I have to believe it's a LOT harder than it looks.  Sure all of us can doodle hole diagrams on paper, and some of us yokels might even be able to string together 18 decent holes out on the ground... But what we'd all screw up without a doubt are the things we so rarely talk about on here:  drainage and other infrastructure issues.  

I'd equate it to skating in alone and trying to score on Martin Brodeur.  Looks doable, would be anything but.

I definitely think an avid golfer can design a solid, even a GREAT golf course.  On a world class scale, you don't have to look much farther than Pine Valley, Merion & Pebble Beach.  I realize that George Crump had input from some of the very best "experts" of his time, but much of what Mr. Crump created at Pine Valley, he did on his own.  His "amateur" vision of what Pine Valley could become, led to one of the best golf courses in the world.  I realize that each of these courses have been touched by a professional in some way, but I don't think it discounts the fact that these "amateur" architects had the ability to create something very special.

An a smaller more local scale here in NJ, avid amateur golfer Archie Struthers created what many regard as one of the better public courses in NJ at Twisted Dune.

It can be done...

Glenn,

I know Archie fairly well.  I believe the "Cliffnotes" to the story go something like this:

I think at first, Archie had a "name" architect(that I won't NAME)that he had contracted to do the project.  After becoming frustrated by this architect due to various reasons, he had had enough.  He then took the project on himself and created what is now know as Twisted Dune.

Archie is an infrequent poster on this site, so maybe he'll chime in with more accurate info.  Regardless of the circumstances that led to him to design the course, he ended up creating something pretty unique and quite good.

Kirk:

I feel confident that all the time and effort in the world wouldn't allow me, Tom Huckaby, to create a decent golf course.  Clint has taught me well:  I do know my limitations.

But you do make a very good point:  many could figure this out given enough time.  But to me that equates to endless money also, and I don't think this is part of what Glenn is asking... I think he wants to know how us yokels would do given normal circumstances.

And I feel confident that in that scenario, our courses would suck.