Let me start this post by stating that I took up golf late in life and had my first lesson in Nov. 2004. I also don't get out of the Dallas-Ft Worth area very often. In fact, the only other golf I've played other than around Dallas is Tucson, AZ, St. Kitts and Cancun. I was also standing on the practice green at Kapalua with a tear in my eye, unable to play due to an injured shoulder.
Yesterday, reading the thread on "The next breakout architect", I realized that one guy designed all the courses that I've played my best, most fun golf.
Indian Creek Golf Club (Creek Course): This was the course on which I first became a bogey golfer, shooting 90. I actually had a 40 on the front, but made a mess of the back.
Cowboys Golf Club: I have many great memories on this course. Last December, I'm standing on the 11th tee at +3, the best golf I've ever played through 10 holes. Made a mess of the rest... but I was still grinning when I walked off the course. A year or so back, I hit the first 6 greens in regulation, a personal best. Another time, I'm on the 18th with a chance to shoot a personal best... never mind, that was a mess. That's when I learned I never want to know what the score is until I'm adding them up in the clubhouse.
Squaw Valley Golf Club: Last June, I played in a two day, 2-man best ball (net) tournament in the Grapevine Golf Association. My golf buddy and I played brother-in-law golf perfectly. On the first day, I shot my personal best 87 at the time (net 64) as we won the event by 5 strokes and also cleaned up in the Calcutta.
Westridge Golf Club: Last July, on a sunny, windy day, I shot my personal best 86 on this course. I also shot my personal best 9-holes, 38 on the front with 3 birdies.
Tangle Ridge Golf Club: During the Christmas break, there was one day with fabulous weather, and I played a four-man skins with my golf buddies (with carry-overs). I won 12 skins, including 6 skins on the final hole with a par. At one point, I hit a sand wedge into a par-5 green and apparently spun it back (I couldn't see the surface of the green from where I was playing). One of my buddies screams: "He backed up that wedge! That pro bastard is giving us strokes from now on!" Is there anything funner than winning skins?
So what is it about this guy that makes his courses so much fun? First, wide fairways, so hackers like me can keep the ball in play. Sure, the fairways are wide, but there's always a spot you need to hit in order to have the best approach into the green. Around the green, there is usually a way to run the ball in instead of always having to hit the ball high in the air and land it soft. His green contours are interesting but not severe, so that good putters can really show their skills. Lots of interesting hole positions that make the course play differently from day to day. Bunkering is spectacular without being penal.
Fun is really what great architecture is all about, in my opinion. So, who is this guy??? ;-)