coast. It was the tee shot of #3 at Bandon Preserve. My three playing companions (strangers I met on the First tee) and myself found ourselves giggling as we watched our balls kick off slopes, roll closer (or farther) to the hole. I hit a 6-iron punch hook on #5 (130 yards) that leaped and galloped with the land and finished feet from the hole. The ‘other’ courses were great too, but not as concentrated as the Preserve.
(For the last 10 years I have played the majority of my rounds with 7 or 8 clubs; usually with a 5 iron as my longest club and playing from 5000 yard tees because I don’t (and still don’t) find much pleasure hitting a driver)
The greatest dichotomy with my vocation/profession is that people don’t remember what you told them, they remember how you made them feel. I wish this wasn’t true. Golf is a game, a challenging one, but nevertheless a game. It should be fun, and this is my viewpoint of Golf Architecture. I enjoy banging balls on the range and chipping on the practice green. I enjoy that golf takes half a day to play (I do not enjoy rounds over 3:15), but there is nothing like a ball bounding along fast and firm land. Falling in love is the greatest thing a human being can achieve (the most fun too!), and when we do so we aren’t in control. I can reasonably control my ball through the air, the distance it flies, the trajectory, the shot shape, but once it hits the ground I loose control. In my opinion that is what makes golf fun. The semblance of control, but in reality not so much.
Therefore, the greatest variable in whether I enjoy a round, or course, is the ground. I grew up in the swamp. The majority of the year the ground is soft underfoot. I played the great courses of Columbus, OH in early May: soggy. Wailua is firm and fast; those other course in Kauai: not so much. All this is to say that I find the determinate of golf architecture is overly weighted on the presentation of the course. My father identifies a good course based on how green it is and how smooth the putting surfaces are; and unfortunately, courses present themselves to meet expectations of those who foot the bill. But this neuters the architecture in my opinion.
Before the pandemic, I searched for a club that would have me as a National Member. I had hoped to make a couple of long visits each year and enjoy nothing more than golf and the other members. I haven’t found one. But over the past 2 years I have built my own course: Gaspergoo Golf and Fish Club. A 3-hole reversable course built on firm sand! Designing the routing, holes, hazards has been very fulfilling. The course sits on 1.5 acres of lakeside land inside the Red River Levee system (the longest hole is 114 yards) I mention this because I don’t think I would have ever done so without discovering GCA. So, thank you to all.
Lastly, as primarily a lurker (this is my 58th post, and first time starting a thread). I still haven’t figured out how yal manage to play so many courses, but thanks to all who share their thoughts, ideas, and opinions. I will be traveling to Chicago and Wisconsin the first two weeks in August to marry a wonderful couple, if you are interested in a game let me know. (If you read this to be a thinly veiled attempt at access, I apologize. Once again my intention is to say ‘thank you,’ to GolfClubAtlas)
Charlie