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Jordan Wall

Worst course in a good setting
« on: December 04, 2006, 07:09:33 PM »
..following Paul's lead, what are some of the worst courses with a great setting?


I say Sandpines with fear of being mauled by others but whatever.

Scott Szabo

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #1 on: December 04, 2006, 07:33:15 PM »
Never played it, but given the constant bashing on this board, maybe Dismal River?  Can't beat the surroundings, course I'm not so sure.
"So your man hit it into a fairway bunker, hit the wrong side of the green, and couldn't hit a hybrid off a sidehill lie to take advantage of his length? We apologize for testing him so thoroughly." - Tom Doak, 6/29/10

scott anderson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #2 on: December 04, 2006, 07:36:02 PM »
Half Moon Bay - either course.

McCloskey

Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #3 on: December 04, 2006, 07:50:30 PM »
Steve

Be assured that if the same course at DR was designed by one of the treehouse's favorites rather than the designer of record, you would not be reading any negative comments.
It is an excellent golf course.

Glenn Spencer

Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #4 on: December 04, 2006, 08:03:29 PM »
For me, it is Longaberger.

Sean Leary

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2006, 08:07:22 PM »
Longaberger...





Just kidding Glenn ;)

Glenn Spencer

Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #6 on: December 04, 2006, 08:17:14 PM »
Longaberger...





Just kidding Glenn ;)

 ;D ;D ;D  All kidding aside, Sean, is that yours as well or no?

Sean Leary

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #7 on: December 04, 2006, 08:28:24 PM »
No Glenn, I've never played it, but my good friend Jesse Jones has told me that he believes that it is the worst course on a great piece of property that he has seen.

Jordan Wall

Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #8 on: December 04, 2006, 08:29:24 PM »
No Glenn, I've never played it, but my good friend Jesse Jones has told me that he believes that it is the worst course on a great piece of property that he has seen.

Yea, he's mentioned that to me before as well.

John_Cullum

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #9 on: December 04, 2006, 08:53:16 PM »
Jordan

How many times have you played Sandpines?
"We finally beat Medicare. "

Jordan Wall

Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #10 on: December 04, 2006, 08:58:12 PM »
Jordan

How many times have you played Sandpines?

One too many, though I suppose playing it makes me realize what not to do with a golf course once I hopefully design one.

Mike Boehm

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #11 on: December 04, 2006, 08:58:28 PM »
I've heard this comment associated with Bay Harbor quite a bit, but I haven't had the chance to play it.  Of courses i've played, I have to go with Torrey Pines.  Certainly a great setting, but really not that memorable a golf course.

Mike

Scott Szabo

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #12 on: December 04, 2006, 08:59:20 PM »
McCloskey,

I kind of figured that.  I've heard quite a few good things about Dismal River, and hope to see it next year to judge for myself.

"So your man hit it into a fairway bunker, hit the wrong side of the green, and couldn't hit a hybrid off a sidehill lie to take advantage of his length? We apologize for testing him so thoroughly." - Tom Doak, 6/29/10

Sean Leary

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #13 on: December 04, 2006, 09:03:39 PM »
Sandpines and Torrey Pines are far from bad courses, as is I'm sure Longaberger.  Disappointing maybe, but these courses should never be in the "worst" conversation.

Also, settings and good pieces of property aren't one and the same.  See Furry Creek.....
« Last Edit: December 04, 2006, 09:04:13 PM by Sean Leary »

John_Cullum

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #14 on: December 04, 2006, 09:04:03 PM »
Jordan

How many times have you played Sandpines?

One too many, though I suppose playing it makes me realize what not to do with a golf course once I hopefully design one.

From your play at Sandpines, what makes you say it is so bad, architecturally that is?
"We finally beat Medicare. "

Jordan Wall

Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #15 on: December 04, 2006, 09:16:49 PM »
John,

Last February there was a 5 page thread on this.

Pretty much containment mounds surrounding the sides of most holes, many straight and boring holes, and so-so greens.
Could have been so much more.

