The Old Course is generally a course with no official designer (aside from some changes/expansions). I was wondering if there is any modern incarnation of this. That is, are there any courses where the owners just sort of mowed things tight, and set up some flags (more than 18) here and there, and let people play however they wanted, and then after noting the directions people took on their own, designed the course with these choices in mind?
I realize that this would not be a very profitable endeavor, but I suspect much like desire-paths in universities create counter-intuitive, but wildly efficient sidewalk placements, a sort of organically created golf course could really find some unique routings and interesting hole designs, especially on oddly shaped plots.
Just a thought. I feel like it could be an interesting natural experiment.