[JSlonis]

In the current issue of Links Magazine there is an article by Nick Faldo on the relationship of Player/Designers(which he is) and actual golf course architects.

Faldo makes some very interesting observations on the subject of golf course architecture, in particular, the importance of variety and strategy.  Faldo was excellent at course management and the mental aspect of golf during his prime playing years and it really seems as though he has a very good perspective on what it takes to create a great golf course.

Here is the link http://www.linksmagazine.com/news/453019.html

[John_McMillan]

I read the Faldo article at the attached link.  I'm not sure I share your enthusiasm for it.  What in particular did you find insightful?  Every top player who dabbles in architecture at some time or another writes a "set piece" about his views, and Faldo's article contains most of the usual cliches.  Have you never read before of the need to, "find the best possible holes" on a natural site?  Or of the "need to be especially imaginative" when faced with difficult terrain?  

Faldo emphasized that he brings, "an in-depth knowledge of [the world's finest courses] (particularly as they function in tournament conditions)."  Frankly, I can't imagine any LESS useful knowledge to bring to a project.  There are a limited number of courses which host major championships - the Masters, US Open, British Open and the PGA.  Of the thousands of new courses being built, maybe a couple dozen will host one of these tournaments.  That leaves several hundred which are never going to see US Open rough, or Augusta National green speeds.  Wouldn't a knowledge of how a course can play on the OTHER 360 days of the year be more important to most of the golf which is played on a course?

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I think Faldo does take his architecture seriously.  A few years ago when he was in Australia he made a private visit to Royal Melbourne just to study the bunkers in detail - he'd played there earlier under tournament conditions and was clearly impressed.  I've only been able to visit one of his courses, Chart Hills in Kent, but it appeals to me.  What particularly appeals is that no two holes are in any way alike - he's not fallen back on formulae.  You could say that's a deficiency, that there's no unified style, but for variety of challenge, interesting change of pace, imaginative use of the topography I think it augurs well for the future.  How much input he personally had I cannot say but at least 'the team' have made something very different from the new courses in that part by Nicklaus, Cupp, two Joneses and the occasional native.

[JSlonis]

John,

Faldo regularly writes articles for Links Mag.  I think it is refreshing to hear that he doesn't feel he can "do it all", and that a collaboration with an actual architect will give him what he feels to be the best results. I appreciate his candor, and I do think that he really has set out to learn as much as he can on the architectural side of the game.

To contrast the Faldo article, in a current local golf magazine there is an article on Gary Player's new course in which he extolls the virtues of his design by highlighting the parking facilities, the clubhouse view, the waterfalls, and his dislike for undulating greens.

[Brian Phillips]

JSlonis,

I think this has been brought up before but Faldo used to have a ghost writer and it is not himself that writes the articles.  

If I remember correctly it used to be Steve Smyers was it not?

Nick Faldo didn't design Chart Hills, it was designed by Steve again...

I think there is an interview on the feature interview area with Steve talking about Chart Hills.

Brian

[Jeremy_Slessor]

Brian,

Nick's articles have been written in the past in collaboration with his colleague, Nick Edmund, who also runs Faldo Design. I don't know whether he wrote this one or not.

Jeremy

[Tom_Doak]

Jamie,

I haven't had a chance to see this article yet ... or the cover story, which I've only heard about this morning.

My only concern is if Nick believes that his experience on all those great golf courses is somehow more significant than that of architects who have also studied them in detail.  Just as an example, I'd be willing to bet I know Royal Melbourne better than he does.

I do think Nick Faldo has more genuine interest in design than a lot of Tour players ... but I think his column in LINKS is more about advertising his expertise than sharing it.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Tom, A very MacKenzie-esque reply.

Now here is another one:

How much more do you know Riviera better then Tom Fazio?  (I will be willing to bet my life on it more then he has ever comprehended in his entire life) Also, I'd be willing to bet that Fazio has been to Riviera at the mos--one time, and that was probably at the very beginning of relationship.

[JSlonis]

Tom,

I didn't read it anywhere in the article that Faldo stated that his golf course experience was more significant than the architects knowledge.  I read it as...he feels it is his duty to bring his playing knowledge and experience to the table and collaborate with an actual GCA in order to make the entire process work.

Faldo states: "Of course being passionate about something is one thing, while being able to contribute in a meaningful way to the final product can be another matter altogether."

Also: Faldo as a player/designer- "My point is that unless a player/designer works closely with a first rate GCA, there is little or no chance that a first rate product will emerge."

[John_McMillan]

And the sentence after that Faldo quote is - "I'm fortunate to have an excellent in-house team."  Do you really doubt that the article, whether actually written by Faldo or ghosted, is anything more than advertising material for Faldo design?  

When Faldo states,

"The distinction between a player designer and a golf course architect is an important one, though it is seldom discussed. The player designer may have many talents, be responsible for the overall concept as well as individual hole strategies, and stay keenly involved throughout the project, but it's highly unlikely that he or she would possess all the technical knowledge and drafting ability of a trained golf course architect."

is this really an endorsement of an architect's importance?  So the PD is the "vision" guy, responsible for all the decisions, while the GCA is a draftsman who gets to draw all those neat little topo lines?  

I think the article is more something for Faldo to hand to clients of Faldo design to help his clients understand why they're paying a price premium for his name, while he shows up to walk the routing once in construciton and play the course when it opens.  

[Joel_Stewart]

Nick Faldo didn't design Chart Hills, it was designed by Steve again...

This is shocking to me.  I know a number of architects do ghost for tour players but I never would have thought Faldo since he actually has an interest in architecture.

In 1998 when the US Open came to Olympic, I had the chance to meet Nick Faldo and talk architecture with him.  He tried to stay low key, didn't talk with anyone in the clubhouse, had that blonde Arizona State co-ed woman with him, had just left his wife, and his game was going down hill.  So the first thing I say to him was "hows the architecture business"?  He gets the biggest smile on his face and just opens up.  We talked about Olympic Club and San Francisco Golf Club which he wanted to drive over and see and some of his projects.  He was a little disappointed he wasn't getting more business in the US, mostly resort and rebuilding projects.  

I actually have not played any of his courses, but I look forward to it.

[James Edwards]

Joel,

I'm a member of Chart Hills Golf Club and I openly invite you and other GCA ers to come and play it.  It's a wonderful course and the collaboration between Faldo and Smyers produced a memorable, strategic test of golf.

I was a greenskeeper at Chart Hills under Paul Hobden, and I would like to add that Faldo spent a great deal of time at Chart Hills both pre and post construction.  What his involvement was, only he and Steve know, but this was his first course over here - judge for yourself it's 'playability'.  

[Mark_Rowlinson]

As I said of Chart Hills, 'How much input he personally had I cannot say but at least 'the team' have made something very different from the new courses in that part by Nicklaus, Cupp, two Joneses and the occasional native.'  It hardly matters whether it was Faldo himself or one of his team who designed Chart Hills.  What does matter is that it is a distinctive course, whether you like it or loathe it.

[ian]

Go see his course north of Toronto, the Rock, you may be disapointed with Nick. He obviously does not believe in clearing trees. This is the same problem with the O'Meara course near by, these guys don't understand the caliber of player who actually plays a resort course.

[brad_miller]

Faldo to do course in Hutchinson KS, about 3 miles from Prairie Dunes. www.hutchnews.com search for Cottonwood Hills, story from 8-7-03.

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