Looking at raw topography for golf

[TEPaul]

Yesterday I went by the West Course of Merion and looked closely at the holes along the road particularly "quirky corner" (6-7-8 ).

I'll tell you, when looking at some seemingly radical raw topography don't be nervous or put off. Even without machinery it's just amazing to me the guts that some of the early architects must have had--and the imagination!

Would holes like that be acceptable today? I don't really know but they should be!

[Mike_Sweeney]

Tom,

I have not played The West in a few years, but I think that many of the modern Architects would love to put any one of those holes onto a modern course. However, I think it would be impossible for a modern architect to have those three "quirky" holes in a row on a modern course. By the way, 5 West IMHO also has its own quirkiness as it plays like a roller coaster. I can't say how you would get yourself out of that corner after playing 6, which would be my first choice. My guess is that you would extend 7 into a long Par 4 or 5 and take it back up the road/hill that way.

I also would nominate Merion West #6 as the most overlooked Short Par 4 in the world due to its big brother course down the road. My frequent host at Merion once took a 12 there in a Junior tournament

By the way, I still remind him about it 18 years later !

[TEPaul]

Mike:

I think from #7 tee to get back up the hill (sideways) would be almost impossible even today with modern equipment. It's really steep.

Unfortunately. though, today an architect would probably never even consider building #6 (or 7 or 8 ) simply because once down at #7 you could obviously not today route a hole (#7) right along and across a creek like that hole. The set backs required today are just not possible in that limited space down there.

It's too bad but today an architect would probably just have to go from #5 green down #9 (a little longer par 5?) and just forget all about using the radical topography and creek that's "quirky corner".

Would they then be able to get 18 holes on that property? Of course not. They would need to buy that big estate to the right of #1 and probably have to change the progression of the holes.

[Michael Moore]

Mr. Paul -

You seem to be in a frenzy to reach 5000 this morning.

I think you should start a thread with it.

[Mike_Sweeney]

I think from #7 tee to get back up the hill (sideways) would be almost impossible even today with modern equipment. It's really steep.

Tom,

As Geoffrey has mentioned in the past, you must see Yale this year specifically 10 and 18 in person. They are side by side and thus share the same hill(s). Love em or hate em, they are two of the most unique (and steep) inland holes that I have played. However, I still have lots of "research" to do.

10th Fairway @ Yale

10th Green @ Yale

[TEPaul]

Michael Moore:

Oh, Jeesus, I didn't even notice that. I guess I should hold off for a while. That number is embarrassing frankly and I did announce at Alpine that I was the mega poster and if anyone was actually wondering if I had a life because of all that posting the answer was;

And this is for the rest of you;

"Of course not!"