Between my office and listening to the usual uninformed opinions by members in my pro shop or on the range the last 2 days I am convinced from this small sample that the average American just doesnt get golf in England.  Over the last few days I have heard how ugly people think Sandwich is and how awful it must be to play being so brown and mottled and how those bunkers look terrible.  Furthermore it is so unfair I keep hearing about how the pros can't use the aerial game and use darts sucked with backspin to get close to the pin.

Whenever I have asked people if they have ever been to the Kent coast, an eyebrow usually gets raised and they ask where is that?  Then I ask, have you ever played Sandwich?  They always respond, "no".  But then these are the same people who won't play when a wind is more than 15 mph and the same people who think tree canopies that interfere with play are part of the designer's intent.

I guess people won't ever realize that English golf is the finest on earth.  Jim Finegan aside, I know there won't be many Americans discovering the joys of Sandwich, Deal, Rye, West Sussex, St. Enodoc, Pennard, Porthcawl, Ganton, Woodhall Spa, Brancaster, Hunstanton, all of the heathlands and the many other gems I have not listed.  And I say what a pity and what good fortune.  It is nice to always hear when I play in the England that we don't get many Americans around here often.  I guess some Americans will never learn.  Scott Hoch's wisdom wins over here although not in this forum.  

NAF,

As I was driving to play golf this morning, I was listening to a sports channel on the radio. On WFAN, the sports host was saying that the American golfers aren't used to those terrible brown conditions, the lack of trees to assist them with alignment and all of that funny looking grass.

I had my hands full just trying to keep my car on the road as I listened to his longing for green fairways, tree lined fairways and short rough.  I was experiencing a different type of road rage.

Sadly, most of his audience probably thought that this is how golf courses should and shouldn't play.

I intend on playing tomorrow morning, and will be on the phone as soon as my car leaves the driveway.

Remember too, that GREEN golf courses cover up many problems.

Well guy's I'm watching the British Open on a golf course I have played a few times and as you say "You Yanks don't get it".

I'm doing a remodel in Rhode Ilsand at the minute and on thursday I was at the club to do a presentation. While in the Bar, the Big screen TV had the golf on and the comments on the state of the golf course and why Tiger couldn't stop a ball on the greens was just hillarious, some of the comments where from MARS. Grown men coming up with and out with comments on playing golf that they know nothing about. The sad thing is their golf course was designed by an English man who incorporated the features they where commenting on on their own course.

The Sad thing is here in the States courses are conditioned to be soft and green all the time. If they could see Newport CC in RI which is up the road from Warwick,the only things that are watered are the greens and tees. The fairways at the request of the members remaing dry. One of the sites of Tigers Amateur Championships, which if you gents recall in the final the challenger to Tiger gave a good account of himself as the course became the great equaliser in taming Tigers length. So the order of the day was old fashioned Bump and run golf as it should be.
Well guy's enjoy the TV this week, I am and watching the top guy's having to play and manufacture golf shots to beat the course, May be the USGA should take a leaf out of the R&A's book and set up Shinnacock next year as 'the Open' is this week water the Tees and Greens and leave the fairways, I hope David Faye  reads this or some one from the USGA championship committee.
regards
Ian

 
Its a pity, mostly , but please don't use such a wide brush to paint all americans as not getting it! After all, there's only and hour or two drive from any part of GB&I to the sea, and the Town & Country Planning authoritites aren't exactly tripping  over themselves creating new inland courses.. links land it will mostly be.. the style of play is still only one style of play.

After years of watching on TV, it took me two holes at TOC to truly get it.. (but the guys from NY & NJ never did!) but it, in the endreally only reminded me of muni golf in my youth,.. when hard and fast was a result of City budgets and the weather more than conscious intent..

I loved Ganton , probably as much by the playing companionship when I played there, as the course's true challenge, but I think most would get it, if they were properly exposed to it.

But in the end, I'll maintain it is only one style of play!  Where you roll the dice almost every shot!

