Do you ever blame the architect?

[Brock Peyer]

Have you ever done something dumb on the course and blamed the architect?

I played Lane Creek on Sunday, a course that Mike Young recently re-did.  I love the course, it is in great shape considering the GA drought and the bermuda greens there are making me a believer (I have been a bent snob).  You guys should have snuck over there during the Dixie Cup.

The 14th hole is a short par 4 around 330 yards with a incredible green that has a high spot in the back left corner and a steep slope to the front right.  I flared my 3 wood off the tee and had about 90 yards in from the right rough and I had to try and carry to the ball all the way to the hole, I was just short and the ball rolled back some 60 feet.  THEN, I didn't hit my first putt solid and the ball got the crest of the hill and did a u turn and ended up 75 feet away.  I proceeded to make a five footer for my 4th putt.

I really wanted to blame Mike for my first 4 putt in years, thanks Mike, not my shotty game.

[Mike_Young]

Brock,
You can blame me....that green is too severe.  Even though it is a USGA spec green running around 10 ft stimp...it is built on solid rock and we could not even dig the bunkers deepe when we built it in 1992.....but the surface got out of control.....the only saving grace is the shot should never be further than 90 yds.  YHow did you like that champions Bermuda?
Mike

[Patrick_Mucci]

Brock,

Since MY hands, and not his are attached to the club, NO, I don't blame him.

I may be critical of the presentation, but, I'm sure that he'd be critical of my execution.

[Brad Klein]

Pat, I think Mike Young would applaud your execution.

[Craig Van Egmond]

Pat, I think Mike Young would applaud your execution.

Now THAT is funny!!    

[paul cowley]

"Have you ever done something dumb on the course and blamed the architect?"

All the time.....but usually from an Analyst's couch.

[Phil Benedict]

I have blamed Pete Dye on several occasions after ending up with what I considered a ridiculous lie on a shot that was only marginally off line.  Examples are Mountain Course at La Quinta where you get weird stances around the greens, or 1 yard off a fairway at the Irish Course at Kohler where the ball was so far above my feet that I had no chance to do anything but hit my next shot dead left.

[Brock Peyer]

Brock,
You can blame me....that green is too severe.  Even though it is a USGA spec green running around 10 ft stimp...it is built on solid rock and we could not even dig the bunkers deepe when we built it in 1992.....but the surface got out of control.....the only saving grace is the shot should never be further than 90 yds.  YHow did you like that champions Bermuda?
Mike

Mike, I have played Lane Creek twice now and have really like it a lot, I wish it was closer to Duluth but you know how it is in the ATL, everything is an hour away.  

I love the greens, my buddy and I got cuaght on the wrong side of the hole several times and had several putts get away from us.  I am becoming a Champions believer.  

I bet the members and regular players love Lane Creek, it has several holes that you should make birdie on but a few holes like 6,7, 10 and 13 are all you can eat par 4's.

If you live in ATL or nearby, take some time to play Lane Creek, you'll really enjoy it.

As far as 14 not being fair, I don't buy that, everyone has to play it, I have made a 3 and also four putted it in the same pin, you gotta hit a good approach.  My buddy drove the front bunker and made an easy 4.

[Mike_Young]

Brock,
Thanks for the comments on LC  but I really do believe the green may be a little too severe....but glad you keep playing it...
Mike

[Gary Daughters]

Brock and Mike,

I'm a longtime Lane Creek fan and had the chance to get out there today.  I have always loved the 14th green and still do.  Good or bad, it's something you don't forget.

Today's front left pin placement was on a shelf about the size of a water bed.  As long as you have a wedge in your hand, which you should, that's at least tryable if not entirely doable.  (for the unitiated, the shot is slightly uphill with a deep dropoff fronting the green). It's an exciting thing to try, and it's actually quite amusing when your ball finds the shelf, spins right, and trickles down the slope.  (The downhill putt from behind the pin is probably even scarier)

The way the green sheds all but just the right shot isn't unlike the back right placement at #16 ANGC.

I won't argue with Mike that it's a little severe.  But I just think it's fun.  (#'s 6 and 7 may be more extreme in their own ways).  I'll try to post photos if they turn out ok.

[Scott Szabo]

Brock,

I think we all do from time to time.  After playing Ballyneal a few times this fall (thanks to someone who will not be named!) I find the greens to be quite terribly designed.  I continue to three-putt those suckers on a regular basis.  Couldn't be my lack of ability in getting closer to the holes, or my wonderful putting stroke, so it must be Mr. Doak's inability to design a green I can handle

Although, after viewing Mr. Kirk's "caption contest", it may very well be that I'm using the wrong type of equipment....

[jim_lewis]

Sure I have.  Trying to pick a lob wedge off a mushy wet lie because the drainage was not well done. Dumb but gotta blame somebody! That's what we do in this country. If you screw up, find somebody to blame, hopefully sue.

[Gary Daughters]

These pictures won't really do, but here they are:

One of these 2 guys is watching the Peyer putt roll back to his feet on #14 at Lane Creek




The shelf as seen from left of the green (butt ugly plantings courtesy of Medalist Golf)



From behind the green




Totally unrelated, Lane Creek is the course where after many years of happily swatting balls oblivious to the concept of Golf Architecture, something suddenly aroused my interest.  

Thanks to Mike Young for that.