I remember now there was something on bunker placement too, now that I think back.  And, a lack of well placed fairway bunkers.
I dont really care to remember the course, honestly.
« Last Edit: December 04, 2006, 09:20:14 PM by Jordan Wall »

John_Cullum

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #16 on: December 04, 2006, 09:21:47 PM »
The first time you played it, did those containment mounds strike you as being horrible, or the straight holes, or the so so greens/ And when was that? Before or after December 21, 2005?
"We finally beat Medicare. "

Glenn Spencer

Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #17 on: December 04, 2006, 09:22:38 PM »
Not to hijack Jordan, but at the same time, can we discuss the worst hole built on a great setting. #8 at Longaberger can't be ignored in this category. Others?
« Last Edit: December 04, 2006, 09:23:38 PM by Glenn Spencer »

Mark_F

Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #18 on: December 04, 2006, 09:31:44 PM »
In the UK:

Tain.
Gullane Number One.
Royal St David's.

Dishonourable mention:

Southerness.

In Australia:

Impossible to go past Peter Thomson's two most lovable creations, the Ocean course at The National, as well as the Open course at Moonah Links.

Dishonorable mention: Greg Norman and Bob Harrison's Moonah course at The National.

No wonder The National's shares fell so hard, so fast. ;)

Sean Leary

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #19 on: December 04, 2006, 09:36:55 PM »
John,

Last February there was a 5 page thread on this.

Pretty much containment mounds surrounding the sides of most holes, many straight and boring holes, and so-so greens.
Could have been so much more.

I remember now there was something on bunker placement too, now that I think back.  And, a lack of well placed fairway bunkers.
I dont really care to remember the course, honestly.

Jordan, stop it :) You can't win this argument. You played it one time with a HUGE preconceived notion of it from what you had read here.  If you hadn't never found this website you would have really liked it, and it would in your top 10.  I know this because I know all the courses you have played because you have told me all the courses you have played :) Sandpines is better than most of them...


Andy Troeger

Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #20 on: December 04, 2006, 09:43:54 PM »
Without meaning to get into another long discussion of things...IMO Longaberger is a good golf course and #8 a fine golf hole (a little unique, but I don't see it being the monster that Glenn does!). From what I remember, opinions on the course and the hole are pretty mixed for and against.

Michael Dugger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #21 on: December 04, 2006, 09:52:52 PM »
I'll back Jordan.

Sandpines it is, and I have played it four times
What does it matter if the poor player can putt all the way from tee to green, provided that he has to zigzag so frequently that he takes six or seven putts to reach it?     --Alistair Mackenzie--

Jordan Wall

Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #22 on: December 04, 2006, 10:06:41 PM »
The first time you played it, did those containment mounds strike you as being horrible, or the straight holes, or the so so greens/ And when was that? Before or after December 21, 2005?

After.


Sean Leary,

My Top 10 I have played ... not much of a list to most but these are all within the past year ...

1. Harbour Point ... no just kidding here

ok here goes

1. Kapalua Plantation
2. Aldarra
3. Tumble Creek
4. Seattle CC
5. Sahalee -- though very close to Seattle CC
6. Gold Mountain (Olympic Course)
7. Overlake CC
8. Mill Creek CC
9. Salishan GL
10. Kapalua Bay

And Sean, no matter what you say, for the site given, I will always think Sandpines is a bad/mediocre course with three or four good holes at best.

Bob Jenkins

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #23 on: December 04, 2006, 11:15:08 PM »
Jordan,

Just try to get Sean to agree with you for once.

Tell him you think Furry Creek is likely the worst course in a good setting, just to appease him. He will try to come back with a specious argument to the effect that no one could build a good course on that site but it is still an awful course on a site with incredible potential and beauty.

Then tell him Canterwood comes in the class of bad courses in a good setting. I think that will set him off even more. I think it is true. I hate some of the holes on that course.

Finally, point out how Nicklaus had a chance to make Nicklaus North at Whistler something special but it comes up short.

Sean will finally agree with you as opposed to being constantly argumentative.

Anytime,

Take care,

Bob J

Doug Ralston

Re:Worst course in a good setting
« Reply #24 on: December 04, 2006, 11:32:01 PM »
Just once again: Every site that ranks courses in Michigan that is not related to GCA ranks Bay Harbor Top 5 or so!

As to if someone here could have done better with that site, I would say it is unprovable.

If I could get there and had the money, BH would definitely be on my Michigan 'wish list'.

Doug

P.S.: I have heard good things about other Hills courses up there; Shepard's Hollow and Red Hawk.
« Last Edit: December 04, 2006, 11:33:53 PM by Doug Ralston »