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Kalen Braley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Fantasy 2.0 - Golf Course Creation
« on: November 13, 2011, 09:49:23 AM »
In a similar vein to the previous thread on fantasy in terms of how courses come to existence....I too have a "fantasy" scenario.

It would be interesting to me, if new courses didn't disclose their designer/builder for the 1st 5 years of existence.  We would unleash the masses from Golf Digest, GolfWeek, notable GCAers, and other golfers in general on each new course and come up with a list of our favorites.  Then we could do the analysis, hole break down, haggle over what works/doesn't work, etc...all without the knowledge of who actually did it. It would be fun to speculate, wonder, build theories/arguments while removing this component of potential bias.  In the end we could have a more objective measure of a course, because lets face it, all of us have some biases or another when it comes to who built what and how that affects our perception of the course.

Then every year there would be a big reveal where every course that hits its 5 year mark would then be unveiled.  Obviously this is where the fantasy component kicks in because I have no idea how all this info could be kept under wraps for that length of time.


P.S. On a comparison basis, every year the beer industry holds an event called the Great American Beer Festival.  During this event they hold a double blind taste of all the beers with qualified judges and declare 1st thru 3rd place for each beer style.  There are always fan favorites going in from some of the bigger names in the industry and its always interesting to see who comes out on top. I'd love to see something similar in the course building business...even if it is "Fantasy"
« Last Edit: November 13, 2011, 09:52:43 AM by Kalen Braley »

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +3/-1
Re: Fantasy 2.0 - Golf Course Creation
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2011, 10:03:50 AM »
I hope that is a fantasy, because for everyone near the top of the profession it would mean lower design fees!

Mac Plumart

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Fantasy 2.0 - Golf Course Creation
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2011, 10:07:58 AM »
Kalen...

That would be a great idea/fantasy.

I kind of did that one day this year.  

I wanted to play a new course after work and I'd heard of this course called Reunion a little north of where I live.  So I diverted my route home from work and played it.  I'd done no prework on the course and I knew very little about it.  I showed up with barely enough time to change clothes and make my tee time.  And from there I just observed.

Maintenance not good.  Holes really good.  On the 2nd hole, I noticed a really cool risk/reward attack angle to the green and the green itself was cool.  Then I saw double fairway par 5's, alps style holes, and more really cool greens.  Before the round was over I decided I loved the design and if maintenance was improved this place would be sweet!

After the round I looked up who designed the course.  It was Mike Riley designer of my beloved Rivermont.  Wild stuff!
Sportsman/Adventure loving golfer.

Kalen Braley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Fantasy 2.0 - Golf Course Creation
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2011, 10:15:39 AM »
Tom,

That could certainly be a downside to this...but in the long run, I would think those with a proven track record where it was shown that their courses were universally praised...could then negotiate better fees.  But I admitadly claim almost complete ignorance to how this process works in real life.  :)

Mac,

Thats good stuff right there, and I certainly love finding those diamonds in the rough as well.  I can recall playing Indian Canyon a few times before I knew who designed it.  I really loved the course and it was cool to find out it had an interesting beginning with Chandler Egan as its designer.