Lots of talk lately about how surroundings affect the experience on a golf course, whether it's the ocean at Pebble, the vastness of Sand Hills or Sutton Bay, the desert at Shadow Creek, or whatever.

What are some really great courses that have less than desirable settings or unfortunate views?

One unfortunate view that leaps to mind for me is the power plant towers in the background of Sandwich. I don't think it would affect my feelings for the course at all, but it's certainly unfortunate.

How 'bout some others? Any that cause a course to be underrated, at least architecturally speaking?

Augusta National bordering on Washington Rd.

But can you actually see Washington Rd. from the course?

Actually, there is some sort of a space-time discontinuity between Washington Rd. and Augusta National.  You not only cannot see one from the other, but neither EXISTS from the other.

I basically just meant that while I've walked the course, and was in the fairway of #17 for a period of time, I've never actually played golf on the course and hence could not represent if Washington Rd. was visible to a player at Augusta National.  

The Road Hole - St. Andrews ...

I think Prestwick takes the prize for me.  Terrible setting with the airport right on the course.

Dunbar has the cement works out near the far end (just when it starts to get pretty).

Machrihanish suffers quite a bit due the the military airport.

Carnoustie and Lytham never had a great setting to spoil!

Ciao

Sean

Carnoustie. Town, no views, firing range.
Seascale, north of Liverpool has a view, but their power plant abuts the course.

I think the UK can clear up the monopoly on this one.  Seaton Carew is perhaps the best course with the worst view, but I don't deny the claims of Silloth, Seascale, Lytham, Hoylake, Sandwich, and others to challenge this.  What about Rye, though - hallowed ground, but the shipbreakers?  And what of Westward Ho!  We, Brits, are just queueing up to fill this category.  Which reminds me, I'll do some more British Courses scans after Easter - the flesh is willing, but the necessity to earn an income comes first.

I was so enthralled with everything on the course and the grounds immediately around Sandwich that I hardly took notice of the power plant at all.  I am a huge fan of that golf course.

What if the Clementon Lake Amusement Park was in view over some of the round at Pine Valley?  How would that detract from the experience for most of you?  I don't think it would matter all that much as long as you couldn't hear the screaming South Jersey kids throughout the round.

The freeway at Oakmont doesn't really bother me. The freeway at Lost Dunes is much worse and I don't notice it either. That clubhouse at Southern Pines--Ran's home course--is the worst man made structure in golf history. It also appears to be indestructable...you couldn't burn it down even if you wanted.

Tom,

I'm not sure if this is still true, but back in the 80s when I played SOuthern Pines the picture on the scorecard was of that gawdawful clubhouse.  

I agree with Wayne.  The power plant at Sandwich is far enough away that it is not a big deal.  It seems worse at Princes for some reason.  I like both of these courses very much, so the power plant is a very minor distraction.

Tenby must have one of the worst clubhouses in golfdom.  It is enough to put one off his ale.  It certainly leaves a bit of a sour taste after playing such a lovely course.  Before the new construction, Pennard and Carnoustie were battling it out.  

Ciao

Sean

East Lake

A newer course in a not so nice setting is The Rawls Course at Texas Tech in Lubbock. Land so flat that you can see a lizard doing push ups at 40 miles and what you can see isn't very attractive. There's a reason the course is surrounded by a berm.