John,
I did a road hole replica green in Kansas, and the cart path is very much in play (with the railroad right behind that, as per the original, as it was originally.....) Not sure how it will be viewed by golfers, but you do not want to be over that green.
Mark,
I don't agree with you about Fazio. I think he takes what is truly a given on 99% of courses, and then applies a lot of creativity to hiding the paths to mitigate their effect. Certainly, his ability to hide cart paths shouldn't be a knock on him. In the last 25 years, how many walking only coures have been built? 3 at Bandon and Whistling Straits for sure and probably a few I haven't heard about.
He does not use artificial mounding to hide the path. Rather, he uses a one foot ridge and tilts the path away from the golfer (unless dramatically downhill, where he may use larger earth forms, landscaping, or putting the path further from the fw) This is not only very subtle, it doesn't force traffic to the natural valley between mounds, so it is practical, too.
John Conley and I played a Faz yesterday - Vaquero in Westlake, Tx. While the service and "experience" were both unbelievable and possibly not to the taste of those who like simple golf, I couldn't help but think of the gca board as we played, and why he gets such a bad name here.
As hinted above, yes, he moves earth to attain his goals, but it is very low key and natural. On only the third green did I notice that there were "mounds" and these were highlighted by the grassing lines.
It had a very traditional look, like a Golden Age CC. Not rugged, but my guess is most players, on an every day basis prefer some manicuring over the Sand Hills look for their home club.
The holes had a nice variation of bunker patterns and strategies, and the bunkers were deep enough to make them hazards, even if perfectly conditioned. Not all had the gingerbread shapes, in fact, some were by contrast, of very simple shapes, others quite extravagant.
He defends par at the greens with both bold and subtle contours. There were many dips near the edge of greens that could - and did - affect chips like Pinehurst.
He had a "non-standard" par of 71 with an extra par 3. He did fit greens into the landscape in most cases, as evidenced by the existing oaks within yards of the green.
Holes played at angles from the tee, so you really had to pick your line off the tee.
Many greens had funnel effects so you could use side slopes to roll shots on the green, well away from bunkers (again, very subtle, but there. The only bad thing is the Zoysia fairway don't really allow run ins, even in a dry year)
And it was very playable by a wide variety of handicaps in our own group - from scratch (my son) to my current 12.
If Doak did it, you would be peeing your pants that it was the greatest course in Texas. In fact, it probably doesn't look any less rugged (with several prairie areas leftover and/or recreated) than the Rawls Course.What, I ask, more could you want, other than someone else to design it?
Say what you will, playing in 101 degree heat, I was glad for my hi-tech golf shirt and the cart yesterday, or I wouldn't have experienced a great course and club. (I drank ten bottles of water or gatorade, and still didn't use the men's room all day.......)