Regards  

Tom,

In regards to your last paragraph...I don't think we are asking or advocating that stance at all.  Rather, I would like to see more American golfers simply understand and/or appreciate a course designed in another fashion that our typical inland or parkland style of layout and play.

Firm and fast conditions can be okay, a ground game can be okay, BROWN can be okay...and it doesn't have to be on every course...but those that are deisigned with those characteristics inteded should be appreciated for such.

As an example...we have a public course here just West of Dubuque called The Meadows and is designed in a "prairie links" style as I like to call it...gently rolling/hilly terrain, devoid of most trees, tall native grasses lining the fairways, plenty of run-up opportunities, and (somewhat) undulating greens.  I have a lot of folks tell me they are not too fond of the course becuase of the way it plays, and guess what...it does NOT play like the typical "target golf" courses we Americans have become so used to.  I personally like to get out there for just to opposite reason...you have to actually THINK your way around the course!  Wide fairways and no treees does not necessarily make a course easy!  You've got to hit it to the correct part of the fairways, and maybe (god-forbid!!) even play your approach shot along the (gasp!) ground!

There are plenty of courses that already play in a "typical" American style of golf...and that does not need to change.  But simply give these other designs (and designers) their due when they produce something out of the ordinary, special, and/or unique.  We will all be better off for it.

I love how some of the announcers, players and most people in general refer to american tree-lined golf as "traditional" golf. If American golf is traditional golf then what is British golf?

Evan Fleisher:

Very fine points about different styles. I agree, I hate to see American announcers at the British Open at RSG fail to understand the way a links style course is meant to be played as much as I hate to see an American style course that was designed to play as yours was altered either. I like that term "prairie links". God knows that style can play as interesting as the European links style if maintained hard and fast with the unfettered wind without the trees.

I suppose all I was saying is anyone should try to understand how courses were designed and maintain them that way. And there sure are differences in original styles all over the world obviously requiring different maintenance practices.

Part of my idea about the "ideal maintenance meld" at any golf course is to first understand what kind of playable conditions ANY course was designed to play best with and maintain the course that way. The point is there can be vast differences both in style and ideal maintenance practices.

Yes is the answer there is a course where the bunkers are similar.

I designed a golf course in Maryland called Hunters Oak, go to
www.huntersoak.com It's worth a trip for anyone. I'd love to hear what you guy's think of a real links course, greens and all.

It is was my first effort in the States, thanks to a good friend of mine TommySasser ex of Golden Bear inc.

I had a lot of fun doing it, and a lot of nice comments after.

when you get to Maryland give it a shot and I'll read  your comments with anticipation.
Regards
Ian

Ian,

You couldn't have designed this course. It says that its a Gary Player design. What's up with that?  

O.K. maybe I can see now more then ever why your frustrated! I don't blame you one bit! But do tell us, how may site visits did Gary actually make, and did you have to show him which way it was to the first tee?

Did he land a helicopter on site at the ground breaking, hop out and announce that it was the greatest plot of land he has seen for a golf course?

NAF
Do you mean England OR Greater England OR The United Kingdom OR Britain OR The British Isles OR That bit of Europe not really joined on to the rest? I speak as a completely unbiased Scotsman you understand!!

Hey Ian
What's with the nom-de-plume?
Is it the old joke about 'What's the best thing to ever come out of Liverpool???"
Like it though!!

FBD.

Ian
Cheers - and hope you're not getting TOO sentimental about the OLD Country!!!

We certainly can't discount The Fab Four, can we!?!?!?

Anyhow, hope you're having great fun practicing GCA in the States. Maybe joining you soon - depends on where the work appears!! (I'm one of the guys just completing the MSc at Heriot Watt). Looks like most work might be in the East (near and far!!!)

FBD.

Americans don't get British Isles design. Yes. And, what do you suppose the Brits think when they come here and see Bandon? Do they say, "wow", it's just like our courses. Fantastic!...Or, do they have the same opinion as we (purists) might have if visiting an English club which adopted an Ameirican style?

Darren

I agree completely with your observations.  The grass is always greener (or browner, as the case may be....) on the other side of the road (or pond).........