Amateur Architects - What would be your most iconic template?

[Jeff_Brauer]

Amateur Architects - What would be your most iconic template? If any?

I am combining ideas in two different threads here - templates and iconic holes.  I know anyone can design (and design, and design) a template of sorts.  What would be yours?  As mentioned, iconic probably depends on scenery and time to garner that label, but is there a design idea you think is strong enough to use over and over as a template, and possibly, one you think would be iconic in time, based on design only, i.e., a relatively ordinary site? 

The first one, albeit an old hole, would be the par 3 at Garden City, with two large ridges on the sides of the green.  I have seen Colton Craig attempt it here in TX, but he went out of way to make it softer and thus, practical.  I have tried those 1-2 foot ridges on one side of a green, but never had a chance to do both.

Any professional architect who has an idea that they haven't found the perfect spot to implement might chime in, too.

[Ronald Montesano]

The 3rd at Coudersport (PA) is as close to an iconic template that no one knows about, as I know. I'm not a fan of the narrow fairway drive zone and landing area, but I am a fan of the biarritz green with a front-right kick plate. I played it once, with Kevin Lynch, and all that I wanted to do was play it over and over. It's 135 minutes drive from Buffalo, so I guess that if I went back, I'd get there early, play 36, get up early and play 36 more, then head home. That should sate me for a lifetime.

I'd love to see them clear out the trees on the left, to make it more of a cape, and flatten part of the hill right, to widen the landing area.


https://www.coudersportgolfclub.com/front-nine

[Phil Young]

The long par-3 Tillinghast REEF hole, the most iconic being the 17th hole at Indian Hills CC in Kansas City. Although Jeff mentions that "iconic probably depends on scenery," the scenery on this is the entirety of the hole itself. An article in the February 14th, 1926 issue of the Kansas City Star described it this way:
      "The tee rests on the north edge of Observatory Knoll and is seventy-five feet higher than the green 240 yards away. This is a spoon shot, the player can then carry 180 yards and on a line can find the green, but for the player who is off-line there is no chance as there are ytraps in front and both sides of the green and its approaches. This is one of the outstanding holes on the courses."
      Unfortunately, the fairway bunkering and mounding that created the REEF feature, was done away with by the club...The severe downhill shot to the green was singular among the REEF holes that till designed and built.

[Mike Bodo]

Ross volcano holes. Love 'em! Even partial volacano greens where there are steep drop-off's on two or three sides, making it next to impossible to bail out.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Ross volcano holes. Love 'em! Even partial volacano greens where there are steep drop-off's on two or three sides, making it next to impossible to bail out.

Eleven at Musgrove has a terrific volcano green. It falls off on four sides and is split into two parts, left and right. The left side slopes right to left, while the right side of the green is relatively flat. You are hitting a wedge or nine iron in.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Before I played Lido, I would have answered differently. Now I choose the Channel Hole. It is ingenious, fun, and challenging, offering multiple ways of playing the hole.

[Tom_Doak]

Before I played Lido, I would have answered differently. Now I choose the Channel Hole. It is ingenious, fun, and challenging, offering multiple ways of playing the hole.

It's funny, both the Channel hole and MacKenzie's finishing hole just kill me.  But Tom Simpson's contribution to the course, the 15th, is one of my favorite holes we've built.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Before I played Lido, I would have answered differently. Now I choose the Channel Hole. It is ingenious, fun, and challenging, offering multiple ways of playing the hole.

It's funny, both the Channel hole and MacKenzie's finishing hole just kill me.  But Tom Simpson's contribution to the course, the 15th, is one of my favorite holes we've built.

Fascinating. Fifteen took me to the woodshed. I hit my tee ball too far to the right and had trouble hitting the green. It is a terrific hole, though. The bunkering makes you think on every shot.

[Ira Fishman]

I have wondered why more architects did not adopt PH11 as a template. It certainly does not rely on dramatic ground, but is befuddingly strategic.

[Thomas Dai]

Is there a full-size course where one of the short holes is purely putting surface?
Not a hole that’s playable with a putter.
All putting surface?
Atb


PS - if so would it be a par-2?

[archie_struthers]

 


Think I'd prefer a " punch bowl " .  t eight  Trying to build one that would have the right amount of cant on the slopes to make it a test would be uber fun for me !

[Mike Bodo]

Ross volcano holes. Love 'em! Even partial volacano greens where there are steep drop-off's on two or three sides, making it next to impossible to bail out.

Eleven at Musgrove has a terrific volcano green. It falls off on four sides and is split into two parts, left and right. The left side slopes right to left, while the right side of the green is relatively flat. You are hitting a wedge or nine iron in.

That is a great looking hole. Would hate to have to chip up to that green from below. If the surrounds are cut as low as they appear I'd probably putt it. 

[Jeff_Brauer]

Is there a full-size course where one of the short holes is purely putting surface?
Not a hole that’s playable with a putter.
All putting surface?
Atb


PS - if so would it be a par-2?

Thomas,

Todd Quitno did one of 72 yards near Chicago a few years ago and presented that as a case study with the same question - Is it a par 2 or 3?  I think it would be a par 3, as there is no rule that you cannot hit a putter off the tee.

[MKrohn]

Ross volcano holes. Love 'em! Even partial volacano greens where there are steep drop-off's on two or three sides, making it next to impossible to bail out.

Eleven at Musgrove has a terrific volcano green. It falls off on four sides and is split into two parts, left and right. The left side slopes right to left, while the right side of the green is relatively flat. You are hitting a wedge or nine iron in.

That is a great looking hole. Would hate to have to chip up to that green from below. If the surrounds are cut as low as they appear I'd probably putt it. 

I've never played the hole however it looks like all the balls that miss the green end up rolling to the same spot. The roll point ends up covered in divots or having GUR markings.

[Mike Hendren]

I’m sticking with the reverse Treedan.  Par 3 ideally slightly downhill playing 200 to 250 with fairway and green sloping downhill from the left, with left side kick plate.  Right 2/3 of the green fronted by a massive oak tree 150 to 200 from the tee.  Bunkerless.

[Matthew Rose]

I like Biarritzes. I haven't played them very often or even seen many of them, but I'm kind of obsessed with them. I think if I was designing them I would probably make them a little more subtle and with softer edges than some of Raynor's.

I've put them in some of the computer golf courses I've made.