Most ho-hum course on great land

[Bill Gayne]

I agree with Brad concerning the TPC courses.  I was a member at Avenel and everyone agreed that while there were a few good holes the course was an opportunity lost.  

Jerry,

See Boswell's column in today's Post on Avenal arhitecture and what the expectations were.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/17/AR2006011701686.html

[Andy_Lipschultz]

I can't remember the name of the course, but some years ago I was in Florence, Oregon and played a course, pretty close to the ocean. Sandpile, Sandmounds, something like that.  Seemed like a lost opportunity is all I recall.

Anyone by slimmest of chances, know the name of the course?

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Don't go there. I don't feel like getting out the soapbox this early in the morning!

[peter_mcknight]

As I stated in My Home Course write up, Weyhill at SVCC.  How I would have loved to have that land and reconstruct the Weyhill course.

Agree with Spanish Bay, but the environmental restrictions prevented any sort of decent course from being constructed there.  With the development of the Spanish Bay resort, plus some of the existing housing and the environmental restrictions, there was barely enough room for 16 holes, let alone 18.

[Mark Brown]

I agree with Ocean Forest. It could have been a top 20 modern course if designed by one of GCA's favorites. He didn't enhance the seaside nature of the course with exposed sand dunes and wasting all that oceanfront property with a very mediocre long hole was a sin. And the first hole is awful.

[JohnV]

24 posts in and nobody has said Sandpines.  Tommy must be asleep at the computer.

Got to agree with Brad about Bobby's course at Sunriver.

While I'm on the Oregon Trail, I'll make it a trifecta and add Salishan, especially if they could have had the spit before the houses were built on it.

[Mike_Cirba]

Huntsville near Wilkes Barre, PA.

Several hundred (500?) beautifully rolling acres, ranging from wooded to beautiful open meadows.

The routing is such that there isn't a good hole after the 12th.  That's a crime there.

[PThomas]

Sandpines on this site is like an annoying mother in law who visits for awhile , then leaves .............then comes back again. ........

[Craig_Rokke]

Mike-

Some would have us believe that Huntsville is at the top of the post WWII heap in the state. Any thoughts on why
it is  regarded very highly in some of the rankings?

Craig

[Mike_Cirba]

Paul,

Overall, Huntsville is a very good course..probably a Doak 6 or so  

Given the land available, it should have been a great course.

Also, it's a "Challenging" course, which drives high marks from Golf Digest.  For instance, they also rank Glenmaura National quite high in the state and that's really not a very good course at all.

But, rather than pick on GD, I think I'd add that there are quite a number of very good holes on the front nine, and the back starts rather promisingly.  Unfortunately, the routing takes us places we can't get back from smoothly, and the rest is sort of a disheveled, ledged mess.

[Mike_Cirba]

Paul,

Did I mention some serious over-shaping on land where very little should have been necessary?  

[Scott_Burroughs]

I can't remember the name of the course, but some years ago I was in Florence, Oregon and played a course, pretty close to the ocean. Sandpile, Sandmounds, something like that.

Audible yuks from me on that one, Andy.  

[John_Cullum]

I agree with Ocean Forest. It could have been a top 20 modern course if designed by one of GCA's favorites. He didn't enhance the seaside nature of the course with exposed sand dunes and wasting all that oceanfront property with a very mediocre long hole was a sin. And the first hole is awful.

Ditto

[ForkaB]

Rich

I think ho hum is a bit severe.  However many of your points are valid despite the flawed conclusion.

Points 1 and 2 are excellent.

3 is spot on.

I am not sure what 4 and 5 mean, but the 9th hole is a drag.  It really is a pleasant walked spoiled.  The 8th is not my cup of tea.  However, the green for the 10th is excellent and it is worth getting down to this part of the course because the 13th is one of my favorite par 5s and one of the best holes on the course.  Also, the 11th is quite a good one shotter.  #15 is a waste of time, but #16 is a very good par 3.  In general you are right, the routing down to this part of the course is far from ideal.  

I think Cruden is largely an opportunity lost, but 6 great holes couldn't be called ho hum.

Ciao

Sean

Sean

I didn't use the words, "ho hum," the author of the thread did.  That's why I used the words "slightly mischievous" in the first sentence of my post.  Since your conclusion is the same as mine it must be "flawed" too!  Say it ain't so, buckaroo....

[Sean_A]

Rich

I am sure it is time for some red ale.  Everybody is confusing me tonight.  I can take solace in that you didn't insult me.  

When you added CB to the list indicated on the title of thread I assumed you were concluding that CB was ho hum.  My conclusion was that CB was an opportunity lost, not a ho hum course.  

Are you confused now?  I hope so.

Ciao

Sean

[ForkaB]

I'm only confused that you are confused!

My conclusion.....

"Fowler/Simpson/Whomever got 5 great holes (3-7) and a mish mash of quirk and rubbish on the 13 others from a property which could have produced one of the finest links courses in the world."

....is just an English major's way of saying "lost oppportunity."

Cruden Bay is more "ho! ho! ho!" than "ho hum."