Brora--preserve it or improve it?

[Sean_A]

Wow!  I found this old thread and was amazed.  Since most seemed open to the idea of "tweaking" (though I wonder when tweaking stops and major reno takes over if added bunkering, lengthened tees, greens moved and contoured are all considered!) I wonder how folks would feel about it now, in this day of seriously rising green fees (which presumably would happen if the club spent dosh on the course)?  Personally, I am against the idea of any added bunkers and probably only very few extra tees would add any value.  However, I could see adding some contour to the greens to a few of the greens - just to spice things up.  That said, its a very dodgy business messing with a Rihcelin Guida 1* and what I would think is a very comfortable 7 (pushing 8?) on the Doak Scale.  Still, I would like to hear specifics about some changes.  I know one I would consider is the 9th.  I never liked how the green looked so boring against such a majestic backdrop.   The 4th is another candidate for some green contour.  That said, thinking back on many of the greens, there is some decent movement and it would be dicey to create too much movement given the amount of wind this place can get.

Ciao

[Rich Goodale]

Thanks for bringing this up, Sean.  It reminds me of the good old days when one could post an interesting thread and have it discussed calmly and casually over several days without flak and crap overwhelming it....  It's also always good to see a vintage example of redanman in his archetypal thread-killing role.  I miss the big galoot....

As for the topic, I played Brora this spring and my playing partner and I speculated about the possibility of having three golf courses laid over the same land, i.e.:  The Braid Course, pretty much as it is now and JB left it; The Rafferty or Thomsom Course, utlising back tees and some revised greens and based on the two plans which those former pros have submitted to the club; The Morris Course, based on what existed in the 30-40 years prior to Braid's visit, using forward tees and some NLE greens.

This was and is one of the most creative GCA ideas I have ever heard, and at Brora it is possible, at least technically.

Cheers

Rich

[Jason Topp]

My best memory of 2008.  My son is tapping in for par on 18 at around 10:30 or 11 pm.

[Doug Wright]

I hadn't played Brora when this thread appeared back in 2002. I have now played it and would say yes it has a few weak holes, but it's a charming course that was fun to play. That's good enough for me. So I'd leave it alone.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Sorry Guys but my attitude is very clear on this course and many others with perhaps the Eden

“It isn’t broken so do not touch it”.

There is nothing wrong with most of our course until someone comes along and changes them in the late 20th Century – look at the comments re The Eden Course.

The courses from Brora down the coast to Inverness then to Fraserburgh/Peterhead/Cruden Bay are fine. As they are from Cruden downwards – want to make changes, scrap the cart tracks and give us back the beauty of our original courses. It’s like looking at the Mona Lisa or Turners The Fighting Temeraire with a scar down across these great pictures. Enough to make a grown man cry.

Melvyn

[ChipRoyce]

I say leave it alone.

While it *could* stand improvement, its likely to be a better experience in its current state than with any tinkering.

To me, the experience of the course is about the electric fences, relatively wide open and empty course, beautiful view, clynelish distillery up on the hill and all the quirks and rough edges.

I'm taking a guess that any changes to the course will remove much of its charm.