Adam - no it was en entire course ......... a most interesting and exciting opportunity for me.
I’ve only “built” one single course - it was based on Raynor architecture (1999 - 2000).
Most here know what I have been doing over the past 10 years or so and all those visits to clubs and all those drawings I did (and still do) made it almost second nature during design and construction. It was sort of, in my mind’s eye, reviewing all I had seen and done.
The overall plan was to capture the strategies of play I wanted to portray to honor the architect, Seth Raynor, but just as important, to me, was to capture the “nature” and feel of their greens (all this in an extremely confined area - ..... developers and homes .... yuk !!).
It was, to me, an opportunity of a lifetime.
Yes, lots of changes during construction - more fine tuning than anything expecially around the perimeter areas of the greens adn approaches ......
But aside from all that it was, as stated, the incredible high of seeing this “thing” grow out of the ground as pictured in my mind - even more incredible was to think that people would be playing over this playground for years to come.
The greens were (are) not replications but were each, the essence of the ORIGINAL greens I had seen over the years.
Recently, a well known shaper/design-guy paid a visit to what I had done and his question to me (later) made me very proud.
(Paraphrased) ...... “George, when did you decide NOT to copy exactly the greens you’ve selected.” (more or less) ....... this from a exceptionally trained eye. He is the only one who has caught that.
(I wouldn’t like to have it get around that I got a crash course (about 5 hours) on course building and most importantly, green building - pretty scary the first day but I jumped in with both feet and off we went)
I’ve been a very lucky guy.
Before I ever thought of actually building a course (I always wanted the restoration aspect) I often think of the dedication I wrote for my book about Mr. (respect!) C. B. Macdonald and his deeds.
"In the overall scheme, man is only here on earth for but a wisp of time. Most of us go through life working, raising a family, honoring our country and responding in good turn to our fellow man. In a short time we are gone and although we did much good, beside the family we leave behind, we leave little that endures the test of time.
I admire the man who, through virtue of God-given or acquired talents, is able to leave his personal “mark” for others to admire and enjoy; a Shakespear or Poe who left behind us their written word; a Rembrandt or Rodin who left us the legacy of their magnificent works of art; a Beethoven or Mozart who left their music for us to enjoy.
This book is dedicated to the golf course architects of the Golden Age who left us great classic courses to play over and enjoy - they cast their “footprint” on the face of the earth - a golf course."