Playing One's Own Design

[Greg Murphy]

There was a recent thread on the topic of learning about a course's architecture by playing it extensively.

For golf course architects out there, how many of your own designs have you had a chance to actually play extensively? And what did you learn by playing that you didn't realize or appreciate while designing or building the course?

[Tom_Doak]

Greg:

The best feedback we get is from members of private club courses we have built ... some of them have played the course hundreds of times, and they often mention something I hadn't thought of when building the course.  [That's pretty rare from any of the traveling experts who play it once or twice; they may point out something they consider a "flaw" but it was considered in the design process and we thought it was the best solution overall.]

The only ones of my courses which I've had the chance to play "extensively" by the standard of that other thread are High Pointe (about 100 rounds) and Pacific Dunes (about 30).  In fact I've only played a few of the others more than ten times ... Lost Dunes and Stonewall and The Legends and Black Forest and Ballyneal.

I can't say I've learned a lot about the courses from playing them myself.  You tend to visualize how you will play them in the design process, so there aren't many surprises to be had; you are more likely to see something from someone you are playing with, a different way to attack the hole which someone with different strengths might favor, even though you think they're crazy.  For instance, Brian Silva told me he likes to play the tee shot on the 6th at Pacific Dunes down to the left so he can hit a solid second shot and take the left bunker out of play!

[Ron Farris]

I have had the luxury of playing The Golf Club at Red Rock (Black Hills of SD)many times. It is on the other side of town.  I play it at 5:20 in the morning with a Dr. friend of mine (9 holes only) and with my family.  

It is both a pleasure and a painful experience.  

THE PLEASURE:  
A pleasure because I get to hear comments like:
THIS COURSE REALLY HARD BUT I SHOT MY BEST SCORE EVER.  THIS COURSE PLAYS DIFFERENT EVERYTIME I PLAY IT.
DAD - THE OTHER COURSES AROUND HERE ARE BORING.

It is great to hear people talk about using different types of shot for the same shot.  It is especially rewarding to see the progression that people go thru in learning how to play certain holes.  We have some blind shots and quite a few holes that require the discipline to lay up. Personality traits tend to determine whether one goes for it or plays safe.

I loved it when the lady at the copy center said her husband loved RR so much that he copied the grass types for his lawn and he now mows his front yard at 3/4 of an inch with a reel mower from California that he purchased on Ebay.  His neighbors hate him for having such a nice front yard.

It is great to hear that the golf course is actually making money and not just break even.

THE PAIN:  

Watching the GROW-IN.  Slow and painful.  Seeing 80 mph winds blow away seed and soil on dormant seeding was hard to watch.  If I lived in another state it may not have been so bad to watch.

Watching the Poa invasion.  

Seeing the housing aspect of the project creep a little too close to the golf course.

Technology making the landing area for some holes longer than planned.

Not having the extra money up front to address the cart path issues.

This is the only course that I have been involved in that I have played more than ten times. Overall I like what we produced.  We built the course for less than $3 Million and the owners are quite happy with the course.