Keith Foster "Consulting"

[Randy Van Sickle]

Does anyone have input on Keith Foster as an architecture "consultant"?  My home course (Eastward Ho!) has hired him to provide input as to how the course could be "improved".  Many members (particularly elderly) are up in arms that he will come in and try to "change" the course and make it more difficult.

I've seen strings that mention his original designs (mostly very positive), but nothing about his consulting.

Thanks

[John_Conley]

Randy VS:

I am no expert on either, but I think you can breathe easy.

My friend taught himself how to play on Eastward Ho and went on to win the Massachusetts Open.  He often tells me how great the course was.  I'm sure it still is... from reading Ran's review.

Keith Foster did some green work recently.  I think it was at Southern Hills before the U.S. Open.  I know a guy who is a golf pro at one of his courses and says it is wonderful layout.  He also did the course under the rollercoaster on TOUR.

My guess is the faction you speak of resists change and it wouldn't matter who came to help.  Nearly all courses on any of the Top 100 lists have an eye toward preserving their history, yet remaining relevant.

Best of luck.  You have a great course from all I've heard.

[jg7236]

Keith Foster is a great guy as a person and as a Golf Course Architect.  I worked with him back in 1999 when I worked with Landscapes Unlimited as a intern on Southern Hills Country Club.  I learned a lot of things from him, including his design process.  When remodeling he tries to stay with the first Architects design intent, without trying to have his design methods conflict.

Keith Foster
2585 North Middletown Road
Paris, KY 40361
859-362-4169

[david h. carroll]

another old thread...he's done a wonderful job at BCCFF