Aerial of the Day #46 - 14 Mar 2002

[Scott_Burroughs]

Sometimes I just have to show a course where one hole gives it away.  There are actually two non-minor things missing in this aerial that are present today.  And boy, that is a great cape hole in the far middle right of the pic:

[Mike_Cirba]

Ran and I agree that it's his best course...I think Tom Doak does as well.  

[Allan Long]

One of the missing things doesn't happen to be a brand-new par 3 now giving the course 19 holes does it?

[Scott_Burroughs]

That's one of them, Allan!

You work for the Durham Bulls?  What do you do?  I work about 5 miles from the DBAP in RTP.

[THuckaby2]

Ok, even I know this one.  That is one damn famous hole in the right part of the top section.  And you know, as "cape hole" was clarified and defined in a recent thread re NGLA, that really doesn't meet the techinical definition... green needs to be jutting out into the water... food for thought or just idle chit-chat?

TH

[Anthony_Nysse]

This has relation to yesterday's "Aerial of the day"

[Brad Klein]

Took a partial glance at the one famous 13th to figure this one out - certainly has stood up as his best, though perhaps that's also because too many of his other courses don't seem all that strong or memorable today.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Just for clarification purposes, I was not calling #13 a cape, I was calling #11 a cape.  It juts out into the marsh in the middle right part of pic.

The other feature missing from this aerial is related to the missing feature mentioned above.

[THuckaby2]

Scott:  AHA!  Got it re the capes.  Many have called that #13 a "cape", that's all.  My apologies, I shoulda known you'd know better!

The real "cape" looks really cool... I just didn't place that as a marsh at first glance.

TH

[Scott_Burroughs]

Actually, I have misnamed a cape or two before.    I vowed to be more careful after that.

If the tide was in in the aerial, it'd be easier to see.

[THuckaby2]

You and me both, Scott.  Golf Architecture terms are pretty new for me!  My education continues...

TH

[Scott_Burroughs]

Another clue would be that the extreme lower right of the aerial is actually beach, as in by the ocean.

Also, the 4th hole, in the far left of the aerial, is right across the road from a couple of theme theaters.

[John Foley]

I've got it thanks to Brad's comments about the hole in question being #13. from ground level on TV, I thought the landing area extended further.

Also, Anthony had a great relate, I (along w/ Mr. Burroughs) should have picked up on that one.

The neighbor hood is definetly Grand.

[Scott_Burroughs]

John,
    
I thought about mentioning the "relation" to yesterday's AOTD, but I decided against it so early.  I also figured someone else would.  I would have said something later if no one else had.  

Interestingly enough, I didn't realize it until this morning about that.  I didn't even KNOW who designed Cordevalle when I decided to use it this week.  I had to look it up.  Today's was already in place.

[Scott_Burroughs]

This is the RTJ, Sr.'s Dunes Golf & Beach Club, in Myrtle Beach, SC, recent home of the Senior Tour Championship.  

Clues were:

GRAND Strand area of SC/NC, newly known for the many themed theaters, a la Branson, MO.

"Related" to yesterday's was of course RTJ, Jr. & Sr.

The famous 590-yard, par 5 13th hole, around the lake, is perhaps RTJ's most famous hole.  It makes just about every "greatest holes" list.  Supposedly has never been reached in two.

The other missing feature is the alternate tee on 18 (in aerial, slight dogleg right, down towards clubhouse, with cart path bisecting fairway).  When the new par 3 (located between #13 and 14) is in use, the par 3 #17 is not in use, so an alternate tee on 18 is used, which is closer to #16 green (short par 4 surrounded by bunkers), and makes 18 a slight dogleg LEFT.

The apparent green by the bend in the cape hole (#11) must be a "sod farm green".

#12 from the tips is 245 yard par 3 almost entirely carry.

Great bunkering here.

Former RTJ right hand man Roger Rulewich did a recent touch up here.

[John Foley]

Scott,

You have a three day connected reference going here,

#44 Monroe - Roch, NY - Birthplace of RTJ
#45 Cordevale - Design by RTJ II
#46 Dunes - Design by RTJ

Anything we should expect for tomorrow to contiue this?

[Scott_Burroughs]

John,

Where did RTJ die?  

I suppose one of his last works would be in order next!  RTJ International or Metedeconk?  A trail in Alabama?  Though, I'm sure RR had much to do with these.

I had no idea where he was born.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Scott,
I think Mike Souchak is credited with reaching the green in two.

JohnF,
RTJ was born at Ince, in England.

[Chris_Hunt]

Definitely some of the finest RTJ, Sr. work I have seen.  The 'sod farm green' on #11 is a nice temporary green when the occasion demands it.  I think the course would be better if the 19th hole that is missing in the aerial would be missing in actuality, too.  But, when tournaments roll around, what better place to set up tents than on the 17th hole!  Also, the 2nd hole today has the worst tree encroachment on the left hand side off the tee that I have seen...a tight draw will still put you in the fairway bunker on the right at the turn...and they have cleared nearly 1000 trees of late.  Go to the Dunes if you want to see one of oldest irrigation systems still (barely) in use.  

[Mike_Cirba]

The famed 13th has been reached in two a number of times.  I have the club history and the details are in there.

The tree encroachment on the second is part of the strategy.  It is one of the only holes I know where a slinging hook is required from the tee, and was designed that way...the trees on that side are VERY mature.  Of course, you can also try to take a 3-wood over them.  Tom Doak analyzes the hole very proficiently in his "Anatomy of a Golf Course".

The bunkering is superb, but the greens themselves are where The Dunes really shines.  The first green alone is worth the price of admission, and it's a tough course to play without wishing that more of his courses hadn't taken the approach of a better mix of strategic, heroic, and penal golf.  It's also just off the ocean, so the wind can be wicked.  

[John Foley]

Jim K,

After I posted ititially I thought I remeber RTJ Sr being born in GB. He did live in Rochester for awhile and I think, went to Cornell from Rochester. I'm pretty sure he ended up in NJ where his family was raised.