Worst--Druid Hills GC in Atlanta.
The old H.H. Barker (?) course from 1912 was really cool in a quirky kind of way. Cupp was supposed to "restore" the course to the classic architectural age and I think he missed the mark.
Most of the work renovated greens and bunkers which are in fantastic condition and most of the holes stayed pretty much the same. There are alot of new roundish white bunkers all over the place but, unfortunately, where he made significant changes, they were for the worse!
Hole #6 was nestled in a real neat shelf high above the fifth fairway. The green was too severe for modern green speads and it did need to be re-done. However, his answer to the 165 yard par 3 that went slightly uphill to a steeply sloped back to front green, guarded by two front bunkers was to move the green and tee so that the new par 3 is a blind, uphill wedge shot (115-130 yards) between two fieldgoal posts, er trees, to the most severely tiered green on the course (again it's blind and you can't see your wedges spin 40 feet back off of the green). Oh, and to add to this little charmer, there is a lake (hidden of course) right behind and to the left of the green!
Hole #15 was no doubt a weak hole to begin with--350 yards, usually a 3 iron off the tee and then anywhere from an 8 iron to wedge to a pretty neat green alongside a creek. The new hole is straight uphill over wetlands and a ravine. The forced carry is easily 230 yards (from the back 375 yard tee) and there is no where to lay up if you choose not to attempt to go over the hazard. By nowhere to lay up, that is unless you try and wedge a lay up to one of the forward tees! There is no other choice!!
The hazard crosses the fairway and then angles away to the golfer's left going toward the green. If you do carry the hazard by bailing a little right across the shortest part of the ravine, you are either out of bounds or in a pine straw patch on the side of a hill.
Correctly marked the hazard is a regular water hazard. (There would be no problem keeping the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard between you and the hole). Mercifully, it is usually marked lateral to allow one to drop on the fairway side of the hazard after the obligtory donation to the creek gods. During the Dogwood Amateur the first year after the renovation, nearly one third of the field (excellent amateurs--winning score usually 17-under) plunked their tee shots in the ravine.
Once across the ravine, its a completely blind uphill second shot to a green with a pronounced false front. I have heard that Mr. Cupp has agreed to come back and re-work this hole.
Hole #17 Originally a very strong downhill 220 yard par 3 across some low ground to a table top green perched atop another shelf. The green sloped left to right and a huge tree on the left of the hole would catch pulled long irons and woods. (Although I generally never saw a tree I didn't want to chainsaw, this was far enough away from the green so as to not be overly obtrusive and yet just enough in play to mess with you). Anything just short or right of the old green rolled down a very severe slope to an almost impossible up and down. You couldn't bail left since if the tree didn't get you, anything left of the green was impossible to keep on the green, short and right were no good so you had to step up and smoke a 3,4 or 5 iron.
Cupp's solution was to lengthen the hole and "scoop out" the green to create a mini punch bowl. The added length only made it harder for the average guy and the new green is now much easier to hit for the bomber. It's longer but far easier to hit.
Hole #18 Never a strong hole it was blind and uphill off the tee. It was about 530 so it was reachable and could produce an eagle finish. The second was also blind (believe it or not I like blind shots usually) and you would aim at the mens grill portion of the clubhouse since the top of the club was all you could see. Cupp decided to move the tee back to make it a longer, blind uphill tee shot. Actually, the 18th tee is hole high and to the right of the 240 yard 17th green. If you are on the back tee on 18, a helment may be advisable since there is absolutley nothing between the green and the tee to protect you.
18 is now largely unreachable except for the college kids.
Maybe I am jaded because I really enjoyed the old course so much. I know they wanted more length but to go from 6500 to 6800 didn't really seem like that big of a gain. The college kids still come each year and shoot lights out for the Dogwood tournament. The scores have gone up a little (I think 24 under won the last Dogwood pre-renovation and the winning scores the last two years have been in the 16-18 under range). But why add length for one event a year?
Bottom line is that a really unique old course now looks pretty much like everyone else, which sadly, is most likely what many members wanted.