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Ran Morrissett

  • Karma: +0/-0
NAME THAT COURSE - No. 2
« on: July 24, 1999, 08:00:00 PM »
Crtics disagree sharply on this course. Those in the UK seem to rank it considerably higher than those in the US (Doak gives it less than a "7").An opinion that must be highly repected says  of this course (slightly paraphrased):"If we were invited to make one definite choice as to the ideal golf course, we should without hesitation give our vote to this course. The level of excellence may be,if anything,  a shade monotonous, a little lacking in the quality of variety which is perhaps the greatest essential of all. Perhaps too we feel that there is not quite that need for a continual mental agility that may be the quality we look for most in a great course: and, to be more hypercritical, we should regard the beauty of the floral display around the course as almost too luxurious to insure that classic severity which is usually associated with the rigour of the game."Please note: John V. won the first one. If you win this one, JOHN, you have to come up with the NAME THAT COURSE no. 3!

James Clifford

NAME THAT COURSE - No. 2
« Reply #1 on: July 24, 1999, 08:00:00 PM »
Muirfield is the ruthlessly perfect course that is being described.

Ran Morrissett

  • Karma: +0/-0
NAME THAT COURSE - No. 2
« Reply #2 on: July 24, 1999, 08:00:00 PM »
James,Ironically, I agree with you - the quote sums up exactly why Muirfield isn't as great as everybody seems to think. However, under criterion one, Muirfield couldn't be the answer. Doak worships the course (10 out of 10), as does apparently everyone else.Keep trying.

Robert Adams

NAME THAT COURSE - No. 2
« Reply #3 on: July 25, 1999, 08:00:00 PM »
Royal Birkdale divides people. The pros like its straightforward nature while the old Torys wish there was more of a strategic element than hitting down along the valley bottoms between the sand dunes. (Muirfield would have been my first guess too).

Clark

NAME THAT COURSE - No. 2
« Reply #4 on: July 25, 1999, 08:00:00 PM »
Whatever the answer, I hope the next Name that Course will be in the United States or at least not in the UK.

JohnV

NAME THAT COURSE - No. 2
« Reply #5 on: July 25, 1999, 08:00:00 PM »
I'm going to take a guess of Wentworth West or The Burma Road.  Doak does give a 6 and doesn't sound too impressed. While many British consider it to be a great course.

James Clifford

NAME THAT COURSE - No. 2
« Reply #6 on: July 26, 1999, 08:00:00 PM »
If none of the above is right, give us another SPECIFIC clue, such as a particular hole or unique playing characteristic.

Ran Morrissett

  • Karma: +0/-0
NAME THAT COURSE - No. 2
« Reply #7 on: July 26, 1999, 08:00:00 PM »
You want hints , I'll give you hints (the game is still a foot!):1. Herb Fowler designed it.2. The fact he designed it after the invention of the Haskell ball helps insure it is still a test today.3. There is only one par three in the first 12 holes.4. Harry Vardon on seeing the land said he wanted to retire there and just play golf for pleasure.So there.

Bill M.

NAME THAT COURSE - No. 2
« Reply #8 on: July 26, 1999, 08:00:00 PM »
Westward Ho, of course.

Ran Morrissett

  • Karma: +0/-0
NAME THAT COURSE - No. 2
« Reply #9 on: July 26, 1999, 08:00:00 PM »
Close but no cigar.

JohnV

NAME THAT COURSE - No. 2
« Reply #10 on: July 26, 1999, 08:00:00 PM »
It seems you are referring to Saunton which was designed by Herbert Fowler, gets a 6 from Doak and is near Westward Ho!  According to Cornish & Whitten, the course designed by Fowler no longer exists.  Doak says it was rebuilt by Cotton and Pennink in 1952, but C&W say that they re-built the orginal course designed by Tom Dunn and then built the West course.

Ran Morrissett

  • Karma: +0/-0
NAME THAT COURSE - No. 2
« Reply #11 on: July 26, 1999, 08:00:00 PM »
John V. wins again, proving that John M's friends are smarter than Ran M's.My quote in the first post is from T.Simpson and R.Wethered.I have never played Saunton but Brits hold it in very high esteem. It was voted two years ago as the second "best links" (whatever that means) that doesn't host the Open, behind only Dornoch. Actually, the southwest of England might be a great place one October for a GCA meeting?John V., as grand prizer winner, you get the distinct honour of coming up with NAME THE COURSE - no. 3. Good luck.