Nothing is black and white and all is subjective in what is considered, extreme contoured good green designs and over the top wild. I have three greens that I did on a redesign last year that were met with a lot of controversy. I imagine a very high percentage on this site would classify them as fun and not over the limit but I am not sure if the majority, of the current membership approves. They will vote next week and I have accepted that I may need to do make some changes in March. On a long putt the ball can move three to four directions and no more than that but for many, anything more than one or two movements is Putt-Putt or PGA TOUR! Keep In mind this is in Chile, where the history of their golf courses doesn`t include any notable experienced architects of the past, therefore most are pancake flat.
The course is only 6500 yards from the tips. Over the last three years we have increased the grassed areas by at least 30 to 40 percent. Nice big wide, forgiving fairways that bring in to play alternative angles of attack that were in the original design but never put into play for lack of water and budget. It`s short and it`s easy and if you have flattish greens it would be boring. Players need to be challenged and presented with opportunities that allows them to excell and overcome the challenge, that what makes memorable golf shots. We have chosen to paint ourselves in a corner, wider fairways, less water hazards, less sand bunkers, no forced carries, minimum front bunkers to encourage the ground game, short grassed rough or no rough to speed play and keep high handicap membership happy. So, all the focus gets shifted to the green contours and the green design. Interesting recovery shots around the green also become a priority.
Mark,
What if you had an excellent potential client with an exceptional piece of land and the budget to go with the project. The owner wants eighteen pushing the limit, highly contoured wild greens. Do you walk or do you create?