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Bradley Anderson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Flynn's thoughts on Architecture
« on: June 11, 2009, 04:06:54 PM »
http://turf.lib.msu.edu/1920s/1927/2708156.pdf

This link will take you to an amazing article written by Flynn for the USGA Green Section Bulletin.

Towards the end he makes an appeal to get control over the ball situation, before it becomes necessary to build golf courses to 8,000 yards length. And this was written in 1927.

But what is most amazing is how he begins with a piece of property, and all the preliminary work that he puts in before he settles on his route.

Willie_Dow

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Flynn's thoughts on Architecture
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2009, 08:45:52 PM »
The best of Flynn's writings in this article is his comments on bunkers !

"The design for bunkering the course is tremendously important"

"It is important in locating fairway bunkers to place them in positions where they are VISIBLE.'

" A concealed bunker has no place on a golf course - "

"The best looking bunkers are those that are gouged out of faces or slopes, particularly when the slope faces the player.  They are very much more effective in that the stand out like sentinels beckoning the player or keep to the right or left."

"A very important consideration in the design of bunkers is to make each one a surface drain.  In flat country this condition can be secured by building them above the surface of the surrounding terrain."

Nuff said !

Eric Smith

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Flynn's thoughts on Architecture
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2009, 01:53:16 PM »
I predict a spinoff thread on this subject --  "A concealed bunker has no place on a golf course - "

I predict Dan Herrmann will start it...

Lou_Duran

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Flynn's thoughts on Architecture
« Reply #3 on: June 12, 2009, 03:29:52 PM »
Which architects conceal sand bunkers with some regularity?  Pete Dye has done it a couple of times that come to mind immediately(Long Cove and Stonebridge Ranch).  Blindness is a hazard of sorts, and hiding a bunker or water is akin to double jeopardy.  I don't mind sand bunkers over the green which often serve to keep the ball on the course.

Flynn is one in a long line of golf industry figures who pointed out problems with run-away technology.  A tournament ball remains the most viable solution.  New groove rules are an indication that perhaps the regulators will take the issue more seriously.