[John Moore II]

Supposing someone new to the study of golf course architecture wanted to learn about how the design of courses has evolved from the early years, golden age, etc, is there any concensus opinion on where might be the best place to go in order to see the broadest range of courses from all eras?
-I personally think my home of pinehurst is a fair place to go since we have a broad range of courses spanning all different times, but thats just MHO.

[J_ Crisham]

Johhny, It would be hard to pass on the NYC or MET area for just the sheer number of courses designed by a multitude of the great designers past and present. Pinehurst probably would not match the depth of the MET area not to suggest Pinehurst isn't a special place.

[Marty Bonnar]

Johnny,
if your idea of 'early years' is around about 1850, by all means stay in America.
If, however, 'early years' means 5 or 6 HUNDRED years of history, then you have to see Scotland.
Just one opinion, obviously.
FBD.

[John Moore II]

I was more looking a place that someone could get a good survey of courses from each era without having to do a lot of traveling. Like playing one of two courses from each era over the period of like a week. Oh, and I was meaning the evolution of American architecture...

[John Moore II]

Any takers to help me or other novices in beginning a study of GCA?

[Jeff_Brauer]

Johnny,

I would say the first place to start, if you haven't already, is to get a copy of Cornish and Whittens Golf Architecture History book.  The first version is called the The Golf Course, and from memory has the best time line summary of the profession.  The second version is called the Architects of Golf. Similar, but re-written somewhat in the history section, perhaps for the better.

There have also been recent threads with old aerials of various areas. I think I would download those photos, since if you take a walking tour of any old course, you might not know off hand what was original, changed, restored, etc.  The photos would be a good guide to see just how much has changed.

[BCrosby]

I was more looking a place that someone could get a good survey of courses from each era without having to do a lot of traveling. Like playing one of two courses from each era over the period of like a week. Oh, and I was meaning the evolution of American architecture...

Jeff's book suggestions above are very good. Before getting in the car, it's  important to acquire a basic knowledge of names, courses and eras.

But once you've spent a little time learning the basics, there are several locations that offer a wide range of gca styles from almost every era.

Assuming access is not an issue, in Southhmapton, N.Y. you can see courses from the primogenetive NGLA to the modern, edgy The Bridge or Friars Head. And other courses from all the eras in between. All within about 25 miles.

There are any number of other towns where the same range (though maybe not the same quality) of gca can be found in a limited area.

But your first step ought to be acquiring a basic vocabulary. Otherwise (or unless you are a lot smarter than I am, which is entirely possible) I'm not sure you will fully appreciate what you will be seeing.

You are setting off on a wonderful journey. Keep us posted as you move down the road.

Bob  

[Ian Andrew]

Long Island

You can find a course to fit every era on that Island - no other city can match it for exceptional examples. If you look at the book called "America's Linksland", you will see many of the examples that you would seek out profiled in the book.

[TEPaul]

"I was more looking a place that someone could get a good survey of courses from each era without having to do a lot of traveling."

BobC:


Hmmmmm!?  

[BCrosby]

TEP -

My thought exactly.

Bob

[BCrosby]

BTW, the first chapter of Cornish & Whittens' The Architects of Golf has one of the best, short histories of gca anywhere. It ought to be the first thing you read.

Bob

[TEPaul]

"BTW, the first chapter of Cornish & Whittens' The Architects of Golf has one of the best, short histories of gca anywhere. It ought to be the first thing you read."

Bob:

That has always been my thought exactly. I've always said that on here. Part One is really good, in my opinion, but the fact that it's not particularly long obviously limited C&W's ability to be more specific and detailed in an historical sense, assuming that was even necessary which it frankly may not be, at least with 19th century golf architecture.

And that's also why I always thought it odd that Tom MacWood used to criticize me for citing C&W's The Architects of Golf so much and accused me of not reading more (which is definitely not true anyway).

He even mentioned on here that Ron Whitten himself told him to find some subjects on the history of golf architecture and go into far more depth with them. Obviously Tom MacWood did that with something like his five part article on the significance of the English Arts and Crafts Movement on the Golden Age of Golf Course Architecture.

That's a good idea and purpose, of course, but when one does that, particularly with some ancillary movement and idea one is particularly fond of for other reasons (The A&C Movement) sometimes getting into real exaggeration of significance can be a byproduct which can lead to historical inaccuracy and revisionism.

The thing I admire about C&W's Part One in The Architects of Golf is it seems the more we try to get into the details of the meanings of the evolution of golf course architecture the more their general explanation of it holds up as true and accurate.

Sometimes it just may not be a good idea to look for too much detailed significance in various things in various early art forms simply because they may never have been there in the first place!

That just may be the case of very early golf course architecture, although I certainly don't think it was true when the Golden Age came into its full bloom!

[John Kavanaugh]

"I was more looking a place that someone could get a good survey of courses from each era without having to do a lot of traveling."

BobC:


Hmmmmm!?  

Mr. Moore,

Don't the eight courses at Pinehurst fit this bill exactly?  You should be able to sleep in your own bed and get everything you need.  What era is not represented in the immediate Pinehurst area.  You even have a new C$C coming on line soon.

[John Moore II]

John K--yes the courses here in Pinehurst fit the bill, I was simply asking for more opinions on the subject. Where is the new C&C course being built? I do not recall hearing about that one.
TEP-my purpose for perhaps saying the courses may not be grouped together on Long Island is that since I am not from there, and do not know where things are, it simply seemed to me that Long Island in general is somewhat large...

[Norbert P]

 Monterey, California ?   ($$$ + exclusivity = tough lesson)

 I'd have to say Long Island NY for influential American genesis golf courses would be the best locale for study. From what I has read and pictures I done seen.

  As an aside that Tom Paul alluded to . . . Volume 5 of Tom Macwood's fine Opinion piece.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/opinionmacwood5.html

[JNagle]

I had a great lesson years ago after first joining Ron.  We happened to be working at Indian Creek, PineTree and Boca Rio at the same time.  As a student of American golf architecture this was a great lesson.  Von Hagee learned from Wilson and Wilson learned from Flynn.  The evolution from Classic (Flynn) to transition (Wilson) to modern (Von Hagee) was clearly evident.  That would be my suggestion.  Visit an area where you can see the various stages.  If you can visit a course completed by someone who studied with an ODG and so on, do so.  Visit courses by the same architect but from different years.  You can see the evolution in their own work.  Ross has distinct era's.  Tillies great to study because he changed thins up alot.

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