Why have so few tour pros been good golf course designers?

[cary lichtenstein]

It's an entirely different skill set, very few possess those skills

[Jim Hoak]

As said by others, I think the answer is fairly simple.  The talent and skills for success are not similar.   For the same reason, many--or most--of the great players are not great golf instructors either.

[Niall C]

If you say to them that amateurs would all quit if forced to play such a course, or vote with their feet and go somewhere else, they will laugh and understand that.  But that doesn't change their view on what good architecture is, or what's fair.  Their perspective is all geared toward playing for money against other great players; it's not about playing for fun.  And mine probably would be different, too, if I were that good.

I wonder if Tour players really distinguish between design and set up or do they not bother with the distinction ?


Niall