Matt,

Any idea whether the dykes were pre-existing or created purely for the Golf Course?

I'm not sure how big these turf dykes are and the pictures on the net I've found don't seem to have them in the shot.  But...

This was a long time a ago, but I remember playing Barrow Golf Club in Cumbria and seeing something very similar to what you describe.  To the uninitiated 16 year old they looked like grass barriers about 3-4 feet high, running across the fairway, placed strategically right in the landing area.

Course was built in 1922, by whom I have no idea.

Sound like the cops that form the OB lines inside Hoylake, around the practice field.  Those were definitely man-made, as they were very straight.

This is the cop that runs the length of the right side of #1 (Open routing #3) at Hoylake:

Tommy, can't say for sure, I wasn't around in those days.  

By the way, that photo is of Captain Goodale looking quite disgruntled as the U. S. team of McBride and Disher finish chopping up the hole to go 2 down in last year's Buda Cup foursomes.

Paul that is exaclty what I am talking about. If it was built in 1922, it must have not be confined to Tom.

Tommy as this was also an Old Tom design they probably Turf Dykes, in fact irmember seeing them in photos. Bill, That is them with the hollow and all. I should know dis butdid Tom Morris design Hoylake?

In the future watch out for these when driving at a Hunt design near you!  

It says Dyke in the RCD book.

Are these charming or adding interest solely because they are on links courses or because Old Tom built them?

I remember a while back some people on here bemoaning the use of the same thing on inland courses in England at one time.  Also, if I remember right some other famous guys seem to dislike the turf dykes used by the likes of Tom Dunn in the early years of English golf architecture.  Let's see what were their names....?  OH!  That's right, Simpson and Mackenzie.  

I don't have an opinion either way, but curious why turf dykes on a links course may get a free pass, but those on an inland layout get condemned by critics when neither is natural to the site and just a construction technique from that era of architecture.  

I think that's George Morris, not Old Tom Morris.

It was indeed the old race course, apparently, and the square outline of the cops remains to this day to demarcate the OB inside the course.   I don't know if it's fair or unfair, it's just what it is.  Golf in the UK is cool beyond description!

This is just too weird.....I am still on my way back from a new course in Maryland farm country and I laid what I was calling turf covered stone walls that strategically interfaced with the open fields found on the site......as an option to bunkers.

TomP is helping on this course, but due to obligations elsewhere could not be there.... I feel its a valid design concept, regardless of whether the walls or 'dykes' were there originally, and I think has future merit.

Until this thread I had no idea that it wasn't a new idea.
Seems I'm in good company.

Which brings me to the purists who think that if a hardscape structure.....wall, ruin, or whatever, was not pre existing then it is therefore discredited as part of the design validity of a hole.....well... I think you are a bunch of 'I am going to take the safe route regardless', head in the sand, Yo Yo's.

And if I could find a way to keep you off our courses....I would.

This is just too weird.....I am still on my way back from a new course in Maryland farm country and I laid what I was calling turf covered stone walls that strategically interfaced with the open fields found on the site......as an option to bunkers.

TomP is helping on this course, but due to obligations elsewhere could not be there.... I feel its a valid design concept, regardless of whether the walls or 'dykes' were there originally, and I think has future merit.

Until this thread I had no idea that it wasn't a new idea.
Seems I'm in good company.

Which brings me to the purists who think that if a hardscape structure.....wall, ruin, or whatever, was not pre existing then it is therefore discredited as part of the design validity of a hole.....well... I think you are a bunch of 'I am going to take the safe route regardless', head in the sand, Yo Yo's.

And if I could find a way to keep you off our courses....I would.

Paul, you should have used that line in Forrest's thread a couple of days ago!  

Panhandle Bill,
Just like horse racing, I knew those were good odds!

I think this design devise has value when used and incorporated as part of the internal strategy of a hole.

I think their semi diagonal placement, especially when used in place of bunkering, could be daunting.....a raised form of cross or cape strategies.......with a throwback nod to the steeplechase hazards. [TomP....earth to TomP... ].

....but then again maybe I'm just queer for this sort of thing.
It probably would be nothing compared to short bunker right, long bunker left....a historically proven success.