Classical features that should die, Vol 1..The Biarritz

[Brendan Dolan]

Here is a picture taken about 20 yards in front of the the 10th green at Erin Hills before construction.  You can see the pink flags which mark the boundries of the green.

 

This is a picture of the green after the grass was stripped from the back tier.

Just thought everyone might enjoy seeing a before and with Mike's picture an after.  

Brendan  

[RJ_Daley]

Brendon, very informative post.  Obviously, Mike's photo is taken from somewhere in the LZ
of the fairway, and we can't see the green and swale at the end of the corridor.  Your picture really
 does show us a natural biarritz green site.  I see there is the typical drumlin glacial rocky till there
as found throughout so much of that area.  I'd looked at many sites in the Kette Morraine corridor
for a potential course.  I found a couple of really great pieces of land for sale, but just couldn't rationalise
competition with the likes of the Bog, Pinehurst Farms, Kohler and a few Ironwood in Sussex, etc.

[Bill Wernecke Jr]

I walked Erin Hills recently and had a chance to look at the 10th hole and the green, which is nearly ready for play.

Although I find it difficult to get a very good feel for a hole without actually playing it, I have a few observations:

1)  Most players won't play it at 600 yards plus, and it won't play as long as the yardage due to the terrain (I am not convinced that it will play with the wind, however!)

2)  This hole really looks great from the teeboxes and there are some challenging decisions to be made on the tee shot due to the excellent routing on natural terrain and the well-placed bunkers.

3)  The green is very unconventional, maybe over the top.  But someone earlier said that a par 5 might be the perfect hole for a Biarritz because there are many options to attack it.

4)  In the final analysis, I really liked the looks of the green because, since it actually existed just like it is, it looks so natural and fits in so well with the surrounding terrain (and don't go right, it is certain death into a ravine).

5)  Will I like it as much when I play it?  Stay tuned!

[Brendan Dolan]

Mr. Daley,
Thanks for the nice words.  Actually his photo is from just in front of the green, but it is very decieving becuase of the length of the green.  Growing up in Wuakesha I to have seen many properties where an excellent golf course could be found.  

Brendan

[john_stiles]

Pre gca interest and GCA days, I may have only played one biarritz.  It was interesting and challenging. My intial take was the idea was sort of an expansion of the use of 'tiers' as it were.

Then, with more gca experience, I became aware of the origins.

Still it is a fine idea, as fine as many of the others anyway.
And I have putted from one tier, down and up the dipsy doodle to the next tier.  Such a putt really looks odd;  but it is no more odd, and probably easier, than the old triple tiered idea or even the double tier green with a a deep or high tier.

[tonyt]

Brent:  I put swales in greens all the time, at all sorts of different angles.  One of the greens at Quail Crossing (the 15th) has a DEEP swale dividing the green 2/3 left, a pin in the dip, and a tiny shelf on the right.  That was INSPIRED by the Biarritz ... but it's not the Biarritz.

Here is the best reason I can think of for not letting the Biarritz die. It has the ability to inspire a good architect.

I haven't read everything, so forgive me if this is an already mentioned theme. Sometimes, it isn't the feature you are trying to copy or think worthy of doing so. It is its existence that shows others what is out there, what might work, what might not, and trying to capture the best of something (even if that is tiny) and incorporating that into a contrasting other example. Anything that dies reduces the field of existing examples that can be witnessed and learnt from.

[Ted Kramer]

I've never played a Biarritz, but I look forward to the opportunity.
I imagine being very excited about the prospect of watching my ball reappear after a quick dip below eye level.

-Ted

[Jim Thompson]

RJ,

Hope to have an architectural photo for you early next week.

JT

[Jim Thompson]

RJ,

Finally got the photos.  Will post as soon as I get them a home on the net.

JT

[Jim Thompson]

RJ,

Here you go!  A three year evolution of our Biarritz, from drawing board, to dirt, through grow-in, and today.  Putting shots should give some idea as to scale.  The tree is in the gone and clearing should be obvious.  Enjoy!



Today



Cheers!

JT