Anyone familiar with the work of Andy Dye?

[Mike Fowler]

I'm new to the board so hello all! I have been reading your posts for several months and wanted some input from your group. I live in Arkansas but am farely well traveled.  I've played some great courses, Shoal Creek, Southern Hills, The Ocean Course, Golf Club of TN. all the Bandon courses, all the Kohler courses, the entire RTJ trail, etc.  I've played enough good courses that I think I know one when I see it. That being said, a 27 hole Andy Dye course is set to open to the public in the next few weeks 4 miles from my house. It is located in a state park and has been 3 years in the construction phase. I joined it and have been getting to play it for the past 3 months. Construction cost was 7 million and it's got the makings of a top notch course. Oliphant golf was the construction company. That being said there are some wierd architectural ideas incorporated into the design. Things like split fairways where there is only 15 to 20 yards on each side of the ledge which divides the fairway. With hazards on both sides of the fairway. This is done 3 times on the first nine. Very narrow greens or very shallow greens depending on the hole. Small pot bunkers everywhere.I love Pete Dye's risk reward style but have never played an Andy Dye golf course. I was wondering if anyone else had and what your impressions were. Don't be too hard on me. It's my first time to post!

[Bill_McBride]

Is it possible Oliphant Construction read the plans wrong and built to the wrong scale? 

Just messing with ya, that doesn't sound like a lot of fun if the holes are over 300 yards!

[Mike Nuzzo]

Welcome aboard...
Where did the $7MM figure come from?
Cheers

[Ronald Montesano]

Don't laugh about the wrong scale!  At Batavia Country Club (between Buffalo and Rochester), the 2nd hole was laid out "back in the day" at 580 yards with a wheel that was 10% off.  A longish 530 yard par five (in the days of wooden heads and rubber-band balls) extends to 580 yards due to mechanical failure.

[Mike Fowler]

7 million figure came from the State of Arkansas. This is according to the head of parks and tourism who I talked to personally. Supposedly a group that also owns Carter Plantation in Louisiana is going to build a hotel and clubhouse on the property. Then revenues will be shared between the state and the private enterprise. The problem is the state has already spent their money and the private group hasn't started their construciton. There's a lot of untrust in the relationship.
 
As far as the golf course goes. Around 7420 yards from the tips depending on which nines you play. I'm a 5 and I haven't been able to break 45 from the tips. Too many lost balls. There is so much trouble that all hazards are played as lateral. No out of bounds, no lost ball stroke and distance penalties. Used over 300 red stakes on the first 9 alone.