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Ran Morrissett

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A revised Cascades course profile is posted...
« on: February 03, 2004, 09:41:15 AM »
...under Courses by Country, complete with 24 photographs and with a big tip of the hat to Wayne Morrison for sharing so much detailed info on the history and construction process here.

Of the courses generally considered amongst the world top 100 or 150, I may have played The Cascades the most, having grown up in Virginia.

For whatever reason, it doesn't seem to be a course that blows people away during their first (or second) visit. Initially, in the late 1970s, I recall thinking that the front nine with the highway cutting through the middle of it had too many 'unusual' holes to be considered great. However, the beautiful back nine more than made up for it. All up, Doak's words in The Confidential Guide rang true - "I'd like to let it grow on me a little more first".

Sometime around the 15th or 20th round there, I started thinking that the holes with the really severe topography on the front (2, 5, 7 and 9) might actually be among the best on the course.  And having played them another 10 times again, I now firmly believe that and in fact have come to regret the fact that the stances on the back nine seem perhaps a bit too level at times.

Still, The Cascades has evolved in my mind to one of those courses that can be considered bullet proof - i.e. no string of weak holes  or any other overt weaknesses for that matter.  Thanks to its mountain setting and a number of truly unique holes like the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th, and 10th, and its unique 3-5-5-3 finish, you have a course unlike any other.

While one's appreciation of many classic courses probably increases as you grow familiar with them, I venture to say that this holds especially true for The Cascades. Flynn's design style here isn't eye-popping in the sense of grand scale bunkers and wild rolling greens yet a number of rounds tells me that the course is special indeed.

What do you think? Are you a big fan or do you think its world top 100 ranking in GOLF is overrating it?

Cheers,

SPDB

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Re:A revised Cascades course profile is posted...
« Reply #1 on: February 03, 2004, 09:54:23 AM »
Thanks for the excellent writeup, Ran and Wayne.
One question:
Were Flynn's bunkers really built that shallow?

Mike Hendren

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Re:A revised Cascades course profile is posted...
« Reply #2 on: February 03, 2004, 10:02:46 AM »
I continue to be amazed at the skilled writing in the profiles and the dedication of those who provide the background research.  

I am astonished to learn of the amount of engineering required at Cascades.  This only elevates my opinion of Flynn.  I am delighted to see Marathon included in the holes description as well as the lovely 11th.  

My only unfavorable impression was that the bunkers are rather pedestrian.  Have they evolved to be so, or did Flynn understate them given the majestic surroundings and hilly terrain?

Thank you.   Well done.

Mike
Two Corinthians walk into a bar ....

wsmorrison

Re:A revised Cascades course profile is posted...
« Reply #3 on: February 03, 2004, 12:59:01 PM »
Ran, as usual very well done.  It is interesting to note that after 30 or so rounds, you are still learning to play the course and find a growing appreciation for the design over time.  This is clearly a tribute to the design.  Yet it is at first a bit odd that a resort course was designed with so much subtleties and a challenge that is only fully understood over a long period of time.  Modern architecture, especially at destination courses, seem to provide a clear understanding of the way to play and there is a far shorter learning curve.  A highly regarded developer/architect pointed out that for people coming to a high density golf destination they should play a course where the design ought to be somewhat different than that of a home course where the golfer plays the same course many times over many years.  Putts should be easier to read even if not easy to make and strategy off the tee better understood at the outset.  If there is too much to learn over time, the player might not enjoy his initial visit and would be less likely to return.  Flynn's design at the Cascades has many of the features he would put into private courses.  The misdirection at the downhill par 3 4th hole is very similar to the downhill par 3 3rd hole at Rolling Green.  There are many other examples as well.  Take a look and compare the hole photos on the course profile of Cascades and the My Home Course of Rolling Green, I think you'll recognize a similar design intent.    Maybe the guests that frequented the Homestead did just that, frequent it every year.  The course design would thus keep the player engaged over many years.

As to the bunker depth, I have photos from the 30's that show a different look to the bunkers.  The grassy margins were shaggy and the depth seemed greater.  The Homestead recognizes there are problems with the bunkers, they don't drain well and cold weather freezes have forced up a lot of little stones.  I would hope that when they do address the bunker issues, they will take a good look into the architectural history and use that as their guide.  I've gotten to know some of the powers that be and they definitely understand the importance of the design and the need to maintain the integrity.  The Homestead also has a terrific archivist and historian in John Hoover.  Between the materials that Tom Paul and I have available and those at the Homestead, we've established a pretty good historical record of the architecture.  I think the drawings (it has been awhile since I studied them) show bunker depth in the construction instructions.  I'll go back and see if I can post some representative bunker depths as indicated in the design.

As to the 6th, 16th, and 17th greens being moved, I think that was done on or about 1930-1931.  As Ran noted in his write-up, Flynn and his family returned to the Homestead often and he made changes to the course through at least 1935.  Flynn also made some changes to the river-bed holes and modeled changes to the 14th after his work at Shinnecock Hills.  Flynn's use of man-made hazards varied with the terrain.  The more ground movement on the ground, the reduced need for man-made hazards.  Where the course was flat and had less features, like 12, 13, and 14 Flynn used more bunkers and used cross-bunkers.

To repeat Ran's observation that while there was an awful lot of engineering involved in the design of the Cascades, the overall look is most natural.  There are areas where Flynn did make the best use of the ground available and layed the course on the ground.  Other areas required blasting rock and moving streams (not at all surprising given the extreme topography of the site) yet the overall effect is that the entire course is as found except for the tees and greens. The Cascades is a great example that Flynn was as good as anyone making the hand of man appear to be nature's work while making the course provide difficult enjoyment in a beautiful natural appearing setting.

Remember that Flynn did an extensive redesign of the Old Course at the Homestead.  For the most part there are 2 Flynn courses at the Homestead, both a treat for the discerning golfer.  We are still not sure what specific work was done by Flynn on the Old Course, records indicate it was an extensive redesign.  We are looking for old scorecards or tournament history on the Old Course that may tell us more about the Ross course that preceded Flynn.  We have a very  good record of the work done on both courses by Flynn and afterwards.

gookin

Re:A revised Cascades course profile is posted...
« Reply #4 on: February 03, 2004, 04:37:10 PM »
This is my #1 favorite. High praise for a guy who has played Augusta, Pebble, Pine Valley, Oakmont, Merion, and Cypress. While I will admit my attitude is influenced by great memories of friends and family, each hole is filled with multiple choices of how to play. Diversity in shot making is truely rewarded.  While I am sure this course was an engineering feat, when playing it you feel like it has been there from the beginning of time.  Don't you wish the old Cascades Inn was open?

wsmorrison

Re:A revised Cascades course profile is posted...
« Reply #5 on: February 03, 2004, 05:36:14 PM »
gookin,

I am in almost complete agreement with you as regards the strategy of the course and the natural and seemingly natural beauty of the course.  However, the tee change on the par 3 15th due to the displaced green on 14 (RTJ) retards nearly all strategy.  Not only is the angle into the green awkward given the green complex, especially compared to the angle it used to be, but the narrow corridor of pines make working the ball almost impossible.  

Speaking with an influencial executive at the Homestead convinced me that someday they may move the 14th green back to where it was (I think the tee can be lengthened) and then the really 1st class design of the 15th can be returned.  At least they are aware of the diminished quality of the hole and are sympathetic to going back to the original tee.  After work is completed on the Lower Cascades I hope they will consider redoing the bunkers and restoring 14 green and 15 tee.