The Secrets of Seminole

http://www.travelandleisure.com/tlgolf/invoke.cfm?ObjectID=36AB2FBE-356F-4727-A758D38C51A00A41

Steve Smyers' article is very well put and a good description of a great place.  I find it interesting that his description has the yardages of both 6 and 15 significantly longer than they were during the winter of 2004.  The  15th at 550 yards would be quite a hole if they could possibly squeeze that kind of yardage out of it.  It's not so much the distance as it is the proximity of the 11th and 14th greens.  Those trees behind the bunkers do detract from the hole, but who's to say they are still there after that hurricanes came through.  Apparantly, a lot of trees are gone and many are defoliated.  Same scenario as far as yardage for #6.  

I talked to a member today that informed me that Seminole is opening for the season this week.  

TEPaul,

Surprisingly, I agree with you with respect to the palm trees on # 15.  I think it would be a far better hole without them.
Today, I don't see the practical application of using the left side fairway.

A 1929 rendering doesn't seem to reflect their existance, and possibly, after this past hurricane season, they'll be gone.
I also wonder what the photo in the men's locker room shows.
This was the photo taken before Wilson's work on # 18.

It would be interesting to know when they were inserted.

Doug,

Smyers mentions that Ross added several strategic lakes betweent the dunes.  For some reason this surprised me to hear.  I have never played Seminole, but I know the area and understand the land it is built upon.

1.)  Was this necessary for drainage?  As sandy as the soil is that would surprise me.

2.)  Was the practice of creating lakes used much at the time Seminole was built?

3.)  Could the course be as good without water in play?


I don't know if he created lakes where no waterway existed, rather, I think he may have expanded waterways to form lakes.

Sitting between two fairly large dunes, water has to drain somewhere, and south of the property seems prudent, otherwise it would flood with heavy rains.

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I don't know if he created lakes where no waterway existed, rather, I think he may have expanded waterways to form lakes.

Thanks for the response Patrick.  The idea of expanding pre-existing waterways makes more sense to me than the idea of Ross actually "adding several lakes."

Who published this piece?

Credit should be given.

T&L Golf:

link here